It was a long year for the cluebats of the world.

As we have proven conclusively, stupidity and cluelessness know no limitations with respect to age, gender, sexual preference (or lack thereof), race, creed, political beliefs, or national boundaries. Face it. There is no hope that idiocy will suddenly disappear from the world so that the rest of us could live in peace, secure in the belief that the loons, goons, and dirty necked galoots would simply go away and leave us alone.

We’re stuck with the louts and there’s nothing we can do about it.

All that being said, our lives would certainly be less interesting without them. And the best way to combat the philistines is to laugh at them or better yet, shine the light of truth on their pomposity, their arrogance, and their sheer, breathtaking, jaw dropping pretentiousness. Pointing a finger and laughing at Iranian President Ahmadinehjad for his anti-semitic idiocy must be only a part of the battle; revealing him to be the dangerous thug that he truly is should be where the real war must be fought and won.

Who’s up for the coveted crown of “Cluebat of the Year?” In the end, I’m sure most of you would agree that there are two major candidates; that nutty professor Ward Churchill and Peace Mom Cindy Sheehan. Each have exhibited those special qualities of cluelessness that cause most of us to tear our hair out in frustration that someone just doesn’t grab them by the shoulders and shake them till their brains are jiggled into a more efficacious place – like a pickle jar in some out of the way curio shop. Failing that, someplace where their limited gray matter, generating as it does such strident lunacy, would garner little attention.

In the end, I had to pick Ward Churchill. Even many on the left have condemned this rogue’s insensitivity and dishonesty. It’s a depressing thought but it appears that Churchill will have more staying power with the press and the hard left than poor Mrs. Sheehan who already is suffering the indignity that all flash-in-the-pan lefty celebrities eventually come to; being ignored. When only 10 people showed up in Spain for her “protest” at the US embassy, the writing was on the wall for the “Madonna” of the peace movement. Like a dirty washrag, she has been tossed aside by her friends on the left once the kleig lights were turned off and the media – still looking for a “catalyst” for the anti-war movement – realized that she was a false prophet.

Don’t worry, they’ll find someone else soon enough.

But Churchill will soldier on. It appears that he will always have a ready made audience on college campuses. And as long as there are lickspittles like Bill Maher wanting to cash in on Churchill’s outrageous points of view and dishonest scholarship, we’ll be stuck with him. Not a pleasant thought, that. But then, as long as the loon is around, I guarantee he’s going to give us plenty to write about.

So for cluelessness above and beyond the ordinary, Ward Churchill has been named the Carnival of the Clueless “Cluebat of the Year.”

This week, several other bloggers have posted their own ideas on who should have finished on top. And we have the usual assortment of head shakers for your reading pleasure. Start clicking and enjoy!

“The wise understand by themselves; fools follow the reports of others”
(Old Tibetan proverb)

I wonder if they get the New York Times in Lhasa?
(Me)

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Mark Coffey has named his “Jackass of the Year.” As Mark correctly points out, “Indeed, it is more as a symbol than a person” that Cindy Sheehan makes his final cut.

From the other side of the political spectrum, Jack Cluth gives us his”Dumba** of the Year.” And I guarantee that both right and left will agree on his choice. Make sure you peruse all of his top ten – true battiness!

Meanwhile, Buckley F. Williams gives his “Person of the Year” to Cluebat Hall of Fame member Ted Kennedy. A good choice for any year.

Jay’s Stop the ACLU (now ranked a cool #14 in the ecosphere) has some good news about a defeat for the suicidal cluebats at the so-called rights group.

Orac has a neat new look to his blog. He still can take down the pseudo-science moonbats with the best of them.

Nice to see Giacomo back participating in the Carnival and he has the perfect clueless subject; Markos Moulitsas, AKA Kos whose interview in Newsweek raised a few eyebrows…as well as some hackles.

Jimmie K has the picture and story for the New Year. A British woman has married a dolphin. No, that is not a misprint. If it were a joke, I wouldn’t even bother but if you read the story, you find out she’s dead serious.

Miriam has a very interesting and thoughtful take on the NSA intercept program.

Soccer Dad goes for the gold and gives a good fisking to…Mr. Fisk!

Adam puts in his two cents on the “Kilt Controversy” that broke out when a student wanted to wear a kilt to “honor his heritage” and a the clueless principal told him he was causing a “disturbance.”

Ferdy the Cat doles out some feline common sense about the NSA website and the cookies it was using to track users. My guess would be that Ferdy prefers cheese to cookies but I may be mistaken.

Frugal Wisdom From Wenchypoo’s Warehouse - that’s the interesting name of the blog – has an old post on disaster preparedness and personal responsibility. Nice writing on an important subject.

Josh Cohen brings us a real jaw dropper on how the federal government is going to help us comply with new rules governing digital TV. Also check out Josh’s post on a kid who was suspended for speaking Spanish in school.

Don Surber has a new look to his site also gives NRO’s Jonah Goldberg a right smart fisking for some clueless commentary on the MSM. Also check out Don’s post on the latest idiocy from the ACLU.

Once More Into The Breach brings us news of Maryland Democrats clueless ideas on healthcare and taxes. Xyba has chosen well.

The lovely and talented Mensa Barbie shows us some media cluelessness that may have escaped your attention.

Matt Johnston slices and dices Kathleen Parker whose clueless rant against bloggers in Townhall generated not a little bit of anger.

Here are your belly laughs for today. Our growing cadre of excellent Carnival satirists will amuse, enlighten, and cause whatever you happen to be drinking to come up through the nose if you’re not careful.

Buckely F. Williams presents ” Farrakhan Garners “Cat Fancy” Honors, Among Others.”

Mr. Right returns to the Carnival with an informative post if you got one of these creatures for Christmas: “The Proper Care and Feeding of Moonbats.”

Conservathink has a match made in heaven: “Dr. Germ and Mrs. Anthrax to wed in quiet civil ceremony.”

And finally, Peace Moonbeam Chronicles gives us a rundown on her Christmas holidays.

Great satire brought to you by The Carnival’s satirists in residence!

Those prescient pachyderms at Elephants in Academia grace us with this post that ended up being linked by James Taranto’s “Best of the Web” and details the cluelessness of the kid who lied about DHS paying him a visit for taking Mao’s Little Red Book out of the library.

The folks at Different River have two excellent articles. The first is a takedown of Carl Levin and his clueless take on the Constitution. Next, they give us a “pox on all your houses” rant against the law in California banning the sale of violent videos. Good thinking. Great writing.

Cao of Cao’s Blog continues her crusade to bring to light the story of Jack Idema and how he was railroaded into prison by both the US and Afghan governments. This post is the second part of an article about a writer who has been spreading some pretty vicious lies about Idema. The first part is here.

AJ at The Strata-Sphere has an update on the FISA war and the paranoid cluelessness of the left.

Mean ole Meany is at his curmudgeonly best in this post about Americans complaining about rebuilding efforts after Katrina. Meany says “Buy a backbone people.” which is good advice any time.

Kender has a new feature on his site: “Liberal Hypocrites and Idiots.” Sort of like a Carnival of the Clueless but with great big sharp teeth and a bigger brain.

The Maryhunter gives us an update on the cluelessness of the UN in dispensing aid to tsunami victims.

The Paperboy has some work-related cluelessness in his post on “New Year’s Anti-Resolutions.”

Finally, here’s my take on MSNBC’s Craig Crawford and his comparison of President Bush to Jack Bauer of 24 fame.