The Year That Was 2006
Yes, more awards for 2006. Last year's post is available here.
Best Move of 2006: Ravens trade for Steve McNair
2005 Winner: John Roberts Appointed as Chief Justice
You might expect me to put a political decision for something like this, but given the year that was 2006, nothing could possibly take away from the Raven's acquisition of McNair as the best move of the year. What made the move the best move is twofold; the way the Ravens made the acquisition (waiting until the Titans lost some of their leverage to make the deal) and the impact that McNair has had on the team. There is no way that this Ravens team is 12-3 without him, and you could make the argument that McNair on that basis alone is truly the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 2006 (notwithstanding the argument on whether or not the MVP goes to the player that is most valuable to his team).
Worst Move of 2006: Mel Martinez becomes General Chairman of the RNC
2005 "Winners": Harriet Miers appointed to Supreme Court, Rafael Palmeiro's testimony to Congress
At a time when the party needs to get back to its roots, the Administration selects a centrist Senator who happens to be Hispanic as the party chair. I'm not saying Sen. Martinez is a bad guy, just not the right guy to lead the Republican Party on a national level the next two years, particularly with a candidate experienced at fundraising and party building (Michael Steele) available to lead the way.
Strangest Move: Don Dwyer's May and June
2005 Winner: Martin O'Malley thanks MD4BUSH
In the span of a month, Don Dwyer declared himself a candidate for State Senate, privately withdrew, went on vacation during a Special Session, and dropped out of the Senate race to run for re-election. It doesn't get much stranger than that.
Guy I Feel Bad For: Rick Neuheisel, Ravens Quarterbacks Coach
2005 "Winner": Rick Neuheisel
Rick Neuheisel still can't catch a break. After being passed over last year for head coaching jobs at places like San Diego State and Temple, he winds up not becoming the Ravens Offensive Coordinator when Jim Fassel gets fired and Brian Billick begins calling the plays with tremendous success. For a guy who was a successful collegiate coach, will Neuheisel ever get a chance to be a head coach again in the foreseeable future?
Best Run Campaign(Local Division): Nic Kipke for Delegate(R-31)
2005 Winner: Jeff Holtzinger for Mayor(R-Frederick)
Maybe this is rank homerism since I volunteered for and donated extensively to Nic's campaign, but I couldn't be prouder of the campaign that Nic ran. A grassroots-based effort that required Nic to work incredibly hard both to both raise funds and reach out to voters over the past two years. The hard work paid off. Many campaigns in our area make great use of the resources they have, but none were able to do so as extensively and as successfully as his.
Best Run Campaign(Statewide Division): Michael Steele for U.S. Senate(R)
For a brief period in the closing weeks of the campaign, it really looked like the Lt. Governor was going to pull this off. A lot of people swore that the Lt. Governor had no chance in 2006, and predicted that he would register something closer to what E.J. Pipkin got against Mikulski in 2004 than the 44% he registered against Ben Cardin. We, as a party, need to improve upon that in the 2010 Senate election, but Michael Steele held his own and can remain an important statewide figure in the next four years.
Best Run Campaign(National Division): Barack Obama for President(D-IL)
2005 Winner: Paul Hackett for Congress(D-OH)
How can I give this award to somebody who was not running for office in 2006? Simple; who else has done more for their political career in the last 12 months than Barack Obama? Back in 2004, people said "Hey, this guy could be President some day." Now, a lot of Democrats say "Hey, this guy should run for President now." Add the personality, a voting record that is still relatively empty, a good personal story, and an adoring media and you get a political media sensation probably not seen since RFK. He may, ultimately, not run for President in 2008. But his campaign team has put him in such a good position that he actually has a legitimate shot to secure his party's nomination, and chances like that do not come around to freshman U.S. Senators that often (if at all).
Worst Run Campaign(Local Division): Don Dwyer re-election campaign(R)
2005 "Winner": George Kelley for Mayor(R-Annapolis)
What can be said that I have not already said? If Dwyer had put a little effort into his campaign, he would have saved taxpayers $10,000 for a recount. To be honest, I still don't know how he pulled out a victory. But he did, now leading us into a new realm of contradictions about whether or not he is going to be hell on wheels or "kinder and gentler."
