The Young Turks

This guy's got balls of steel (again, not in the sexual way (how many times can I say this before someone questions how many times I'm saying it)). He voted against the original Patriot Act shortly after 9/11 because he thought it took away too many constitutional rights. He was exactly right. And he was the only one. The final vote 99-1.

Later stood up to the president on warrantless wiretapping, the Iraq War, the Military Commissions Act and just about every other terrible, illegal and un-American idea that this president has had. It doesn't get any better than this. I'd take a bullet for this guy.

2.    Al Gore

How many things does he have to be right about and how many elections does he have to win before we actually make him president? His stance on global warming is great, but I think it pales in comparison to the speech he gave on the constitution a year ago. No one has been more brave or more accurate in describing the real dangers to our constitution. A real American hero.

3.    Alec Baldwin

He is a highly rated actor - and still the most under-rated actor in the country. It's hard to be under-rated when you're already this highly rated. But he pulls it off because he actually deserves the #1 power ranking. He is as powerful an actor as you will find (if you haven't seen his speech in Glengarry Glen Ross you haven't really seen American cinema). He is also absolutely hilarious (30 Rock and actually the absurd but entertaining The Edge - "yes, but what are we going to do?!")

4.    Gilbert Arenas

He has shot up the list (appropriately I suppose - he is a shooting guard for the Washington Wizards). The first guy to have this much fun in the public arena since Charles Barkley was causing havoc as the Round Mound of Rebound.

He has fun, he says goofy things, he is completely unconventional and he secretly helps the community more than any other player. Hibachi!!!

5.    Charlie Sheen

I know I'm a bad guy. But he's so bad, it's hard not to like him. Come on, who openly admits they go to prostitutes? I think he's on here because I have the sense that he doesn't give a shit what women think about him, and it works. The common theme on this list is guys who have guts. You gotta give him this, Charlie takes bold action.

Plus, he's funny. I know I'm gay for liking Two and a Half Men, but I do.

6.    Bill Clinton

Take one look at President Bush. And then remember how good we had it under Bill Clinton. Balanced the budget, won the war in Kosovo without a single US casualty, reformed welfare and at least tried to bring peace to the Middle East instead of doing the exact opposite. And he got blown in the Oval Office by an intern. That's obviously cool. If Monica was hotter, Bill would have been a couple of notches higher on the list.

7.    Clive Owen

How bad is this guy? It's the ultimate compliment to a male actor for a guy to say he'd see a movie based on him alone. I was hooked after Closer. If you're beginning to wonder if this really is a straight man's list, check out these lines:

"Thank you for your honesty. Now fuck off and die, you fucked up slag."

When asked why the sex is so important: "Because I'm a fucking caveman!"

"Have you ever seen a human heart? It looks like a fist, wrapped in blood!"

"A good fight is never clean."

"Dan, I lied to you. I did fuck Alice. Sorry for telling you. I'm just not big enough to forgive you, Buster."

No one says "fuck" or "fucked" better. You have to make the list for that alone.

8.    George Clooney

The guy is still single. Sleeps with gorgeous women, refuses to give into societal pressures to get married, doesn't flaunt his conquests and is by all accounts a really good guy and friend. What more do you want out of life?

9.    Jack Cafferty

This acerbic CNN anchor lets it fly everyday. He hits the Bush administration so hard, they must check for blood in their mouth after every Cafferty appearance. He gets two and a half minutes a day and says more than the rest of CNN's lineup does the rest of the day. And I like how cranky he is. He is an old school grump. A throw back "man's man."

10.    John Malkovich

Formerly #1 power ranking for acting, until Alec caught him from behind after a long five to ten year pursuit. He sat up there for so long after Rounders. Who takes a bullshit role like that and turns in a virtuoso piece of acting? Only Malkovich. The guy is so good, but when is the last time he made a movie?

He gave a great interview to Playboy many years ago that you should find and read (it's the Darva Conger issue - pure gold). That also moved him up the list because he had a great "I don't give a fuck what people think" attitude. But it's time to move out of France and make some goddamn movies. If he does, he has the most potential to move further up the list.

Honorable Mention:

Congressman Henry Waxman

A nebbish lawmaker you couldn't pick out of a crowd. But wait till the next two years, as he rocks the Bush guys with his investigations. This is the guy most likely to unleash hell on Bush and Cheney. For that alone he almost made the list (until I remembered how much I liked Clive Owen). He is the quiet storm. He might be small, but he works big. Watch out for Waxman.

More Honorable Mentions:

Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Keith Olbermann, Charles Barkley, Howard Dean, Jerome Bettis, Tom Brady (though I hear he might be a Republican and gets all of his girlfriends pregnant), Mark Wahlberg (yes, Mark Wahlberg), Matt Damon, Will Ferrell, Christian Bale (okay, I have to stop here because I'm getting dangerously close to actually being gay -- not that there is anything wrong with that, said the man who just wrote his "man-crush" list).  

The Young Turks