Amanda Ernst at the Mediabistro blog Fishbowl NY covered Time's little panel discussion on who they should choose as "Person of the Year." Listen to the judgment of ABC's Barbara Walters:
Walters suggested Nancy Pelosi, Steve Jobs, Michelle Obama, Warren Buffett, Google, the Taliban, and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. But Walters also made a case of Madoff, “You put Bernie Madoff on [[the cover]...and you're going to have more discussion and more stuff and more people buzzing."
TV Newser added that during the discussion, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani discussed the influence of Roger Ailes, Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck this past year. To that Gayle King said, "I'm getting ill." Fishbowl NYsummed up:
After running through lists of possible Person of the Year winners that included Bernie Madoff, Captain "Sully" Sullenberger and the Iranian protesters, the six-person panel ended the night in a three-three split. Walters agreed with TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz and Gayle King that "the guys from Twitter," meaning Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams and Biz Stone, should take the prize. Giuliani, "Top Chef" judge Tom Colicchio and Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravensthal all voted for "the economy," settling on some amalgam of Ben Bernanke and the unemployed American worker as Person of the Year.
I'd guess they'll go international or non-political this year. Walters really likes plugging Pelosi. She named her the "Most Fascinating" Person in 2006 on ABC. A few weeks later on The View, after President Bush's 2007 State of the Union address, Walters expressed how it was a "treat to see the first female Speaker of the House" as she hailed Nancy Pelosi with a hearty, fist-raised "hooray" while Rosie O'Donnell sang "I am woman, hear me roar."
We're a little surprised she didn't nominate "fascinating" and "charismatic" leftist dictator Hugo Chavez.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.




















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Oh, please let it be Sasquatch
November 13, 2009 - 15:39 ET by SickofLibsand use the Arlington/V-Day photo as the cover.
And of course, Bo must win Alpo's Dog of the Year.
The name of which is soon to be changed.......
November 13, 2009 - 17:55 ET by Patriot IIto......Maggot of the Year!!
How can the "person of the
November 13, 2009 - 15:42 ET by IckHow can the "person of the year" be anyone other than BHO? I mean I don't understand the question. Doesn't he automatically get all acalades?
It's in the bag
November 13, 2009 - 16:29 ET by jdlybrandI hear he's getting the Heisman Trophy as well!
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
Don't forget
November 13, 2009 - 19:24 ET by UphillFather of the Year and Husband of the Year.
Liberia
November 13, 2009 - 15:43 ET by DemonhunterI think you meant to say, Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. I'm not sure how we would label her political views.
This makes it clear...
November 13, 2009 - 16:05 ET by Army Brat“You put Bernie Madoff on [[the cover]...and you're going to have more discussion and more stuff and more people buzzing."
It's about sales, not who is most deserving of the cover.
And just what is "stuff"? Good God...she uses words to make her living and we get..."stuff"?
Will they be punished/chastised if the Won does not appear on the cover?
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.
I'm shocked that no one
November 13, 2009 - 16:04 ET by motherbeltI'm shocked that no one suggested MRS. Obama! What with all her influence...wowing Europe, hugging the Queen, running barefoot on the WH lawn, the first First Lady to Hula-hoop, setting the fashion world on fire, ...gosh, is there any area the Michelle ma belle hasn't influenced, shaken up, dazzled, and taken to new heights?
...and her arms...OMG we
November 13, 2009 - 16:06 ET by bigtimer...and her arms...OMG we can't forget her arms!
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
OMO, thanks, BT....we can't
November 13, 2009 - 16:14 ET by motherbeltOMO, thanks, BT....we can't forget the ARMS!!
They inspired an entire column by Sally Quinn!!
Those arms are transformational, said Quinn. They are toned and muscular, burnished and beautiful.
<gag>
And let us not forget her upending the stuffy old tradition of sober fashion for sober ceremonies, like Veterans Day at Arlington, or Medal of Honor ceremonies.
How could they even be looking elsewhere?
Ummm...
November 13, 2009 - 16:06 ET by Army BratGolf?
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.
Give her time..... LOL
November 13, 2009 - 16:08 ET by motherbeltGive her time..... LOL
Skills
November 13, 2009 - 16:44 ET by jdlybrandI wonder if she could beat Kim Jong Il in match play?
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
I nominate "YOU Lie!" Joe
November 13, 2009 - 16:10 ET by bigtimerI nominate "YOU Lie!" Joe Wilson!
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Turn About Is Fair
November 13, 2009 - 16:14 ET by countmein5050Gayle King got ill at the mention of Beck's name? That seems fair. She's been making me ill for years! Even gripping Oprah's coattails as tightly as she does she STILL is a no body. All she is and all she has to offer comes as a mere echo of what Oprah thinks, says, does, and tries desperately to make of value to the vanishing number of viewers in her universe...not an independent thought in her lightweight, of-zero-importance person. Not in the way she wants it, any way. She can't run with the big dogs and eventually someone is going to tell her to park her yappy hindend on the porch and leave the big dogs alone.
cmi... I could not agree
November 13, 2009 - 16:15 ET by bigtimercmi...
I could not agree more...every word you posted is spot-on.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
I'm confused!
November 13, 2009 - 17:17 ET by thedailyzingI'm confused is it called "Person of the Year" or "Douchebag of the Year"?!?! This whole thing it asinie and I'm not gonna read their stupid magazine anyway! Check out this funny write up on liberals its awesome! click here http://thedailyzing.com/334/7-habits-of-highly-defective-liberals/
Tim.. looks like I'd have to go with Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
November 14, 2009 - 00:35 ET by Gary HallLiberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; after all, late last fall, just before the election the first freely elected woman, a black woman, in Africa heaped praise on the President of the United States and his team:
Then she was followed by a hero of the left, humanitarian Sir Bob Geldof:
Somehow, I'd bet that Barbara Wawa missed that progressive moment in the history of the spread of democracy and freedom.
(;~> gary
It's funny how the 3 under consideration
November 14, 2009 - 04:49 ET by Army BratAre all bad for America. Not equally bad...Pelosi is far more dangerous than the taliban at this point...
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.