Worst Run Campaign(Statewide Division): Steven Abrams for Comptroller(R)
It was not a good year to be Steve Abrams. First he files for Comptroller, basically admitting he was a placeholder on the off-chance (he insinuated) that William Donald Schaefer was knocked off in the Democratic primary. Then, Abrams proceeded to put in absolutely no effort and finished second to Anne McCarthy. To make matters worse for Abrams, he then managed to finagle his way onto the General Election Ballot as a Republican replacement nominee for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council. You can guess how that turned out. Then, he allegedly slugged somebody in relation to his duty as a Montgomery County Board of Education Member. Not a good year.
To be somewhat fair to Abrams, however, the entire Republican establishment basically abandoned the Comptroller's race, basically assuming that Schaefer was unbeatable and hoping for the best. That didn't turn out so well...
Worst Run Campaign(National Division): Sen. George Allen's re-election campaign(R-VA)
2005 "Winner": Jerry Kilgore for Governor(R-VA)
What can be said about Allen's campaign that has not already been said? A 20 months ago he was the insiders choice as the likely Republican nominee for President in 2008. He started the year as
Unfortunately, all of the worst run campaigns in 2006 (and 2005, for that matter) were for Republican candidates...
Best International Development: Saddam Hussein Convicted and Executed
2005 Winner: Free Elections in Iraq
A jury of Saddam Hussein's peers convicted him of war crimes, and provided an appropriate sentence. It will never undo all of the thousands of people that died at Hussein's hands. But he got exactly what was coming to him.
Worst International Development: Russian President Vladimir Putin begins murdering critics
2005 "Winner": Vladimir Putin's Reforms in Russia
The second straight year that I have noted Vladimir Putin. Why Putin instead of other problems? Because, for better or for worse, Russia remains a long-term player on the international scene merely because of their size, their resources, and their military. Putin seems hellbent on recreating certain aspects of the old Soviet Union, and 2006 saw another slide towards that eventuality.
Worst News of 2006: Democrats take Congress, Government House
It was, in general, not a good year to run as a Republican in 2006. We've talked here a lot about why. 2007 needs to be dedicated to getting back, as a party and as a nation, to where we need to be.
Thanks for reading this year, as stay with us as we enter our third year of blogging in 2007...
Best Move of 2006: Ravens trade for Steve McNair
2005 Winner: John Roberts Appointed as Chief Justice
You might expect me to put a political decision for something like this, but given the year that was 2006, nothing could possibly take away from the Raven's acquisition of McNair as the best move of the year. What made the move the best move is twofold; the way the Ravens made the acquisition (waiting until the Titans lost some of their leverage to make the deal) and the impact that McNair has had on the team. There is no way that this Ravens team is 12-3 without him, and you could make the argument that McNair on that basis alone is truly the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 2006 (notwithstanding the argument on whether or not the MVP goes to the player that is most valuable to his team).
Worst Move of 2006: Mel Martinez becomes General Chairman of the RNC
2005 "Winners": Harriet Miers appointed to Supreme Court, Rafael Palmeiro's testimony to Congress
At a time when the party needs to get back to its roots, the Administration selects a centrist Senator who happens to be Hispanic as the party chair. I'm not saying Sen. Martinez is a bad guy, just not the right guy to lead the Republican Party on a national level the next two years, particularly with a candidate experienced at fundraising and party building (Michael Steele) available to lead the way.
Strangest Move: Don Dwyer's May and June
2005 Winner: Martin O'Malley thanks MD4BUSH
In the span of a month, Don Dwyer declared himself a candidate for State Senate, privately withdrew, went on vacation during a Special Session, and dropped out of the Senate race to run for re-election. It doesn't get much stranger than that.
Guy I Feel Bad For: Rick Neuheisel, Ravens Quarterbacks Coach
2005 "Winner": Rick Neuheisel
Rick Neuheisel still can't catch a break. After being passed over last year for head coaching jobs at places like San Diego State and Temple, he winds up not becoming the Ravens Offensive Coordinator when Jim Fassel gets fired and Brian Billick begins calling the plays with tremendous success. For a guy who was a successful collegiate coach, will Neuheisel ever get a chance to be a head coach again in the foreseeable future?
Best Run Campaign(Local Division): Nic Kipke for Delegate(R-31)
2005 Winner: Jeff Holtzinger for Mayor(R-Frederick)
Maybe this is rank homerism since I volunteered for and donated extensively to Nic's campaign, but I couldn't be prouder of the campaign that Nic ran. A grassroots-based effort that required Nic to work incredibly hard both to both raise funds and reach out to voters over the past two years. The hard work paid off. Many campaigns in our area make great use of the resources they have, but none were able to do so as extensively and as successfully as his.
