On February 2, 2009, Eric Holder, Jr. was confirmed by a 75-21 Senate vote to become the 82nd United States Attorney General.  The Senate received the nomination after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved it in a 17-2 vote, with most Republicans voting in favor and only two voting against it.  Although Holder is new to this position, Holder is not new to the Department of Justice having served previously as the number two person, Deputy Attorney General, during Bill Clinton’s second term in office.  He was a senior legal advisor to President Barack Obama’s election campaign. Read the full story

The economy is bad.  We have heard that plenty already.  The housing crisis was the first sign that the economy was in trouble.  Then came the financial sector, followed by the auto industry desperate need of money. Read the full story

Supporters gathered in Chicago

In front of a crowd of more than 200,000 in Chicago’s Grant Park, Pres.-elect Barack Obama addressed the nation as the next president of the United States and the first of African-American ethnicity. “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,” Obama said. Read the full story

“White, fifty-something year old, male” is usually an accurate description of the head of the Executive branch.  However, this year’s election has introduced us to candidates who fall outside those characteristics.  No matter where people stand on the political spectrum, most agree that this year’s elections are historical- regardless of who ends up winning.  These elections have already set a precedent for years to come.

Age

As a former prisoner of war, cancer survivor, John McCain knows a thing or two about beating the odds.  He was ostracized by his own party and lost the 2000 primaries to a relatively new politician.  Entering this election, he was not seen as a front-runner and had been basically written off as the Republican nominee.  However, he was able to make a comeback, “My friends, you know I’m past the age when I can claim the noun ‘kid,’ no matter what adjective precedes it. But tonight, we sure showed them what a comeback looks like,” said McCain after winning the New Hampshire primaries.  McCain was not just being witty with that remark.

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