And the nominees are:
December 15, 2015 4:53 PM Subscribe
TPM's Ninth Annual Golden Dukes. The awards are named in honor of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who epitomizes the iconic modern scandal. Each year we single out those practitioners of scandal who through their own unmatched bumbling, shameless behavior, criminality or mere derp have set new standards for public corruption, betrayal of the public trust and general ridiculousness.
I suggest Trump be disqualified, because no matter how hard he tries, none of the stuff he does ever actually becomes a scandal.
posted by ckape at 5:08 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ckape at 5:08 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Went there looking for Courser & Gamrat, found them at #2. The Dukes did not disappoint. :)
EDIT: oh, those are just the nominees, the winners are yet to be announced!
posted by edheil at 5:27 PM on December 15, 2015
EDIT: oh, those are just the nominees, the winners are yet to be announced!
posted by edheil at 5:27 PM on December 15, 2015
Some gems here, not all of which I knew. Including The Biggest Hypocrite:
Reality TV star, former executive director of the anti-gay Family Research Council, and friend of the GOP 2016 field Josh Duggar for sexually abusing his sisters and cheating on his wife. The ultra-conservative supporter of “family values” acknowledged that he was “the biggest hypocrite” after In Touch surfaced a 2006 police report revealing that he inappropriately touched his younger sisters as a teenager and the hack of adultery website Ashley Madison forced him to confess he was unfaithful to his wife.
posted by bearwife at 5:30 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Reality TV star, former executive director of the anti-gay Family Research Council, and friend of the GOP 2016 field Josh Duggar for sexually abusing his sisters and cheating on his wife. The ultra-conservative supporter of “family values” acknowledged that he was “the biggest hypocrite” after In Touch surfaced a 2006 police report revealing that he inappropriately touched his younger sisters as a teenager and the hack of adultery website Ashley Madison forced him to confess he was unfaithful to his wife.
posted by bearwife at 5:30 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
> Apparently Democrats never do anything like this, eh? All the nominees seem to be Republicans.
Kim Davis was a Democrat when she started pulling her shit — it says so in the article. When she wanted to keep pulling her shit she decided she would be more comfortable in the Republican party. So there's that.
posted by benito.strauss at 5:44 PM on December 15, 2015 [10 favorites]
Kim Davis was a Democrat when she started pulling her shit — it says so in the article. When she wanted to keep pulling her shit she decided she would be more comfortable in the Republican party. So there's that.
posted by benito.strauss at 5:44 PM on December 15, 2015 [10 favorites]
Seems like the shit going down in Chicago should earn a mention.
posted by Artw at 6:17 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 6:17 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Seems like the shit going down in Chicago should earn a mention.
They will. In 400 days or so.
posted by srboisvert at 6:19 PM on December 15, 2015
They will. In 400 days or so.
posted by srboisvert at 6:19 PM on December 15, 2015
In past years Dems have won. It is the case though that awards for lunacy and corruption will overwhelmingly go to the GOP.
posted by persona au gratin at 6:36 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by persona au gratin at 6:36 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Let me also say, wow, America. You really brought the corruption and lunacy this year. ( And most of us aren't like that!)
posted by persona au gratin at 6:38 PM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by persona au gratin at 6:38 PM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
I was skimming through the first part and thought "They’re calling out Susie Bright, what the hell did she do?"
Apparently Democrats never do anything like this, eh? All the nominees seem to be Republicans.
It’s very one sided. But such is reality today. When I was younger it seemed like it was mostly Democrats who got caught in scandals (and these are not all politicians, though most are likely Republicans). Now I would be really curious to see examples of Democratic scandals that would come anywhere close to the levels of shit on this list.
posted by bongo_x at 6:54 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Apparently Democrats never do anything like this, eh? All the nominees seem to be Republicans.
