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The brave monks of Myanmar get my vote. Even though they were brutally supressed, they performed acts of great courage and inspiration in trying to protect the people from the excesses of the military regime.
Posted by jconnell at 12/13/2007
The most significant event is that the Democrats, after being handed control of both the House and Senate, rolled over and gave in at almost every turn to BushCo. Ms Pelosi announced that impeachment was off the table before even assuming her new office.
Posted by NoPCZone at 12/13/2007
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7866929448192753501
Young people will save the planet, and our Constitutional democracy [video.google.com]
Loose Change 2nd Edition Recut
Loose Change 2nd Edition Recut All time views:7,621,309
http://lc911finalcut.com/
Posted by Rese at 12/14/2007
None of above, most of which are US-introverted (exceptions, the Peace prize, which alas has too little impact -- remember, it has been awarded to war criminals like Henry Kissinger. Pakistan event tossed in there to give the choices an outward-looking appearance.).
However, the EU Lisbon Treaty, just signed, affects far more people, going over their heads in a way a dictated EU constitution tried but failed to do, viz. undermining European democracy in the name of "unity" -- in this case, unity being undemocratic centralized control by a political & financial elite. A David Rockefeller would approve these Lisbon Treaty aims. A large majority of EU voters would not approve, hence a treaty drafted & signed by an elite, with almost no public debate, barely explained to the electorates, not submitted to referenda in any member state.
Posted by sloper at 12/14/2007
"The most significant event is that the Democrats, after being handed control of both the House and Senate, rolled over and gave in at almost every turn to BushCo. Ms Pelosi announced that impeachment was off the table before even assuming her new office. Posted by NOPCZONE"
As for the most significant US domestic news, this is it, unfortunately, hands down. No impeachment investigation = no futher investigation of 911 = more fear-mongering, more military gluttony, more erosion of the US Constitution.
Any hope for change? Certianly not with the GOP. And not nearly enough with the 3 leading Dem candidates. Kucinich raises all the right issues. If you want those issues brought further to the fore, donate this Sat Dec. 15: dennis4presdent.com
If Kucinich raises enough TV ad spend $$, the issues he's raising will be taken much more seriously by MSM. Otherwise, no hope. Just more war (at least to 2013 is what all 3 Dem leads say US military to stay in Iraq). More erosion of rights. More military influence over US life.
Posted by sloper at 12/14/2007
The success of the surge in Iraq, which seems to be vanquishing the bad guys, which in turn will allow us to make an orderly withdraw.
Posted by Ubu at 12/14/2007
Thank you for giving a "None of the above" category. I was beginning to think you guys were biased.....(hehehe)
Posted by ACook at 12/14/2007
Agreed. The biggest story was the non-story. Democratic Congress fulfills not a single promise of holding the Bush admin accountable.
Posted by jlsolley at 12/14/2007
This was difficult for me. Choosing between something very negative - the continuation of the debacle in Iraq, and the very positive campaign to elect Ron Paul. Imagine, a non-violent anti-war candidate being taken seriously and generating massive amounts of support!
Posted by H-daddy at 12/14/2007
The biggest story line is the one that never took place. Bush and Cheney Impeached For trampling Over Constitution would have been the headline if we only had representation interested in representing us and not the corporate world.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 12/14/2007
Most significant event was the release of the report of the intelligence agencies that Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003
Posted by lippincott at 12/14/2007
What was the most significant news event of 2007? Congress' failure to impeach the current administration; or for that matter, to seriously hold it accountable for much or any of its misdeeds. Basically, Congress' failure to carry out this Country's historic electoral "mandate" of 2006.
Posted by mtegio at 12/14/2007
Pelosi taking impeachment off the table. Again, the biggest story was the non-story.
Posted by jrgotz at 12/14/2007
Famiglia Bush sent out a few enforcers, a few baseball bats were swung, and suddenly the votes aren't there. And what did they say to Mukasey before day two of testimony?
Posted by grayforester at 12/14/2007
The Democrats failed to either impeach the criminals Bush and Cheney or end the Iraq War. It plainly showed the futility of voting for a Democrat if you are anti-war since nothing will change with a two party system.
