I agree with this poll, not because I support Palin (I do), as I am also not an overall fan of George W. Bush, but it seems clear these two individuals have made an extraordinary impact on our political reality. For Palin, this last year certainly, and for the past decade, Bush. Do you agree?

With this article, I think it’s a good opportunity to mention here what I noted on Tammy Radio today–my two co-bloggers, Pat S. and Maynard, are, shall I say, skeptical of Sarah Palin. I haven’t gotten the impression they’re against her, but perhaps we’ll hear more on their positions in this thread. I’ll encourage both of them to speak up. You do so as well. You know where I stand, I’d like to see your comments. We’re also setting up a straw-poll of sorts regarding your favorite for the GOP 2012 nomination. That will be up soon.

Zogby Interactive: Sarah Palin Person of the Year for 2010; Pres. George W. Bush Person of the Decade

Former Vice-Presidential candidate and Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin is the Person of the Year for 2010 according to a recent Zogby International survey. The poll, also names former President George W. Bush as the Person of the Decade (2000-2010).

Palin garners a 21% response with President Barack Obama claiming 16% for person of the year, and Glenn Beck tied with Julian Assange with 13%. None of the other seven people listed (General David Petraeus, Mark Zukerberg, Hillary Clinton, Conan O’Brien, Steve Jobs, LeBron James, Robert Gates) in the survey pull in more than 6%.

Democrats mostly choose President Obama (33%) and Assange (19%), while Republicans go for Palin (39%) and Beck (25%), and independents split their votes between Palin (17%), Beck (16%) and Assange (15%). President Obama only pulled 8% of the Independent vote.

Former President George W. Bush pulls in 44% of the respondents for Person of the Decade. President Obama comes in second with 20% and Osama Bin Laden garners 11%. None of the remaining six people listed (Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, Saddam Hussein, Vladimir Putin, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Kim Jong-Il) in the survey receive more than 5%.

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17 Comments | Leave a comment
  1. chicky says:

    Now that’s more like it! Better than Time mag.

  2. JLThorpe says:

    The choice of Bush seems logical. For good or ill, what he did seemed to have the most impact on the decade (he certainly lived rent-free in a lot of liberals’ heads for the past ten years). And the other choices in the poll really didn’t seem to compare.

    I don’t know about Palin for the year. I do support Sarah Palin; I feel that among all the people that the media props up as 2012 nominees, no one compares to Palin in terms of impact of her words and actions, courage to go against the establishment, and hard work and effort in bringing her message to the public. But was Palin more influential than Obama (again, for good or ill)? I remember someone once wrote online how the President is typically the person who has the most impact in a given year (this was while Bush was President). And was Palin an influence all by herself, or was she part of the larger Tea Party dynamic which includes others such as Glenn Beck, Rand Paul, Nikki Haley, and the many other candidates and citizens that are bringing about real change. While I’m loath to have groups considered as “person” of the year, I think Tea Partiers certainly had an impact, with Palin among them, that may eclipse Obama’s “accomplishments”.

  3. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tammy Bruce, Melissa Clouthier, BowlMeOverVa, Tania Gail, pat riccio and others. pat riccio said: RT @WooHooYoo: RT @HeyTammyBruce: Zogby: Sarah Palin Person of the Year for 2010; GW Bush for the Decade http://bit.ly/fyy5GQ #tbrs […]

  4. […] to Tammy Bruce. Zogby link here… UTICA, NY – Former Vice-Presidential candidate and Governor of Alaska […]

  5. As Tammy always mentioned, I think President Bush in his heart, was a good man–although that led to some horribly liberal decisions and growth rather than reduction of government; I think on those points Tammy and I are in agreement.

    I love Sarah–and I certainly would vote for her should she become the GOP nominee. I just have some reservations that eat at me once in awhile in regards to her readiness. That could, I suppose, change–depending on how she continues to present herself. Of course, I have no particular love for any of the “machine” boys at this point in time either: Romney, Hickleberry, T-Paw, etc. I think Romney could be very problematic consider the healthcare debacle in MA. If he was our nominee–the Left would absolutely massacre him with that.

