Dem
51
GOP
49
Last week, we asked readers to let us know which person they regard as the most deplorable of 2023. The only person we declared to be off-limits is Donald Trump, since he's a deplorable immortal.
We are going to give a top five (bottom five?), but first some runners-up, with reader comments:
Joe BidenD.A. in Brooklyn, NY: Joe Biden. I could have said Bibi Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin, but they are from an unholy trinity of "Immortal Deplorables." Joe Biden. Joe, Joe, Joe. How could you allow the slaughter in Gaza? You may be a "nowhere man," but you're better than that. How could you?Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)D.E. in Lancaster, PA: Since Trump is off limits—I prefer the term "Uber Deplorable"—the field is really wide open. But on some small amount of contemplation, I have to go with Matt Gaetz. First, there were all the tawdry accusations concerning sex trafficking with underage girls and rumors of drug fueled orgies—funny how that whole thing just petered out. Second, Gaetz' role as chaos agent and showboater for the entire speakership debacle. Lucky for the country that no enemy or terrorist attack, when we would have needed a functioning House of Representatives, happened during his little spite-induced theater. Lastly, you have to admit that if you had to pick a face that just begs to be punched, that Gaetz would top that list as well. Here's wishing he slithers back under that rock someday real soon!Joe Lieberman
R.L. in Easton, CT: While I am pleased for anything that demonstrates to the country exactly how and why our current Republican party is unfit to lead, Matt Gaetz hurt the country by forcing out the speaker. It was a silly vanity exercise that hurt his party, the Congress and the country by wasting valuable time, forcing out of power one of the few grown-ups in the room among Republicans in Congress, and making getting things done even harder.M.U. in Seattle, WA: Joe Lieberman is hands down the most deplorable and despicable person of the year. A man so self-serving and smug he makes Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) seem demure. The mere mention of his name makes me want to throw up a little bit. (Barf!)Texas AG Ken Paxton (R)
If we go back in time we have a man who was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000 (why, Al Gore, why?) and then only 8 years(!) later was speaking at the Republican National Convention—that's after he said to the Democrats in his state of Connecticut that he didn't give a damn about their preference in the primary and "became" and ran as an independent. Then we have him to thank for single-handedly killing the public option under Obamacare. Thanks, Joe! (Gag!)
OK, none of that happened in 2023, so how did Lieberman (retch!) deserve the title of most deplorable? Simple: He is responsible for, and is the leading voice of, No Labels—the vacuous, inane, stupid, ridiculous, delusional and dangerous campaign to elect a "common sense" centrist to the White House, which may help to elect DJT to a second term and begin a rise of barbaric fascism in this country. I'm sure Lieberman thinks the word "centrist" is sexy. (Vomit!) Joe (Ack!) can do this whole country a favor and go the hell away and let the rest of us who are serious about politics (and loyal to our party) sort sh... stuff out.M.S. in Washington, DC: For filing the emergency petition to stop Katie Cox from being able to have an abortion that I would think even most pro-lifers would support.The Entire Republican Party
P.P. in Denver, CO: For his forced birtherism.S.A. in Clinton, WA: There is no way to choose just one. I have binders full of deplorable people. If forced to choose, I would pick the entire Republican party. There is not a single one of them I would want to have a beer with.
B.H. in Southborough, MA: Damn, you took my low hanging orange fruit. Beyond that douchebag, it would have to be every GOP member who currently supports Trump.
And now, the top/bottom five, from least to most deplorable:
5. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX)S.K. in Jackson Heights, NY: His willingness to use human beings as political pawns is vile.4. Rudy Giuliani
R.L. in Los Angeles, CA: Why? Because he is more under the radar than Ron DeSantis (also deplorable), and is consistently playing with people's lives by busing asylum seekers around the country.
P.W. in Tulalip, WA: Due to his hardline stances and his actions against personal autonomy and against immigrants (illegal border "security" and his bussing fiascos).A.G. in Scranton, PA: Mr. Noun-Verb-9/11 himself, Rudy Giuliani, for having ruined the lives of two decent Black women who only wanted to help their fellow Americans be able to vote, simply so he could score some points with Orange Jes-s.3. Elon Musk
A.H. in Atlanta, GA: After losing the civil defamation suit, he continued to defame Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman, two innocent women who just wanted to exercise their voting rights and help out with the election in the time of a pandemic.
P.K. in Marceline, MO: He is the face of sleaze in 2023.M.M. in Alexandria, MN: He has the ability and resources to improve the human condition like no one else in the history of the world. Instead, he decided to become the wealthiest TROLL in the history of the world. The Galaxy Weeps...2. Benjamin Netanyahu
A.R. in Los Angeles, CA: Between turning Twitter into a festering cesspool and threatening to shut down satellites Ukraine needs for survival, this man needs to be stopped.
P.L. in Denver, CO: Here is a man who is clearly bright and visionary who has done some very good things. He takes his billions and spends it on a stupid app that can be used for good and instead he uses it as a playground for his demented views. He is rude and obnoxious and can be hateful. Some years ago I was a fan and thought at some point I would buy a Tesla. Now I don't want to give that man a penny.S.W. in New York City. NY: Killing thousands of innocent civilians, and more than half of them children, is unforgivable.1. Vladimir Putin
S.A.K. in Karnataka, India: That name was synonymous with untold misery, pain and destruction in 2023.
R.M. in Baltimore, MD: We knew he was personally corrupt, would do anything to keep in power, that he abuses his power as a leader and is cruel to the non-voters (i.e. Palestinians), but he has taken that abuse to whole new heights with outright slaughter of Palestinians by bombs and not allowing foreign aid to be fully received. Genocide is a powerful word but he is moving Israel in that direction.D.N. in Hyattsville, MD: I'll vote for Vladimir Putin.
During 2023, you discussed most of the reasons here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
E.K. in Portland, OR: The most deplorable person on the Earth has been, and continues to be, Vladimir Putin, for the continuing attempted genocide in Ukraine and for the continuing damage he does to democracies around the world. He also has his hand in helping and encouraging many bad actors, from Africa to Iran and the Middle East.
It will be a great day when he is no longer a threat to the world. The best thing for humanity would be for him to face justice at The Hague, but him "accidentally" falling out of a Moscow high-rise would also be a positive development for the human race.
Here's hoping.
J.M. in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada: His continued attempts to conquer the State of Ukraine, his denying of statehood to Ukraine as a concept, his (arguable) genocide, his intentional targeting of civilians, rape, torture, forced abductions, forced population transfer, Bucha, his nonsensical reasons to justify the war, and all other manner of war crimes.
His propping up his fellow dictators Bashar al-Assad and Ali Khamenei, his murdering his own citizens, his treatment of Alexei Navalny especially, his support for North Korea, his support for the PRC and their genocide against the Uyghurs.
Not even getting into everything he has done to Russia internally and the Russian people.
The next entry will be a bit more uplifting, as it will cover the most admirable people of 2023. There's still time to weigh in; send messages to comments@electoral-vote.com with subject line "Most Admirable." Don't forget to include your initials and city! (V & Z)
The other three schools are Ohio State, UCLA and Florida.