The U.S.-based online political news outlet Talking Points Memo chose the winners Thursday of its seventh annual Golden Dukes awards, “recognizing the year’s best purveyors of public corruption, outlandish behaviour and The Crazy.” And despite the news site’s American focus, 2013 was a banner year for Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
Ford took three-and-a-half of a possible seven awards this year, tying with failed New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner in the category of Best Scandal – Sex and Generalized Carnality (no doubt Ford’s domestic dining habits helped him compete with the sexting Carlos Danger). Ford’s other accolades are for having the best local scandal, the best general scandal, and outstanding achievement in corruption-based chutzpah.
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According to editor Josh Marshall, a delegation is visiting Toronto early in January to deliver the golden statuette, made in the image of the California congressman who is its namesake.
“This isn’t like Gawker. We’re not showing up unannounced and meeting with drug dealers in some parking lot,” Marshall wrote on TPM over the weekend. “This is a public delegation arriving in your city on public business.”