Colbert (AP/Chris Pizzello)
Time magazine released the ballot for its annual Time 100 issue on Thursday, asking readers to vote for "the leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes that they think are the most influential people in the world."
That doesn't necessarily mean nice. Among the more than 200 people included on the 2012 ballot: Rush Limbaugh, the outspoken radio talk-show host who sparked a backlash over his controversial comments about Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke. (Fluke is also on the ballot.)
All of the current 2012 presidential candidates—Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and President Obama—are on the ballot.
KONY 2012—the movement against the warlord—is on the list, though its founder, Jason Russell, who had a bizarre public meltdown earlier this month, is not.
Other notables: Rupert Murdoch (though not James), Stephen Colbert (but not Jon Stewart), Ellen DeGeneres (but not Portia) and Tim Tebow (but not Mark Sanchez).
For music, there's a slam-dunk (Adele) on the list but a couple of highly-questionable inclusions: Lana Del Rey—the Internet-sensation-turned-major-label star who turned in a horrendous live performance on "Saturday Night Live"—and LMFAO.
Independent comedy is well-represented, with "Portlandia" stars Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen, "Bridesmaid" stars Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, comedian Aziz Ansari and podcaster Marc Maron among the possible hundred.
One meta media note: Mashable founder Pete Cashmore—whose site was rumored to be close to a sale earlier this month to Time-corporate sibling CNN--is on the ballot.
As is custom, the poll winner will be included in the issue—though the full Time 100 list is chosen by editors.
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