A very short article in yesterday's L.A. Times says that The National Climatic Data Center has 2008 as the 8th warmest on record, while NASA, using a somewhat different approach, says it is 9th warmest. "on record" seems to mean since 1880.
So, if there is any validity to a quiet sun (at the minimum of the 11 year cycle) causing cooling, but 2008 was still warm, then watch out for the future. I still need to read the May 2008 Nanture article that says ocean cycles of some sort in the North Atlantic will keep it cool for the next decade.
Chris