World Rings In '09, Says Bye To Rocky '08

Eager To Forget Misery Of 2008, Revelers Usher In New Year With Mixture Of Hope And Anxiety

(AP)  Hundreds of thousands of revelers rang in 2009 from frigid Times Square as the famous Waterford crystal ball dropped, signaling the end of a historic and troubled year that saw the election of the first black U.S. president and the worst economic crisis in decades.

As the clock struck midnight, a ton of confetti rained down while the partygoers hugged and kissed.

Josh Torres and his girlfriend, Sarah Manganello, both 21, screamed and cheered as they watched the ball drop. Manganello had advice for people in the new year: "Learn from what you've done and move forward."

The wind chill made it feel like 1 degree in the area, but that didn't stop the throngs bundled in fur hats, heavy coats and sleeping bags from attending the event.

Former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton helped Mayor Michael Bloomberg lower the ball atop 1 Times Square for the 60-second countdown to midnight. Last year, Hillary Clinton was in Iowa campaigning for the presidency, and now she's expecting to be secretary of state in President-elect Barack Obama's administration.

Many other New Year's Eve traditions around the country were in place, but some festivities fell victim to hard times, and those that remained felt somewhat subdued. The nation's economic troubles made many people less interested in giving 2008 an expensive send-off. Public celebrations were canceled in communities from Louisville, Ky., to Reno, Nev., and promoters in Miami Beach, Fla., reported slower ticket sales than expected for celebrity-studded parties that they say would have sold out in past years.

But New York's celebration was still going strong. Five minutes before midnight, 1,000 balloons with the words "Joy," "Hope" and "2009" were released from rooftops in the area. The Waterford crystal ball - 12 feet in diameter and weighing nearly 12,000 pounds - dropped as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Sam Tenorio and his family drove to New York from Orlando, Fla., so his teenage daughter Brianna could see the Jonas Brothers perform live in Times Square.

"The economy is what it is. It's going to turn around. You just have to be positive," Tenorio said. "That's what we're doing, otherwise we wouldn't be here. I think that's why most people are here tonight: optimism."

Pauleene Romero, from Anchorage, Alaska, came to the celebration by herself on a whim.

"I had a bad year," she said, not wanting to elaborate. "I just wanted to do this for myself, as a way to start off a new year."

She stood with Karoline Kosiorowski, a University of Connecticut student, and Emilia Chodkiewicz, a teacher from Warsaw, Poland.

"Everyone watches the show from New York," Chodkiewicz said. "I just wanted to be here this year."

Along with the Jonas Brothers, Lionel Richie and the Pussycat Dolls performed. Dick Clark made several TV appearances from inside a studio, and Ryan Seacrest hosted the event.
Las Vegas casinos put on a midnight fireworks display and daredevil acts, including a 200-foot jump over the refurbished volcano at The Mirage hotel-casino by Robbie Knievel, son of the late Evel Knievel.

A spokesman for the biggest player on the Las Vegas Strip, MGM Mirage Inc., said more than 90 percent of rooms were filled, albeit at historically low prices reflective of a down year for tourism and gambling. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said the strip would be packed with around 290,000 people.

Others weren't so lucky. Windy weather and rough harbor waters caused Baltimore officials to postpone a New Year's Eve fireworks celebration. In Reno, officials canceled their fireworks show for the first time since 2000.

"With the downturn in the economy, with people getting laid off and with the tightening of budgets all over town, we just didn't think it was right to spend $20,000 or $30,000 on something that goes up in smoke," Mayor Bob Cashell said.

Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson expected to save $33,000 by canceling a New Year's Eve party he traditionally throws, a spokeswoman said. Hundreds of revelers were still expected to watch the Times Square countdown on a big screen at a separate, free event in the city's downtown business district.

Elkhart, Ind., planned a party at its outdoor skating rink, with volunteers leading some games, instead of a $5,000 event with fireworks. The city hadn't gotten any complaints about the scaled-back celebration, said Arvis Dawson, executive assistant to the mayor.

