Personality of the Year (nominations)

For the third year running, this blog is selecting the “J’accuse Personality of the Year”. This may not be the TIME magazine but in our own little world we like to see which personality has struck our news critting minds most between January 2010 and December 2010. The rules are like a party political manifesto : vague and ambiguous. J’accuse will consider one man, many men, an event, an object or even an idea as being the Personality of the Year. Remember… personalities go a long way… both positive and negative so let your minds go wild. Here’s a few ideas from our laboratory:

1. The Flying Saucer (aka Plategate):

At the origin of a whirlwind in both internet and traditional media, the mother of all battles is still running in court. Will Plategate manage to eclipse the rest as the not so silent personality of the year? It’s a favourite in our laboratory for the storm in a teacup that hit the island around March. (Odds: Evens)

2. The Navel Gazer (aka Where’s Everybody?):

They’ve ended the year in style. The Broadcasting Authority has virtually described Bondi’s + as being both unfair and unprofessional. (To everyone’s surprise Bondi stated that “in the one instance in which the BA ruled against the programme it was completely wrong.”) Meanwhile Peppi appears on a viral vid telling the world that “my bed is my tojlet”. They’ve baffled us with their choices on National TV and have provided the poor man’s philosophy of “xarabankism”. Will Bondi’s ability to live in denial and in an alternate world be sufficient to make him and his friends Master of His Own Universe? A rank outsider. (Odds: 4/11)

3. The Bandwagonistas (aka Divorce à-la-carte)

Where to begin? Is it JPO and his bill? Is it the unconditional surrender to the Way of the Referendum? Is it the MPO wanting a bit of the Private Member’s Bill? Is it Inhobbkom J tagging along having been beaten in the first race? Is it President Emeritus EFA telling us that this is all about wanting to be different to those damn Filipinos? Will JPO feature in this year’s prize for the third year running? A bumbling racehorse. (Odds: 11/1)

4. The Hot Hot Summer (aka Boiler no. 5)

Was it no. 5? It sure was a winner this summer with it’s On Again Off Again approach. For a fleeting moment it shot through the popularity charts but like Halley’s Comet it might not be around for a very long while. Or at least until next summer. A hot one. (Odds 50/1)

5. The There’s No Smoke (aka BWSC)

It’s dragged on long enough with highs and lows for both government and opposition. Now that in the midst of a global wikileak furore we have managed to get the attention of the Israelites (there’s no real conspiracy theory if it does not involve Jews at some point is there?) there may be a case for the Bateman Saga to pitch its own tent among the Personality events of the year. Let’s face it… first prize going to Master Bateman would be funny if nothing else. Smokey. (Odds 23/10)

6. Holy Men (aka the Catholics)

Dan Brown showed Umberto Eco that conspiracy theories can very well survive without the circumcised being involved. This prize would go to the ups and downs of our own Catolicissimi from Gonzi to Grech via Benedict. Whether it’s condoms at University or condoms for life you’ll find them there. They’re egging the world on for an indissoluble marriage and tut-tutting at anything that isn’t kosher. It’s 2010 and they’re still the main protagonists. Blessed. (Odds 75/3)

7. The Fourth Estate (aka the media)

With a pinch of self-irony and a strong dose of mea culpa will J’accuse be prepared to award the Personality of the Year to the whole bloody lot of them for their willing connivance in the treacherous act of abdication from responsibility. Do you agree? Spinning. (Odds 100/5)

8. Agostino Pio Gatt (aka Minister my Minister)

The man who takes on the impossible single-handedly has both shone and stank in 2010. From the merits of strong negotiations to the murky questions still hanging on BWSC he has never been away from the limelight. The latest faux pas is the new attempt to prolong his heritage: for after he is gone he has anointed nothing less than Mr Huge vs Intellectual Potential to be his successor. Heaven forbid. (Odds: 200/1)

9. Don Quixote de la Sleepa (aka Franco Debono)

The rough renegade continues his battle on party financing and parliamentary reform unabashed. Whether you buy his ideas for what they are or whether you read the conspiracy theory of another in-house PN battle there’s something about Franco that is more and more convincing. Will this be enough for him to win the coveted prize? Tough. (Odds 60/7).

10. The Troll (aka the self-appointed “Blogger)

Thanks to the ignorance of the hacks at the Times, it would seem that the term Blogger still describes persons who the rest of the world calls “commentators” or more often than not “trolls”. They’re the annoying freaks who believe that the right of expression means that their expression is inevitably right. They’re everywhere (thankfully a bit less here than elsewhere – but that’s class you know) . Should we vote them in or rather vote them out?

Those are just some ideas. Feel free to add more to the list.

J’accuse Personality of the Year… int taf x’jfisser!