To all you folks out there who were competing for Bum Steer of the Year: Didn’t you get the memo? The one that said that the Bum Steer of the Year is supposed to be funny. You know, “funny,” as in “causing laughter.” Not “weird,” like the Astros making it to the World Series for the first time in 44 years of existence and then failing to win a single game. Not “peculiar,” like the price of gasoline. Not “clownish,” like the Texas Legislature’s three failures on school finance. Not “curious,” like the president’s approval ratings and Karl Rove’s grand-jury appearances. Not “bizarre,” like Tom DeLay’s ethics. Not “dubious,” like Michael Irvin’s excuse that the crack pipe cops found in his car belonged to a friend. Not “mocking,” like the constant speculation about whether Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were splitting up (the answer was yes). Isn’t there somebody out there who was supremely funny? Someone who courted disaster? Someone who set the benchmark for failure in 2005? Oyez there is. Congratulations to Harriet Miers, who won no friends and impressed no people before withdrawing as a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court without even getting a hearing. No up or down vote necessary, no filibusters allowed. You’re our Bum Steer of the Year.
