# Time's Person of the Year **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 11, 2005, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106 "2005-12-11T04:40:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/21 "2005-12-11T06:21:08Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > Another possible group winner might be _Iraqi voters_. Iraqis will have gone to the polls 3 times in 2005. Ooh, read this after I had made my post – the Iraqi _voters_: I think we have a winner. The Iraqi people as a whole is too large – you can’t give the award to an entire country. Perfect; I like it. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/22 "2005-12-11T06:37:38Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > If you actually read my post, which I think it’s highly apparent you didn’t, I’m saying that the right wing IS condeming him, but so is basically everyone else I’ve heard talking about the subject for the last few months. Chavez has been condemned in every op-ed I’ve seen written about him, whether it’s in the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times. Those are opinions, not facts. and you are wrong in thinking the mainstream media is liberal. > [@](#): > > And it’s not because he’s a socialist, it’s because he’s accused of holding political prisoners, Looking at mayor human rights reports like Amnesty international and Human Rights watch there is very little to accuse Chavez on this regard. > [@](#): > > extensive human right’s violations, According to AI and HRW yes, but I do not agree on the extensive, any would be dictator that still allows free press (extremely right wing) can not hide those abuses. > [@](#): > > and vast electoral fraud. Here I do see you are falling to the loony toon level of the extreme right wing, there was no evidence of electoral fraud, in fact it was that accusation and behabior of the opposition during and after the election and referendum that made me change many opinions I had before against Chavez. > [@](#): > > I guess only on the SDMB is it okay to support a dictator in the making just because he happens to be a socialist. I don’t support Chavez much, I support democracy rather than the option you and your ilk are implying. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/23 "2005-12-11T07:29:26Z")
Terry Schivo’s a good choice. I wouldn’t have thought of her. I vote Ariel Sharon for pulling out of Gaza and for starting Kadima. Neither are perfect solutions to the Palestinian Question but taking drastic action in an attempt to end the stalemate deserves recognition, in my opinion. I bet they give it to Condi though. Just a hunch. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/24 "2005-12-11T07:32:57Z")
**Diogenes the Cynic** , Terri Schiavo was the one that came to mind after I briefly considered Murtha. I think you have picked the designate. She certainly set _America_ thinking, talking and acting. Internationally speaking, they could always choose “Alqueda’s Third Most Wanted Terrorist.” ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/25 "2005-12-11T09:00:42Z")
If it’s going to be an international person of the year, I hope it will be [**Ayaan Hirsi Ali**](http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1485350,00.html) as she has already been chosen, by Time Magazine, as one of the 100 most influential people of 2005. And she deserves to get an award for giving up her freedom. [imho, ofcourse. 🙂] [The link tells her story and also gives you a pretty good idea about what’s happening with ‘multiculture’ in the Netherlands] ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/26 "2005-12-11T09:14:37Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > I guess only on the SDMB is it okay to support a dictator in the making just because he happens to be a socialist. I want to live in \*your \*world. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/27 "2005-12-11T10:43:54Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > > [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > > > I wouldn’t be at all surprised if _Time_ wussed out and went with Bush again. > > They did that last year. I don’t think they’d give it to him three times in five or six years. How about Dick Cheney? He’s the not-so-secret power behind the throne; a lot of the high-profile news this year (from Iraq to Plamegate) traces back in his direction. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/28 "2005-12-11T11:14:49Z")
The United States Military Department of Homeland Security Oddly linked and yet I am fine with the one, and wondering where the hell the other came from and what the heck they’re smoking. ---
**Author:** ![Tevildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Tevildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tevildo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/29 "2005-12-11T11:31:45Z")
How about Angela Merkel? First female Chancellor of Germany, first Chancellor from the former East Germany. If might be argued that she’s not had time to actually do very much other than win the election, though. Alternatively, Pope Benedict XVI. First German Pope since the eleventh century and only the second non-Italian Pope since 1522, and he _has_ started moving the Catholic Church in a more conservative direction to his predecessor. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/30 "2005-12-11T12:47:21Z")
