Alan K. Henderson's Weblog

Voting is still open. There is one that particularly interestes me, which is defined here (emphasis added):

The Yglesias Award is for writers, politicians, columnists or pundits who actually criticize their own side, make enemies among political allies, and generally risk something for the sake of saying what they believe.

The operative word is risk - the statement has to entail political risk. That right there should disqualify Michelle Malkin, nominated for her post titled The warrantless wiretap retreat:

Bush administration = Lucy. Bush administration defenders = Charlie Brown.

(Actually, that remark could apply to Bush's amnesty-for-illegals program.)

If this had been said by an actual member of the Bush administration, then this statement would definitely entail political risk. But Malkin is a pundit, so if any risk is being taken it's among her peers - her fellow conservative pundits. They seem to be pretty divided over the issue, if the Captain's Quarters post on the issue is any indication.

Fred Barnes qualifies even less:

The recipe for Republicans is to stop acting like, well, Republicans--that is, Republicans of recent vintage. In Congress, they've been soft on earmarks, the source of so much corruption. They practically invited Democrats to trump them on ethics and lobbying reform. And they've allowed their obsession with illegal immigrants to get out of hand. This drives away Hispanic voters and leaves the impression that Republicans are small-minded, ungenerous and nasty. The worst offenders are the presidential candidates, who would be wise to tone down their rhetoric on immigration,

Barnes is editor of The Weekly Standard. The conservative media (and conservatives in general) are even more in line with this remark than woth the Malkinator's.

I wouldn't vote for Christian Broadcasting Network journalist David Brody, either - his dissing of people for "demoniz[ing]" Hillary would carry some weight if he'd provided at least one specific example.

Paul Jenkins is one of the stronger contenders - criticizing the Clintons is the Kiss of Death ™ in most of the leftysphere. Matt Taibbi is another - I wonder if he gets many invites to those Upper West Side cocktail parties...

Labels: Blogs, Media, Politics