With the year 2007 rapidly coming to a close, and the new year promising to be controversial and filled with non-stop excitement, it is time to review the last 12 months. A lot has happened this year, but it is now time to choose the most influential; to award the best, and call out the worst.

TIME Magazine, as always, has decided on its “Person of The Year”. They chose Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is no secret that Putin has made the news, or that he has been an interesting and provocative man this year, but are there better choices?

FOX News’ Bill O’Reilly covered this on his show, The O’Reilly Factor. He believes that instead of Putin, the “Person of The Year Award” should go to General David Petraeus who, in a matter of months, and with limited resources, turned the once devastatingly solemn situation in Iraq around to the now winnable state it is in today.

Now it is time for me to reveal my pick for “Person of The Year”. After much consideration, I decided to agree with Mr. O’Reilly. David Petraeus is an honorable man and a hero. He took Iraq and made a complete 180, we now see the lowest amount of violence and death sense we invaded the country and peace is being restored in many areas.

Iraq is now beginning to look like something we have under control, we are gaining ground in the country, and it looks as though we may be able to count on a win after all. That is unless, of course, a Democrat comes into the White House in 2008 waving their ignorant hand and bringing an end to the War and allowing destruction to return.

That being said, even though there have been a number of good deeds completed and a number of good intentioned people like Mr. Petraeus, there are always those who are foolish and corrupt. Those who do nothing but weaken the foundations of our culture and cause mass havoc. These people are ninny hammers.

So now, it is time for me to reveal my pick for “Ninny Hammer of The Year”. I had to think long and hard about this one because there are many possible recipients. For example, the Liberal Media in its entirety, or Sean Penn (or any number of Hollywood blockheads who subscribe to anti-American hatred) who visits Hugo Chavez (another notable candidate), a known Bush hater and American foe.

But of all the numerous choices, I came to one final conclusion. This year’s “Ninny Hammer” is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad not only came into our country and expressed his anti-American views, but flat out lied by saying there are no homosexuals in Iran. This being so outrageously untrue, we can tell that the rumors are probably accurate depicting the murders of gays in Iran.

This cretin also has been providing weapons to Iraqi terrorists which allows them to continue to kill American soldiers and innocent Iraqi civilians. He has been promoting terrorism and fueling the war against America, all the while allowing us to believe he was creating nuclear weapons.

And even though it has been found that Iran stopped trying to produce nukes, they haven’t ceased enrichment of Uranium which means they are ready to restart production at anytime. Mr. Ahmadinejad is definitely a winning candidate for this title.

Overall, there have been good times and bad times this year, as with all years. We have seen the successful turnaround of Iraq, and the defeat of a frivolous Immigration Bill. But we have also seen hundreds of good Americans die, and our own Senators and Congressmen spew propaganda aimed at weakening the country they vow to protect.

And as the chapter 2007 comes to a close, we must remember the lives of those who won’t see 2008. Yet we must also anticipate the coming year and all it promises. From the election of a new President, to the possibility of an end to the war. It is impossible to tell what, good or bad, will come. But we, as America, must be ready to take the leap…to embark on this journey together.