Who Will Be Person of the Year 2008?

[Midnight Mike]

Top 5 so far

1. Obama
2. Palin
3. Tina Fey
4. Michael Phelps
5. President Bush


http://www.time.com/time/specials/packa ... 35,00.html (http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1857576_1858035,00.html)

[T-Bird76]

Besides winning a **** load of gold medals..what has Phelps done for society?

[flyboy 28]

Oh goodness, I hope it's me again!

http://www.liewcf.com/blog/wp-images/time-person-of-the-year-2006.jpg



Besides winning a **** load of gold medals..what has Phelps done for society?

Probably about the same as Tina Fey...

[PhilDernerJr]

I looked on the list and I don't know half of them.

[NIKV69]

Besides winning a **** load of gold medals..what has Phelps done for society?



What exactly has Obama accomplished? He is a ton if hype that can give a great prepared speech but when you try to find one thing of substance he has done you get a big fat goose egg.

I hate to say it but Phelps deserves to be on that list probably more than any of the others. Tina Fey? Wtf? Man the media is really beginning to take over this country.

[T-Bird76]

Besides winning a **** load of gold medals..what has Phelps done for society?



What exactly has Obama accomplished? He is a ton if hype that can give a great prepared speech but when you try to find one thing of substance he has done you get a big fat goose egg.

I hate to say it but Phelps deserves to be on that list probably more than any of the others. Tina Fey? Wtf? Man the media is really beginning to take over this country.

What reason other then winning some gold medals makes him person of the year?

[PhilDernerJr]

First black President. That alone is huge and enough to warrant it. You actually disagree with that?

Who would you pick?

[cancidas]

First black President. That alone is huge and enough to warrant it.
don't disagree with you on that one, but i think the millions of american that voted him into office deserve the credit. after all, they're the ones who made the decision and not mr. obama himself.


i think the person of the year should be more than just the most popular face on tv, for whatever reason.

[Midnight Mike]

Besides winning a **** load of gold medals..what has Phelps done for society?

That has nothing to do with it, what has Mahmoud Ahmadinejad & T-Bone Pickens done for Society :wink:

During the Olympics, Michael Phelps name was the topic of international news, his name was mentioned daily....

Now don't get me wrong, Michael Phelps should not win, but, a top 25 top ranking is certainly deserving....

[Matt Molnar]

i think the person of the year should be more than just the most popular face on tv, for whatever reason.
Agreed, the choices suck.

The economic collapse has and will continue to affect far more people than a President or anyone else on that list ever will. If there is a way to put a face on that, whether it's Dick Fuld or a whole page full of headshots of people involved in this mess. I think readers would be appreciative of a good public shaming of these guys since it seems no one is going to be actually punished for this catastrophe.

[NIKV69]

First black President. That alone is huge and enough to warrant it. You actually disagree with that?



He isn't black Phil, funny how we consider Halle Berry Bi racial yet when it comes to Obama we call him black it was just another tool of the media to hype him. Not to menton he didn't exactly earn where he got. He benefited from a DNC that had absolutely nobody to offer besdie a junior Senator with not even 2 years in the business and a left wing media that really was mostly responsible for his winning along with McCain's horrible campaign. Now getting back to actual achievements can you give me something that Obama has actually done himself?



Who would you pick?

Haven't given much thought but out of those 5 it goes to Phelps hands down.


What reason other then winning some gold medals makes him person of the year?



Some? research a little into what he accomplished Tom and what it takes to succeed at his sport. You will see it was quite an accomplishment.



i think the person of the year should be more than just the most popular face on tv, for whatever reason.


That has nothing to do with it, what has Mahmoud Ahmadinejad & T-Bone Pickens done for Society

Doesn't take much to see this is more of a popularity contest. Which would explain how someone like Tina Fey ends up on the list.

[Midnight Mike]

Doesn't take much to see this is more of a popularity contest. Which would explain how someone like Tina Fey ends up on the list.

