The 10 Biggest Political Stories of 2010

In the second year of the Obama presidency, a lot of big things happened: major events we'll remember for a long time, and some minor ones we'd rather forget. From the GOP takeover to the "Ground Zero Mosque," 2010 was a year of major legislation and partisan fervor.

It was a rough year for the president, as his popularity continued to slide after the protracted legislative fight over health care. The election brought Republicans into power, and with them new problems for the struggling president. As 2010 ends, two years of utter Democratic reign over Washington have come to a close.

The recession dominated everything, as consumer confidence and American attitudes on the economy remained low, as did, consequently, confidence in the government. As unemployment stayed in the high 9-percent range, Obama's popularity sank and political discontent flourished.

Times got strange over the summer, as controversy unfolded over the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque" and as pastor Terry Jones planned to burn the Qur'an in Florida, and the strangeness continued as Tea Party upstarts evicted Republican incumbents during election season.

2010 was a year of historic achievements and, at times, crazed fervor. As Republicans take over the House and Obama enters the 2012 election cycle with a fight on his hands, we'll look back on 2010 as a time when Democrats ruled Washington and politics, at times, got frustrating for everyone.