    I just want the government to SHRINK!!! Not get bigger!

  6. RuBegonia says:

    Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue – last line – “And I’ll pull out a road map — I want to show Piper the way to Michigan”. Destination – Pat S. and all thoughtful Americans who need more than a pretty face and a promise to commit.

  7. hsgripper says:

    Sounds good. Sara Palin’s impact (I think for the better) is irrefudiatable. GW was good, might have had a sronger finish.

  8. Chuck says:

    I agree with this poll.

  9. Maynard says:

    Not that I don’t have an opinion, but I’m not sure I have an opinion about this. “Person of the Year”? My only definitive opinion is the concept is a stupid one. Today’s opinions are meaningless. Let the historians battle it out a century down the road. With respect to Time‘s awards…1931 MotY was Pierre Laval, who was subsequently executed by firing squad in 1945 for assisting in the deportation of Jews from France to German death camps. 1938 MotY was Adolf Hitler. 1939 MotY was Joseph Stalin. 1991 MotY was Ted Turner. 1993 MotY was “The Peacemakers”, represented by a team that included Yasser Arafat. 2006 MotY was “You”. That proves it. Anyone that declares me MotY (or PotY, as the case may be) is IotY (“Idiot of the Year”). That’s the award that interests me. (Hey, Tammy, can you convince Fox to start an official IotY award to compete with Time‘s worn-out icon?)

    As far as Sarah Palin goes, I ask the same question I ask about anyone: Given this person’s strengths and weaknesses (insofar as I can determine them), what task is this person best suited to undertake? Whether I like or love or hate Palin isn’t the determining factor for whether I see her as presidential timber. This is not a put-down. As I’ve said before, I see Palin playing a vital role in the political salvation of America. She’s rattling the cages that need to be rattled, and she’s connecting to the heart of America that has been long-abused by the entrenched machines and bureaucrats. If she’s as politically savvy as I think she is, she’ll remain in place as a power behind the throne, banging at the system in favor of the good guys, and shining the light on the dirty tricks coming out of Washington. I see her doing the most good in a place where she can pick her battles, rather than as president, where the battles usually choose you, and you’ve got less leeway to maneuver. Sorry, I don’t look at Palin and see Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher. I wish I could.

    I don’t need to convince anyone I’m right about Palin. Go ahead and disagree. In any case, the full debate is much bigger than I can lay out in a few sentences. I’ve barely scratched the surface here. But I don’t feel like arguing. I’d be delighted if history proves me wrong. I lament that I don’t have a candidate to advocate at this point. Until I can do that, I’m just another Doctor No. But I’m sounding the warning that I don’t see a Palin candidacy as a winning pathway. Somebody needs to say that. I’m hoping another option will come up. And I’m hoping Palin will endorse that option. I’m also particularly curious whom Alan West will end up endorsing.

    • morecowbell says:

      Maynard, I agree with you. I have been convinced that ‘No Labels’ movement has it right. That labeling someone as ‘Person of the Year’ is a form of a thought crime. And, of course, a thought crime is a precursor to hate crime. We all know that hate crimes lead to war that leads to global warming that kills off the baby polar bears.

      I like baby polar bears, therefore I am against the concept of a “Person of the Year”.

      Just saying…. the nurse is making me take my meds now (I hide them under my tongue and flush them after she leaves.. shhhh..don’t tell anyone.. now they can’t read my mind)

  10. Artgal says:

    It’s true that Obama has gravely impacted our lives/nation, but honestly, who has done more to resurrect our energy & morale then direct it in a way that had an enormous effect on elections this year? Without Palin, there are many tea party candidates who would not have made it past their primaries. Though not all won in the general election, this movement signalled something is happening in the country and in the GOP: the people rose up demanding to be represented and to have their country back. Who was the face of the tea party movement? It was Sarah – and she was really the only public figure who was not out to co-opt the movement; she was in the trenches with us. Where Obama used this year to suck the energy & money right out of us & the economy, it was Palin who inspired people & helped this nation rise up to deliver The Shellacking. There is no one else who could – or would – do that.

