Once again, it's time for the crystal ball.A strange thing happened to my spate of predictions for 2004: A bunch of them were right. President Bush was re-elected--and not by the landslide some pundits had expected. The Republicans added to their majorities in the House and Senate. Colin Powell Noun 1. Colin Powell - United States general who was the first African American to serve as chief of staff; later served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush (born 1937) Colin luther Powell, Powell resigned. The Dodgers made it to the playoffs, Osama bin Laden Osama bin Laden: see bin Laden, Osama. remained at large, Saddam's capture did nothing to quell the insanity of Iraq, and Martha Stewart <noinclude></noinclude> Martha Stewart (born Martha Helen Kostyra on August 3, 1941) is an American business magnate, author, editor and homemaking advocate. She is also a former stockbroker and fashion model. was sentenced to jail time. After more than 15 years of annual predictions, it was by far my finest hour. But now what? This year seems a lot murkier than 2004, with no obvious election calls, court cases or sports turnarounds. But enough tap dancing. Here's what '05 looks like: Hahn Wins: It won't even be close. L.A.'s mayor will win a second term with a decisive victory Meaning A Decisive victory is an indisputable military victory of a battle that determines or significantly influences the ultimate result of a conflict. It does not always coincide with the end of combat. over City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, who will squeak into the runoff ahead of Bob Hertzberg. Cophouse Update: William Bratton, the guy on whose coattails coat·tail n. 1. The loose back part of a coat that hangs below the waist. 2. coattails The skirts of a formal or dress coat. Idiom: on the coattails of 1. Hahn will ride for a second term, won't make it through the year as L.A.'s police chief. Nervous Economy: Interest rates will be the big economic deal in '05, as the Federal Reserve tries to inch them up enough to ensure that foreign investors will keep snapping up U.S. securities (and thus pay off our massive debt), but not too much as to scare off consumers and snuff out the housing market. Hilary Talk: The Democrats, already in tatters tat·ter 1 n. 1. A torn and hanging piece of cloth; a shred. 2. tatters Torn and ragged clothing; rags. tr. & intr.v. after the 2004 election, will be tom up even further on whether the former First Lady should make a run for the White House in 2008. Some Tension: Housing appreciation in L.A. will be flat, which is sure to convince many homeowners that the bubble is about to burst and result in slower spending--and possibly a recession in 2006. Bad Taste Dept.: At least one made-for-television movie will be based on last week's catastrophic tsunami--and it will air during the May sweeps period. MIA MIA n. A member of the armed services who is reported missing following a combat mission and whose status as to injury, capture, or death is unknown. [m(issing) i(n) a(ction). : Osama bin Laden will not be heard from throughout the year, which will lead to all kinds of speculation: Is he dead? Kidnapped? Writing a book? Reality Fades: The big TV story will be the plummeting ratings for reality shows, and the success of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" will have the other networks coming up with their own versions of sex in the suburbs. Radio Waves Radio waves Electromagnetic energy of the frequency range corresponding to that used in radio communications, usually 10,000 cycles per second to 300 billion cycles per second. : Satellite radio companies will continue losing big bucks as stories pop up questioning the sector's financial future. Good News: Some unexpected breakthroughs in stem cell stem cell In living organisms, an undifferentiated cell that can produce other cells that eventually make up specialized tissues and organs. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. research will intensify the push for more federal funding, despite protests by the religious right. Social Security: President Bush's agenda notwithstanding, Social Security reform will be a big bust, as the Republican-led Congress will be unable to cut a deal. Disney Chief: Based on ABC's resurgence (see above) that he nominally oversaw, Robert Iger will become the new chief executive of Walt Disney Co., succeeding Michael Eisner. Judicial Clamor: There will be two Supreme Court vacancies, and one of the president's nominations will be forced to withdraw over a past misdeed. Sports Beat: This will be a terrible year for L.A. teams. After making it to the playoffs for the first time since 1996, the Dodgers will drop to also-rans, with a third-place finish. The Lakers will manage to make it to the second round, the Clippers won't even make it into post-season (yawn), and even USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. , minus Matt Leinert who will turn pro, will end up losing three games. Phil's Back: Well, sort of. After a year of R&R, the former Laker coach will be back on the court, leading the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Knicks. Wedding News: Martha Stewart, fresh out of prison and a full-blown image makeover, will announce her engagement at the end of the year. And Finally: We'll somehow find a way to get through 2005, and by the time Bing Crosby starts crooning again at the malls, some clown will be offering his crazy predictions for '06. Mark Lacter is editor of the Business Journal. |
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