Pulitzer Prizes: The Big Winner

Conservative failure. [1] Tip to young reporters: get on the "How Conservatives Screwed up the Country" beat. It's a seller's market.

Public Service:

Awarded to The Washington Post [2] for the work of Dana Priest, Anne Hull and photographer Michel du Cille in exposing mistreatment of wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital, evoking a national outcry and producing reforms by federal officials.

Investigative Reporting:

Awarded to Walt Bogdanich and Jake Hooker of The New York Times [3] for their stories on toxic ingredients in medicine and other everyday products imported from China, leading to crackdowns by American and Chinese officials.

and

Awarded to the Chicago Tribune Staff [4] for its exposure of faulty governmental regulation of toys, car seats and cribs, resulting in the extensive recall of hazardous products and congressional action to tighten supervision.

National Reporting:

Awarded to Jo Becker and Barton Gellman of The Washington Post [5] for their lucid exploration of Vice President Dick Cheney and his powerful yet sometimes disguised influence on national policy.

Commentary:

Awarded to Steven Pearlstein of The Washington Post for his insightful columns that explore the nation's complex economic ills with masterful clarity.

Steve, who spells his name wrong, has been my go-to guy [6] for understanding one of the signal conservative failures of our time: the subprime crisis. More on that tomorrow.