Turkeys of the Year

Last year, I gave out RTLC’s award for the Biggest Turkey of 2007.  So I’ll go ahead and do it again this year.  There’s been no shortage of political morons in our world and an election year brings them out in droves.  Use the comments to argue for your choice, but here are Hal 10000’s Biggest Turkeys of 2007.

Sarah Palin: Really, I hate to do this.  But she was woefully unprepared to run for national office.  From odd little lies about the Bridge to Nowhere to shopping sprees in New York, she became a national punchline.  The bizarre enthusiasm that the GOP is showing for her bodes ill for the future.  A generous slice of this turkey has to go to Bill Kristol, Palin’s biggest supporter, whose increasingly phoned-in NYT column is practically a documentary of conservatism’s collapse.

Sarah Palin’s Critics: Where do I begin?  Was is the bizarre theories about Trig Palin’s birth? Or Sandra Bernhard wanting Palin to be raped by black men? Or the seemingly endless stream of C-list celebrities denouncing her?  Or the hysterical reaction to the turkey slaughter during her interview? The only people who sounded dumber than Palin’s supporters were her critics.

Hillary Clinton: I give this one with some reservation.  Clinton has impressed me by accepting her defeat, campaigning for Obama and accepting his offer of State.  That having been said, I have rarely seen so incompetent a primary campaign.  Hillary seemed to think she just needed to show up and she would win.  Make no mistake, Obama won the primary more than Hillary lost it.  But when you go from a dead certainty to defeat at the hands of a 4-year Senator, you’ve earned a turkey.

The Congress of the United States: They have completely ignored PAYGO, racked up gigantic debts for the bailout and showed zero inclination toward fiscal sanity.  Their only accomplishment this year was a “stimulus” that consisted of borrowing against the future in the hope that people would buy big screen TVs.  They refused to consider the Columbia FTA.  I don’t even know why we pay these guys anymore since they’re clearly uninterested in doing any, you know, work.

Joe Biden: Is there any better gaffe machine than the Scranton Mouth, the honorable Senator from MBNA?  Late night comedians are having trouble making fun of Obama.  I think they’ll find their way eventually, but Biden will more than make up for it.

Dishonorable Mention: Elliot Spitzer, AIG, Citigroup, Ted Stevens, Al Franken, Nancy Pelosi, the fawning media coverage of Obama, Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Elizabeth Dole, Harry Reid, Rush Limbaugh, Arnold Schwarzeneggerr and John McCain’s campaign staff.

I also recommend Gufield’s list and CNNSI’s sports list.