Predictions, 2005

As we saw yesterday, my non-election predictions were pretty dicey.

Let's try it again.

For 2005 I predict:

• Violence will increase - in the media, to EPIC PROPORTIONS - in the run-up to the Iraqi elections.
• Sunni pro-Ba'athists will hire James Carville to consult on advice for trying to delegitimize the election when it actually happens.
• Notwithstanding that, the election will go very well in 85% of the country.
• That notwithstanding, the mainstream media will focus 95% on the 15% of the country where the election is difficult.
• Taliban violence will continue to subside in Afghanistan.
• Nick Coleman will write an even dumber, uglier column about blogs and bloggers.
• Hundreds of blogs will pile on him, making this week's mau-mau look like a quaint diversion.
• (with a hat tip to Saint) Coleman will attract a major-market columnist as a defender - a Molly Ivins or a Maureen Dowd or Frank Rich, someone huge and clueless. That defender will slam bloggers like he/she never slammed Pol Pot.
• That major columnist will be mortally embarassed by the response.
• The economy will pick up steam, but the media will avoid the "B" word with alacrity.
• Liberal blogger Atrios will tire of delivering thought-free snarks; blog remains dormant most of the year.
• Oliver Willis blames Richard Mellon Scaife
• On a more serious note - George Soros cuts costs, lays off some of the stable of bloggers he supports via Media Matters.
• My dog will finally be successfully potty-trained.
• The Minnesota senate campaign kicks off in earnest by October. A faction within the MN DFL tries to find a spinworthy way to dump the embarrassing Dayton; it leads to a conflict within the party, giving the NARN months of great material.
• Tim Pawlenty is mentioned more and more often as a candidate for the Presidential ticket.

That should do it for now.

Posted by Mitch at December 31, 2004 12:20 PM | TrackBack