In a year of transformational events that included a divisive debate over health care, environmental devastation in the Gulf of Mexico, a tragic Haitian earthquake, and a power shift in Congress, Fox News still managed to manufacture more trauma and fables than any other “news” source, with the possible exception of the Cuckoo’s Nest Weekly Gazette.

After reviewing the cornucopia of crazy from 2010 that best exemplifies the brand of journalistic malpractice perfected by Fox News, I have compiled the year’s top ten ten ways Fox News made an ass of itself and/or its viewers. It is a list that also reveals Fox News to be the go to source for disinformation and the champion of phony hysteria. So without further ado, the winners are…..

In retrospect, it strains credulity to imagine that so many people still take Fox News seriously. This is the network that subjects its viewers to the apocalyptic sermonizing of a weeping conspiracy theorist; the network that dispenses invented crises from the New Black Panthers stealing elections to Islamic extremists constructing victory mosques in Manhattan; the network that twists medical advance directives into death panels and cold weather forecasts into proof that global warming is a hoax; the network whose owner makes million dollar contributions to Republicans and still says it is fair and balanced.

Nevertheless, we can all look forward to 2011 with the certainty that Fox will attempt to fill it with the same sort lies and propaganda that they have made their hallmark. And, consequently, conscientious news consumers, and all patriotic citizens, will have their hands full correcting the record and repairing the damage done to the gullible victims of Foxification.

Have a Happy and Delirium-Free New Year.