The Winners
TPM is pleased to announce the winners of the Sixth Annual Golden Dukes recognizing the year’s best purveyors of public corruption, outlandish behavior and The Crazy.
The awards are named in honor of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who epitomizes the iconic modern scandal. Few have so combined public corruption, a betrayal of the public trust and generally shameless behavior. Following his example, 2012 has been a banner year — from virulent outbreaks of The Crazy to David Petraeus’ biographer bingo to the nonstop nonsense that was the 2012 campaign–there’s been a lot to rake.
Our celebrity judges — Alex Pareene, @PourMeCoffee, Marin Cogan, Lizz Winstead and Susie Bright — waded their way through all 35 finalists in 7 categories, and selected the winners.
Check out the lucky nominees and the reader emails that selected them here. To read any judge’s statements (be sure you do), scroll to the end and click on each judge’s name! And now, without further adieu, the winners:
For Best Scandal — General Interest: Mitt Romney for ’47 Percent’
Alex Pareene: Jesse Jackson Jr.
@PourMeCoffee: U.S. Secret Service
Marin Cogan: Mitt Romney for ’47 Percent’
Lizz Winstead: David Petraeus
Susie Bright: Mitt Romney for ’47 Percent’
For Best Scandal — Sex and Generalized Carnality: Scott DesJarlais
Alex Pareene: Scott DesJarlais
@PourMeCoffee: Scott DesJarlais
Marin Cogan: Paul Babeu
Lizz Winstead: Scott DesJarlais
Susie Bright: Paul Babeu
For Best Scandal — Local Venue: (TIE) Amy Koch and D.C. City Council
Alex Pareene: Amy Koch
@PourMeCoffee: D.C. City Council
Marin Cogan: Paul Babeu
Lizz Winstead: Amy Koch
Susie Bright: DC City Council
For Meritorious Achievement In The Crazy: Clint Eastwood
Alex Pareene: Clint Eastwood
@PourMeCoffee: Clint Eastwood
Marin Cogan: Clint Eastwood
Lizz Winstead: Todd Akin
Susie Bright: Donald Trump
For Biggest Campaign Freakout: Republicans for “You didn’t build that”
Alex Pareene: Republicans for “You didn’t build that”
@PourMeCoffee: Republicans for “You didn’t build that”
Marin Cogan: Republicans for “You didn’t build that”
Lizz Winstead: Republicans for “You didn’t build that”
Susie Bright: John Sununu
For Most Hilariously Wrong Campaign Prediction: Karl Rove for his election night meltdown
Alex Pareene: Dick Morris
@PourMeCoffee: Karl Rove for his election night meltdown
Marin Cogan: Jennifer Rubin
Lizz Winstead: Karl Rove for his election night meltdown
Susie Bright: Karl Rove for his election night meltdown
For Most Over-The-Top Campaign Ad: Mitt Romney’s Jeep ad
Alex Pareene: Priorities USA for ad alleging Romney’s Bain contributed to the death of a husband’s wife
@PourMeCoffee: Mitt Romney’s Jeep ad
Marin Cogan: Newt Gingrich Super PAC’s King of Bain ad
Lizz Winstead: Mitt Romney’s Jeep ad
Susie Bright: Pete Hoekstra for an ad featuring an Asian-American actress speaking in broken English against Debbie Stabenow
Click below to read the statements by each judge:
Alex Pareene
@PourMeCoffee
Marin Cogan
Lizz Winstead
Susie Bright