    Though I agree Bush was the person of the decade, his rise was due to events – not because he was someone extraordinary. I do thank him for the decisions he made that were right and for keeping this nation safe in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks; however, he would have been a one term president had 9/11 not happened. Because Bush is a decent man, I’m sure he would rather have been a one-term president than to have seen this nation attacked on 9/11/01.

    So herein lies the difference between Bush and Palin: Bush’s ‘Person of the Decade’ was shaped by events and let’s be honest, he did not always respond in the manner we wanted or that was in our best interest. No doubt the events that shaped his presidency & this decade were unbelievable and have left this world – and this country – much different places than in 2000. I can’t say I like where we are on a global or national scale!

    Palin’s ‘Person of the Year’ is shaped by her character. Yes, there are events taking place that draw her responses, but it’s who she is that captures our interest and it’s what she does that excites many of us & draws us to her cause – because it’s our cause, too.

    To sum it all up: I agree with the poll results.

  11. Tinker says:

    Of course Palin is the person of the year. Take her out of the picture and let’s imagine for a moment the election season. She’s not the “leader” of the tea party, but she does embody the movement–a break from the GOP machine and party bosses.

    I’d like to add that I think the media’s constant drumbeat about her does wear down a lot of people. How could it not? It’s very subtle and can happen without the person even realizing. All it takes is one little seed of doubt to be planted. I also wonder why Maynard uses the phrase “presidential timber.” I don’t think he means it in a masculine way, but that is what it conjures in the mind. I’m not criticizing, but it’s very interesting because I bet a lot of others feel the same way. I wonder if the same would apply to someone like, say, Hillary. Does she seem to have “presidential timber” because she seems more hardened and overtly masculine? And do those attributes give the impression that she is more “serious, tough, smart, etc? I think the left in particular has a problem with femininity. And part of the reason they are so fascinated with Palin (thought they despise her) is because she is a strong leader and a powerful woman, while remaining beautifully feminine. It’s fascinating to me too, as it probably is to most people. Thatcher, while maybe not as pretty as Palin, had that. Her nickname admitted as much— the Iron LADY. I believe this to be a gift from God. Like Queen Esther in the Bible. Her beauty helped open doors for her to be in a position to exercise her tremendous courage to save the Jews as part of God’s plan. It’s rare that we see women who rise as great leader in a positions of authority while remaining feminine, but it does happen from time to time. I’ve always wondered when America would have her turn and I think Palin is it. For me, she’s as tough as they come, she smart as a whip, and has excellent judgement and character.

    • imacat says:

      YES!!! Well said, Tinker! I’ve been thinking for awhile that all this talk about whether Sarah Palin is “presidential” is mostly due to the fact that we haven’t seen a female POTUS before, and when we finally do, she will look and behave differently from any of her predecessors because women naturally do. What she will have in common with our great presidents is her commitment to uphold the Constitution, to honor and protect the interests of America at home and abroad, and to inspire us all through her example of hopefulness, humor, humility, and hard work. Who better fits that description than Sarah Palin?!

  12. morecowbell says:

    It’s a three way tie: Pelosi, Reid and Obama. The three stooges have done more for the conservative movement that anyone else in the past 25 years. These idiots have provoked people, who normally stay disengaged in the political world to become deeply involved. They have pushed us to the point where spending, personal liberty and the role of the Government have become the mainstream component of the the American conversation. The elections last year were all in response to these idiots: the candidates were incidental. The Tea Party exploded as a result of these bozos. Tammy is right: the revolution has already taken place. It crystallized in the fall of 2009. It did not come from Palin or Christie or any one individual: it took place from the people as a reaction to the smug, arrogant incompetence of Pelosi, Reid and Obama.

