The Year In Review
By Ryan Walsh (01/03/05)
Before jumping impulsively into the New Year, we should take a good, hard look at the last one. Besides, what could be more exciting than recalling and reminiscing all the good, the bad, and the downright bizarre events of 2004? So relax, have a beverage, and get comfortable, as this column presents you the official 2004 political year in review:
Most Important Story of the Year:
The winner of this category, hands down, is the scandal some called “Rathergate.” One can never forget the saintly Dan Rather appearing before the nation on CBS with groundbreaking “documents,” which he wielded gloriously in the air as if he were Moses with the Ten Commandments. “Behold!” Dan shouted, “I hold in my hand the proof of Bush’s disloyalty to his country!” Unfortunately for Dan and rest of the establishment media, the documents were utterly fraudulent. Even worse for the mainstream media, it was a couple of pajama-wearing, net-surfing bloggers who first uncovered the falsity of the memos and made this inconvenient fact known to the public.
Although it seemed a lot of people in the press became depressed after this scandal had fully ravaged its way through the media outlets, I think the story sent a positive message to the folks at home: Yes, all it takes is a computer, some common sense, and a dose of healthy skepticism, and even you can take down the big shots at CBS!
Biggest Financial Disappointment:
Remember George Soros? He’s that billionaire currency trader who, incidentally, is also a wacko leftist. Genuinely believing that Bush represented a 21st century Hitler and that a continuation of his rule would only result in further institutionalized evil, Soros pledged his every last penny to elect Senator Kerry. I guess that didn’t work out so well.
To the list of things money can’t buy, I suppose you can now add “the presidency.”
The Funniest Thing to Appear on C-Span:
When describing it to someone who has never heard it, one is tempted to describe it as sort of a primal scream – a scream one would expect to hear out of the mouth of some flying reptilian monster or dinosaur. Yup, you guessed it: I’m talking about Howard Dean’s infamous scream before a gathering of supporters in Iowa. Although the scream by itself was undoubtedly impressive and funny, the “remixes” that later emerged on the internet were freakin’ hilarious! Being an official “Dean Scream” remix aficionado myself, I must say that the “Welcome to the Jungle” (Guns ‘N Roses) and the disco/dance remixes are my favorites.
Most Memorable Political Gaffe:
“I actually voted for the $87 billion, before I voted against it.” Funnier that the actual quote was watching Democrats defend it. “No, no, you don’t understand,” they instructed, “senators frequently vote against a measure they support if it appears in a bill they disagree with.” Yes, that’s understood, but regardless, Kerry once said that voting against the $87 billion supplemental for the troops would be “irresponsible.”
Apparently, it didn’t matter what Kerry said. Democrats saw his vote as a harsh rebuke of an administration that had got the country involved in an unnecessary war, and dang it, that was good enough for them!
Most Underreported Story of the Year:
Remember that one time former national security adviser Sandy Berger stole classified documents from the National Archive by stuffing them down his pants? That’s okay if you don’t. Considering the scant media coverage it received, the story apparently wasn’t that big of a deal to the national press. After all, like with every other Clinton-related scandal, it was probably right that the nation simply “move on.”
Saddest Story of the Year:
A lot of us will never forget the day Reagan died. It was one of those rare moments when, like on 9/11, Americans put to rest their petty partisan disagreements and saluted one of our history’s greatest symbols of American character.
(Printer friendly version) Email: Ryan Walsh