Posted by Tom Paine Jr at 12/15/2007
Once again, the story that never made big news
Posted by calliehb at 12/15/2007
Hedge funds slide due to housing loan scandal is years biggest story, and will be again next year. It's influence is growing day by day.
Posted by David James at 12/15/2007
One of the most important stories of this week is the painfully predictable decision by A.G. Mukasey to block the investigation into the torturing of prisoners by the gestapo! It's obviously deeper than that. Let us not forget the the two pro-Israel Repuglicrats Diane Feinstein and Charles Shumer gave Mukasey the votes!
Posted by gclef88 at 12/15/2007
The most significant news event of 2007 was the defeat of al Qaeda in Iraq in Anbar Province. The Sunni Anbaris stood up and with the help of the US military chose to protect their families, tribes and towns from the yoke of al Qaeda tyranny. One should remember the visits by US Congressional delegations one year ago to Syria and Jordan meeting with Iraqi Sunnis after the Democratic landslide election victory. Let us hope the tide has changed in the battle against the Islamic jihadist.
Posted by samellison at 12/15/2007
US economic meltdown is the biggest story. Subprime leads the way for other toxic financial devices all the result Federal Reserve easy money policy. Meanwhile 15% monetary growth by the fed feeds double digit price inflation further devaluating the dollar. Most major US banks are insolvent at this point, just like teh Federal government.
Posted by expatincebu at 12/16/2007
"Posted by EXPATINCEBU 12/16/2007 @ 01:32am"
"Economic meltdown" will be the significant news event of upcoming 2008. Not just the subprime crisis of '07 continued, but a full fledged credit crisis affecting banks, money market funds, bond funds & in the end the real economy, i.e. the consumer. There is much worse to come. House prices should fall at least 30% on average. The "feel good" factor of the consumer will dissipate quickly. There is going to be a huge shake out in the financial industry: banks & some money markets first, hedge funds next. Many economists think we are heading for stagflation, a scenario where Central Banks (like the Fed) are practically powerless. (Shades of the '70s, after the Vietnam war & its huge debts started to kick in.) How did we get here this time (besides illegal trillion $$ wars)? Double & triple leverage, sloppy risk underwriting, aggressive sales to investors (like European banks) who did not understand the risks involved. And above all regulators who condoned ALL of this. But in the final analysis, it boils down to an eternal management issue: can you as an employee in the financial industry sound the alarm bells, as the lonely voice in a crowd of believers. Imagine yourself in a Baptist church one of those Sundays in Arkansas with Mike Huckabee at the pulpit. You get up & announce to your fellow believers that you no longer believe in God. You even want to give them a clear, coherent analysis of your reasoning - alas, they will not even let you speak. Few people can afford a strategy like Warren Buffet & Co. (share price development of BRK-B went from 3.600 to 5.000 over the past 6 months), Vanguard, Dodge & Cox or Dimensional Funds. In most banks, brokerages or fund management companies, you get fired or sidelined if you are a threat against vested interests (power + bonus). So the human element in a largely dysfunctional corporate structure is the main reason here. Top executives like getting rewarded (Chuck Prince et al) rather than punished. From their point of view, it is the modern version of Pascal's 17th century wager on salvation. However, long-term cautious investors need not panic, that is, if one's asset allocation is conservative: low-cost equity funds, equity index funds, real estate (preferably your own & debt free) + lots of cash invested in CDs or conservative money market funds. Thus one can ride out the storm in the equity markets, which is hitting us and probably will get worse over the course of 2008, replacing illegal wars & even health care as Top Issue. It will be interesting to hear the GOP candidate(s) on free markets in '08; or HRC on the Robert Rubin glories of the '90s (abolishing Glass-Steagle) that put us here.
Posted by sloper at 12/16/2007
The Democrats in Congress are caving in on FISA, funding the War on Iraq without strings attached, foregoing PayGo on the AMT re-adjustment, de-funding Dick Chaney's Whitehouse office and make him full time President of the Senate, etc.
