The Winners

TPM is pleased to announce the winners of the Sixth Annual Golden Dukes recognizing the year’s best purveyors of public corruption, outlandish behavior and The Crazy.

The awards are named in honor of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who epitomizes the iconic modern scandal. Few have so combined public corruption, a betrayal of the public trust and generally shameless behavior. Following his example, 2012 has been a banner year — from virulent outbreaks of The Crazy to David Petraeus’ biographer bingo to the nonstop nonsense that was the 2012 campaign–there’s been a lot to rake.

Our celebrity judges — Alex Pareene, @PourMeCoffee, Marin Cogan, Lizz Winstead and Susie Bright — waded their way through all 35 finalists in 7 categories, and selected the winners.

Check out the lucky nominees and the reader emails that selected them here. To read any judge’s statements (be sure you do), scroll to the end and click on each judge’s name! And now, without further adieu, the winners:

For Best Scandal — General Interest: Mitt Romney for ’47 Percent’

Alex Pareene: Jesse Jackson Jr. @PourMeCoffee: U.S. Secret Service Marin Cogan: Mitt Romney for ’47 Percent’ Lizz Winstead: David Petraeus Susie Bright: Mitt Romney for ’47 Percent’

For Best Scandal — Sex and Generalized Carnality: Scott DesJarlais

Alex Pareene: Scott DesJarlais @PourMeCoffee: Scott DesJarlais Marin Cogan: Paul Babeu Lizz Winstead: Scott DesJarlais Susie Bright: Paul Babeu

For Best Scandal — Local Venue: (TIE) Amy Koch and D.C. City Council

Alex Pareene: Amy Koch @PourMeCoffee: D.C. City Council Marin Cogan: Paul Babeu Lizz Winstead: Amy Koch Susie Bright: DC City Council

For Meritorious Achievement In The Crazy: Clint Eastwood

Alex Pareene: Clint Eastwood @PourMeCoffee: Clint Eastwood Marin Cogan: Clint Eastwood Lizz Winstead: Todd Akin Susie Bright: Donald Trump

For Biggest Campaign Freakout: Republicans for “You didn’t build that”

Alex Pareene: Republicans for “You didn’t build that” @PourMeCoffee: Republicans for “You didn’t build that” Marin Cogan: Republicans for “You didn’t build that” Lizz Winstead: Republicans for “You didn’t build that” Susie Bright: John Sununu

For Most Hilariously Wrong Campaign Prediction: Karl Rove for his election night meltdown

Alex Pareene: Dick Morris @PourMeCoffee: Karl Rove for his election night meltdown Marin Cogan: Jennifer Rubin Lizz Winstead: Karl Rove for his election night meltdown Susie Bright: Karl Rove for his election night meltdown

For Most Over-The-Top Campaign Ad: Mitt Romney’s Jeep ad

Alex Pareene: Priorities USA for ad alleging Romney’s Bain contributed to the death of a husband’s wife @PourMeCoffee: Mitt Romney’s Jeep ad Marin Cogan: Newt Gingrich Super PAC’s King of Bain ad Lizz Winstead: Mitt Romney’s Jeep ad Susie Bright: Pete Hoekstra for an ad featuring an Asian-American actress speaking in broken English against Debbie Stabenow



Click below to read the statements by each judge:

Alex Pareene

@PourMeCoffee

Marin Cogan

Lizz Winstead

Susie Bright