Top Five Most Memorable Events of 2008

Most people did not know who Barack Obama was when he first announced his candidacy for President of the United States. During the beginning of the 2008 presidential campaign, not many people believed American voters would elect an African-American as President. On November 4, 2008 Americans spoke for change and elected Barack Obama as our 44^th President of the United States.

Former U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton Campaigns for President of the United States

Hillary Clinton charts a new path for women in politics as she wins millions of votes in the Democratic primaries and her run for President of the United States. Hillary is named as Barack Obama's Secretary of State after former President and husband Bill Clinton says he will not accept conflict of interest foreign contributions. Caroline Kennedy wants Clinton's vacated New York Senate seat. The long history and power of the Clinton's and the Kennedy's in U.S. politics is challenged as Americans speaks out in record numbers during 2008.

Michael Phelps Breaks Olympic Swim and Gold Medal Records in Beijing, China

I want what Mikey drinks! How does one man have that kind of endurance and swimming talent? Michael Phelps became a world sports legend as he amazed us by winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This of course beat Mark Spitz's Olympic record and we fell in love with our new sports superman AND his mom and family.

Trillions of Dollars in Government Bailouts Given to Finance and Auto Industries

The world is in the worst economic crisis since The Great Depression of the late 1920's through the 1940's. Record numbers of people have lost jobs, homes, and retirement savings as companies and families file bankruptcy in record numbers. The U.S. government struggles to figure out how to fix it. Our centuries-old form of capitalistic government is brought into question as heated debates arise over using taxpayer dollars to save private industries like finance, automobile and real estate. Other industries and government sectors like airlines, retail, state and local governments, and public schools would like government bailouts also. Where do we draw the line and just how much more money will be pay for our decade of mistakes that even corporate CEOs seem to think is not their fault?

In Memoriam of Legends and Heroes Who Passed in 2008

2008 was a year of shocking and extremely grievous news about beloved entertainers and heroes who left us. We could not bear the thought of having a historic presidential campaign and election without Tim Russert telling us what is happening. Robert Redford must be grief stricken over the loss of two of his best friends in life, Sydney Pollack and Paul Newman. How could we have such a historic U.S. victory at the 2008 Summer Olympics without Jim McKay? Legends live and die, but 2008 seemed like it had a particularly long list of legendary losses. In memory of some favorite legends and heroes:

Paul Newman

Sydney Pollack

Tim Russert

Bernie Mac

Heath Ledger

Van Johnson

Charlton Heston

Randy Pausch, Author of The Last Lecture

George Carlin

Yves Saint Laurent

Isaac Hayes

Jim McKay

Roy Scheider

Brad Renfro

Estelle Getty

Suzanne Pleshette

Harvey Korman

Bo Diddley

Dick Martin

Richard Wright of Pink Floyd

Evelyn Keyes

Andy Garcia

William F. Buckley

Michael Crichton

Bobby Fischer Chess King

Sir Edmund Hillary Mountaineer

Bobby Murcer Sports Broadcaster

Bettie Page

Eartha Kitt

John Costelloe from The Sopranos

Sam Bottoms

Miriam Makeba - Mama Africa singer

Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops

Jose Cuautemoc "Bill" Melendez - Peanuts and Charlie Brown Animator

Jerry Reed