Negotiation with this administration involves more than sweet reason - it requires playing "enhanced" hard ball. The American Public admires it. John Kerry lost in part because was perceived as a wimp. I would like to live a society where reason prevails - sorry about that - life is a bummer so let's grow up and play with the big boys.
Posted by RBStanfield at 12/16/2007
The big story is the Bush Administration will be marked as the turning point in the decline of the American Empire. Depleted natural resources, living off of foreign debt, the elimination of domestic manufacturing, and the institution of a permanent police state.
Posted by D1od1o at 12/16/2007
Several above mentioned the "economic meltdown" as being the most significant event and I have to agree. The odd thing about all this is that laissez faire capitalism has been tried before and clearly failed and it failed then (take your pick--1929 or 1890's) in the exact same way it has failed again. FDR's new deal worked very well and provided a good balance between capitalism and a fair economy too. FDR's definition of what freedom really means was brilliant at the time and applies just as much today. Unfortunately, we have had to live through the destruction of this infrastructure in order to see what value it had.
I have a conservative friend who lived through the loss of his father at a young age. Despite the impact this devastating event had, he was supported and was able to live a normal life and even went to the University. He was allowed to accomplish his objective because the New Deal created an infrastructure to support our citizens especially after they have experienced one of the hard misfortunes of life. But if he didn't have this support, he might not have had the opportunity to reach his potential. He would have instead just been another story where a person was defeated by adverse circumstances not their fault but which they didn't have the power on their own to overcome. When I see people like Senator Schumer say we can't go back to New Deal type programs because they didn't work, I am frankly stunned. Of course they worked. Here is a man from an average household who was able to reach his potential as a lawyer and Senator precisely because when he went to school, tuitions were far more affordable. People who have made the most of their opportunities often make the mistake of thinking they did so because they were talented and deserved it. My view? They did deserve it and they get my hearty congratulations, but at the same time, FDR and his New Deal policies also need to be thanked because they provided the support which created the opportunity.
Posted by Erik at 12/16/2007
In 2007, the most important story was the revelation that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weaponry. I believe we were dangerously close to starting a conflict with Iran which would be an immediate disaster for the world. The discrediting of the Cheney hawks' claims of imminent danger weakened their position with the public and their ability to start a confrontation with Iran during the remaining months of the Bush regime. NHoward
Posted by Elburnguy at 12/16/2007
Democratic Congress fails to stop the Iraq War - and fails in almost every aspect of leadership. Yup, this was the biggest story, in spades. If you look up "devastation" and "outrage" in the dictionary, you'll find a photo of all of us who voted for the newly minted Democratic Congress, who voted for our hopes for the return of the country of our founders, now dashed.
I'm a life-long Democrat. I've seen the party of FDR, Bobby Kennedy, John Lewis, Barbara Jordan, and Paul Wellstone become a sickening club of weak-kneed, go-along, cheek-turning, brown-nosed, blind-eyed, and morally rudderless weasels. Dim, damn, dumb, Dems! It's my party, and I'll cry 'cause I have to! Where do I go for electable leaders who'll show the courage to speak truth to power? My own Congressman, John Olver of the first Congressional district of western MA., someone who in most aspects is a progressive, is adamant that we do not upset the apple cart. And he is someone who believes that this administration will attack Iran!
Another 50 billion dollar handout for the occupation? Sure, and when would you like the next installment? Another fascist appointment? Why not, it's the president's prerogative, and it's the best we can do. Consequences for a false war, illegal wiretapping, torture, rendition, 750+ signing statements, the end of habeus corpus, Katrina, the attorney general firings, the obscenity of the debt coupled with war profiteering, a world made safe for Halliburton, not to mention election fraud? Impeachment? Nah, we don't want to look all mean-spirited like those nasty Republicans, who will say we're giving them comeuppance for the Clinton impeachment. Off the table! Besides, it's just a distraction: they'll only be in office another 13 months, and they haven't attacked Iran or imposed martial law yet. We’ll just wait, and thanks for your interest.
Hoping against hope, I await a brokered convention, and the last-minute entrance of Al Gore, who has been right on everything except for not becoming our candidate. I guess even visionaries have blind spots; otherwise, how can he not see how much we need his leadership at the top?