Pretty much

Just a reminder that Hitler was once the person of the year

http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641 ... 02,00.html (http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19390102,00.html)

[Midnight Mike]

He isn't black Phil, funny how we consider Halle Berry Bi racial yet when it comes to Obama we call him black it was just another tool of the media to hype him. Not to menton he didn't exactly earn where he got. He benefited from a DNC that had absolutely nobody to offer besdie a junior Senator with not even 2 years in the business and a left wing media that really was mostly responsible for his winning along with McCain's horrible campaign. Now getting back to actual achievements can you give me something that Obama has actually done himself?


[/quote]

Yeah, going to have to agree with Phil, President-elect Obama certainly has earned the honor.

Nik, your memory of history is a little on the fuzzy at the beginning, it was Senator Clinton & Senator Edwards who were the odd on favorites, for a while, Obama was probably in 5th place, as Gov Richardson was receiving support as well.

Obama used every trick in the book to claw his way to the top, once there, he never looked back..

[NIKV69]

it was Senator Clinton & Senator Edwards who were the odd on favorites, for a while, Obama was probably in 5th place, as Gov Richardson was receiving support as well.



Like I said the DNC had nobody to offer. Once the media ran with him he didn't have to do a thing except let Wolf Blitzer and Donna Brazile do their magic.

[Midnight Mike]

Like I said the DNC had nobody to offer. Once the media ran with him he didn't have to do a thing except let Wolf Blitzer and Donna Brazile do their magic.

That was because Obama convinced the DNC & the media that he was the one, for Obama to take on the Clinton machine was nothing short of impressive.

Remember, I am not an Obama supporter, but, even I would have to admit that Obama is certainly deserving..

.

[PhilDernerJr]

...we consider Halle Berry Bi racial...

Never heard that in my life. I consider her black.


.... can you give me something that Obama has actually done himself?

MEdia influence or not, a person was elected into the White House, giving hope to millions and millions of people around the world who view him as a minority, hope that they can overcome prejudice.

Sadly, you think that's not as important as swimming....a sport that no one cares for professionally, and even goes unnoticed that one time ever 4 years when the Olympics roll around except for the few times that American who was winning at it a lot at it.

Obama affected the world. Phelps (though a nice accmplishment) swam in a pool.

[NIKV69]

Never heard that in my life. I consider her black.

Ok Phil quick lesson. When someone has one caucasian parent and one African American parent their race is mixed. It was referred to as Mulatto. That has since been replaced for the more PC Bi racial. Berry is not black, Obama is not black. Even as much as you and the media want him to be.


giving hope to millions and millions of people around the world who view him as a minority.Obama affected the world. Phelps (though a nice accmplishment) swam in a pool.



Phil your giving me talking points from CNN. Give me some accomplishments. As much as you want to discount swimming (just because YOU don't feel it means much) those 8 gold medals mean an awful lot to a lot of people not to mention his country who he represented and got something done besides giving people hope they will get to the doctor for free.

[mirrodie]

Ok Phil quick lesson......

Phil your giving me talking points from CNN....

I hate to say it but Phelps deserves to be on that list probably more than any of the others.

First off, Nick, what professorial degree do you have to be giving anyone lessons?


Second, you call out Phil on CNN when meanwhile, you are the remora clinging near Limbaugh's, Ingraham's, Hannity and O'reilly's mouth, taking any of their scraps of wisdom and making them your own. Just a touch of hypocrisy there. Or are you a conservative Lemming? Once again to paraphase you, which is it, Nick? Remora or Lemming?

Perhaps you should consider listening to your beloved talk radio/Fox news and CNN or some liberal outlet and maybe formulate a view of your own. It's nice to actually use your brain and think the issues through rather than soak in that IV of BS you are on. Try it sometime.

So Phelps makes history and deserves the accolades whereas Obama doesn't. Would someone please forward this thread to Time? Does TIME take nominations for the dumbest internet posts in 2008? Seriously. Maybe that is what you were aiming for, Nick? Most ridiculous posts ever 2008.

Nick, your views have been questionable in the past, but my goodness, these posts really show your persona. I used to think you posted arguments simply for the pleasure of arguing. But my God, your views are simply delusional, immature and bitter.

