Who deserves to be Time Person of the Year?

[katinmn]

I voted Al Gore.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2006/time.poty/

Who do you feel deserves the "Person of the Year" award?

George W. Bush
Condoleezza Rice
Kim Jong Il
Al Gore
Nancy Pelosi
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Hugo Chavez
Chad Hurley and Steve Chen (The YouTube guys)
Other
or View Results

Since 1927, TIME editors have named a "Person of the Year" on the cover of a special issue of the magazine. The title is given to the person who, "for better or worse," the magazine's editors believe had the greatest impact on the year's events. Though the magazine called the issue "Man of the Year" until 2000, the first "Woman of the Year" (Wallis Simpson) appeared on the cover in 1936. In 2005, Time named Bono and Bill and Melinda Gates as its 78th "Persons of the Year." This year's selection will be announced during a CNN special that airs December 16 at 8 p.m. ET.

[Nikki Stone1]

1. Already sent them an email suggesting the American Voter

who threw the wackos out.

If not them, then the YouTube guys: how much wouldn't we know if it weren't for YouTube? The UCLA incident comes to mind.

[katinmn]

2. Those are both great suggestions!

[grizmaster]

9. the American voter

I said the same thing when a discussion about it came up on Thanksgiving.

[madokie]

3. Al looks like a good fit for Person of the Year

after all he just may be our savior

[Captain Hilts]

4. Madam Speaker? nt

[bryant69]

5. Groucho Marx

Yeah I know he's been quiet lately, being dead and all, but still, I'd pick him over any of those other guys. Except maybe Chad Hurley and Steve Chen. Maybe Al Gore too.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[noonwitch]

6. I lost respect for the whole thing in 2001

When they didn't name bin Laden. He was the most influential man in the world that year, even if he is evil.

[eyesroll]

8. At least they named Guiliani and not Bush. BUT, you're right.

If not for Bin Laden (or Atta, etc.), Guiliani woulda quickly faded into the sunset.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

18. Time wimped out in 2001

As disgusting as it was, the single person who had the most impact on world events in 2001 was bin Laden.
Not some adulterous mayor of an American city who could stand around and act tough.
Not some ignorant pResident who ignored countless warnings about the attacks.

They still insist "it's not an honor" to be named Person of the Year, but I think TIME hasn't picked
a truly controversial choice in decades. I would venture that not since 1979 when TIME picked the Ayatollah of Iran
has TIME really picked someone controversial.
If you look at the list, the only one that might seem very controversial in the past 20 years is either Ken Starr (Along with Bill Clinton) in 1998,
or possible Deng Xiaoping in 1985.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person_of_the_Year#People_of_the_Year">Wikipedia's page for Person of the Year

I guess sales were more important to TIME than standing by their principles. But we've all seen that in this Age of New Media, where it's
all just a business now. Oh well. :shrug:

As for this year, I have no idea who I'd pick. I'm glad it's not my job to figure that out.

[BushOut06]

21. That's what I was thinking of in my post earlier

I thought they had named him. I remember the controversy, I didn't realize they backed out and went with the "safe" selection. Guliani my ass. Any mayor would have done what he did.

[Ellis Wyatt]

7. I would bet money

that Pelosi wins it.

[dubykc]

10. If I remember correctly POTY isn't necessarily for...

POSITIVE reasons, the shrub could very well qualify on negative terms.

[Sinistrous]

11. Howard Dean.

For engineering the recovery of the US Congress by the Democratic Party.

[OwnedByFerrets]

12. Michael J Fox should be on the list of nominees. nt

[wuushew]

13. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

n/t

[BushOut06]

14. George Dubya Bush

In keeping with the thinking that POTY isn't necessarily the person who has done the most good, but has had the most impact, I'd say Bush. Why not, they gave it to Bin Laden one year, didn't they? Bush has already killed more people than Osama could have ever dreamed of.

Personally, I'd want to give the award to Al Gore, for all the attention he's helped to bring to the issue of global warming.

[AllegroRondo]

19. Bin Laden was never selected

but W has already been picked twice - 2000 and 2004. Only FDR has been selected three times.

[BushOut06]

20. Oh, my bad - sorry

I could have sworn that Bin Laden was named POTY a few years ago, setting off a huge controversy in which Time had to defend their position that they weren't glorifying him, rather that he had the most impact that year.

But since Bush has already gotten it twice, then by no means should he get it again. He is nowhere near FDR's level. If anything, Bush is the anti-FDR.

[troublemaker]

15. It has to be Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

He's the person most associated with the global trend most likely to influence events going forward. That's the traditional "man of the Year" criterion. Given that the world is falling apart, the MOTY for 2006 has to be a bad guy, a la the 1930s Hitler MOTY.

The rise of a Middle Eastern cold war between the Sunni giants and the Shia crescent will dominate geopolitics for years to come.

Iranian ambitions have been greatly advanced by Bush's insanity, so we couldn't be where we are without Bush. But the "award" usually goes to someone who INTENDED the epic consequences of their actions.


Since the MOTY is always somewhat symbolic Howard Dean would be a good choice as a symbol of Democratic revival, but the extent of his personal role is not universally accepted.

A choice like "the American Voter" would be silly and, more to the point, insulting. The American Voter is not a monolith. We won congress because the number of maniacs dropped from 50% to 42%. It would be pretty weird to make the Man of the Year 58% of American Voters.

[kid a]

16. al gore - !! 2008

[TransitJohn]

17. The American voter (eom)

**

[ellenfl]

22. cindy sheehan and/or codepink and/or grannies and/or 911 women. eom

[elehhhhna]

23. SIBEL EDMONDS

[Control-Z]

24. The American people. n/t