It’s very one sided. But such is reality today. When I was younger it seemed like it was mostly Democrats who got caught in scandals (and these are not all politicians, though most are likely Republicans). Now I would be really curious to see examples of Democratic scandals that would come anywhere close to the levels of shit on this list.
posted by bongo_x at 6:54 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
I would be really curious to see examples of Democratic scandals that would come anywhere close to the levels of shit on this list.
Chicago's program of domestic black sites and mayoral cover-up of police murder should come close. But hearings are just now starting in earnest, so maybe next year.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:57 PM on December 15, 2015 [9 favorites]
Chicago's program of domestic black sites and mayoral cover-up of police murder should come close. But hearings are just now starting in earnest, so maybe next year.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:57 PM on December 15, 2015 [9 favorites]
Seems like the shit going down in Chicago should earn a mention.
Rahm was robbed! Rahm was robbed!
posted by graventy at 7:43 PM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
Rahm was robbed! Rahm was robbed!
posted by graventy at 7:43 PM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
I don't think we know if Jared Fogle is a Republican.
posted by benzenedream at 7:56 PM on December 15, 2015
posted by benzenedream at 7:56 PM on December 15, 2015
Illinois is both my home state and the source of Dem malfeasance that rises to Golden Duke levels.
posted by persona au gratin at 8:03 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by persona au gratin at 8:03 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
It seems House majority member is a good candidate for these things--enough power to do "favors" but enough anonymity to get away with it for a while. Majority state legislator is the same boat, on a smaller scale. Republicans do dominate in those positions.
On the other hand I had to stop reading TPM years ago, when I realized how heavily their reporting had skewed towards "find a Republican legislator who said a bad thing, get clicks." Josh Marshall seemed like a reporter with a real reporter's instinct and maybe he still is, but the site was so heavily skewed towards the outrage machine reading it was really not healthy. I wouldn't count on the nominees not pandering to their audience.
posted by mark k at 8:07 PM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
On the other hand I had to stop reading TPM years ago, when I realized how heavily their reporting had skewed towards "find a Republican legislator who said a bad thing, get clicks." Josh Marshall seemed like a reporter with a real reporter's instinct and maybe he still is, but the site was so heavily skewed towards the outrage machine reading it was really not healthy. I wouldn't count on the nominees not pandering to their audience.
posted by mark k at 8:07 PM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have to think that Representatives are more opportunistically corrupt due to the term cycle, and Senators are more career sneaks.
posted by rhizome at 8:13 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 8:13 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Is it ironic that Democratic scandals usually seem to be about money and Republican scandals usually about sex?
posted by bongo_x at 9:36 PM on December 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 9:36 PM on December 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
Bongo_x, John Edwards' problems were about sex. (Or at least as much about sex as they were about money. He embezzled a million dollars of campaign money to pay off his mistress.)
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:12 PM on December 15, 2015
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:12 PM on December 15, 2015
...to the strains of Survivor’s “Final Countdown.”It's sad what passes for journalism these days.
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:28 PM on December 15, 2015 [10 favorites]
I emailed them about that 80s faux pas.
posted by persona au gratin at 11:55 PM on December 15, 2015
posted by persona au gratin at 11:55 PM on December 15, 2015
mark k: Amen. I was reading Josh Marshall way back when. But since 08 or so it has felt like he's pandering to Bill Maher's studio audience.
posted by persona au gratin at 1:37 AM on December 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by persona au gratin at 1:37 AM on December 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
There's a lack of political scandals if Jared Fogle is making it on the list.
posted by kingdead at 4:15 AM on December 16, 2015
posted by kingdead at 4:15 AM on December 16, 2015
> Apparently Democrats never do anything like this, eh?
Nancy Peloai and Alison Grimes won in 2014
Anthony Weiner won in 2013.
Jesse Jackson Jr. And the DC City Council were nominees in 2012.
You can try validating this apparent grudge yourself by looking up TPM's previous awards. See if they mention John Edwards in some previous year.
