Person of the Year 2009

If you thought Sarah Palin was just going to fade back into the Alaskan wilderness after she and John McCain lost the 2008 presidential election, then you don't know Sarah. America's favorite Rorschach political figure is still going rogue, whether quitting her job as governor — who needs a bully pulpit when there's Facebook? — or spending her hour on Oprah dissing the 19-year-old father of her grandson. Will she run in 2012? Does it matter? In a Republican Party looking to be energized, Palin is the one drawing the crowds (even if they have to pay for a photo with her). She's their moose-huntin', "you betcha"–spouting, partisan jabbing sweetheart. Seventy percent of Americans may think Palin is unqualified to be President, but 100% of Palin supporters don't care.

— Amy Sullivan

See TIME's 2008 Person of the Year: Barack Obama.