2008 in review. . . the year of the 'card'

There was a lot of political groundbreaking this year, first it was Obama's Iowa caucus victory that started out the year and was the first time an African American had won a majority white state in a primary campaign, then it was Hillary Clinton's candidacy and their bitter primary battle where she received more primary votes than any other woman candidate in history. There was also Sarah Palin, the second woman nominated as the running mate of a major party, and a first for the Republican Party. Obama's nomination by the Democratic Party and his subsequent general election victory were also huge accomplishments this year, but there was also a lot of political gears that kept moving as though none of these historic accomplishments took place.
One of the more fascinating facets of this was the '-card' politics that were played ceaselessly by all of the campaigns throughout both the primaries and general elections.
Because of all of the historic accomplishments of this years election, it would be nearly impossible to see a campaign where '-card' politics wasn't played. Early in the campaigns it was the gender-card vs. the race-card with Both Clinton and Obama running a tight and bitter battle. Later in the election it was the gender-card vs. the race-card in the general election battle after Palin was selected by McCain.
With one day before 2009 '-card' politics is continuing to be played in the continuing, and somewhat embarrassing battle over the senate seat in Illinois that Obama will vacate next month.
Governor Blagojevich, in a move that's winning him no friends, and despite criticism from his own state legislature as well as prominent national politicians, has nominated former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the seat despite Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid saying that any seat nominated by Blago would not be seated when the senate re-convenes next week.
The move was shrewd politics by Blago, (however disgraceful) as Burris is an African-American, and is a respected leader, by nominating an African-American, Blago dared congress not to seat him and blatantly brought '-card' politics to the front stage, enlisting Bobby Rush, another African-American congressman from Chicago, to spout ridiculous talking points comparing Senate Democrats to George Wallace and using words like "lynch" when describing the media's criticism of Blagojevich.
Nominating Burris puts Senate Democrats (as well as the Obama transition team) on the defensive and continues to drag down their national party and stay as a smear on the image of the party that is about to assume almost ultimate control of the Federal Government. And Balgojevich is shamelessly playing the race card with all of his full muster.
Seeing who will budge first on this will be the interesting story of next week, but it seems that 2009 will ring in plagued by the same race-baiting politics that left many of the firsts and historical accomplishments of 2008 slightly tarnished.