The Year in Shamelessness

For those who traffic in political absurdity, there's never a shortage of material. Regardless of who's in power, our elected officials are forever saying and doing outrageous, offensive and just plain moronic things, and every year brings its quota of hideous behavior. Still, it seems that the hate-spewing hordes of 2010 - with their hysteria about the non-Ground Zero non-mosque, their virulent anti-immigrationism, and their unbridled racism - have presented us with far more than the usual amount of arrogant ignorance, bald-faced bigotry, and brazen hypocrisy, all of it paraded before us with a ridiculous patina of oblivious pride.

I have collected a treasure trove of 2010's political ignominy into an e-book, The Year of Living Shamelessly, which not only catalogues 2010's most egregious moments, but also provides links to video, commentary and other sources that offer a deeper appreciation of the sheer batshit lunacy of it all. It's the perfect last-minute holiday gift, and it's available here for a mere $3.99 (a portion of the proceeds go to support People for the American Way).

Meanwhile, here are a dirty dozen (+2!) of the worst offenders.

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Sharron Angle

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Nevada’s Sharron Angle distinguished herself in her Senate race by scurrying away from her own press conference when reporters had the audacity to ask questions, opposing abortion even in cases of rape or incest because those things obviously were part of God's “plan” or they wouldn't have happened, declaring that certain government programs are a “violation of the First Commandment,” warning that two American cities are under sharia law, telling a class of Hispanic students, “I don't know that all of you are Latino. Some of you look a little more Asian to me,” and running what was widely believed to be the most racist political ad of the year, all of which repelled enough Republicans to hand Harry Reid a victory he couldn’t have dreamed of against any other opponent.

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Nevada’s Sharron Angle distinguished herself in her Senate race by scurrying away from her own press conference when reporters had the audacity to ask questions, opposing abortion even in cases of rape or incest because those things obviously were part of God's “plan” or they wouldn't have happened, declaring that certain government programs are a “violation of the First Commandment,” warning that two American cities are under sharia law, telling a class of Hispanic students, “I don't know that all of you are Latino. Some of you look a little more Asian to me,” and running what was widely believed to be the most racist political ad of the year, all of which repelled enough Republicans to hand Harry Reid a victory he couldn’t have dreamed of against any other opponent.

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Comments

[mdmccormick]

04:09 PM on 01/21/2011

Hi I’m “Michele Bachmann – Amaricas Congress Woman.” Let me start off by saying I could beat President Obama in a physical fight because “Hey, I took karate when I was 17 years old.

One of the main issues I have with President Obama is that he doesn’t say God enough, unlike me God bless me, God bless my wealth, God bless my notoriety, God bell my little people who continue to vote for me, God bless the Tea Party for showing me I am not alone, and finally God bless me. Oh I already said that last one but that’s ok it is the most important thing that God can bless after all.

Well I guess that’s about it, thank you for your continued negativity to all how would dare oppose me.

[tuberider]

04:47 PM on 01/09/2011

What's not funny is that the damage they have done is incalculable...

[onecrazyprogressive]

06:06 PM on 01/01/2011

Sticky: I’m Grateful

http://blackwaterdog.wordpress.com/2010/12/25/im-greatful-2/

All the reason's blackwater­dog44 is grateful for our President.

[GeneralRipper]

01:35 PM on 12/31/2010

Are all these politician Republicans?

[cmm5713]

01:07 PM on 12/31/2010

Great examples of egotistic people being "hung by their own petard!" Keep up the great work.

[panichead]

03:07 PM on 12/30/2010

16 pictures tell a 1000 words!

[opsudrania]

12:21 PM on 12/30/2010

Well a nice finishing touch. Everybody will be happy to recall their achievements. But looking back and judging their failures is a bold task. I admire the self assessment technique. Hope everybody will take the inspiration from.
Wish you all a happy and merry New Year.
God bless
Dr. O. P. Sudrania

[SILVANUS]

05:06 PM on 12/29/2010

Great post, Paul.

[ZubinTomato]

09:59 PM on 12/28/2010

I'm hoping the Founders come out of their graves, trailing mud, weeds and swamp goo, and give each one of these people a personal lesson about the U.S. Constitution, and then a healthy helping of Zombie Payback.

[BigBadMikey47]

05:27 PM on 01/15/2011

We can only dream about such an occurrence.

[kyrose777]

09:57 PM on 12/28/2010

to the shameless named, they see themselves as flawless and will not be deterred :-(

[jwald1]

09:48 PM on 12/28/2010

Great job!

[NickOhio]

10:12 AM on 12/28/2010

With only 41% of the electorate having voted in November, it appears we are headed to even more shamelessness in 2011 and beyond. Those who've been elected to make complete fools of themselves while representing us have increased in number in DC and across the country in state capitals. The US has a sad history of believing those who lie and cheat and spread hatred. Apathy has taken over as the new political party of choice. The right wing, though very small in number, has the loudest voice from the biggest bunch of buffoons seen in our countries' history. We apparently enjoy being led by this minority so much that we have continued time and time again to put people like Angle, Beck, Limbaugh, McCain, and Palin (among many, many others) into the limelight with the intention of having them win their parochial cause(s).

Want to keep them as a minority without control? VOTE!!!!!!

[RobtBrock]

02:38 PM on 12/27/2010

Hee hee. Bush.

[Alex Zhang]

12:28 AM on 12/27/2010

I do think the U.S. government ought to create an independent branch of government whose function is to screen its major political figures for intellectual and personal inadequacies at the basic level. Its format can mimic the supreme court. An independent council will comprise individuals who have been elected for their clarity of judgment, logic, political neutrality (as much as possible), and willingness and patience to analyze lots of media documentation. They are to arrive, by majority vote, on whether any given politician or major media "pundit" demonstrates basic skills that one should have in order to be participating in major political debates in which one's voice has definite sway over a significant portion of the American population: 1) a sense of priority that places the American people’s well-being – and especially their physical well-being – at the top of their agenda; 2) basic listening skills (the ability and willingness to understand all points made against them and to not falsely represent these points); 3) the ability to produce logically sound arguments. The definition of “logic” should be up to this council to decide. Acting as a guide to the American people, this council, rather than censoring politicians, will introduce a much needed level of clarity and objectivity to political debates. Nowadays, one cannot present facts against another without being accused of politicizing facts.

[as promised]

02:30 AM on 12/27/2010

We can dream.......

[Alex Zhang]

09:02 AM on 12/27/2010

Yeah....

[Talab]

07:38 AM on 12/28/2010

Oh come on the republicans would be wiped out as a party under this scrutiny and would never stand still for it

[Alex Zhang]

08:35 AM on 12/28/2010

Well, one can formulate it such that to oppose it, you are essentially opposing "guiding" the American public on objective facts. But alas, the GOP has been able to garner support on stuff people later found they never ever agreed on in...

[rebelriser]

11:23 PM on 12/26/2010

Number one in shamelessness are most media outlets. None of the clowns would have a platform to stand on to deliver their lies & stupidity if it weren't for the media. I'm amazed at their fake seriousness when they talk about people like Palin, Angle, Paul & Miller as reputable candidates. How can they keep a straight face when talking now about the Republicans finding no fault with the deficits they cause with their tax cuts for the wealthy? Have they already forgotten the squealing done by Republicans & TeaBaggers about deficit spending? Geee! I guess they've developed Altzheimers since campaign season. I BLAME THE CONSERVATIVE MEDIA FOR THIS CHANGE OF HEART.