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Here on the red carpet at the annual Scoopy Awards, when Joan Rivers yells “Who are you wearing?” to Democrats, the answer is likely to be “Barack Obama, from his coattails collection.”

Yes, it’s time again to honor the awesome, the astonishing and the asinine achievements in local politics. A good many of our honorees distinguished themselves in the national campaign, but Scoop is happy to report local government held its own.

 The honorees are:

Second Act Anvil

Don Vaughan. The former city councilman was ousted from his seat in 2007. But he’s back, baby! Vaughan heads to the state Senate to take Kay Hagan’s place.

The Masochism Mazel Tov

Ben Brown. He recently resigned as deputy county manager but says he plans to go after the soon-to-open county manager’s position. After nearly 22 years in government, he resigned but wants to stay in the game. Good luck!

The Holy War Hosanna

Elizabeth Dole. Kay Hagan may be “godless,” but the state senator and U.S. senator-elect has a seat in Congress come January. Meanwhile, Dole takes home recognition as having launched one of the nastiest political ads in the country — the one that tagged Hagan as “godless” — this campaign season.

The Teflon Man-ager Award

Mitchell Johnson. Try as some council members might, their plans to get rid of Johnson just won’t stick.

The Try, Try Again Trophy

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners. They really wanted to have a quarter-cent sales tax pass. After it lost in May by nearly 3-to-1 in front of voters, it was shot down again in November by more than a 2-to-1 margin. Commissioners haven’t said whether it’ll come back, but Mama Scoop always said “third time’s a charm.”

The Caffeine Cup

Greensboro City Council. This year, their Tuesday night meetings regularly pass the six-hour mark and truck into Wednesday morning. Scoop needs to dial in the coffee and crullers just to keep up with you.

The Ignoble Peace Prize, aka the Can’t We All Just Get Along Award

Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Anderson Groat. We recognize her efforts to promote compromise and fairness among her council colleagues. For whatever it’s worth.

The French Revolution Reward

Former County Manager David McNeill, former Assistant County Manager Ben Brown and former County Attorney Sharron Kurtz. Scoop isn’t sure just what’s going on over there, but heads are rolling at the county and it seems like Commissioners Melvin “Skip” Alston and Steve Arnold have been shouting, “Viva la revolucion!”

The Third Time’s The Charm

The Greensboro swim center bond. Proponents handily won a new $12 million bond-funded pool on the third try with voters this fall. All it took was the good name of the parks and recreation department to help it pass.

The Shining Chalice

Barack Obama. The president-elect first visited Greensboro in March and kept popping back into the state like Jack Nicholson hacking through the bathroom door. And he brought friends such as New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Arizona Sen. John McCain and now Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

Staff writers Mark Binker, Amanda Lehmert, Gerald Witt and the entire Scoop team contributed.