08:00 pm
The Vandenberg and Bricker-Lott Prizes
In the spirit of my last post, I’ve decided to create two new awards here at Undiplomatic:
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The Arthur Vandenberg Prize, (the “Vandy“) for those who embrace bipartisan foreign policy solutions even when doing so might not be popular with or politically convenient for their own side. Named for the late Michigan Republican Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, best known for his support for the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan in the face of pressure from the isolationist wing of his own party.
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The Bricker-Lott Prize, (the “Brickalott“) for those who use foreign policy as a tool to advance ideological or partisan ends, even if it does harm to America’s image, security, or reputation. Named for the late Ohio Republican Senator John W. Bricker, who is best remembered for a series of proposed Constitutional amendments (collectively known as the Bricker Amendment) that would have gutted the President’s ability to enter into treaties and executive agreements, and Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, who in 1998 accused President Bill Clinton of bombing Iraq in order to delay impeachment.
Nominations for both prizes are welcome. And for the record, both President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney hereby receive the Brickalott Lifetime Achievement Award Honor (a.k.a. the “BLAAH“) and thus are ineligible for future consideration. In other words, they would win it every time if we didn’t boot them.
I’d also like to acknowledge that I’ve plagiarized stolen borrowed the idea of presenting such honors from Andrew Sullivan. A big tip of the hat to him, though any inaccuracies, inanities, stupidities, or other problems are entirely my fault.
These awards will be given out periodically — basically whenever someone does something to deserve them. And while I’m calling these prizes, let me be honest with you: nobody is gonna win anything here.
So share your ideas in the comment section below or in that of any other post.
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