2012 Awards

Story Of The Year: The Dems win big. Okay, maybe it wasn't overwhelming, especially with the Republicans holding the House, but after being destroyed in 2010 and not having that much to brag about since, winning at all is amazing.

Non-story Of The Year: Obamacare before the Court. After a big buildup, a weird opinion that changes nothing. Second place: Voter suppression.

To Be Continued Story: Obamacare (partly because the Court left it open). Implementation goes on, but there's plenty of official resistance, not to mention backers now rushing to get rid of the "job-killer" aspects of the bill. How this will all play out I have no idea.  But then, neither did the people who passed it.

 

Stealth Story: Fracking. Will it save our economy or destroy our planet? It's being covered, but it seems to me an even bigger deal than the media suggest.

Already Forgotten: Costa Concordia

Dumbest Statement Of The Year: Lots of competition, but an easy winner--
 

 

Most Overhyped Story: Gun violence. Yes, it's a big deal, but it's not a new big deal, and it's a slightly less big deal than it used to be.

Most Underhyped Story:  Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, who made Innocence Of Muslims, the film that sparked riots overseas, was arrested for alleged probation violation.  So some guy practices his free speech, others vastly overreact, and, presumably to send a message, the feds trump up charges and put him in jail.  Not only is the contempt for the First Amendment scary, but the message is pretty dangerous as well--we seem to be admitting to Muslims that, in fact, our government does control artists, so I guess in the future if they see anything controversial or unpleasant, they'll know it's out there because the government allowed it. Why was this story taken so lightly, as if it were a bizarre, even humorous, sidelight?  Or that somehow it served the guy right? 

Winner Of The Year: Barack Obama. Everyone knew he wouldn't do as well as 2008, but whereas for most Presidents that would mean disaster, he still pulled out a solid electoral win.

Loser Of The Year: The Republican get-out-the-vote machine, completely outclassed by the Democrats.

Apocalypse Now Award: The Mayan calendar. Is it time to switch to the Aztec calendar?

Biggest unforced error: Mitt Romney. (Okay, slight forced due to a hidden camera.)
 

Worst Candidate To Win: Elizabeth Warren. What's the deal with Massachusetts?

Trend Of The Year: Same sex marriage grows in acceptance and passes in a couple referenda. 2012 looks the be the beginning of the wave that will sweep away the opposition that seemed so powerful several years ago. Second place: unions taking hits. Even with high-profile protests and millions spent in states that voted for Obama, unions can't bring down Scott Walker or a Michigan right-to-work law.

Biggest Celebrity Meltdown:  Pretty calm for a meltdown, but a meltdown nevertheless.



Scandal Of The Year: Three-way tie--General Petraeus, Lance Armstrong and Elmo.

Song Of The Year: Seems ridiculous to me, but who am I to argue to a billion hits?



Feel free to add your own awards in the comments section.