I wouldn't mind leaving the Democratic party, if we had an electable voice for progressivism, economic justice, fair trade, civil liberties, worker rights, cooperative global relationships, healing the planet, etc. If you are reading this, Vice President Gore, I'll campaign for you if you start a new party - the Constitution Party, whatever - as long as we can install someone like you (i.e., you) who can either inspire or shame the Democrats into doing the people's business.
Posted by whybaby at 12/16/2007
As much as I like Al Gore, I can't forget that he chose Lieberman as his running mate. That was very poor judgment. Lieberman would have been a heartbeat away! He also gave up too fast and allowed Bush to steal the election. Another instance of very poor judgment. He also didn't contest the myth that he said he 'invented the Internet'. Al Gore is too nice of a guy to be president. The right wing will eat him alive.
Posted by D1od1o at 12/17/2007
How about the High Crimes, treason, war crimes, obstruction of justice which should have prosecuted and Bush should have been impeached. The fact that Bush is still able to block s-chip, threaten Iran, block Global Warming treaties, etc. Bush should have been removed in 2007, thats the story.
Posted by dansama at 12/17/2007
George W. Bush's two veto's against Children's Health Care....This was & is outrageous....
Posted by tdmcclimans at 12/17/2007
I agree with those who posted their disgust that Bush-Cheney is still in office and NOT behind bars.
Posted by chasrn at 12/17/2007
I agree that the major event was the negative, e.g., The DLC democrats refused to cut off funding for the war or begin impeachment hearings, the only two things that could stop the path of destruction for our once great democracy.
Over 12 trillion dollars (yes, $12,000,000,000,000) have been spent in the name of national defense since Reagan and and we have only one Battalion of soldiers with outdated equipment to protect us at home .
Posted by linwood at 12/17/2007
The NIE report was the biggest story. Toto finally pulled back the curtain, revealing the long, ugly list of misdeeds and high crimes- going back to at least the secret energy meetings of '01, if not the Faux (s)election.
Posted by Satrianobama at 12/18/2007
MOSTEST:
Democratic Congress fails to protect the Constitution from crimes of the Shrubbery.
Posted by civiletti at 12/18/2007
you have neglected to mention that our government is being overthrown by the bush regime and that bush plans to destroy the united states for the trans american union [ the merging of mexico, canada and the united states [ which will be no more than a nafta super-corridor] used to transport all our natural resources for the profits of terrorists bush's partnership with the saudis. Bush is now a dictator and our democracy is now fascism [ a government of business... for business... and by business... we are meant to be slaves to the 22% of the rich and elite.
Posted by glorialu7862 at 12/18/2007
Posted by ucBuff83 at 12/18/2007
The dramatic success of the troop surge and Gen. Petraeus' work in Iraq. In a less than year, Iraq went from what looked like a frustrating stalemate to near victory. A good deal of light from the end of the tunnel is shining through. Kudos to GW Bush for refusing to follow Democrats' and the media's incessant calls for US surrender in Iraq.
Also, the news that Libya has suspended its WMD programs and that Iran MAY have suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003 in response to US toppling Saddam in short order (something Iran never came close to in eight years of bitter war with Iraq in the '80s).
And the continuation of the economic boom that began with the Reagan revolution in the early 80s and continues to this day. Unemployment remains extremely low by world and historic standards (WAY below the pathetic labor situation in quasi-socialist Europe), inflation is well under control, interest rates are low, record high homeownership numbers (despite overly optimistic attempts to extend those numbers to include people who weren't able to make payments--the subprime disaster), material conditions of the poor Americans are better than they have ever been (and better than conditions for all but the wealthiest in most countries).
Posted by tshawytscha at 12/18/2007
I voted 'none of the above'.
Basically: it's another year closer to the final Apocalpyse, and the Rapture. Everything else is a bunch of (often horrific, at times too beautiful to behold) white noise.
The fact that America rapidly accelerated its move toward a sort of military/corporate/quasi-religious fascism would be the key thing if I had to vote on a current topic amidst all the 'white noise'.
Posted by Scrub at 12/18/2007
BLACKWATER: Today Irag. Tomorrow U.S.A.? Bush-Cheney private army.
