Year End Awards

Here it is, the official Environmental Republican Year End Awards (TM). The winners were compiled using absolutely no scientific methods and they will receive the same thing they did last year...nothing. I can come up with a certficate if they wish. No site can be in two categories and the final selections are determined by me and me only.

Let's begin:

Glenn Reynolds Award for Blog of the Year-The blog that had the most impact on the blogosphere throughout 2005. Glenn Reynolds is disqualified because he would win each and every year so I just named it after him, same as all the others with their name on awards..

First Place-Michelle Malkin: Michelle covered every story with numerous links and solid reporting.
Second Place-Protein Wisdom: PW had well-thought out opinions and incurred the wrath of the left with a quick wit and biting humor.
Third Place-Captains Quarters: His reporting on the Canadian scandals and the fall of that governmenthad me actually caring about Canadian politics.

The Iowa Hawk Funniest Blog Award-The blog that was on top of the news with humor and commentary. Iowa Hawk would win this every year so, again, I've named it after that great site.

First Place-Ace of Spades: Ace includes and excellent mix of humor and insight into every post. A great daily read.
Second Place-Scrappleface: Scott Ott is satire at its finest. His posts are timely and have me laughing out loud.
Third Place-The Nose on Your Face: Maybe a little RINO bias here, but posts like this made this decision easier.

The Powerline Award for (Conservative) Political Commentary-This award is for the bloggers who can take a policy issue and make sense of it for everyone else.

First Place-Tigerhawk: Good commentary on a wide variety of issues makes this blog a daily must-read.
Second Place-Red State: An excellent group site that links to news you would otherwise miss.
Third Place-Right Wing News: John Hawkins is witty and smart. A good source of news from all over the blogosphere and web.

The Mickey Kaus Award for (Liberal) Political Commentary-This award is for the bloggers on the left who are still irritating, just less so.

First Place-Josh Marshall: Informed political commentary by a man who knows how to write and get his point across. I find him misguided at times but always readable.
Second Place-Donkey Rising: Sensible writing spelling out what the Donks need to accomplish to again be the majority. I hope none on the left stop their "Bush=Hitler" rhetoric long enough to read this site because he has a very clear view of the state of the Democratic party.
Third Place-Liberal Avenger: Liberal lunacy at its finest. However, take a second to read the comments and you just may find some nuggets of well thought out dialogue.

The Best Blog That Doesn't Exist Anymore Award-This award is for blogs I read daily but their authors had things impede on their time like jobs and kids and stuff.

First Place-Arthur Chrenkoff: His Good News From Iraq/Afghanistan pieces were a model of just how good one guy and a computer can be. He is sorely missed.
Second Place-Michele Catalano/A Small Victory: Michele still posts pictures and some comments, but the daily posting has reached its end.
Third Place-The Diplomad: The guy shot across the blogosphere like a meteor and then quit. He gave us great on the spot reporting about events in Indonesia during the tsunami and good insight to the thinking (or lack of) at "Foggy Bottom".

The Best New Blog Award-This award is for the blogs that were started in 2005. There's probably many really good ones out there, however, these are the new blogs I like the most.

First Place-Cardinal Martini: Kipper has something for everyone; humor, news and sports. A daily read of this fellow RINO is highly recommended.
Second Place-The Recovering Democrat: Or known around these parts as the Recovering Donk. A great site by a wriyer who reads alot of news sources and bloggers.
Third Place-Louisiana Libertarian: Kevin Boyd's posts about Katrina and the aftermath, as well as political happenings in the bayou has been excellent.
Honorable Mention-ANIMALS: My son's blog. Hmm, three fellow RINO's and my boy, no favoritism here whatsoever. This was the toughest category to pick a winner from.

The James Taranto Award for Best Blog By A Professional Writer-This award is for those who write for other sources yet still find enough words to blog.

First Place-Michael Yon: Michael has provided the best in-depth coverage of events as they are happening in Iraq. He's been what all of us want the MSM to be; honest and non-partisan.
Second Place-Tim Blair: In any other year, Tim would've won this award flat out. His site is the first place I go every morning. Thanks to Tim, I know more about Aussie politics than I ever wanted to.
Third Place-James Lileks: This award could easily have been called the James Lileks Award as he is among the best writers in America. If only a major paper were smart enough to put him on their editorial page or at least publish his Newhouse pieces weekly.

The Charles Krauthammer Award for Political Commentary (non blog)-This award is for those who write for a living. Generally their pieces are linked within minutes and cut and pasted through numerous blogs. The criteria for choosing these writers was simple, every time I read one of their essays, I say to myself: "Damn, I wish I could write like that."

First Place-Mark Steyn: Steyn churns out a multitude of excellent essays every week. His writing style and wit can make even the most numbing policy decisions or political issue easily understandable and interesting.
Second Place-Max Boot: Writing in the ultra left-wing L.A. Times, Max has balanced a seriously partisan editorial page. Let's see, Max Boot or Robert Scheer? I think the Times made the correct decision. The outrage of the lefty looneys only confirms this.

The Mudville Gazette Award for Military Blogging-From guys in the "Sand Box" to veterans and other active duty and reservists, there are some excellent MilBlogs out there.

First Place-Smash: With a new look and more contributors, the Military Outpost site is an excellent blog for all things military.
Second Place-ARGGHHH!!-Smart and funny posts even though they are not of the caliber of the much smarter guys who've served in the Navy.
Third Place-Blackfive: Another circumstance where the award could have been named for a winner. Exclellent military commentary.
Honorable Mention: Dude, Wheres The Beach?

Update:
Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Indymedia Watch. The Watcher spends alot of hours wading through the swamps of Indymedia. If I spend five minutes there I need a shower. So, in light of his underappreciated work, I hereby bestow this award to a good man who has the patience and stomach to deal with the lunacy that is Indymedia. Congratulations my friend.

That's it. To those I left out I say sorry. Feel free to comment on my choices.