Best Run Campaign(Statewide Division): Michael Steele for U.S. Senate(R)
For a brief period in the closing weeks of the campaign, it really looked like the Lt. Governor was going to pull this off. A lot of people swore that the Lt. Governor had no chance in 2006, and predicted that he would register something closer to what E.J. Pipkin got against Mikulski in 2004 than the 44% he registered against Ben Cardin. We, as a party, need to improve upon that in the 2010 Senate election, but Michael Steele held his own and can remain an important statewide figure in the next four years.
Best Run Campaign(National Division): Barack Obama for President(D-IL)
2005 Winner: Paul Hackett for Congress(D-OH)
How can I give this award to somebody who was not running for office in 2006? Simple; who else has done more for their political career in the last 12 months than Barack Obama? Back in 2004, people said "Hey, this guy could be President some day." Now, a lot of Democrats say "Hey, this guy should run for President now." Add the personality, a voting record that is still relatively empty, a good personal story, and an adoring media and you get a political media sensation probably not seen since RFK. He may, ultimately, not run for President in 2008. But his campaign team has put him in such a good position that he actually has a legitimate shot to secure his party's nomination, and chances like that do not come around to freshman U.S. Senators that often (if at all).
Worst Run Campaign(Local Division): Don Dwyer re-election campaign(R)
2005 "Winner": George Kelley for Mayor(R-Annapolis)
What can be said that I have not already said? If Dwyer had put a little effort into his campaign, he would have saved taxpayers $10,000 for a recount. To be honest, I still don't know how he pulled out a victory. But he did, now leading us into a new realm of contradictions about whether or not he is going to be hell on wheels or "kinder and gentler."
Worst Run Campaign(Statewide Division): Steven Abrams for Comptroller(R)
It was not a good year to be Steve Abrams. First he files for Comptroller, basically admitting he was a placeholder on the off-chance (he insinuated) that William Donald Schaefer was knocked off in the Democratic primary. Then, Abrams proceeded to put in absolutely no effort and finished second to Anne McCarthy. To make matters worse for Abrams, he then managed to finagle his way onto the General Election Ballot as a Republican replacement nominee for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council. You can guess how that turned out. Then, he allegedly slugged somebody in relation to his duty as a Montgomery County Board of Education Member. Not a good year.
To be somewhat fair to Abrams, however, the entire Republican establishment basically abandoned the Comptroller's race, basically assuming that Schaefer was unbeatable and hoping for the best. That didn't turn out so well...
Worst Run Campaign(National Division): Sen. George Allen's re-election campaign(R-VA)
2005 "Winner": Jerry Kilgore for Governor(R-VA)
What can be said about Allen's campaign that has not already been said? A 20 months ago he was the insiders choice as the likely Republican nominee for President in 2008. He started the year as
Unfortunately, all of the worst run campaigns in 2006 (and 2005, for that matter) were for Republican candidates...
Best International Development: Saddam Hussein Convicted and Executed
2005 Winner: Free Elections in Iraq
A jury of Saddam Hussein's peers convicted him of war crimes, and provided an appropriate sentence. It will never undo all of the thousands of people that died at Hussein's hands. But he got exactly what was coming to him.
Worst International Development: Russian President Vladimir Putin begins murdering critics
2005 "Winner": Vladimir Putin's Reforms in Russia
The second straight year that I have noted Vladimir Putin. Why Putin instead of other problems? Because, for better or for worse, Russia remains a long-term player on the international scene merely because of their size, their resources, and their military. Putin seems hellbent on recreating certain aspects of the old Soviet Union, and 2006 saw another slide towards that eventuality.
Worst News of 2006: Democrats take Congress, Government House
It was, in general, not a good year to run as a Republican in 2006. We've talked here a lot about why. 2007 needs to be dedicated to getting back, as a party and as a nation, to where we need to be.
Thanks for reading this year, as stay with us as we enter our third year of blogging in 2007...
posted by Brian Griffiths at 9:03 AM
2 Comments:
Don Dwyer told a "secret" to Bryan Simonaire. That ruined his Senate aspirations ;)
Even stranger he asked me to resign my position on his staff because I openly opposed his new found friend. I guess my four years could not compete with what BS was offering. Has anyone else noticed that his initials add up to the sum of the man, or is it just me?
Post a Comment
<< Home