How could it be anyone other than Pope John Paul II? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/31 "2005-12-11T13:56:24Z")
I’m afraid they’ll do the obvious and give it to “Mother Nature.” Katrina and the Tsunami were just too big of news to ignore. If you’d asked me on Dec 31 2004, “Will a major US city be completely evacuated this year?” I would have never believed it. A long shot would be a combo of Schiavo and Sheehan. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/32 "2005-12-11T19:11:14Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > How could it be anyone other than Pope John Paul II? Because with all due respect, what did he do this year except die? He did win the award in 1994 - if he hadn’t, I think you’re probably right. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/33 "2005-12-11T19:58:28Z")
Pope Benedict is a strong candidate in a weak field, so he has a chance. Certainly this year has seen more major changes from the Roman Catholic Church than we’ve seen since the 60’s. In effect we’re seeing a revision of where the Church stands in the world. Benedict’s position seems to be that the Church will give up any hope of being a powerful force in Europe or the United States, and will concentrate its efforts on the third world. Chavez is a major newsmaker, love him or hate him. He’s extremely popular in Latin America, and he’s made some moves towards uniting a group of South American countries to work in tandem on the world stage. If his movement succeeds, it will be a force in world affairs for a long time to come. Time might also pick “The Supreme Court”. They were all over the news too, with three new justices nominated and major rulings all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/34 "2005-12-11T22:46:25Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think Patrick Fitzgerald is another option. Exactly my thought when I first read the title to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/35 "2005-12-11T23:22:51Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > Exactly my thought when I first read the title to this thread. Really??? He spent 2 years investigating a leak about a CIA agent, and he’s level no charges related directly to the leak. This is one small issue in the US… I just don’t see how that even remotely rises to “Man of the Year” material. Remember, it’s not an award for the “Man who most stuck it to Bush”. Having said that… it does seem like a rather “slow news year”. I’m at a real loss to think of anyone ore anything. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/36 "2005-12-12T00:34:49Z")
Do people still read Time? If they are true to their roots, they will look at any and all chief differences in lifestyles or outlooks around the world between the beginning of the year and the end. Certainly the stagnant-if-not-deteriorating situation in Iraq has had far-reaching repercussions, but that’s traceable more to inaction than action. Unless they pick “The Iraqi Insurgents”. However, I think the real headlines this year have been the record-breaking natural disasters, what the insureance companies who are now in overdrive would call “Acts of God”. Throw on top of that the change of popes in the midst of continued scandals in the Catholic church, the fact that the ancient Sunni/Shi’ite division casts a pall over the future of iraq and the rest of the Middle East, the Terry Schiavo case where we wrung hands and gnashed teeth about playing God, the current bid for legitimacy by the Intelligent Design movement, and the numerous Bush nominees that were examined by conservatives for their devotion to what they think of as traditional Christian principles, and I’d bet the Man of the Year will be: God ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/37 "2005-12-12T03:42:55Z")
\ who cares? Just why is Time so special that we care what their editors think? But just to play along, I’ll name “The Blogger” as the People of the Year. These people may just save the republic by pursuing scandals the the mainstream media’s corporate masters won’t let them touch. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/38 "2005-12-12T04:10:00Z")
> [@Soylent Gene](#): > > Brownie Seconded. It combines the “mother nature” element with the “George Bush” element with a “holy shit, political patronage has gotten so bad that a guy went from regulating Arabian Horse judges to running our national emergency management agency” element. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/39 "2005-12-12T04:28:16Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > But just to play along, I’ll name “The Blogger” as the People of the Year. These people may just save the republic by pursuing scandals the the mainstream media’s corporate masters won’t let them touch. I think we have a winner. A nice, weasly non-person choice, with high tech, internet cachet. I think you are right about the role the bloggers are filliing, but I think choosing non-persons is a cop out. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106/40 "2005-12-12T04:32:48Z")
I think “bloggers” was considered a strong possibility last year. I don’t know what they’ve done this year that would warrant a nomination. While the blogs are definitely a part of the media cycle, I don’t know what they’re contributing at this point that qualifies as potentially saving the republic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/times-person-of-the-year/335106.md?page=3)