"I think most people understand," he said.

Philadelphia celebrated New Year's Day with its more than century-old Mummers Parade, though it had fallen into jeopardy when city officials withdrew about $400,000 in support.

After weeks of limbo, the Mummers Association successfully raised enough private donations to continue the pageant filled with flamboyantly dressed performers, sometimes described as the city's Mardi Gras.

Rich Porco, a Mummer for 51 years, said the uncertainty made this "one of the worst years I've ever been involved with."

Instead of preparing for the festivities, "you found yourself thinking more about, 'Is there going to be a parade?"' Porco said. "It was hard."

In Pasadena, Calif., hundreds of thousands of spectators were expected for the Rose Parade. Organizers said any economic hit they might have suffered was lessened because commitments to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on floats have been in place for at least a year.

"We may or may not feel the effects of the economy this year, but more likely next year," Tournament of Roses Chief Operating Officer Bill Flinn said. "We do feel one of our jobs is to bring optimism at a time when things are not so good for so many people."

The Peach Drop, which has been the staple of downtown Atlanta's New Year Eve since 1989, was expecting almost 100,000 in attendance at Underground Atlanta - an 80,000 dropoff from last year. Some attendees believed the shaky economy played a part in fewer people showing for the event, but they said it wouldn't deter their spirits.

John Buleey, a building contractor from Dawsonville in north Georgia, expects hard times to come next year. The 39-year-old also said the struggling economy should improve by the year's end.

"Sure, we'll go through tough times," said Buleey, who wore a shiny, gold-colored hat that read "Happy New Year" across the front along with his five family members. "But judging from the past, this country will overcome our financial woes."

College student Shannon Hill and Leanne Key, a flight attendant, attended the Peach Drop for the first time. The two 19-year-olds, who live near Atlanta, said having a new president could help the struggling economy heading into the new year.

"Hopefully with Obama in office, he'll provide a big boost for us," Key said. "We as a people also need to realize where we are as a society and what we're about to go through. In the long run, I think we'll move past these tough times."

And plenty of Americans seemed ready to celebrate - even the National Association of Realtors, despite a flood of foreclosures and a credit crunch that has made mortgages difficult to get. The group had a float in the parade for the first time.

[dad79-2009]

I am so sick of negative thinking and bad results.

Leadership of nations and companies needs to improve their health and be positive. Look at what is good/right and build from that point.

Things will continue down unless man wises up and undergoes a paradigm shift. Start with minor successes and develop more major achievements.

[r9119111]

txgrouch2008:

You are entitled to your opinion. In my opinion, yor stinks. My opinion, yours is full of political BS.

[voyeur203]

Regarding the celebrations that were cut down or canceled, exactly how much revenue is made by the custom and tradition of new year''s eve celebrations? Bowl games were created to help the economy of hotels, restaurants, and downtown trade, so why doesn''t the new years eve celebrations produce the same rewards? However, I appreciated the Reno statement of spending $20,000 to $30,000 for things going up in smoke in a city where most money only goes down slots! Welcome 2009!

[stinginrich]

Wake up, Dullards. The Criminal Corporatist Political/Monetary System Ponzi-Scheme has run it''s course and is now insolvent.
We are literally Days or Weeks from Total Shutdown of ALL integrated systems that rely on the flow of Credit:

Where Did the Bailout Money Go? Banks Can''t, or Won''t, Say:

Monday, December 22, 2008
By Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press

It''s something any bank would demand to know before handing out a loan: Where''s the money going? But after receiving billions in aid from U.S. taxpayers, the nation''s largest banks say they can''t track exactly how they''re spending the money or they simply refuse to discuss it:

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=41183


Check out this nice little Video that explains the entire thing in language even a Drooling Mouth-Breather can understand:

"Money As Debt"

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279


For the more advanced Reich Wingnuts and Delusional Retardds, you might wish to view this:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912

Ta-ta, Losers.....