Phelps earned it as much as Obama. Both did amazing things. By the way, so did John McCain.

Next: According to Nick, Obama is biracial and not black. Now, I look at Obama and see a black man. Its the nation's first African American First Family. But you are going to call him biracial just so you can blame the media? (BTW, Phil, Berry and Mariah Carey, also biracial. Beautiful women.) And you wonder why I think you are a radical right wing nutjob? Not fanatical. Crazy radical. Why? Because of posts like yours in this thread. Your words are the bombs that Ayers would have used. Reading **** like this is why the internet is a scary place.

And if the media called him the first "BIRACIAL" President, I am 100% sure you'd find some fault with that too.

For you to sit there and not only discredit Obama when he hasn't even set foot in office yet and after these 8 years is laughable and damages any credibility you might have had, as we all can see.

Let's invite personal scrutiny now....what Am I, Professor Nick? Tell me. Am I black, white, or biracial? Then tell me about my parents and what I am referred to as. And finally, tell me how it imparts my life and business everyday since I've had Phillipinos, Sicilians, and Hispanics all wrongly pin me for being their respective race/nationality. Perhaps it doesn't, but I have lost at least one patient who, swear to God, at least had the balls to walk into my office and ask my staff if I was black or white. (My staff averted the question by saying I was "french") Notice, he didn't ask if I was black, white or biracial. And if he saw me, the answer surely was going to be made in his mind, once he saw me, "black or white"

Mike, thank you for being honest. I've always known you to be a reasonable guy. You may not support him, but at least you are honest enough to see the obvious.

Man, Nick, its going to be a rough 4 years for you. Ask your Doctor for some meds. You'll need it. Clearly.

Oh and Nick, if we are all going to converse here, at least have the self respect to allow it to be intelligent conversation.

[NIKV69]

Nick, your views have been questionable in the past, but my goodness, these posts really show your persona. I used to think you posted arguments simply for the pleasure of arguing. But my God, your views are simply delusional, immature and bitter

Mario the only people that are dilusional are the ones who think Obama is black. I guess for the sake of getting him into the white house we just omit his white mother? It's lunacy simply to further more propaganda that he is our first back president.


And if the media called him the first "BIRACIAL" President, I am 100% sure you'd find some fault with that too.



No Mario I wouldn't but thanks for once again telling someone what they would do in the future. Something you seem to be good at. Can you look into your crystal ball and tell me the score of the Giant-Cowboy game? I would love to take some money from the sportsbook here.


Now, I look at Obama and see a black man.

So I guess his white mother doesn't count. Darn could you be more selfish? At the expense of his mother you further exploit this media nonsense. It's disgusting.


For you to sit there and not only discredit Obama when he hasn't even set foot in office yet and after these 8 years is laughable

For the media and everyone who has treated him the way he has before he even has stepped foot in office is even more laughable.


Let's invite personal scrutiny now

Why? Mario it's no secret of the loathing and apathy you have for me. It's something I have invited you to handle outside this forum yet you never do. Now please can we stay on topic and leave personalities aside?


what Am I, Professor Nick? Tell me. Am I black, white, or biracial?



I really don't care Mario and never have really ever inquired here or in person have I? Again sounds like a personal matter.


Then tell me about my parents and what I am referred to as. And finally, tell me how it imparts my life and business everyday since I've had Phillipinos, Sicilians, and Hispanics all wrongly pin me for being their respective race/nationality. Perhaps it doesn't, but I have lost at least one patient who, swear to God, at least had the balls to walk into my office and ask my staff if I was black or white. (My staff averted the question by saying I was "french") Notice, he didn't ask if I was black, white or biracial. And if he saw me, the answer surely was going to be made in his mind, once he saw me, "black or white"

Mario you seem to have some other issue going on here. LIke I said I don't know what your racial make up is, nor have I ever asked nor do I care. I don't deal with people based on their race but it is something that seems to stir more hate inside you. Please take it where it belongs because unless I have missed something I have never made any reference to your race. We we're trying to discuss (before you dragged us off topic) about Obama. He is has a white mother and black father. It doesn't make him white and it doesn't make him black. If I was Obama I wouldn't wanted to be referred to as black because that is basically spitting in his mother's face as the expense of getting him elected and afterwards exploited as something he is not.


