It’s the time of year you’ve all been waiting for: TPM’s annual homage to the year’s best purveyors of public corruption, outlandish behavior and The Crazy. (The awards are named in honor of Congressman-turned-inmate Randy “Duke” Cunningham.)
This is the seventh annual installment of the Golden Dukes, and this year it’s sponsored by Media Matters, which also gives out its own annual award, Misinformer of the Year, given for the biggest errors by a media figure/institution in 2013. Media Matters will announce Misinformer of the Year at the same time as the Dukes. (See last year’s winners here.)
Nominations are due no later than Monday, December 16, 2013. Submission details after the jump!
Today at TPM Cafe Reign of Error author Diane Ravitch has some harsh words for the legacy of former D.C. School Chancellor Michelle Rhee: “Many states and the federal government have invested hundreds of millions of dollars—perhaps even billions—on various incentive programs, hoping that teachers will work harder or better if they are promised a bonus or threatened with a loss of their job. But these incentive programs have failed again and again.”
We’re pleased to host a live author chat with Ravitch, as well as some other education policy folks on Friday at noon ET (TPM Prime sub. req.).
Two new polls out today from pretty respected pollsters showing fairly different pictures of the public mind on the President and his signature legislation, Obamacare. Pew shows both back to pre-rollout levels, while Quinnipiac shows some continued drop and the President’s unpopularity dragging down Congressional Democrats.
Maybe John Cornyn doesn’t have that much to worry about? Last month the city Fire Marshal condemned primary challenger Rep. Steve Stockman’s campaign headquarters, which seemed to be set up like a sort of Tea Party commune, and ordered its emergency closure for various health and safety violations.
The Capitol state grounds in Tallahassee, Florida this year will have an official Festivus pole alongside the usual Christmas installation.