[jsutaguy]

You''ve really got to read this article by the Washington Post. http://tinyurl.com/6emukq

This top-rated piece of investigative reporting shows that Wall Street Banks took BILLIONS out of our pockets by cornering the Oil markets in 2008, controlling 81 percent of all oil contracts in the world, driving Gasoline prices up worldwide.

http://tinyurl.com/6emukq

This article was not widely reported by virtually any other major news media (NBC, ABC, FOX, CNN, etc).

Cut and paste this and pass it on to people. We have been sold out.


As the article points out, these same Wall Street firms plan to do the same thing to the price of everything we eat or drink, using the same cheap money they are getting from our treasury to manipulate commodities markets in 2009.

Why are we paying to keep these firms in business?

Why are our taxes being used to keep them operating?

They aren''t lending money to real businesses, they aren''t helping our economy, they simply aren''t necessary for America...they are only used by the very richest parasites who are destroying our country and dictating its policies by buying out our government.

They are throwing our elderly into the streets, they are bankrupting our children with 29% credit card interest rates they charge on zero percent money they get from OUR TREASURY and OUR TAX DOLLARS.

We need to put this parasite ridden "institutions" out of business.

How long are we going to let this go on?

[irmcvet971]

And while Barney Frank shovels gold into his secret gold vault, he''''ll sneer at us and say THIS IS ALL BUSH''''S FAULT! REMEMBER THAT!

ANYONE WHO DOESN''''T SAY SO DOESN''''T KNOW WHAT HE''''S TALKING ABOUT...


Posted by txgrouch2008 at 02:37 PM : Jan 01, 2009


You are just a tired old Southern Fascist who doesn''t have a clue what is going on or how things actually get done. The BUSH Administration shoveled out MORE money that Frank or Obama will and did far less with it. You put money in the pocket of a Working stiff and he WILL spend it, not put it in Stocks of some off shore company or hide it away somewhere. When that Working stiff spends that money, guess what? We get BACK $1.25! We HAVE to fix this nation and we MUST get it back to where we are again WORLD CLASS. Fascism, ESPECIALLY Southern FASCISM, is NOT going to get us there. Now go play with your Confederate Flag Pin and let us get back to saving this nation.

[irmcvet971]

WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR, DEMOCRATS!!!

Soon you will have ABSOLUTE POWER.

From then on, everything will be YOUR FAULT.

Happy New Year.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 12:44 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Unlike Southern Fascist they have been there and done that soooooooooo many many times in our history. I have real good confidence that, although you fascist will put us some resistance, we can and will return this nation to it''s proper position in the world.

[tincup356]

to irmcevet, yes it needs to be hammered home how big of crooks YOU support. Wat too many Americans are lost in the deception that the two great parties are doing something for them....horsecrap.....they are doing nothing less than robbing this country for years to come for personal gain....they are committing treason ...sorry if you get tired of hearing what i say ...but that wont stop me...I''ll keep right on till people take off their party line blinders and see what is really happening.,,,,I guess it will take millions of you to go to the poor farm completely to wake you up.

[kazoodan]

Oh goody, I get to see a picture of two lesbians kissing in a picture to start the new year. Man, this country really sucks! That is what you get when you a lib media running the show...or so they think.

Posted by libssuck3 at 03:45 AM : Jan 01, 2009

Where do you get the idea they''re lesbians? Sounds more like some personal fantasy of yours rather than the ''lib'' media.

Happy New Year anyway.

[irmcvet971]

The people are getting what they wanted ...from the two party system that has brought us so many miseries from so many lies......and yet both parties will have staunch supporters who know well they never have ,,,nor never will ,,,,be represented by either party......The only thing the parties are loyal to is the great lobby dollar.

Posted by tincup356 at 08:35 AM : Jan 01, 2009

EVERYONE KNOWS your opinion of the Two Party System, never mind that it has made us the GREATEST DEMOCRACY on Planet Earth, but is it really necessary to keep saying it? We have TWO Parties AND we are in a tailspin with our economy. How about you get back in the GAME here!!

