This is a nomination for Bright Green’s Dick of the Year 2011 award by Daniel Key. To submit your nomination email 200 (or so) words to editors (at) brightgreenscotland (dot) org.

Ah yes, Sarah Palin. Who can forget when her folksy charm first hit our TV screens at the last US Presidential Election? As John McCain’s running mate, she argued that Alaska’s proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience and helped push the new far-right, “Drill, Baby, Drill” policies of the Republican Party. Sarah Palin then showed her gold digger side by spending $150,000 of party funds on clothes for her family.

Since the failed election campaign and after stepping down as Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin took her charming views on gun ownership, abortion, same-sex marriage, capital punishment and other topics to Fox News. She then used this prime-time television appearance to push the influence of the Tea Party that has recently been astroturfing American politics. Sarah Palin was (seemingly) building up to run as a Republican Presidential Candidate, releasing a book, constantly criticising Barack Obama and visiting states where candidates were campaignin.

However, just two months ago Sarah Palin officially choose not to run in the presidential election race. While this is good news for world at large, it’s a smack in the face to her supporters, who received this letter in a fundraising drive a few weeks before her announcement:

“Gov. Palin is on the verge of making her decision… Someone must save our nation from this road to European Socialism. Do you think it should be Gov. Palin? If so, can you send your best, one-time gift to SarahPAC today to help her elect more common-sense conservatives – and show her that we support her if she decides to run?”

Sarah Palin has effectively used her position as a money making scheme, abusing the position of trust she has with her supporters. SarahPAC, her political action committee, now has $1.4 million that can be spent any way Sarah sees fit.

For having disgusting political views, duping her supporters into donating to her ‘campaign’ and destabilising world geo-politics by leading the polarisation of American politics, Sarah Palin is a clear frontrunner for 2011’s Dick of the Year.

P.S. And I didn’t even go into her religious views – check here. Credit to the amazing  Hadley Freeman for many of the details.