Hiatus? What hiatus?

On January 2nd, 2008, I decided to toss out some predictions for the New Year. 11.5 months later, I wonder how I did…?

Please note my disclaimer from that post,

“I’d like to make my first post of the year one where I can look back and say, “Why the hell did I put that in writing? I’m an idiot.” So, let’s make some predictions!”

On to self evisceration!

• The Democrats will have their nominee by 2/6. The Republicans will not settle until at least March, throwing off conventional wisdom and the historical reliance on anointed kings by the GOP.
  • WRONG. Well hell, the Dem nominee (and now President-Elect, yeehaw) was not even in the lead on 2/6! He did not surpass Senator Clinton until February 12th or so, and did not officially wrap it up until the beginning of June.
• The Dems will nominate Barack Obama, who will wait until late spring to choose his running mate… Chris Dodd. The Republcans will nominate Rudy Giuliani, who will immediately tab Mike Huckabee as his VP candidate.
  • RIGHT… but mostly WRONG. I got Barack right, got the VP selection and timing wrong. I really got the Repub ticket wrong. Rudy-Creationism ’08? Yikes. Glad I was wrong.
• More reports of steroid use in baseball will trickle out, leaving everyone wholly unsatisfied and still incredibly skeptical of every player out there
  • RIGHT… I guess. The Mitchell Report made a big splash but fizzled quickly. It is a safe assumption that most are still skeptical and unsatisfied.
• Isiah Thomas will not be fired. MSG might be burned down… I will have an alibi.
  • THANK GOD I WAS WRONG. Lebron ’10!!!!
• Rock and Roll will not make a glorious comeback. Not even close.
  • RIGHT. This one was not hard, but I’m willing to listen to suggestions that may prove otherwise.
• The spring/summer movie season will mark a return of the blockbuster, with Batman, Superman, and Indiana Jones driving people to the theaters in droves.
  • Ehhh… Batman rocked. Indiana Jones was a disappointment. I’m trying to figure out why I thought there was a Superman. I did not foresee the awesomeness that was Iron Man. I didn’t mind The Incredible Hulk.
• The writer’s strike will last until early summer. Television audiences will not dwindle much, but television quality will be at an all time low.
  • WRONG… and yet RIGHT. I forgot this even happened. Isn’t it the actors turn now?
• The Patriots will go undefeated… but they won’t be playing the Packers or Cowboys in the Super Bowl.
  • RIGHT. Hehehehehehehe.
• Stewart and Colbert will not be as good without their writers.
  • WRONG. My hat off to these two gentlemen.
• Congress will pass very few major laws, bogged down in election season.
  • RIGHT. But since I work in this business, I have to least point out a few successes… Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, the Housing Bill, extensions of renewable energy tax credits in – ugh – the bailout. Let’s hope it gets better
• Global warming will not be solved… that’ll happen in 2009.
  • RIGHT. Well, so far. It also looks like emissions have been dipping a bit. Thanks recession!!
• Wage gaps will increase, but so will our GDP.
  • WRONG. But good golly, wrong in the worst way! Wage gaps increased (see here), but our GDP is decreasing. Great.
• The Iraq war will continue, but troop levels will decrease giving the Administration another “success” to trumpet.
  • Umm, sort of right. We came to an agreement with the Iraqi Parliament about a deadline, which is actually good.
• We will not go to war with Iran. That’ll happen in 2009, if I am wrong and John McCain is elected.
  • RIGHT. No McCain, no Repubs in power. No war with Iran… hopefully.
• Tom Brady will have another illegitimate child… potentially by Brendan.
  • Can’t say for sure. Brendan has been moody recently…
• The Yankees and Red Sox will provide us with one of the best seasons in their rivalry. Why? They BOTH have pitching.
  • WRONG. The Yankees lineup sucked. The Red Sox underperformed and were basically Papi-less. The Rays are good, quite good. Umm, wow.
• Johan Santana will not be a Yankee. Nor a Red Sox (Sock?).
  • RIGHT. Too bad he couldn’t pitch out of the Muts’ bullpen too.
• Eli Manning and the Giants will storm out to a 7-1 start, with pundits saying he’s “turned the corner” only to then sputter and go 3-5 in the second half, raising questions once again.
  • RIGHT… and gloriously WRONG. 11-2, NFC East Champs. Nice.
• The Senate will turn more to the Democrats for a second cycle in a row, lead by two Udalls , Mark Warner, and a surprise win in Alaska. The Democrats will also pick up seats in the House – although not as many as generally expected – thanks to the mass retirements of Republicans.
  • RIGHT. Hot dang, I nailed this one! Tack on Jeanne Shaheen, Jeff Merkley, Kay Hagan, and maybe Al Franken and it became a blowout for the Dems.
• Barack Obama will be elected President.
  • RIGHT. Not bad for a prediction made BEFORE the Iowa Caucuses. ;)
• S&P will grow, but I still won’t be famous.
  • Well duh… but hey it’s good to be back on S&P!!

Go ahead, tell me how wrong I was.