Predictions

On New Year's Eve, everyone is in the prediction business.  And of course, they mean nothing.  Whether it's some brilliant prognosticator on TV, some celebrity who's only qualification for predicting is because they are in the public eye (and really doesn't know shit), or some little anonymous blogger who is sitting around watching football and thinks it might be fun.  Some predictions are based on stats and data.  I get that.  But many (most?) are just sticking your finger in the wind and putting in your two cents.  

So with all that as a qualification, here are mine.  The second thing is that some are focused on where I live.  Sorry, it's my Blog so I can do what I want.  In 2018 we will see:

1. Continued ridiculous hysteria over President Trump by the #resistance crowd.  This will cause continued alienation of that group from the folks who either support him or at least want to see something accomplished.
2. The Democrats in Congress will make a feint that they want to work with Trump on infrastructure, but in the end will load it up with so many ancillary and unrelated things that it will fall apart.  Trump will then move forward independently and get a bill passed, albeit not as big or impactful as it could be.
3. The Dreamers are in for a big disappointment.  Trump will stay the course on demanding funding for a wall and immigration reform in return for action on DACA and the Dems will squander their advantage.  A caveat here is that this is the prediction I'm least comfortable with.  Because it's so emotional, it could go either way.  
4. A Supreme Court Justice (probably Kennedy) will retire.  Whoever is named as a replacement will face an epic battle.  If a second Justice retires (RBG likely) the Dems heads will explode.
5. The train to nowhere here in California will finally get cancelled.  In the same manner, there will be enough signatures gathered to get repeal of the gas tax on the ballot.  It will pass in Nov,  2018.
6. The SDSU Stadium proposal for Mission Valley will win out over Soccer City.
7. The Philadelphia Eagles will win the Super Bowl (although I'm rooting for the Steelers).
8. The 2018 mid-term elections will go against the prevailing wisdom.  The Senate will stay in the hands of the Republicans.  The House...wait for it...will continue to have a Republican majority.  I don't know how big the majority will be, but the Republicans will maintain it.
9. Despite all the bluster, the status quo will reign in North Korea.  They will continue to test their expanding nuclear capability and challenge both the U.S. and the world with their arrogance.  
10. The freedom protesters in Iran will achieve some successes and concessions.  Unlike the last time this kind of thing cropped up in 2009 and we did nothing, Trump will both overtly and covertly support this movement.
11. The big legalization of marijuana in California will be much ado about nothing after the first big media exposure.
12. The Dow Jones Industrial Average will finish 2018 at 28,500
13. The celebrity award-a-thons (Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Grammys, SAGs, etc) will continue to be televised but will dramatically lose viewers as people really can't be bothered to put up with their BS
14. The Olympics in South Korea will be a big success, but the sweat pumps of every security professional involved will be working overtime.
15. Germany will win the World Cup.  That's soccer so I'm just guessing.  

That's probably enough.  Like I said, this is probably all BS, but it's sorta fun.  If I think of any others I'll update with those.  Oh...I'm not doing any sports predictions except the NFL (because it's just around the corner) and Soccer (because one guess is as good as another)