My Person of the Year

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STEVEN SPIELBERG MICHAEL J. FOX Director Steven Spielberg is a three-time Oscar winner and co-founder of DreamWorks I nominate Michael J. Fox, who made ads for Democratic candidates this year, using his own suffering to equate the conservatives' war on science with terrible human consequences. The ads occasioned a counterattack that exposed right-wing meanness and helped Democrats take the Senate.

MELISSA ETHERIDGE AL GORE Singer Melissa Etheridge was recognized as one of the TIME 100 last year

I nominate Al Gore. He stood up and said, "Hey, we're not doing the right thing for the planet." I think he's waking people up. He could have just gone away, back to Tennessee, but he has stayed involved. I think it's inspiring to see someone who became a politician because of his beliefs.

DR. ANDREW WEIL THE AMERICAN VOTER Andrew Weil, M.D., is the author of Healthy Aging and a contributor to TIME

I nominate the American Voter for showing gumption and backbone, rejecting the Bush Administration's portrayal of the Iraq war as a success, punishing Republicans for their adherence to an ideologically inflexible leadership and setting the country on a saner course.

CARLA HILLS 1975 IRAQ INSURGENCY Carla Hills has held two Cabinet-level federal posts, overseeing housing and trade

You might consider the Iraq Insurgency. It has galvanized the Muslim population beyond Iraq's borders and is considered one of the major reasons the Democrats won the House and Senate. And it promises to be at the top of their agenda when Congress convenes in January.