Man, Nick, its going to be a rough 4 years for you. Ask your Doctor for some meds. You'll need it. Clearly.

Oh and Nick, if we are all going to converse here, at least have the self respect to allow it to be intelligent conversation.


Oh I do Mario it is just a shame that you constantly take these threads as chances to attack me because of your personal feelings toward myself and my beliefs. Like I said you have my cell, if you want to vent you can yell at me all you want and I will be more than happy to entertain when you. Just leave it out of here.

[cancidas]

....

....

i think you guys are taking this way too far. regardless of being black, white, green or blue or any color for that matter, being elected to the office of president is a noteworty achievement but it also is not a personal one. how many people worked with obama on his campaign. how many without pay. how many people believed in him enough to want them as thier president? pehlp's achievement was a personal one but i do't think either is deserving the tirle of "person of the year." to earn that title i think ther person should have a positive impact on thier community, an impact that betters thier community. phelps' gold medals are his own and we still have at least 4 years to see if obama has such an influence and is worthy of so many people's trust.

[NIKV69]

phelps' gold medals are his own and we still have at least 4 years to see if obama has such an influence and is worthy of so many people's trust.



Matt I have never met Phelps but I would be willing to be all that time spent in the pool wasn't all for himself. Representing your country in an event such as the Olympics is a great honor and I bet he felt great pride as he saw his flag hoisted up as he stood with his medal out around his neck and the American anthem played. I think he took at least some pride in the fact his victories in each event meant as much to this whole country as it did to him. The medal count I followed listed only countries not individuals and though they hung around his neck I think they were victories as a nation as sell as an individual. Much like Obama's victory Nov 4th.

[jran225]

I feel so much more intelligent after having read some of the posts in this thread. Get a grip, Nick. Wheezus.

Greets,
-Omar S.

[Mellyrose]

Nick, your views have been questionable in the past, but my goodness, these posts really show your persona. I used to think you posted arguments simply for the pleasure of arguing. But my God, your views are simply delusional, immature and bitter

Mario the only people that are dilusional are the ones who think Obama is black. I guess for the sake of getting him into the white house we just omit his white mother? It's lunacy simply to further more propaganda that he is our first back president.


Wait, because being 100% black makes it that much easier to become the President of the United States?

[PhilDernerJr]

Typical Nick forum debate tactics. He brings up tangent topics, then when you address them, he says he doesn't care and diverts from the actual topic at hand. I'm no longer biting.

Nick. Time's person of the year is someone that had an effect of the world or society, positively or negatively. As said, Hitler was person of the year at one point. It has nothing to do with personal accomplishment. At all. Nothing.

No one is denying that it takes talent that is one in a billion talent to do what Phelps did. But did he have an impact of society or the world? No. Almost none, except for Americans that cheered him. After his medals, we hardly heard anything from him.

Black, white, biracial or purple, Obama won the election, one that probably more people were watching from outside our borders than ever. And Obama won. Media influence or not, millions consoider him black and are proud and motivated now that he won. That is not a CNN talking point. That is fact. Phelps did none of that to people.

Whether you like Obama or not, it's tough to disagree with that. If you think that all the videos on EVERY news station (even Fox) is lying, then you're the biggest ignoramous in the world, not just the biggest on this website.

Remember the other day when I spoke about how you're so cool to hang with, but I want to kill you on the boards? This is why. It's not even stubbornness. It's your inner desire to take your closed-minded retardedness and infect what would otherwise be an intelligent conversation.

To say Mario has something personal is ridiculous. Only your personal insecurity and paranoia can make you think otherwise. I know for a fact that is not true, as Tommy, Mario, and myself would step up and fight for you like any friend. That's that TRUTH. If you think otherwise, then you insult each of us individually and the heart that we put into our toasts and you can go shove it.

Man up.

