The Inaugural "Golden Screw-Up" Award

We used to have a dubious trophy at work constructed of a gold-plated screw and a block of 2x4. We called this trophy "The Golden Screw-up Award" and had lots of fun passing it around to each other when someone, well, screwed up. I was the not-so-proud recipient of the award on many occasions, some work related, some personal.

Then one day, a new boss came in and told us this award created a "threatening and hostile atmosphere," doled out some corporate discipline, and made us give up the trophy. So, of course, in a last act of rebellion, we made the new boss the final recipient of the Golden Screw-up Award. At least, those brave enough to get fired... I wanted my job, so I shut up and pretended I didn't know what was happening.

In honor of my old compatriots, and in a desire to do something that will give me an easy post once a week, I have decided it is time for a rebirth of The Golden Screw-up Award, paying appropriate tribute to one national or international figure/group for their attention-worthy action(s).

As a side note, I was going to make Al Gore a perpetual nominee, but this week he announced he wouldn't run in 2008, so I'll cut him some slack.

Our nominees this week:

Arkansas Judge Jimm Hendren, who disallowed mention of the Constitution in a court case.


Liberal columnist Molly Ivins, but since she died this week, I'll remove her from consideration.

The entire Detroit Lions organization for achieving the worst record in professional football over the last seven years.

This one is a no-brainer. The winner is...

Arkansas Judge Jimm Hendren, a man who threw the Constitution out the window!

The lights are going out all over the United States. Another one went out Jan. 12, when “Compassionate Conservative” Judge Jimm Hendren kicked the Constitution (U.S. and Arkansas) out of his courtroom by disallowing its mention, then made the jury leave the courtroom during Wayne Fincher’s own reasoned, knowledgeable defense of his militia and his weapons. Evidently the judge believes he knows the law (arbitrary unconstitutional laws passed by Congresses), and juries don’t (they might question some statutes violating constitutionally guaranteed rights?), and so he decided what they may hear and what they may not (judge and jury?), according to the desires of the federal prosecutors.

Congratulations, from all us peons around the country.

pe·on [pee-on] - noun
any person of low social status, esp. one who does work regarded as menial or unskilled; drudge.