Good choice. Person of the year is meant not to praise but to recognize newsworthyness, and this year has been characterized by protest. Osama Bin Laden should have been person of the year in 2001.
Like you said in the OP, this is not confined to Occupy. Tunisia, Libya, Syria, Egypt? In comparison the alternatives you put forward (Regis? What the fuck?) are inconsequential.
Giffords, Jobs, Obama, Elizabeth Taylor, Regis Philbin... So many other choices.
should the person of the year be the media for marginalizing the protesters I guess?
Giffords, Jobs, Obama, Elizabeth Taylor, Regis Philbin... So many other choices.

The Nobel Peace Prize 2011 was awarded jointly to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman
Who? Who? Who?
Again, it's not about merit, it's about newsworthiness and impact on the global conversation.
Take a survey of your coworkers. Without explaining who she is, ask how they feel about Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Record your results. Now ask how they feel about the protests.
Their vote for person of the year is Elmo.
Elmo is Grover's bitch
Person of the fucking year, SNKP for doing something right for once in a decade


Person of the fucking year, SNKP for doing something right for once in a decade