The last year has belonged to Barack Obama and Michael Phelps, and this has been reflected in the positive media coverage and general warm feelings the two men have generated throughout. What goes up, alas, must come down, and both Time's Person of the Year and Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year are in the midst of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad weeks.

For Phelps, it is simply a case of mistakenly believing what happens in South Carolina stays in South Carolina. For Obama, it is a series of missteps that have quickly knocked the new President off his message -- not an easy accomplishment when you are in a honeymoon period, have a high approval rating, and don't face a credible opposition.

After the jump, we discuss the red-rimmed glass products that did them in, and their prospects for 2012.

The red-trimmed glass of their nightmares


Phelps -- That isn't just any bong Phelps was photographed taking rips from. It's a Roor Custom Fairmaster 5.0, a $460 premium model that offers the ultimate in suction through its high quality thickness. It's a good thing too, because if Phelps and his freakish lung capacity had gotten hold of a bong made from lesser material, somebody would have lost an eye.

Obama -- While Tom Daschle gets the blame for much of Obama's bad week, a closer examination reveals it was actually the fault of Tom Daschle's eyewear. America can forgive a tax cheat (see Geithner, Timothy.) And at least we understand a fat cat getting chauffeured around in a limousine. However, an adult male who willing sports Sally Jessy Raphael's red-rimmed glasses – what the hell is that?

Their over-zealous mea culpas
Phelps -- Yeah, it would have been great if Phelps had got up there and said he's not sorry for doing what almost half of the country has done, and just regrets that he did it in front of the spineless rat bastard who took his picture. What's ironic is Phelps didn't have to apologize this much four years ago when he was pulled over for DUI – a far more dangerous crime. That's what eight gold medals and a trumped-up war on drugs will do.

Obama -- The President seemed almost giddy to apologize for the Daschle fiasco. Like he wanted to remind everyone that he isn't the extremely unpopular stubborn fellow who used to reside in the Oval Office. But at no point did Obama fess up to his administration's sloppy vetting of cabinet nominees. In fact, he vehemently defended the process, which, in some cases, has missed things a Lexus/Nexus search could uncover.

Their prospects for 2012
Phelps -- As long as he isn't slapped with a massive IOC suspension, and avoids getting thrown into a dungeon by the crazy South Carolina prosecutor who is threatening to charge him, the merman remains a solid bet to go to London and add multiple gold medals to his record haul.

Obama -- There is nobody in the world as closely watched as Barack Obama. Meaning he will have ample opportunity to get his mojo back. Still, a few more weeks like this, and Sarah Palin will be dusting off those Barneys' pant suits she stashed away well ahead of schedule.