Time's ShortList for Person of the Year

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 10:00:00 AM EST
Tags: al-Baghdadi, Donald Trump, Time (all tags)

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Al Baghdadi and Donald Trump are on Time Magazine's shortlist for Person of the Year.

They are two peas in a pod in some ways -- one insists everyone practice his preferred brand of Islam, while the other finds any kind of Muslim entering the U.S. to be unacceptable.

As for Person of the Year, since all Trump has done is talk about himself on the campaign trail, I'd give it to al Baghdadi, who has actually done something even if it's a negative: He's instilled fear in the heart of every Western Government and many civilians in his neck of the woods, which includes great swathes of Iraq, Syria, and soon to include Libya. He took on al Qaida and beat them to the Caliph punch, leaving them way behind in second place. Al Baghdadi has also created a governing state in many provinces --Trump has no such governing experience.

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Time's ShortList for Person of the Year | 35 comments (35 topical)

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The reader's choice was (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Anne on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:09:13 AM EST

Bernie Sanders, but I guess he didn't make the editors' cut.

The editors' nominees are kind of a "meh" for me, overall; if I had to guess, I'd bet that Caitlyn Jenner wins.

And that kind of bugs me, mainly because I don't really see her as a pioneer - there have been a lot of ordinary people who have made that journey, without the advantages of money and fame. I don't mean to suggest she can't or won't be an advocate, or that she won't help change some minds, I just maybe would rather have seen "Gender Identity" as the nominee instead of one individual.

The full readers' poll is kind of interesting. I had heard Kim Davis was one of the choices - glad to see how low her support was, but isn't it interesting that she polled the same as Fiorina, and higher than Cruz and Jeb!.

I was shocked to death (5.00 / 3) (#12)
by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:19:48 AM EST

When My Brother-in-law stumped For Sanders at the Thanksgiving table.

Over a decade ago we destroyed a family Thanksgiving arguing over "the murder" of Vince Foster. Life is stranger than fiction.

I'd choose Bernie. Anyone who woke my BIL up I choose! That's a miracle worker there :)


: Ha! You must have felt you had been (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by Anne on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:32:07 AM EST

transported to some alternate universe...

: Let's just say (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by CST on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 01:26:11 PM EST

That after a year of living in Massachusetts, a certain former Arizona resident I know went from voting for every Republican presidential candidate and occasionally parroting Fox News, to supporting Bernie Sanders (with Hillary as a second choice) in the current election.
Our work here is done :) Now he just needs to move back to Arizona and vote there.

They should give it to Caitlan Jenner (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:35:55 AM EST

And hose them both

: Or Give it to The Uber Dude... (none / 0) (#21)
by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 01:19:55 PM EST

...who I bet 1 in 1000 could not identify.

Hmmm, tough call (5.00 / 6) (#19)
by ruffian on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 01:14:26 PM EST

One is a charismatic leader with a nihilistic worldview, endless funding, and warped, fanatical supporters ...and the other is Al Bahgdadi.

: That deserves a seven, ruff (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by jondee on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 01:24:25 PM EST

Like it would be a good thing to blow (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by jondee on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 01:30:31 PM EST

one more gust of air into that overinflated Trump windbag..

Maybe it'd be like Python's The Meaning of Life: that last little wafer that makes him explode..

Sadly... (none / 0) (#25)
by kdog on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 01:57:25 PM EST

it might be the kind of hail mary a dying publication like Time might throw.


: Good call (none / 0) (#27)
by jondee on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 02:38:01 PM EST

Yes, exactly.
Who's face is the most marketable.
Too bad Justin Beiber isn't running for anything. Hell, maybe they'll make him man of the year anyway.

So many deserving contenders, (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by KeysDan on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 02:08:12 PM EST

especially fitting the "for worse" criterion, but clearly, the best of the for worse is the Trumpenfuhrer, with the Republican Party a close second.

However, as an optimist my vote will tilt away from the dark side to the sunny: I vote for Scott Walker. Walker fits into the criteria of an idea or object (rather than a person or group) who has influenced for the better.

The Walker object or idea being that with unlimited Koch Brothers funding and great right wing support it was not enough to hide his empty suit.

Moreover, he has shown that an idea once riding high only on an intellect of air and sawdust can fall like a rock. And, that gives hope that others, once considered "terrific" will take a similar fall.

