Days before 2012 ended, Time Magazine recognised U.S. President Barack Obama as the year's Person of the Year, indicating the global recognition of his reelection and confidence in his leadership despite the difficult year 2012 was for the United States.

In selecting Mr Obama, Time pointed out that the president is the first since Franklin Delano Roosevelt to secure more than 50 per cent of the vote in two straight elections, and the first to be reelected since 1940 despite an unemployment rate higher than 7.5 per cent.

Almost two months ago, Mr Obama won over Republic candidate Mitt Romney for his second and final four-year term. Time cited Mr Obama's founding and forging a new majority and his turning weakness into opportunity which created a more perfect union as its reasons for naming Mr Obama Person of the Year.

It was the second time Mr Obama was named by Time as Person of the Year, the first being in 2008 when he became the first black president of the United States.

"The American people have rightly been frustrated at the pace of change, and the economy is still struggling, and this president we elected in imperfect, and yet, despite all that, this is who we want to be. That's a good thing," Mr Obama was quoted by Time.

The frustration of Americans is reflected in the following meme

Beyond the economy, the president's first four years was marked by change

leadership in global fight against terrorism

Despite his shortcomings, Mr Obama is seen not as stereotype

2012 will certainly be a landmark in his political career.

But he will remain a favourite target for political jokes in 2013

Besides Mr Obama, First Lady is a favourite meme target also.

In getting his second Time Person of the Year recognition, Mr Obama beat runner up Malala Yousaafzi, a Pakistani teenager who was shot in the head by the Taliban for sticking to her principles for women's rights.

Mr Obama's win, however, did not sit well with 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin who tweeted in reaction to Time managing editor Richard Stengel's explanation for the president's choice.

"When I first heard that, the first things that popped in my mind was: What the heck has he done? Really, what has he done, except drive us over a fiscal cliff . . . What has he done to unify and make our nation a more perfect union" For the life of me, I don't know," Ms Palin tweeted.

The president appears not to have time to even answer Ms Palin's sour-graping tweets since he is apparently busy preparing for his Jan 21 inauguration which includes two swearings-in, parade and official balls.

Organisers for the second inauguration of Mr Obama are bracing for 800,000 visitors for the event which is just almost half of the 1.4 million that attended his first inauguration in 2009.