    Just saying… I hope they keep up the good work in 2011, remember it took Jimmy Carter to bring out Ronald Reagan

  13. Atomic Crusader says:

    These person of the year and various “best of” lists are kind of silly but still kind of fun and gets you thinking a little bit. I don’t use Facebook or read Time magazine but find the picture of Mark Zuckerburg from the cover of the “person of the year” issue seemingly void of personality, sexuality or backbone, if mush had a face that is what it would look like, my apologies.

    I find the cult of personality built around Sarah Palin to be off-putting, she is getting way overexposed, its tiresome. But, I do like her in the interviews I’ve seen, she is funny, direct and honest. Anything she says makes news and usually has a significant impact on whatever topic is at hand. Sure, I’ll take her as person of the year but thats probably a little premature by a couple of years and then some.

    The decade? Bush definitely comes to mind right off. Despite his countless faults its been good to hear from him again lately.

  14. Pat_S says:

    I was instantly one of Palin’s supporters when she gave her speech right after getting the VP nod. I am probably the only one in the Tammy community who actually voted for Palin for President already. I wrote in her name in the doomed 2008 election although by then I was already starting to have doubts about her.

    Having once seen everything emanating from Palin as golden, I can understand the ferocity with which her supporters defend her. The hard fact is there is something about Palin that turns people off. Millions of them. They don’t think she is presidential and they aren’t all stooges or misogynists or elitists.

    To her supporters she is an iconic American—the common sense, hard-working, frontier woman. To others she has an air of prosaic provincialism that does not inspire confidence in her abilities to run the country. She is seen as unprepared and uninformed to take on the duties of the presidency. If she runs, we’ll all find out about her one way or the other.

    What troubled me by the time of election day 2008 is that I started to see she was unprepared. I wanted her to continue on the national scene because I believed in her potential. I’m sorry to say I still do not see her as prepared. I also have doubts about her intellectual approach.

    She is an activity-oriented person, not a thinker. She gets a lot of attention for Twitter zingers and Facebook essays. There have been op-ed pieces that in my opinion do not exhibit any more than mediocre analysis of other people’s ideas. Americans love to think of themselves as having common sense and to poke fun at politicians for having none. Many politicians try to associate themselves with regular folk by invoking the mantra of common sense. That isn’t what Sarah Palin is doing. I have a sinking feeling she really believes common sense is the quintessential form of intellectual analysis. Common sense is good for common things because it is a system of broad categories that occur repetitively. It may be sufficient for many things in the business of government but in the face of critical complex lose-lose situations, unconventional abstract thinking usually serves best. An educated grounding in world history and geopolitics is invaluable. Forcing complexities into simple categories can be dangerous. She is a smart woman but I am not confident she is much of an analytical thinker. Sure all presidents have advisors, but it all comes down to the president evaluating the advice. A president who would go by the gut as the first option scares me.

    I’ve questioned myself repeatedly about why I feel the way I do about Palin. I want to be sure I’m not influenced by the opinion of others. I still admire Palin. I’m certainly not an elitist or a misogynist. I have no other candidate in mind. I just don’t see Palin as President. I am open to the idea the moment she convinces me she can do it. Maybe by then she will have convinced the other millions of doubters too. If not, we get back to the issue of electability.

    If Palin runs and is not electable, we could be in for a disaster in 2012. I think she can win the nomination through the superhuman efforts of her base and some help from Democrats. If Obama is unchallenged, there will be an “Operation Sarah” calling for Democrats to vote for Palin in Republican primaries. If millions of voters are still unconvinced or worse, consider Palin a joke, the election will be called for Obama one minute after the polls close. The conservative grassroots movement will go down with her.

    Sarah has a lot of convincing to do and she’s far behind in that task.

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