I have observed that, in the past three election cycles, the winner of the U.S. presidential election has been named Person of the Year (George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, Barack Obama in 2008). While I can understand why you might do this, I disagree with this practice, especially when the incumbent wins.
If you do choose to focus on the presidential election, then I suggest that it should be the loser, not the victor. In this election, Mitt Romney, as the Republican nominee, was leading the challenge against President Obama, and therefore driving the debate over our nation’s future. John Kerry played a similar role in 2004, leading the challenge against President Bush.
I also noticed that the Higgs Boson is among your nominees. I heartily approve. However, if you do choose to select the Higgs Boson, then please do not put the phrase “God Particle” on the cover of your magazine, unless you want your offices besieged by a rampaging mob of respectable physicists.
Michael O’Hara, Redmond, WA