Bill Safire's Office Pool 06 predictions

(H/t A blog for all)

Multiple choice answers based on these questions

#1 c) closer to 90,000 (troops this time next year in Iraq)
#2 a)Mike Pence (New Speaker of the house)
#3 c) James Mangold's "Walk the Line" (cashing in on Reese Witherspoon's performance) (Best picture Oscar winner)
#4 c) decide that federal funds can be denied to law schools that prohibit military recruitment on campus (four big cases infront of the Roberts court...though I think none of them will happen I think C is most likely)
#5 b) "Self-Made Man" by Norah Vincent, the new Steinem (sleeper nonfiction best seller)
#6 c) a media murder mystery by Russ Lewis (surprise in the world of fiction)
#7 b) Mahmoud Abbas naming jailed Marwan Barghouti his Fatah successor; (biggest effect on Israeli/Palestine conflict in 06.. out of the 4 I see this as most likely)
#8 b) the 36-page report by the Senate Intelligence Committee about the 2000 terrorist attack on the destroyer Cole, cleared for release by the C.I.A. but suppressed by the Senate.(least likely to be given any investigative journalism)
#9 c) finally reflect sustained 4 percent G.D.P. growth by Dow breaking through 12,000.(this is where I see the Stockmarket in 06)
#10 c) nationalist Iraqis and bridging Kurds will achieve a loose confederation and create a Muslim brand of democracy. (most likely outcome in Iraq)
#11 c) growth in economic inequality and need for pension protection; (what will have the most impact on voters... i see this as most likely of 4 barely likelys)
#12 a) Virginia Democrat Mark Warner against Massachusetts Republican Mitt Romney in the battle of centrist capitalists; (the dark horse line for the 08 election)
#13 a) Bill Richardson vs. Rudy Giuliani (most likely of 4 unlikely inside the box races)
#14 a) Truman ( whom Historians will compaire Bush to)

Here is Safire's answer Key...

My picks: 1 (d); 2 (a); 3 (b); 4 (all); 5 (c); 6 (a); 7 (all); 8 (both); 9 (c); 10 (c); 11 (none); 12 (d); 13 (b); 14 (a). By no means save this column.

when we get ready to open up the 07 blogging season we'll see who did better