It’s a new year. Goody. Because few of us, especially those who’ve taken serious financial hits (and I’m not talking about AIG or Lehman Brothers) or worse, lost a job or a loved one, are sorry to see the end of 2008.

2009 is not even a week old yet, but chances are you already are having a better year than some. And that has to make you feel better, right?

I mean, right now, would you rather be you, or Bernie Madoff? You, or Rod Blagojevich? See?

Sure the economy looks grim and growing grimmer, gas is cheaper but everything else is more expensive, and Americans at this moment have the same wary confidence in their country that they used to reserve for, say, a productive call for tech support to Bangalore.

Consider Illinois’ erstwhile Gov. Blagojevich . The first few months of 2009 may be the last un-indicted months of his life. Nothing particularly happy about his new year.

Nor is this new year likely to be much better for the man he just appointed as the fill-in (for Obama) U.S. senator from Illinois. By all accounts, 71-year-old Roland Burris , a former state attorney general, is an honest, genial, and well-intentioned man. I would not say smart, though. Accepting a political appointment from Rod Blagojevich is like accepting an IOU right now from Bernie Madoff: questionable in the extreme, and probably not worth a whole lot.

If Harry Reid and the Democrats have their way, Burris’ year will very likely not involve becoming a sitting member of the U.S. Senate. (“Tainted” is the word most often used.) How would you like your new home health aide to arrive at your door courtesy of Dr. Kevorkian? No thanks.

Nor is Chip Saltsman likely to have quite the year he was pining for.

Saltsman, heretofore a candidate to become chairman of the Republican National Committee, wasn’t content to send your standard, dippy “Here’s Me And The Kids In our Coordinated Cardigans” kind of Christmas card.

But rest assured, Saltsman nonetheless wished his friends a very white Christmas. Very white.

Saltsman sent out CD’s containing the parody, "Barack, the Magic Negro “. And now the only committee he will be assuming the chair of this coming year is of his local “WWIT” Chapter. (“What Was I Thinking?”) Maybe charter members like former Sen. George ( Macaca “”) Allen and Don (“ Nappy-headed Hoes ”) Imus can welcome him and teach him the secret handshake.

See? Your year may be looking better already. It’s got to be better than theirs.