Top 10 Politicians of 2006: A Terminator, Mayor and a Bush, Oh My!

The following is my list of politicians who garnered the most publicity, began making plans for a 2008 presidential bid, or did something extremely stupid in the year 2006. One way or another, they captured my attention and are some of the most well-known names in politics, giving them the huge responsibility of representing the face of American politics and political parties. It will be interesting to see what they do next in the coming years.

10. Florida Congressman Mark Foley resigned from office Sept. 29 of this year after allegations of inappropriate relationships between him and male teenage pages, high-school aged interns at the Capital Building in Washington, D.C. ABC News broke the story after it obtained copies of sexually explicit e-mails and instant messages sent from Foley to the pages. A current investigative panel made up of members of the Congressional Ethics Committee found that Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert and other Congressmen knew enough about the e-mails to confront Foley as early as last spring, but did nothing, allowing the scandal to climax in early September of this year. The Foley scandal, combined with American dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq, helped turn the tide for the November elections that resulted in Democrats regaining control over both houses of Congress. Foley's lawyer has since acknowledged Foley's alcoholism and told the American people that Foley was allegedly molested by a clergyman when he was between the ages of 13 and 15. He also made a statement that Foley is a homosexual. Like it or not, the Foley scandal helped change the status quo in Congress and he garnered a lot of publicity, landing him on my top 10 list.

9. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani recently formed an exploratory committee to gauge potential political support for a 2008 bid to the White House. By forming the committee, Giuliani is able to travel and test support without formally declaring his candidacy. Though I am a self-proclaimed liberal, I may have to rethink my political preferences when casting my vote in the 2008 elections. Giuliani is a rather moderate Republican who supports same-sex civil unions and abortion rights. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Giuliani was dubbed "America's Mayor" and was made Time's Person of the Year for his leadership of the city in the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack on American soil. Early polls show him to be a strong Republican candidate for the office of President.

8. Many thought it was a fluke when Austrian-born actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected California governor. The Republican has easily won re-election and this year, he deliberately distanced himself from the leader of his conservative party, President George W. Bush, which is the single reason Schwarzenegger garnered a spot on my Top 10 Politicians of 2006 list. He even went so far as to blame Bush for neglecting to deal with immigration reform, causing the issue to reach its current proportions in an age of porous borders and global terrorism. Schwarzenegger's popularity has grown to a grassroots movement with the goal to elect him to the office of President in 2008, though Schwarzenegger is ineligible because he is not American-born. Amending the Constitution is the only way Schwarzenegger could become eligible for candidacy.

7. Again, though I call myself a liberal Democrat, I must say that 2004 Democratic candidate for president John Kerry is possibly the worst political candidate to come from the left-wing. After losing both the popular and electoral vote in 2004, Kerry proceeded to make media coverage and public appearances in an apparent effort to re-seek the Democratic nod in 2008. In no way can I see that happening, especially after Kerry made what he called a "botched joke" that was seen as an insult to the troops in Iraq. During a speech in California, he urged students to study hard--"and if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." Though he said the joke was aimed at President Bush during a later apology, the damage was done, and Kerry was forced to cancel a series of public appearances that were supposed to garner support for Democrats seeking re-election in November. That was the smartest move he's made since losing in 2004. Regardless, by wonder of the joke alone, he claims the no. 7 spot on the list.

6. Vice President Dick Cheney made his own headlines this year after accidentally shooting a hunting buddy earlier this year. The apparent secrecy around the incident (Cheney granted just one interview about it) didn't do any wonders for his reputation. I was disappointed to learn that the rumors of his intended resignation following the November elections were untrue. Cheney's involvement in the faulty intelligence reports used to justify the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 is just one of a list of reasons for American dissatisfaction with the war, and his public and political stances on the issue of gay marriage are comparable to the "flip-flopper" image of Kerry, since Cheney has an adult lesbian daughter whom he supports. The White House will be a better, albeit cheerier place once Cheney is out of the picture.

