We’ll be honest, we thought George Santos was a shoo-in this year. And while you will in fact find him here among the list of honorees (we gave him his own category, after all) we’ve got plenty of room for other people.
Rudy Giuliani crazying himself into bankruptcy got 53% of the vote. That is perhaps not surprising; in 2020, when he was mid-election heist, we crowned him the Duke of Dukes: That is, an all time Duke, a sort of lifetime achievement award. Yet he continued to achieve, achieving himself a $148 million judgement against him for defaming two Georgia election workers.
Proving that the 2020 lifetime achievement award was well deserved.
Maybe he needs a Golden Duke Total Landscaping award next.
Bravo and Brava! A fitting year end summation of stupid. Well done, @TPM
You couldn’t ask for a more (un)deserving hive of scum and villainy.
I do hope Josh can send participation trophies to all the participants who didn’t hit top.
ETA. Any suggestions as to what the award should look like?
This was the year that The Golden Dukes should have had an Oprah moment and given the Dukes to all the nominees!
I’ve always thought it might be amusing to recognize TPM posters along these lines. Say, ”The Hugh Everett Award for Mediocrity in Trolling”. I have quite a few nominees in mind, but (in deference to the mods) I’ll just keep them to myself.
(Or — on the flip side — maybe ”The Matt in PA Memorial Award” to posters whose work reflects a consistently high quality of sarcasm, catharsis, or Apocryphal Mark Twain Quote refutation. Something like that.)
Every year in the depths of winter we get the Dukes to warm our hearts. This year, with Rudy and George we are richer than ever.
I do not recall if Trump was in this competition.
Surely his antics this year qualify for at least an Honorable Mention?
(but which never-ending remark/action to highlight?)
I’m all for it!
My friend, you would win ”The Matt in PA Memorial Award” to posters whose work reflects a consistently high quality of sarcasm, catharsis, or Apocryphal Mark Twain Quote refutation. Something like that.) every time.
One of the pleasures of coming on here is reading your offerings. Always makes me laugh. I’m grateful for that. Happy New Year to you and yours.
Our Golden Duke Winners: In their heart of hearts each of them bites off the heads of chickens.
I shared this post with my buddies here in Los Angeles who I’m not certain subscribe or follow TPM, but whom I know will appreciate your approach.
Happy Holidays.
I love the Dukes but cannot be the only one who thinks a name change would afford more delight in these grim times. The Golden Rudys comes to mind, although the Golden Devolders has a nice ring.
There’s no publication on the planet that brings me so much joy.
I believe that it’s because you approach your task with such joie de vivre. You know I’ll keep my good eye on what you’re up to next year.
Merry Golden Dukes and a Happy Mucking 2024.
I really wanted Paxton to be awarded a Golden Duke.
Maybe something along these lines?
The TPM Commenters’ Irasdad Olympiad?
OK, all the winners identify as GOP, but in the interests of bipartisanship, my fav in the “Grift until they jail you” category HAS to be Sen. Bob Menendez, D-NJ, who out-chutzpas most of those GOPers, especially with his track record. You go, Bob, there may well be a pardon in your future!
I believe Menendez was nominated but the competition was too strong.
The ‘Leave It To Beej Award for Troll More Effed-Up IRL Than Online’
A true Hall Of Shamer!