Sycophant of the Year, 2009

The sycophancy story of 2009, without a doubt, is the spectacular rise, and equally spectacular fall, of Trevor Taylor.

For the first time in his Danny Williams-Government career, Triv took the monthly award in April, and held it for six consecutive months – a streak that only ended when his political career did. His achievement is second only to Joan Burke’s eight-month run in 2007-08. He even managed to clinch the monthly award for September, despite pulling the plug on himself with a week left to go in a short month.

Otherwise, 2009 was the year of the first-time champeen. Paul Oram’s first, and last, monthly title came in February, albeit on a technicality, and yes, the Labradore statistical department was as surprised as anyone to find that Oram hadn’t ever won before. The following month it was Ross Wiseman’s turn on the podium, another personal first – though he’s still around to try for another run for the brown rose.

Susan Sullivan got her name on the wall of fame in October, only the second Class of ’07 cabinet minister (after Jerome!) to do so. And in December, it was finally Tom Hedderson’s turn in the spotlight.

Not only did Trevor Taylor hold the title for half the year, he blew the competition out of the water in terms of total points. Overall sycophancy was up numerically, with 125 press releases giving praise to the Williams Government, compared to 108 in 2008. Much of that increase is owed to the Transportation and Works comms shop, who delivered 39 points for Triv before his abrupt departure. They also helped shepherd six and four onto the board for the two Toms, Hedderson and Marshall respectively, helping them land third and fourth place in the annual tally.

Action off the playing field made for an interesting year, from a sycophancy perspective, as well. That included Kevin O’Brien’s bizarre dream of a perpetual Weekend at Danny’s; Paul Oram’s slightly cute, and partly sad, but mostly creepy, description of the Dear Leader as his “father figure”; and the utter inutility of the Speaker in the face the over-eagerness, in violation of Parliamentary procedure, on the part of so many backbench (and frontbench) government MHAs, to praise Him by Name.

Still, with over 30% of the annual score standing in his name as lead minister, 2009 clearly belonged to Trevor Taylor. The turmoil in the monthly games since his departure, with three new title-holders in as many months, only confirm his stature on the playing field. Who knows what star will emerge, or re-emerge, as 2010 rolls out on a go-forward basis?

Your 2009 Sycophant of the Year: Trevor Taylor. Congratulations, Triv! And best wishes!