But Time can't have a self-described socialist on the cover of its magazine. That would make the world come to an end.

The criteria for PotY is impact on the world. And the world is a much bigger place than the US. Our presidential candidates just aren't really that big, on that scope.

Merkel does seem like a compromise; TIME obviously wouldn't want a reprise of its 1932 issue by putting al-Baghdadi on hte cover, and Putin's not much better.

Merkel has quite an interesting bio & I believe when HRC finally breaks through the glass ceiling of the good old boys club that exists in America, we'll mark another milestone for woman, as symbolic & proper as giving a female Person of the Year her own title without the parenthetical (Man of the Year).

Good post Riversedge.


Thanks for the pleasant OP George.


TIME PERSON of the YEAR, ANGELA MERKEL

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

It's not like winning the Nobel Prize.

Merkel met the criteria. Then again, so did Donald Trump and Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.

In this case it is indeed an honor.
One would need to read the article to understand why & Time PoY can be either an Honor or a Crucifixation. Depends on the choice they make.

Merkel's acceptance, without hesitation, of Syrian Refugees, human beings fleeing war, is indeed worthy of Honor.
In this case..she is honored by Time's selection.

She's an iron fisted banker first and foremost. Anyone that follows recent European banking knows that. The article can stroke as much as it intends to. Her refugee actions don't cost the bankers. This was not a brave action for her. As much information is left out of the article vs the little it focuses on, is just an excuse for justifying, not really an overwhelmingly convincing reason.

And American's are the best! Exceptionalism and all that!

are the best?

Posts like that reinforce it.

but funny to see that the Sanders Keyboard Brigade are having a sad right now...

clickety-click-click will not make winners where it counts. Online polls are huge waste of time.

I don't recall anyone expecting Sanders to be named, or being disappointed that he wasn't. Personally, I would have thought it inappropriate to name Sanders or any other of the current candidates simply because of the potential for influencing election outcomes.

And I am SO tired of the Clinton Keyboard Brigade that has to say something snarky or negative about Sanders and/or his supporters at every opportunity, even when it is completely uncalled-for. No wonder my ignore list keeps getting longer.

Congrats Angela Merkel

that they weren't disappointed, you have not been paying attention.

*

Merkel is a fine leader & good person

I too am good with Merkel but was really hoping for Malala. Her day will come.

I hope her day does come soon.

Trump makes money for CNN and Time, and the fix is in.

But this is pretty cool!

That man has never been given all the credit he's due.
A hero & a diplomat. "Fairness& justice" must be part of his DNA, I believe.

A most admired man.

impact, positive or negative. Time is so concerned about how people view the magazine they have been doing a "politically correct choice"

After 9/11, bin Laden's name was floated around, but because of an uproar on that choice, they choose Giuliani. The fact is it was bin Laden who actually had the most impact, and changed the whole direction of the world in a negative way didn't matter.

While Merkel is an OK choice, I think it was the "safe" choice, especially since many folks view the Person of the Year as a positive thing, not what it used to represent until people are able to handle the truth, I guess they will only continue the safe choice.

Without giving it too much thought, John Kerry could have easily been Person of the Year. He had a tremendous impact on world events. From the removal of chemical weapons in Syria, to the nuclear proliferation agreement with Iran. It altered the direction on conflict resolution

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Their criteria is impact, either positive or negative.

I'm amused that Time chooses to recognize her just when the world is hitting back.

were you on of the ones that were expecting Sanders to win?

"wild guess"

realize I have been locked out of the Bernie Sander's group? Though I think unfairly, they obviously have a different impression than you do

as I said....I guessed! Was easy!

Thanks!!!!

Thanks!

...chances are most years, to do the job right, you'd have to look away from the bottom line and have some fairly hefty cojones.

That said, I don't think Merkel is a bad choice, but not who I would have picked.

Who were you expecting?

A recognition, but I do understand what you mean.

Merkel makes sense to me. She has been important in the world in the last year.

Merkel isn't just "meh, ok, Time didn't want controversy".

Merkel has earned every bit of honor she has been given. Rightfully so. Her bio is pretty phenominal.
She has been involved in seriously controversial situations & upheaval within the EU this year alone. Yet she maneuvers carefully through political issues of her Country.
Her acceptance of Syrian refugees by the thousands recently, without question or hesitatance is just an example of how she moves her country along.

A Very Good Read.

I thought Time Magazine did not have the courage to list ISIS, or it leader as the person of the year. How has Angela Merkel impacted the world the most for the better or for the worse? I do not in any way, shape, or form support ISIS, but they have had the biggest impact on the world in 2015. ISIS has disrupted at least two countries (Iraq and Syria). They have caused a reexamining of and change in international policy. President Obama did not want to redeploy American troops to Iraq, or Syria, but has done so due to the action of ISIS. The French and British governments have changed their foreign policy. Before the Paris attacks neither country seemed like they were going to participate in airstrikes in Syria. After the Paris attacks they both joined the airstrikes.

Kind of wish it wasn't a politician. None are deserving, imo.

Merkel has set an example as to the compassion of the world with her ready acceptance of thousands of Syrian refugees.
How many have we welcomed? She set an example of basic humanity. How many larger countries with far more resources than Germany have been so generous with human compassion?

Merkel was quite deserving of Time Person of the Year.

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starring Angela Merkel as the Witch in the woods, with the gingerbread house and hot oven...

& Time is a conservative publication. All the nonconservative choices would have sent out a difficult message for them in a presidential election cycle. Those Time guys are regularly on Scarborough & Mika (his eye candy) in the morning promoting all of the conservative crap that they stuff that publication with. Time gets most of its tv promotion on that show, so it will feature Malala or Bernie, etc. Merkel is a banker. She does stuff for banks not people. Hedge fund managers are parasites for working people's retirement accounts. Wealthy people hoard cash as if they could take it with them. Sad.

Financial demise, and managed to step carefully for 70 years from being embroiled in war. Considering the volitile conditions of the EU, this is some pretty savvy leadership.
She is worthy of Time's PoY.

She's not the only who brought her country out financial demise. She's not special.

It's only one person among all others. She's not close.

#allopinionsmattersomwheretosomeone

..

She doesn't even remotely belong in the same conversation with America's so-called conservatives, who are corrupt nihilists. Here she is at an anti-hate rally after Paris. Get that simplistic cartoon out of your head.

for a bankster who throws a coin into the street. The conservatives in this country just awarded her - they love anyone who steals with one hand and strokes with the other. Person of the year? Nothing personal to her, but not person of the year. I am surprised you aren't complaining about not having an American for person of the year. Oh wait, stealing from the poor, stroking with the other - very American conservative. Keep trying!!!

I am very happy to hear this.

The majority of Germans are not happy with her open door policy to the Syrians and I totally agree with them.

not only on the Syrians but with her relentless favoritism for the bankers at the expense of everyone else, particularly those fellow Europeans with the austerity boot on their necks. Compassionate? Hardly Mother Teresa!!!

n/t