[irmcvet971]

2009 WW3 get ready folks as in the days of Noah

Posted by Hackerpc at 07:17 AM : Jan 01, 2009

LOL What do you mean!! We have just withstood the WORST most INCOMPETENT HUMAN to ever live in the White house AND elected a YOUNG very Intelligent Young leader who INSPIRES American''s to dream and YOU think we''re going in the WRONG direction!! LOL You may need to seek some help there my friend! HAPPY NEW YEAR AMERICA!!

[irmcvet971]

It remains to be seen as to whether or not 2009 will see a turnaround. But one thing for sure, if the Repugs (McCain/Palin) had won, there would be no hope.

Posted by omnibus66 at 09:00 AM : Jan 01, 2009


Agreed!! We had no choice but to change the course of this nation and EXTREMIST like Palin are extremely dangerous when the nations in economic trouble.

[sockpuppet4]

U.S. Rejects "Unbalanced" Gaza Resolution
Blago Appointee Goes To Ill. Supreme Court
Russia Cuts Off Ukraine''s Gas Supply
Market Closes On Worst Year Since 1931
Citigroup Agrees To Limit Exec. Pay

HAPPY NEW YEAR GREEDY BUSHAHOLICS !

[omnibus66]

Reading the comments of the Republi-nuts posting here, it reminds me that there are still a lot of dangerous people out there. They seem to get a big bulge in their pants whenever they brag about the death, destruction and hardships left by their present heroes who are about to leave office.

It remains to be seen as to whether or not 2009 will see a turnaround. But one thing for sure, if the Repugs (McCain/Palin) had won, there would be no hope.

[tincup356]

The people are getting what they wanted ...from the two party system that has brought us so many miseries from so many lies......and yet both parties will have staunch supporters who know well they never have ,,,nor never will ,,,,be represented by either party......The only thing the parties are loyal to is the great lobby dollar.

[missingamerica]

The New Year does not really start until January 20th...until that bunch of PNACers is out of the White House, I will not be sure that there WILL be a "new year".

[irmcvet971]

The liberal media knows how to start the new year off right...the way they have always been, negative to the end. Screw the media and the terrorist liberal left tree hugging freaks. The Piglosi''''s, Reids, Clitons, Kennedy''''s. Boxer''''s, Biden''''s, Frank''''s and the rest of the terrorists of the congress.

Posted by libssuck3 at 03:27 AM : Jan 01, 2009

So YOU enjoyed watching the American Standard of Living FALL and FALL and FALL and FALL... No one should complain about that huh? ROFLMAO You fascist couldn''t govern and now that America has yet again dismissed your insane idea''s, YOU blame the "Media". ROFLMAO Some 6th grade class somewhere is missing a student folks!!

[r9119111]

libssuck3 and Christ_Truth:

Why are you so hateful?

Why do you align yourself with organizations and beliefs that grow and thrive on hate and division?

I''''m not trying to tell you what to do, but what can be the expected outcome of all of this hate?

Fear is the basis of all intolerance. What are you afraid of?

Both Muslims and Jews are scared to death. Their only recourse is to kill each other. They think if they kill each other then there will be peace or who knows what. How long has this been going on? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is insane. Yet, these people continue to align themselves with intolerance and hate. If that is what all of the hateful people want in this world, fine. Leave me out of it. Thank you very much. Peace and love to all. Happy New Year!

[irmcvet971]

Putting Democracy in the same sentence as Islam is the OXY MORON of the century.

There IS NO DEMOCRACY in Islam.

Posted by Christ_Truth at 03:37 AM : Jan 01, 2009

Really? They why did you support a Fascist LOSER like Bush when he told us that was our goal in Iraq... Well AFTER all the other reasons proved to be LIES?!!

[irmcvet971]

Your lives really AREN''''T THAT BAD.

Happy New Year!

Posted by Christ_Truth at 02:43 AM : Jan 01, 2009

Oh you are so VERY wrong Sparky! When you look at our nation before the fascist and Sir Lies-A-Lot took over and NOW, yes it is THAT bad and getting worse.... MUCH WORSE!!