5. John Edwards has been making the rounds again in an apparent bid for the 2008 presidential nod. In my opinion, the talents of this man were greatly under-utilized in 2004, when he was the vice presidential candidate for Kerry. Edwards is a charismatic leader and director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Since losing the 2004 bid and opting to not run for re-election to the Senate, Edwards has campaigned on behalf of such issues as raising the minimum wage rate, housing vouchers for minorities to integrate upper middle-class neighborhoods, and a pilot program called College for Everyone, which guarantees a first-year college scholarship in exchange for 10 hours of work per week. Such ideas and programs could be greatly expanded at the federal level. During a Nov. 14 apperance on the Jon Stewart Show, Edwards hinted that an "exciting announcement" on his website could come within weeks, again hinting at a possible 2008 bid. Keep your ears and eyes open for this rising Democratic star.

4. As the first African American female Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice has made a name for herself as one of the most powerful females in the world. Prior to this position, she served as Bush's National Security Advisor since he took office in January 2001. Though she has faced harsh criticism along with rest of the Bush administration for her role in the faulty Iraq intelligence and the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Rice has remained a strong, decisive leader and face of the Republican party. Though she has repeatedly denied suggestions of a run for President in 2008, Rice has neglected to sign a Sherman Oath ("If nominated I will not run; If elected I will not serve") and several colleagues have said she would accept the nomination should it be offered to her. Since the phenomenon of a female President is still unrealized in America, I would again have to reconsider crossing party lines should Rice's name appear on a 2008 ballot. Nevertheless, Rice is a powerful Republican and powerful woman, catapulting her to no. 4 on my list of Top 10 Politicians of 2006.

3. Junior senator from Illinois Barack Obama has emerged as a viable 2008 candidate for President this year, though he had previously said he would not run. Nothing is definite, but Obama is currently testing the political waters among the likes of Giuliani and Edwards. He is considered by many Democratic insiders to be a frontrunner for the nomination, though competition between himself and other Democratic superstar Hillary Clinton has already garnered media coverage. With the first presidential primary to be held in New Hampshire in little more than a year, Obama is said to be making a final decision in the next few weeks. Even if he chooses not to seek the Presidential nod, look for him to be a strong Vice Presidential candidate, which is why he makes no. 3 on the list.

2. Fomer first lady Hillary Clinton easily won re-election to the U.S. Senate from New York this year. Though speculation as to her 2008 prospects began long ago, they have heated up in recent weeks, as Clinton was said to have been concentrating on re-election and would not make a decision about seeking the presidential nomination until after November. Clinton is a strong, opinionated, well-spoken candidate who is sometimes criticized for her directness and role in the White House during her husband Bill's presidency. Rather than restricting herself to picking out china patterns, Hillary took an active role in her husband's domestic agenda from 1992-2000. As the first First Lady to become elected to the U.S. Senate, Clinton is no stranger to challenging the status quo, and she has my full support should she win the Democratic nomination.

1. Even though I consider him to morally reprehensible with a list of impeachable offenses to his credit, no one can deny the effects of President George W. Bush's tenure on America, making him the no. 1 Politician of 2006. He succeeded in cooking enough intelligence to divert attention from the real culprit behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Osama bin Laden, to the brutal dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein. I have to give him credit for relieving the people of Iraq from under Hussein's murderous thumb, but the November elections results show I am not alone in my dissatisfaction regarding the state of affairs in Iraq. I do want people to know, however, that Bush is not alone in keeping our troops there, and he should not receive all the blame. Congress has the ability, under the Constitution, to force Bush to bring all of the troops home within 30 days. I'm getting off topic here...Bush, naturally, has garnered the most media attention in 2006 and continues to be the face of America to the rest of the world, no matter how embarassing it may be. With his deserving no. 1 spot on my Top 10 Politicians of 2006 list, I can only wait and hope for the day where he doesn't make it in as no. 10.

Here it is, folks. My list of the Top 10 Politicians of 2006 may offend, but these 10 recognizable names form the public face of American politics. Through botched intelligence and jokes, an accidental shooting and a possible Clinton return to the White House, these politicians have been chosen to represent the American people and lead us into the coming years.