And the winner is. . . Angela Merkel. (5.00 / 2) (#28)
by caseyOR on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 08:56:44 AM EST

Germany's chancellor, the longest serving leader of a western country, beat out badboys Trump and Al Baghdadi.

As the editor of Time is a woman, and the PoY is a woman, I await a spewing of misogynistic spittle from Trump.

He'll just tell us what a third-rate, loser (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by Anne on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 09:26:42 AM EST

rag Time Magazine is, and who cares, because no one reads it anyway, so no surprise they didn't recognize his yuuuuuge influence and importance...maybe if they had, they'd be relevant.

It's all about him.


Yeah, but... (none / 0) (#31)
by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 10:45:46 AM EST

...in that case he wouldn't be far off the mark.


TIME seemed sort of apologetic (none / 0) (#32)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 10:50:00 AM EST

Explaining that they could not pick him because they have never picked a presidential candidate because they did not want to influence the election but it totally sounded like they wanted to.


: But No Problem... (none / 0) (#33)
by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 11:18:44 AM EST

...with putting him on the short list ?

Not For Nothing... (none / 0) (#29)
by ScottW714 on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 09:06:34 AM EST

...but as mentioned above, Merkel was on on the list because or refugees, security, and the Greek economy, two are because of Al Baghdadi.

If influence wass the criteria, Merkel should not have been the one.

That being said, I am glad it wasn't Al Baghdadi or Trump.


Uninspiring Field... (none / 0) (#1)
by kdog on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 07:44:47 AM EST

aside from Black Lives Matter activists...they're my pick.

With terrorism on the front pages again, lets not forget the brand of domestic terrorism they are trying to combat.

It will be Donald (none / 0) (#2)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 07:55:01 AM EST

Any bets.

He's got to be tickled (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:01:24 AM EST

____. (Not "pink." Pick a color.)


If Time magazine gives person (none / 0) (#5)
by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:07:07 AM EST

Of the year to a person who made fun of someone with arthogryposis (my son has arthogryposis) they can KMA forever. How disgusting.


Hitler was person of the year. (none / 0) (#6)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:08:27 AM EST

Twice I think.


Look, we aren't supposed to hold (none / 0) (#10)
by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:14:06 AM EST

Every poor decision from decades ago against anyone :) They can still KMA if they choose him.


It was Stalin (none / 0) (#34)
by NYShooter on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 01:37:51 PM EST

Stalin....2
Hitler....1

Hitler's side killed roughly 25 million people
Stalin's, no way to count, so many just "disappeared," but, is was over 25 mil.


: Well, Stalin had more time (none / 0) (#35)
by jondee on Wed Dec 09, 2015 at 01:45:10 PM EST

He wins only if the editors are curious to (none / 0) (#9)
by Anne on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:12:54 AM EST

see if his ego can inflate beyond its already-Goodyear blimp size, but maybe they'd want to see if they can get him into Hindenburg territory.

If he doesn't win, he'll make sure we all know what a third-rate, loser rag Time is for not choosing him.


Here's the criteria (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:18:44 AM EST

person, group, idea or object that "for better or for worse...has done the most to influence the events of the year".

I don't see how it could be anyone else


Then I go with BLM (none / 0) (#13)
by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:21:13 AM EST

I didn't see them on the list (none / 0) (#15)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:33:04 AM EST

: Oops they are (none / 0) (#16)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:34:21 AM EST

Sorry.

Without a Doubt... (none / 0) (#20)
by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 01:18:05 PM EST

...Trump has transformed politics in America, he's thumbed his nose at the system, and gotten very popular for it. He has without a doubt had more influence then the rest combined IMO.

But that is in the US, worldwide ISIS has certainly influenced many. Coalitions between countries that normally aren't friendly is a pretty big influence.

I think even if Time wanted to, they aren't going to hand ISIS a giant propaganda tool. IMO, it should be ISIS/ISIL/IS in the running and not Al-Baghdadi.

Merkel and Putin are only on the list because of ISIS.


Gross...neither (none / 0) (#4)
by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:04:28 AM EST

I give it to neither. They are both disgusting human beings.

: I think they only included Al Bagdadie (none / 0) (#8)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 08:09:46 AM EST

To make a point.
Or they could share it. They have done that before right?

Spot on commentary, Jeralyn. (none / 0) (#18)
by Mr Natural on Tue Dec 08, 2015 at 09:18:48 AM EST

Cynicism is the one true way.