The year 2008 was suited to those of us who cover the news and who analyze it. It was replete with drama from the devastating natural disasters in China and Myanmar to those caused by human greed and negligence resulting in a global economic meltdown. There were genuine surprises including Sarah Palin's rapid rise from obscurity to rock star popularity on the national political stage and Barack Obama's victory over racism, conservatism, and the power of the Clinton and the Bush connections.