If the Republicans are winning most of the nominations and awards, it's probably because there are more of them around to get into trouble. The GOP is the dominant party. There is a large partisan media industry working in collaboration with them, so they and their policies are being promoted around the clock in most venues: they get more positive media presence. So there's not any need to dip into arguments about which party's membership is crazier. if, say, 3% of both party's membership are scandal-prone, then there are going to be more scandals involving Republicans in national and state governments who had previously received generally favorable media exposure.
posted by ardgedee at 4:16 AM on December 16, 2015 [5 favorites]
Nancy Peloai and Alison Grimes won in 2014
Anthony Weiner won in 2013.
Jesse Jackson Jr. And the DC City Council were nominees in 2012.
You can try validating this apparent grudge yourself by looking up TPM's previous awards. See if they mention John Edwards in some previous year.
If the Republicans are winning most of the nominations and awards, it's probably because there are more of them around to get into trouble. The GOP is the dominant party. There is a large partisan media industry working in collaboration with them, so they and their policies are being promoted around the clock in most venues: they get more positive media presence. So there's not any need to dip into arguments about which party's membership is crazier. if, say, 3% of both party's membership are scandal-prone, then there are going to be more scandals involving Republicans in national and state governments who had previously received generally favorable media exposure.
posted by ardgedee at 4:16 AM on December 16, 2015 [5 favorites]
It seems House majority member is a good candidate for these things--enough power to do "favors" but enough anonymity to get away with it for a while. Majority state legislator is the same boat, on a smaller scale. Republicans do dominate in those positions.
A political theory book I read in grad school mentioned in passing that the worst corruption is usually at the state level. Locally there isn't enough money or anonymity (except in big cities like Chicago and New York), and at the federal level there is plenty of money but too much oversight for easy pilfering. State politics has the sweet spot of lots of money and almost no oversight -- I mean, how many people can even name any of their state politicians other than perhaps governor?
Obviously that's not any kind of ironclad law, but I've seen it play out enough times to think there is something to it as a general guide.
The really egregious sex scandals seem to be much more evenly spread, though it is probably easier to get caught locally; the national politicians can at least keep their philandering geographically separate from their families.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:40 AM on December 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
A political theory book I read in grad school mentioned in passing that the worst corruption is usually at the state level. Locally there isn't enough money or anonymity (except in big cities like Chicago and New York), and at the federal level there is plenty of money but too much oversight for easy pilfering. State politics has the sweet spot of lots of money and almost no oversight -- I mean, how many people can even name any of their state politicians other than perhaps governor?
Obviously that's not any kind of ironclad law, but I've seen it play out enough times to think there is something to it as a general guide.
The really egregious sex scandals seem to be much more evenly spread, though it is probably easier to get caught locally; the national politicians can at least keep their philandering geographically separate from their families.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:40 AM on December 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
Illinois is both my home state and the source of Dem malfeasance that rises to Golden Duke levels.
It has been surprisingly quiet on the Illinois Democratic Party silly scandal front of late. I think they are laying low since Jesse Jackson Jr. got busted for using campaign funds to buy capes and Michael Jackson gloves.
I'm surprised that they didn't mention senator Instagram Beefcake Downton Abbey Aaron Schock (R).
posted by srboisvert at 5:58 AM on December 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
It has been surprisingly quiet on the Illinois Democratic Party silly scandal front of late. I think they are laying low since Jesse Jackson Jr. got busted for using campaign funds to buy capes and Michael Jackson gloves.
I'm surprised that they didn't mention senator Instagram Beefcake Downton Abbey Aaron Schock (R).
posted by srboisvert at 5:58 AM on December 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sheldon Silver?
Yeah, Silver and Dean Skelos deserved a mention. I guess their actual crimes were very mundane and not really juicy enough, but the fact that two of the most powerful men in New York, leaders of both chambers of the NY legislature, fell within a few weeks of each was a pretty big deal.
