Who Will Be This Year’s Time ‘Person Of The Year?’

At this very moment, a panel of experts (or at least prominent people from various fields) have gathered at the Time and Life building to discuss the nominees for this year’s “Person of the Year.”

(Can you feel the excitement? We can—because we’re there!)

So far ideas have ranged from French prez Nicholas Sarkozy, General David Petraus (”because of his credibility” in Iraq) Al Gore, because he has a “pretty good resume” [Ed: Albeit one that doesn’t include “President of the United States] Mother Earth, suggested by Brian Williams,* and “the word green,” a gem put forth by none other than Whoopi Goldberg, who explains, “it’s being used by people…who don’t give a rat’s butt [about saving the planet].”

Meanwhile, attendees include Sen. George Allen, Ariana Huffington, MySpace’s Chris DeWolfe (who, interestingly, did not cast his vote for Rupert Murdoch), MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, fiery redhead Ana Marie Cox, WWD’s Stephanie Smith, lots of Time ad clients, John Huey, Ann Moore and Ed McCarrick (prez and worldwide publisher of Time).

We’ll be sure to keep you updated as more panelists suggest new and inventive ways to bestow this semi-prestigious honor on someone (or something!) wholly undeserving. Chin up, though, Mr. McCarrick. Whoever you choose, it can’t be worse than the unmitigated disaster that was last year’s gimmick-slash-cover.

*Who may (or may not!) be showing off his nuanced, subtle and wonderful sense of humor…yet again.