Biggest News Story of 2008?

[Michael]

Okay, what do you think was the biggest news story of 2008?

Or rather, what do you think was the 2nd biggest news story of 2008 - other than the Obama election?

Obviously the financial crisis story that broke in October has been really big.

The terror attack in Bombay was also pretty big news.

Any other big news stories of 2008?

[Americano]

Tough to come up with anything significant following a black man being elected as US president and a financial collapse.

[partofme]

Tough to come up with anything significant following a black man being elected as US president and a financial collapse.

I think one of those may have lead to the other.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nation_finally_shitty_enough_to

But seriously it was a huge year. I don't think it's the biggest story but The Olympics sure did have everybody's attention for quite some time.

[Americano]

I think one of those may have lead to the other.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nation_finally_shitty_enough_to

But seriously it was a huge year. I don't think it's the biggest story but The Olympics sure did have everybody's attention for quite some time.

As resident cynic I do enjoy the Onion.

The godless and dangerous commies bringing off a first-class global participation entertainment production? I can't help wonder how it was received in states like Alabama and Utah.

[Dominick]

I don't necessarily agree that Obama's election is the biggest thing in 2008. Okay, the worldwide sigh of relief that it's no longer Bush or one of the other cronies of that wing is understandable, but are we that certain Obama won't be similar ? It's as if many people (globally speaking) think he'll be good at the job just because he's black. But that's just as silly (and racist) as saying he'll be bad just because...

His rhetoric about Pakistan is worrying. What if he just creates another front in Pakistan? That has the potential of being worse than Afghanistan and Iraq combined. Pakistan is nookular after all.

I for one will continue to ignore the mania and evaluate Obama after a year or so of residence in the WH.

[partofme]

I don't necessarily agree that Obama's election is the biggest thing in 2008. Okay, the worldwide sigh of relief that it's no longer Bush or one of the other cronies of that wing is understandable, but are we that certain Obama won't be similar ? It's as if many people (globally speaking) think he'll be good at the job just because he's black. But that's just as silly (and racist) as saying he'll be bad just because...

His rhetoric about Pakistan is worrying. What if he just creates another front in Pakistan? That has the potential of being worse than Afghanistan and Iraq combined. Pakistan is nookular after all.

I for one will continue to ignore the mania and evaluate Obama after a year or so of residence in the WH.

It is significant on a cultural level. If you had told me (a guy that has spent his life in the bible belt) two years ago that a guy that is black and has a Muslim name would be president I would have said bullshit.

[Dominick]

It is significant on a cultural level. If you had told me (a guy that has spent his life in the bible belt) two years ago that a guy that is black and has a Muslim name would be president I would have said bullshit.
So would I have :)
But that cultural aspect is specific to the States and not necessarily relevant to the rest of the globe. I'd fully agree that this election is the BNS of 2008 in the States but for the globe I'd go for the demise (hopefully) of the banking madness.

[Americano]

It is significant on a cultural level. If you had told me (a guy that has spent his life in the bible belt) two years ago that a guy that is black and has a Muslim name would be president I would have said bullshit.

Considering it hasn't been all that long since US schools and public services were segregated, the cultural significance is immense.

[Michael]

I don't necessarily agree that Obama's election is the biggest thing in 2008. Okay, the worldwide sigh of relief that it's no longer Bush or one of the other cronies of that wing is understandable, but are we that certain Obama won't be similar ? It's as if many people (globally speaking) think he'll be good at the job just because he's black. But that's just as silly (and racist) as saying he'll be bad just because...
I agree.

The election of Obama isn't all that big news. A gay-atheist would probably have won in November against McCain-Palin, just because of Bush and the Republican brand being so toxic.

Thus, I'm not reading too much into Obama's win. All I see is the Democrats got the Whitehouse. Hillary or Richardson would be President right now if either of them had won the Democratic primary. Edwards not so much but only because of his 'extramarital love-child' discovery that came out during the summer.

I don't think it really matters who they ran, the Democrats were going to win it, so Obama himself doesn't seem all that special. Its not like he won an 'upset' or a 'surprise' victory or anything. He was just the guy with the nomination for the right party this time.

His rhetoric about Pakistan is worrying. What if he just creates another front in Pakistan? That has the potential of being worse than Afghanistan and Iraq combined. Pakistan is nookular after all.
I totally agree with this. Obama and foreign policy have me spooked from six months ago when Obama started talking about Pakistan.

I for one will continue to ignore the mania and evaluate Obama after a year or so of residence in the WH.
At the very least, we have to let him actually get sworn in first. But yes, evaluation after one year should let us know if the next four years are going to be nasty or not.

I'd have to vote for the 'financial crisis' being the biggest news story of the year. Michael Phelps 8 gold medals at the Olympic was also big news too.

[SMadsen]

By far the biggest news was when Paris Hilton responded to the McCain ad.

[drgoodtrips]

The Russia-Georgia conflict struck me as pretty big news, though I wouldn't say the "biggest".