Jim: Winner for Most Over-Reported Story: I should say Foley, but I was invited on CNN to discuss the scandal twice, so I’m actually not complaining about that. So I’ll talk about the topic I didn’t get a chance to appear for, the biennial complaint about “all these negative ads” – when year after year we see that negative ads actually persuade and motivate voters. The negative ads will stop when they stop working; voters have no one to blame but themselves.

Marshall: I don’t actually think the Foley story was overreported. It was significant, complex, with bunches of moving parts and impacted the highest levels of Congress.

It’s George Allen’s macaca moment that takes the prize. The ever resourceful Washington Post — at least when it comes to defeating Republicans in local races — hyped the story at least once a week between Labor Day and Election Day, offering front page coverage so often one wondered if there was anything else going on in the world. It’s columnists flogged the story so much that they had blisters on their typing fingers. It was shoddy, agenda journalism from a newspaper that I very much like and respect. And it was the most over-reported story of the year.

Cam: I know we’re not supposed to repeat, but I’m with Marshall on this one. The repetitive macaca story, even after the apology was issued, drove me nuts. My runner up over-reported story is anything involving Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, or any other celebrity. Who the hell is buying all of these celebrity-based magazines?