A year as unprecedented, jaw-droppingly ridiculous and frequently horrifying as 2016 has only one proper close: TPM’s 10th annual Golden Duke Awards.
As you know, each year TPM’s toasts outlandish behavior, great feats in public corruption and abuses of the public trust and other outstanding representatives of The Crazy by awarding The Dukes, named in honor of Congressman-turned-convicted felon and inmate Randy “Duke” Cunningham. We’re seeking for your input for Dukes nominations: of all the corrupt, absurd, twisted happenings this year, what stood out to you, bigly?
Nominations should be submitted no later than Thursday, December 15. You can find 2015’s honorees here, though this year is sure to put all prior winners to shame.
This year’s categories are:
1. Best Scandal — General Interest
2. Best Scandal — Sex and Generalized Carnality
3. Best Scandal — Local Venue
4. Meritorious Achievement in The Crazy
5. Outstanding Achievements in Embracing Diversity
6. Most Accurate Citation of Fake News
7. Craziest Campaign Ads
TPM’s staff may have an affinity for spotting corruption and absurdity, but no one knows politicians’ garbage claims and actions better than their constituents. If you’ve been ranting about a political scandal on Facebook all year and it fits into one of these categories, we want to hear about it.
Email talk (at) talkingpointsmemo.com with your nominations no later than Thursday, Dec. 15, identifying the person you’re nominating and making your case in no more than 250 words for why he or she deserves a place in the esteemed pantheon of Golden Dukes winners. Nominees must be living, breathing, blessedly ridiculous or corrupt people to be eligible for the award — parties, issues, groups, concepts etc. are not eligible. Nominees have to be specific, real persons.
We’ll announce the nominees on Friday, Dec. 16 and send the list off to our panel of judges. The prestigious winners will be named on Friday, Dec. 30.
Happy scandal-hunting!