Putin is Time magazine's 'Person of the Year'

[Shammu]

Putin is Time magazine's 'Person of the Year'
Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:17pm IST

 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2007 on Wednesday for bringing his country "roaring back to the table of world power."

Putin, a former KGB official who was picked from obscurity in 1999 by then-president Boris Yeltsin, will appear on the cover of Time as the person the editors believe had the greatest impact on events this year, for better or worse.

"He's not a good guy, but he's done extraordinary things," said Time managing editor Richard Stengel, who announced Putin's selection on NBC's "Today Show."

"He's a new tsar of Russia and he's dangerous in the sense that he doesn't care about civil liberties; he doesn't care about free speech; he cares about stability. But stability is what Russia needed and that's why Russians adore him."

The choice came days after Putin announced a plan to hold onto power after his term ends. Putin said on Monday that if his close ally, Dmitry Medvedev, wins next year's presidential vote, he would serve as Medvedev's prime minister.

The Russian president beat out several rivals for the Time distinction, including former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, British author J.K. Rowling, Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. Commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus.

Putin is Time magazine's 'Person of the Year'
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Talk about a poltical statement by Time-Life magazine.

[Shammu]

Gore Files Lawsuits Against Time
by Pat Sajak
Posted 12/19/2007 ET

Lawyers for former Vice President Al Gore have filed numerous lawsuits against Time magazine, alleging a series of voting irregularities they maintain deprived Gore of Time’s “Person of the Year” Award. It has been announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin received the 2007 award, with Gore finishing second.

Details of the suits are sketchy, but one of them accuses certain unnamed Time employees of denying others the right to vote when it was determined they were leaning toward Gore. Rumors have surfaced that one employee, known only as “Chad”, has confirmed those rumors. Another separate suit claims the voting process to be far too complicated to be understood by, to quote the lawsuit, “a bunch of journalists.” Gore’s lawyers are calling for a recount of the ballots in question. They also demand that independent observers from the United Nations Commission on Climate Change be allowed access to any recount procedures.

“Mr. Gore has won an Emmy and an Oscar for his important work, not to mention a Nobel Peace Prize,” said a spokesman for the Vice President. “They don’t even have an Oscar ceremony in Russia. Who ever sees Russian films anyway?”

Some Gore supporters have accused Republicans of using dirty tricks to manipulate the results. One close advisor, requesting anonymity, claimed, “Putin is just the kind of civil-rights-trampling dictator the GOP loves to see in power. It would be interesting to sit down with those who voted and find out just how many have been subjected to Guantanamo-like coercion. Republicans knew Bush wouldn’t win, so this was the next best thing.”

So far, there have been no official comments from the White House, the Kremlin or Time.

Gore Files Lawsuits Against Time

[Shammu]

I think Al Gore's delusions of granduer are working overtime. This is just plain old pathetic. It's only a stupid magazine. I'm suprised that he didn't challenge Bush to a duel "Old West" style during the elections 7 yrs. ago. Maybe he can challenge Putin to that duel now, and settle it like a gun-slinger. Cry me a river Gore.

He's STILL the biggest Cry-Baby to walk this earth!! Someone needs to get him a pacifier!! Actions like this should make us all glad that this cry baby did not become president of the United States.

[Soldier4Christ]

Gore’s lawyers are calling for a recount of the ballots in question.

It does sound like a repeat action. When you lose call for a recount.

Putin wasn't any better of a selection for this. Neither one should have gotten it and no I don't think Bush should have either.