We all have our own ideas of the big winners and losers of 2010 in politics. Here is my choice:
Winners:
1. Barack Obama. Written off after the mid-term elections, a few weeks later he glides, if not exactly walks, on water. Has triangulated faster than Bill Clinton and didn't need the obnoxious Dick Morris to do it, either.
2. Joe Biden. Have you noticed how successful Obama has suddenly become since he designated Biden his go-to guy down at the Senate? That old Irish style of glad-handing really works better than policy wonks pontificating.
3. Chris Christie. Big, fat and in total control. Has struck a chord as the only plain-spoken Republican in the game. He has a quick and lively wit and isn't one of those prune-faced cookie cutter ideologues.
4. Martin O'Malley. Maryland governor had a runaway election victory despite being a Democrat and is now head of the Democratic Governors Association, the same route Bill Clinton took. 2016 anyone?
5. Andrew Cuomo. I mean, how lucky can you get? Strolls into office after the two worst governors in New York history -- and that is saying something. Basic competency will make him look papabile when it come to 2016.
Top Losers 2010
1. Rahm Emanuel. Departs White House and suddenly Obama starts hitting 'em out of the park. Was it Rahm or just bad timing? We'll see when he becomes Chicago mayor.
2. John McCain. Can someone please expose the Manchurian candidate who took over soon after his encounter with Barack Obama? The real John McCain is clearly being held by gay drug smugglers at the Arizona border. His performance on DADT was dreadful.
3. Nancy Pelosi. Historic first woman speaker. Passed health care, lost midterm election (no surprise there). But deciding to come back as Dems leader? Cling, fingernails and power come to mind. Move over, it's over, you're over 70, Nancy.
4. Mitch McConnell. See "prune-faced ideologue," above. Tried to rally troops against DADT and arms treaty, but they deserted him. It must have been his sense of humor.
5. Haley Barbour. Old paradigm: avuncular, folksy, fun guy, great shot in 2012. New paradigm? Nothing but the same old southern code black story.
23 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.peterson | Jan 08, 2011, 01:06 PM EST
You have to be a resident for at least a year to run for Mayo of Chicago. Rahm Emanuel has not lived there for for over two years, but Obama and the Chicago Mob with take care of this !
peterson | Jan 08, 2011, 01:00 PM EST
Obama is the BIGGEST loser the U.S. has ever had !! -- Pelosi ranks a close 2nd. According to recent polls, they both rank as 16% approval !
irishwxman | Jan 02, 2011, 03:38 PM EST
Obama the big winner? Did you not see the Nov elections? That was a total repudiation of Obama and his policies. He was probably the biggest loser. He and Pelosi.
Monsoonman | Dec 28, 2010, 12:18 AM EST
My comments: Andrew cuomo should be prosecuted for his role in the mortgage scandal....Wasn't it a bit more than a month ago we had a landslide election which saw historic losses for the democrats and up until that point joe biden assured his "team" they were going to win big...and you call him a winner?
Morninghours | Dec 28, 2010, 12:04 AM EST
I whole-heartedly agree with the choice of our Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley as one of the winners. He is indeed in good standing to be a 2016 presidential contender. And if you remember Bill Clinton playing sax during his 1992 campaign, just imagine Marty, a proud Irish-American, performing with his Celtic rock band (omalleysmarch.com).
mrkennedy | Dec 27, 2010, 02:46 PM EST
Love it! All 5 of the winners are PRO-ABORTION CATHOLICS????
hancock | Dec 27, 2010, 12:14 PM EST
Teabag? I don't think you're covering yourself in glory either Einstein.
DLW12183 | Dec 27, 2010, 10:39 AM EST
What does have to do with the Irish and Ireland?
DLW12183 | Dec 27, 2010, 08:34 AM EST
Obama runs rings around his detractors, who keep writing him off at their peril.
ClanSheridan | Dec 27, 2010, 08:22 AM EST
Sad to see the comments here from the Teabag crowd. My God, you sound like a bunch of idiots, as usual. Great article, Patrick. Spot on.
