Via Politico:
TIME’s 2010 Person of the Year panel, held last evening at the Time & Life Building in New York, featured Meghan McCain, Wyclef Jean, Marissa Mayer, Joe Trippi and Daisy Khan in a lively debate about who would be the best person of the year for TIME’s annual issue that goes on newsstands this December. In a discussion led by TIME Managing Editor Richard Stengel, McCain suggested the Tea Party or Glenn Beck. She ruled out Christine O’Donnell, saying she is “in no way qualified to do anything.” Mayer talked about first discovering the idea of a personal computer on TIME’s cover at the end of 1982, “Machine of the Year: The Computer Moves In.” She then suggested Steve Jobs of Apple. Khan said that Mayor Michael Bloomberg could be Person of the Year, for his support of Park 51. Jean said that Haitians should be honored as “people of the year.” Trippi nominated Nancy Pelosi, who Jean supported later as well by saying that the cover of TIME should “represent legacy . . . Pelosi does that.” TIME is now hosting a poll for readers to pick their person of the year.
Yeesh.
The biggest news event of the year, with little dispute, is the backlash against the Obama administration and its policies, manifested in a variety of ways but most dramatically in the Tea Parties. From where I sit, the two individuals who most clearly articulate and personify that backlash are Sarah Palin and Chris Christie. Of course, the magazine’s Men and Women of the Year usually are presidents, innovators and dictators, so a former governor turned Fox News commentator or a first-year governor of New Jersey would be an unorthodox choice.
If we’re looking abroad or beyond politics, intriguing choices would be British prime minister David Cameron, the plumber who helped the design of the plug for the Gulf oil-spill leak, and the creative geniuses of Pixar.
Having said that, it would be kind of fun to read, “For leading the Democrats to their worst defeat in two generations, Nancy Pelosi is our Woman of the Year.”
And they wonder why readership is down.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf it keeps Pelosi as the leading D in the house of reps. I am completely for it.
So why are these magazines hemorrhaging readers and drifting to bankruptcy? Is time up for sale for a dollar like newsweek?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseObama received Person of the Year 2008 for doing nothing other than running a pretty campaign, why not Chris Christie? He's only a first year governor, but he's accomplished more than our President had before gracing the cover.
Marco Rubio would be a good choice, as well.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@Will55
You forgot, he reads a teleprompter well too.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI remember when Time magazine was actually relevant.
A magazine that can name Bono (2005) and me (2006) as persons of the year might as well name Brangelina, Walter Mondale, and the cast of "Survivor" this year, for all that it would matter.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseKim Jong Il isn't nominated?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRick Santelli !!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLuckily it doesn't matter because no one reads Time anyway or values who/what they choose. If it is not Tea Party related it will be a complete joke. It could be Santelli (though his rant was last year), could be "The People" (aka Tea Party), or could be Scott Brown. My guess is that it will be someone who wil serve as a back handed compliment to Obama. Just to keep him at the center of our universe.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSomething's wrong here. Finding myself in agreement with...Meghan McCain? Dear God, the end really is near.
Just called 9-1-1. I hope they let me play with the siren during the ambulance ride to the emergency room.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCould someone explain to me how Meghan McCain keeps ending up in these things? In as much as she keeps blasting Christine O'Donnell for not being qualified for anything, what makes HER qualified? Why should anyone care what her opinion is? Not to pick on the girl, it's just a pet peeve of mine.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI was Person of the Year in 2006, I wouldn't mind serving a second term.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNot that anyone from Time will be checking here, but I would rather like a victory lap to sort of cement and ratify my 2006 selection.
The Tea Party.
Rick Santelli front and center on the cover, flanked by Rush and Sarah. Glenn Beck. Chris Christie. Charles Krauthammer. Sean Hannity. Michelle Bachmann. Scott Brown. Britt Hume. A special section for the NR heavyweights ... Lowry, Lopez, Jonah, Geraghty, VDH, McCarthy ... Mark Steyn, wherever he is and please come back soon.
Ted Nugent, Jon Voigt, Andrew Breitbart, the quiet girl at work I never knew was conservative until she dared to speak up to a boorish loudmouth liberal. You, me, our spouses and kids, everyone else who's committed to saving our country and took the time to make a sign to carry to a tea party, or despite the risk of public ridicule, mocking and condescension took the floor and held their own in front of witnesses sitting on the fence to educate a smug progressive colleague who had no concept of the size of the national debt and our unfunded liabilities.
A few of us might be carrying large placards with portraits of Samuel Adams. I'm liking this scene.
Nah. Forget about it. What am I thinking? It's Time magazine. I'd love the irony of a Pelosi selection.
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