2018 Awards

I'm in a bit of a rush, so the awards ceremony will be shorter this year. (Compare a previous awards post.) Feel free to add to it by giving out your own awards in the comments section.

Story Of The Year:  I guess, domestically, it's the Dems taking back the House.  Not unexpected, but it's the end of whatever momentum the GOP had. (Don't know if it'll effect Trump much, whose politics aren't left or right so much as Trumpian.)

Person Of The Year:  Donald Trump.  This is his fourth year in a row. I'm not saying he's good or bad, just that everything is about him.  He makes it about him, but so do his enemies.

Winner Of The Year:  Bret Kavanaugh.  Sure, he got dragged through the mud, but some thought he was finished, and now he (probably) gets to spend the rest of his life on the Court. (I assume he's honorable enough that he won't use those years to get revenge.) Runner Up:  Christine Blasey Ford, who went from being an unknown academic to becoming a famous and beloved warrior for a cause.

Loser Of The Year: Les Moonves, who not only fell, but didn't get the $120 million severance (apparently).  Runner-up:  Michael Avenatti.  Are we done yet?

Top New Personality:  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.  I admit I think the stuff she says is kind of silly, but her party (and the media, of course) has clutched her to their hearts. As they have runner-up Beto O'Rourke, though he lost.

Stealth Story Of The Year:  Florida allows felons to vote.  Could change the entire calculus of that state, electorally, which would also change the entire calculus of presidential elections.

To Be Continued Story:  A federal judge in Texas declares Obamacare unconstitutional.  Will be appealed, of course, and if it makes it to the Supreme Court, that could be something. (Though more likely it will be nothing. We already know what the liberal justices will say, and hard to believe Roberts would give in.  Plus we don't know what Kavanaugh is thinking.)

Biggest Surprise Election Result:  Ballot harvesting in California helped guarantee a bunch of seats switched from R to D in the late counting.
 

Biggest Non-Story:  The Mueller investigation.  Going on two years, there's still no reason to think they're uncovering any serious Russian collusion (which was the original sine qua non).  Guess he's got 2019 to prove there was ever a real major crime in the first place relating to the Trump campaign.

Worst Trend:  U.S. life expectancy is declining slightly.  Probably due to opioids and suicide, but quite troubling no matter why.

Soundest Debate:  Do you hear Yanny or Laurel?



Dumbest Statement: There were tons of incredibly dumb stuff from politicians, but for a mix of stupidity and hate, I don't know if anyone topped Aaron Sorkin discussing his Broadway adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird:

"... now when I read the book and I hear Atticus talking about how there's goodness in everyone it starts to sound troubling to me, like 'there were fine people on both sides.'"

The funny thing is he's proud of his ignorance and malice.  He's said this in more than one interview, and clearly thinks he should be praised for his insight. 

 

Word Of The Year:  Boofing.  I'm not sure what it is, though a lot of other people are surprisingly conversant on the meaning of slang Brett Kavanaugh and his friends used 35 years ago.

Biggest Mystery:  The winner of a $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot has not yet stepped forward.  The numbers were announced October 23rd, and whoever bought the winning ticket has 180 days to claim it.  Some are guessing this person is waiting till 2019 for tax purposes?  Really?  It'll put the ticket-holder in a higher tax bracket?  Another distinct possibility is the owner of the ticket lost it, or isn't aware it's a winner.  I have to assume millions checked and checked again to make sure it wasn't them.

Biggest Question For Next Year:  Will the new Democratic majority in the House dare to take up articles of impeachment?

Most Pathetic Figures: The Clintons.  Bill has become an embarrassment in the age of #MeToo and Hillary...well, you know.  Not long ago they were the most powerful couple in the world, but in 2018 they had to offer groupons to get someone, anyone, to attend their speaking tour.