Who's the OTHER 'Time' Person of the Year?

It's time once again for Time's reliable marketing ploy-slash-water cooler time waster, its annual selection of the "Person of the Year." But, as the New York Post notes, this year's guessing game carries approximately zero suspense. For starters, a new president can usually count on being the POY, provided he's more exciting than George H.W. Bush. And if Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were deemed worthy, it's hard to see how the country's first African-American commander-in-chief wouldn't measure up.

So let's declare it a settled question and ask: Who's the logical runner-up? I'm going to offer a few top-of-my-head thoughts, and I hope you'll share yours in the comments. If I get enough good suggestions, we can put it to a poll. (Last year this method yielded a lively discussion, and, although no one suggested the actual POY, Vladimir Putin, one commenter did propose "Optimus Prime, defender of all sentient beings," which I thought deserved consideration.) Bear in mind that being named POY isn't supposed to be an honor (cf. Putin) but merely designates that person (or persons, or phenomenon) as the year's biggest newsmaker.

Sarah Palin

A little too obvious? Sure. But as far as the "Person" part in "Person of the Year" goes, it's hard to think of someone better. The beauty queen-turned-journalism student-turned Alaska governor was without a doubt the most polarizing, and the second most electrifying, presence in American politics this year. As a symbol, she covers a lot of bases: the state of the Republican party, the failings of the Bush administration, the rise of, and frustration of, women as a political force.

Richard Fuld

The election of a black president -- and the triumph of his uplifting campaign over one that trafficked in small ideas and pettiness -- is the feel-good story of 2008, but ultimately the feel-bad story is probably the one that's going to have more impact on most Americans' day-to-day lives for the next couple years. That would be the financial crisis and the tipping of the economy into recession. If you're going to pick one face to personify that, it might as well be the guy who was at the wheel when Lehman Bros. plunged off the cliff.

Joe the Plumber

Let's just get that joke out of the way right now, shall we?