Posted by sabat at 12/18/2007
Scrub, ou say, "...America rapidly accelerated its move toward a sort of military/corporate/quasi-religious fascism..."
You can't be serious!
Of course not. Ha ha ha!
Posted by tshawytscha at 12/19/2007
Sabat: "BLACKWATER: Today Irag. Tomorrow U.S.A.? Bush-Cheney private army."
Ho Ho HO! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!
"Bush-Cheney private army." Hilarious!
Posted by tshawytscha at 12/19/2007
The most important story of 2007 hasn't been written yet, but it might be by the end of the year. The headline would go something like: "More Americans realizing that only citizen action can restore our democracy". Several articles lately have pointed the way, including: "Are We Citizens or Are We Politicians?" by Howard Zinn, "Why We Resist" by Chris Hedges, and "People Power: It's Time To Stop The War By Ourselves" by Aimee Allison and David Solnit. A complementary headline would be: "Americans finally stop waiting for corporate media and military- industrial Congress to do their work for them." If these sentiments don't appear by Dec. 31, I hope they'll pop up in January,'08, at the latest.
Posted by lilyjane at 12/19/2007
I voted for the sub-prime mortgage "hogfest" because it shows how extensive greed and desperation are overshadowing our financial system to the point of ruination. We've become a nation of wannabe "get rich quick" speculators looking for the "free lunch" wherever possible. Like a herd of thirsty wildebeests we stampede from one gyrating financial bubble to the next gulping down any scheme or con that befalls us. Truth is, at this point it really doesn't matter who gets elected president, by the time this current financial debacle reaches its pinnacle the US will be so bankrupt we won't even be able to put a down payment on a ham sandwich.
Posted by rukus at 12/19/2007
I would say the biggest story would have to be the Burmese monks rising up in mass peaceful protest against the military junta. The story seems to have died down already though.
Posted by sid slim at 12/19/2007
It is a bit sad that The Nation -- in its selection of "important" stories -- and many readers -- in their selection of electoral politics as the most important story -- think that what happens in the U.S. is so defining. The continued survival and growth of the Bolivarian revolution, rejection of neoliberalism by an increasing number of "developing" countries, and the stalemating of the U.S. conquest of Iraq do not even make the list.
Posted by sschnapp at 12/19/2007
I read most of the comments and posts from many magazines and newspapers and I am both amused and surprised that readers of the Liberal and Conservative magazines are so out of touch with the reality of National and World politics.
How subscribers to The Nation could expect that a one or two vote plurality in the Senate and not much more than that in the House was going to suddenly change the entire direction of the War and the administration puzzles me. Most of the posts I read here are so out of touch with reality that it is painful. And yet, if you were to look at the posts of the last 50 years, regardless of which party controled the Congress or the White House, you probably could not tell when they were written if not for the names of the politicians they are skewering at that particular time. The country is never far enough left for the Liberals, nor far enough right for the Conservatives. One or the other has been threatening to leave the country if "so-and-so" gets elected or not elected since Thomas Jefferson's time. Campaigns have always been negative but every year the shouts are that it has never been as bad as this year. The Republican administrations are always being referred to as "Nazi fascists" and the Democratic administrations as Commie pinkos". You people are so predictable it is laughable.
You love the maverick who "tells it like it is" because he has absolutely no chance whatsoever of getting elected and therefore nothing to lose by doing so. Yet when someone who really has a shot tells it like it is, the voters elect his opponent who gave you nothing but bullshit.
Nothing in this country of any import, lasts unless it is supported on a bipartisan basis. Some of our most beloved presidents were also the most hated. Some of our dumbest presidents had successful administrations and some of our smartest had disasters. We survived Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton and we will survive W. and his successor. We've survived depressions, wars, race riots, scandals, natural disasters, and everything else that has been thrown at us. And still this is the country everyone is trying to get into. Legally or illegally.
So grow up Liberals. Stop crying and start worrying about the fact that you will probably have in a rather short period of time a Democratic White House and Congress. As the old saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for...you may just get it!!"
Posted by bean22 at 12/21/2007