ClanSheridan | Dec 27, 2010, 08:21 AM EST
@bronxjames...ummm..."Look at NYC where the jews live". Enjoy your ban from the site, moron.
grimchieftain | Dec 27, 2010, 05:42 AM EST
Obama caves to the Republicans on taxes and gets the non-issue DADT policy bounced for his efforts and you think he's hitting them out of the park? Geez, how desperate are you to make him look good anyway?
ciarrai | Dec 26, 2010, 11:44 PM EST
Oh yeah, btw, what a crappy sexist age bias comment to make about Pelosi. Patrick Roberts is a slut.
McNamara31 | Dec 26, 2010, 08:11 PM EST
ksclatts..The point is,criticize a persons position or actions, but the sexist attack ie "Cling, fingernails" is a totally stupid remark.
kcslatts | Dec 26, 2010, 02:14 PM EST
Mcnamara and Searlit, are you really supporting Nancy Pelosi? You must not be from America, the woman was/is a disaster.
Searlit | Dec 26, 2010, 01:11 PM EST
It's becoming a habit, I agree with MacNamara31.
francisquinn | Dec 26, 2010, 12:46 PM EST
You lieral bent is so obvious....BO's sudden success particulary with the tax cuts is hyproicy as its best...Can you imagine BHO getting credit fot the tax cuts being extended when he was agains the 250 and up.....Patrick Roberts must think we all fell off the turnip up truck....Watch BO's ratings go back to whre they belong....about 44%.
ciarrai | Dec 26, 2010, 11:57 AM EST
What's all the fuss about Chris Christie? He will meet his match when all the talk meets reality in the form of union and public resistance to his austerity ideas. Plus, dressing that guy down in public will not play well. One glaring omission in the list of the top losers of 2010 is the Wizard of Wasilla, Mrs. Palin. That Teflon, nearly impregnable veneer that once caused all Republicans to quake at the thought of appearing to be even slightly at odds with her seems to have begun to wear off. Heck, Mike Huckaby (sp.?) even defended Mrs. Obama from Palin's criticism of her efforts to help American kids from exploding from obesity. Oprah Winfrey says that Palin is charming and nice, but the American people won't fall for her uneducated fake-folksy hokum. Viewership of her "reality show" is way down and her new book will be in a remainder shop near you soon. In other words, her 15 minutes-extended is almost over. So, too, is the effort to use the false patriotism, gunslinger, I'm-more-American-than-Obama baloney, allusions to any male who disagreed with her as "limp" (get it?). You know, the junior high pretty girl who tries to get by on not a lot of smarts, but a lot of cunning, using her looks and all the tyranny that goes with it and a few smartass lines that guys can stand on the side and say "she's tough." Truth is, she's not tough, but she is ruthless and self-promoting to have been able to convince lots of homely, poor Americans that she is one of them. Did she earn $12 or $20 million in 2010? She has attempted to work her con on the poor and those who feel left out and those who don't like the half black POTUS. Her departure will be a welcome breath of fresh air. Let the real pros get started weaving their tapestries of dreams and plans that will never be realized.
miketheminer | Dec 26, 2010, 11:12 AM EST
The press' slobbering love affair with Obama is back on and you fell for it. Patrick!
jdi2269 | Dec 26, 2010, 11:11 AM EST
BIGGEST LOSER....PATRICK ROBERTS....HE'S BATTING 1000 AS IDIOT OF 2010 !!!!!
bronxjames | Dec 26, 2010, 11:11 AM EST
Are all you people on drugs? How's our democracy...oh wait it's disappearing one step at a time. Look at NYC where the jews live and liberals live. The "mayor" decides he wants a third term...ok he makes it a law. The people had no say! He wants only certain foods eaten..People had no say. He is a great friend of osam...i mean obamarama. See the O man will need money and Bloomberg is a multi billionaire...obama go back to russia
JimMcGarity | Dec 26, 2010, 10:29 AM EST
WOW I just wish I was a banker, I might be able to eat,
McNamara31 | Dec 26, 2010, 08:05 AM EST
#6 Loser Patrick Roberts: For his stupid, sexist, comments about Nancy Pelosi. Criticize her work with some substance not this low life anti women "cling, fingernails" garbage.