I do think that Republicans make themselves easier targets for laughs in this area because everyone hates a hypocrite, and it's usually the Republicans condemning everyone else for moral failings and lack of family values. A guy who has made a name for himself fighting for The Family and against the evils of degenerate modern society being caught with a prostitute is always going to be more interesting than some policy wonk being similarly caught.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:27 AM on December 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, Silver and Dean Skelos deserved a mention. I guess their actual crimes were very mundane and not really juicy enough, but the fact that two of the most powerful men in New York, leaders of both chambers of the NY legislature, fell within a few weeks of each was a pretty big deal.
I do think that Republicans make themselves easier targets for laughs in this area because everyone hates a hypocrite, and it's usually the Republicans condemning everyone else for moral failings and lack of family values. A guy who has made a name for himself fighting for The Family and against the evils of degenerate modern society being caught with a prostitute is always going to be more interesting than some policy wonk being similarly caught.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:27 AM on December 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
mark k, persona au gratin: i'm with you. I used to read TPM all the time but I think not having Bush in the white house made them lose their way a little bit? I probably agree with Josh Marshall's priors on politics but I think they've struggled to write anything substantive for the past few years and are engaging in a lot more tedious outrage-bait type stuff. They do seem to avoid criticizing the Obama administration from the left.
The change might be me: I find it less interesting to read about terrible people than I used to (SA used to have several threads devoted to mining the comments sections of Free Republic and the like and I just don't enjoy reading that crap anymore). I still read Wonkette, I guess, but maybe that's all I can take.
I wonder if TPM's also struggling a bit with money, honestly. It seems like they've pushed trying to get people do do a subscription model for their site for awhile, but I don't know if it caught on (and I frankly can't imagine paying for it...). Maybe they've moved to outrage-y stuff because its what gets them ad revenue, or they don't have the resources to do original reporting anymore. But it's a little sad, I used to like the site a lot.
That said, I think part of why there are fewer Democrats on the list than Republicans probably says something about the editorial position of the site and also says something about the composition of government. The Obama administration has been relatively scandal-free. There are things to not like about the Obama White House, and things you may think are outright criminal, but I don't think anything that's come out of there reaches the level of titillation of the endless Bill Clinton sex investigations or the sheer wtf of the Harriet Miers nomination. Or, better yet, the attorney general firing scandal which was TPM's biggest coup. On the other hand, most state legislatures and Congress are controlled by Republicans, so there are just more of them (and state legislatures are a bigger pool of inexperienced people who are likely to do or say something silly).
posted by dismas at 7:59 AM on December 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
The change might be me: I find it less interesting to read about terrible people than I used to (SA used to have several threads devoted to mining the comments sections of Free Republic and the like and I just don't enjoy reading that crap anymore). I still read Wonkette, I guess, but maybe that's all I can take.
I wonder if TPM's also struggling a bit with money, honestly. It seems like they've pushed trying to get people do do a subscription model for their site for awhile, but I don't know if it caught on (and I frankly can't imagine paying for it...). Maybe they've moved to outrage-y stuff because its what gets them ad revenue, or they don't have the resources to do original reporting anymore. But it's a little sad, I used to like the site a lot.
That said, I think part of why there are fewer Democrats on the list than Republicans probably says something about the editorial position of the site and also says something about the composition of government. The Obama administration has been relatively scandal-free. There are things to not like about the Obama White House, and things you may think are outright criminal, but I don't think anything that's come out of there reaches the level of titillation of the endless Bill Clinton sex investigations or the sheer wtf of the Harriet Miers nomination. Or, better yet, the attorney general firing scandal which was TPM's biggest coup. On the other hand, most state legislatures and Congress are controlled by Republicans, so there are just more of them (and state legislatures are a bigger pool of inexperienced people who are likely to do or say something silly).
posted by dismas at 7:59 AM on December 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
« Older Reader.... | There's room for more Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 5:02 PM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]