In the news business, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is known as dead week. There is news, of course, but it generally centers around the weather, natural or man-made disasters. And, then, of course, are the year-end reviews to fill space. Among these noble efforts, all existing in the minds of the individual authors, is the Remmers Report annual awards ceremony where the trophies are named to fit the crimes.
As is our custom, we begin the show on a serious side. The two stories with the most significant impact on so many lives were:
Top News Story No. One — The Haitian earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people, left 1.3 million homeless and despite humanitarian efforts, recovery mostly failed where today, 11 months after the Jan. 13 temblor, thousands more die each week because of an outbreak of cholera. If ever there was a people cursed by a God, the Haitians may be it.
Top News Story No. Two — The BP oil blowout disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. This was the most under reported, poorly reported story in the history of man-made monumental screw-ups. Rather than beating a cemetery of dead horses, I will honor one person who made sense of it all — Bob Cavnar of the Daily Hurricane website and author of “Disaster on the Horizon.”
And, now let the games begin.
Newsmaker of 2010 — Sarah Palin. I hoped she enjoyed her 15 months of fame on Facebook and Twitter and Fox News and Dancing With the Stars and TLC, because her star is falling. Fast. My source? Karl Rove.
Most Influential — The Tea Party. Despite their fragmentation, bigotry, naivete and spouts of stupidity, they did manage to capture the American fear and mood of the times: Limited government.
Dumbest Political Rule — The Tea Party. To refuse to compromise for crafting legislation is a direct route to failure. Compromise is to successful political governance as compromise is to a successful marriage, which, if I understand them correctly, is something the Tea Party favors.
Biggest Winners — The Republican takeover of the House and a majority of state houses.
Biggest Losers — The Democrats.
The Great White Hope — President Obama during the lame duck days of the 2010 Congress.
Best Political Ad — Delaware Tea Party Republican senatorial candidate Christine O’Donnell’s “I am not a witch.” Most of us were relieved to hear that, but the second part of her ad intro: “I am you” scared the crap out of me and most of the voters in Delaware.
Best Tea Party Interviewee — Sharon Angle. The Nevada senatorial candidate thought the press ought to be her private Pravada propaganda weapon.
I’ve Got A Secret — New Speaker John Boehner naming Michele Bachmann to the intelligence committee.
Lamest Excuse — New York Democrat Charlie Rangel. Uh, Charlie, just because you are 80 and been in Congress for 40 years doesn’t mean you are excused from paying taxes.
Worst Decision — The U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United.
Biggest Chicken — Congress for failing to require transparency in financial reporting laws truncated by Citizens United.
Best Reporting of China, U.S. Relations — Saturday Night Live. (Clue: How far can you bend over?)
Best Reporting of the 9/11 First Responders Act — Jon Stewart of the Daily Show on Comedy Central.
Don’t Let A Fact Get In The Way of a Good Story — Fox News.
Cry Me a River — Glenn Beck.
Take Your Job And Shove It — All of Keith Olbermann’s special comments on MSNBC’s Countdown.
Best Government Fiscal Spending Shakedowns — Jake Tapper of ABC and Anderson Cooper of CNN (tie).
Best News on TV — A report that reality shows are on their last legs.
It is only fitting that an old time radio show be my closing lines for 2010. It comes from the fertile minds of the writers and comics Burns and Allen.
“Say, good night, Gracie,” George says.
“Good night Gracie,” Gracie says.
Jerry Remmers worked 26 years in the newspaper business. His last 23 years was with the Evening Tribune in San Diego where assignments included reporter, assistant city editor, county and politics editor.