[moose135]

You know, I've only half-way been following this thread, mostly for the entertainment value, but let me respond to one point. It was asked "What has Obama accomplished" to deserve to be named Person of the Year. I took a look back at the history of Time's Person of the Year, and found these selections:

1932 - Franklin D. Roosevelt
1976 - Jimmy Carter
1980 - Ronald Reagan
1992 - Bill Clinton
2000 - George W. Bush

What do they all have in common? They were all selected following their election as President, but before they took office. I guess you could have asked the same about all of them as well.

[PhilDernerJr]

To point out, Nick, this isn't a debate on whether Obama is black or not. It's originally about who had the greatest effect on society, therefore who ends up being the Person of the Year. And by the way, the internet survey on the Time site doesn't actually choose the winner.

The actual problem here, and the display of your closed-mindedness, is that you have never and will never say "well this is how I feel, I just happen to disagree with you guys". Instead, you take your view and go on hardcore debates, trying to lay argumentative assaults on others for their views. Yet, never once, have you ever even stepped back and remotely consider to accept other peoples' views at any point in the history of this forum. THAT is the beef that multiple people have with you. You won't even consider what I'm saying right now.

To add, if you feel that we aren't your friends, Nick, let us know so I can stop caring. Seriously. If I or Mario or anyone didn't like you to at least some degree, we wouldn't reply as much. Your replies HERE, are the e-quivilant of slap in the face when we get together in person.

I said "man up" because I want you to admit SOMETHING other than your narrow-minded bull$hit.

[mirrodie]

So I guess his white mother doesn't count. Darn could you be more selfish? At the expense of his mother

OK, so how exactly am I selfish? Please explain that one to me. How exactly am I spiting his white mother, especially in light of my personal example which you sidestepped and turned around once more to spin off other tangents?


Why? Mario it's no secret of the loathing and apathy you have for me.

ROFLMAO!!!! Loathing and apathy? I think Phil is right in mentioning paranoia. When you have loathing and apathy for someone, you usually don't have them over your home, nor do you go out for dinner with them, let alone sit right next to them. I may be many things, but an actor I am not. To feign friendship over dinner is a waste of my time. You could not be further from the truth.

I do enjoy good debate backed by fact and logic. So simple. In fact, feel free to go back to my original post and actually respond with fact and logic as opposed to spinning tangents. Further, I think most people on the forum that know me know that you are wrong regarding any personal vendettas you claim that I have.

Instead of loathing and apathy, its clear that I LOVE engaging your views because they are off the wall.

Hey, let's face it and Phil has told me this....I used to never get involved in any political discussions. Your views are worthy of my time in engaging them. If I didn't consider you a friend, I wouldn't respond as you would not be worth the time or effort.

Moose, great post.


I don't deal with people based on their race but it is something that seems to stir more hate inside you

Beautiful! So not only is Obama not black, but when presented with a similar scenario from my own life, as I can relate to Obama, you use it to try and performed some type of botched analysis.

Nick, let me make it simpler. When I said what I said below, slightly truncated,


Am I black, white, or biracial? Then tell me about my parents and what I am referred to as. And finally, tell me how it imparts my life and business everyday since I've had Phillipinos, Sicilians, and Hispanics all wrongly pin me for being their respective race/nationality. Perhaps it doesn't.......Notice, he didn't ask if I was black, white or biracial. And if he saw me, the answer surely was going to be made in his mind, once he saw me, "black or white"

It basically comes down to this. You fault the media for making him "black" when, in your view, he's not. (And we all know about all those biracial prezzies weve had.., so Obama is just a dime a dozen. :roll:)

My example is meant to show that at the end of the day, everyday people, NOT THE MEDIA but everyday people think in terms of black and white and 'biracial'
is not at the forefront.


I agree with Phil's posts subsequent to my original post.

[PhilDernerJr]

Obama won.

[Matt Molnar]

http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2008/obama_youth/obama_youth_04.jpg
I dunno where Time got this pic from, but wow.

[mirrodie]

Would make a nice cover for Time to use that pic.

[Midnight Mike]

http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2008/obama_youth/obama_youth_04.jpg
I dunno where Time got this pic from, but wow.


Good gawd, that is a bad photo....