Predictions for 2006

Predictions for 2006
By Daniel G. Jennings
I wouldn’t be much of a pundit if I didn’t make some predictions for the coming year so here goes….
First, the Republicans will not loose control of Congress in the 2006 presidential elections and may even make some gains. This will happen for the very simple reason that the voting public thinks the Democrats are a bunch of prissy intellectuals who don’t have the balls to do what it takes to keep America safe from terrorism. Since Sept. 11, terrorism has been the political issue in this country. The soccer mom goes to bed scared that Bin Laden will blow up her kids next week, she knows that President Bush has the strength of will to do anything to stop Bin Laden. She also has a strong suspicion that the Democrats are a bunch of wimpy ex hippies who are too squeamish to wage war on this country’s enemies.
The Democrats have done nothing to allay those concerns and everything to verify them. For example, Democrats and their allies in the media and Europe have demanded that President Bush respect the human and legal rights of captured terrorists. That sounds good to the crowd sipping their lattes in the college lounge but on Main Street it comes across as this: the Democrats care more about the monsters who would blow up average Americans than average Americans. Or the surveillance at the NSA, to average people it sounds like President Bush is doing what it takes to defend us, to the elite it sounds like violation of civil rights.
The Democrats will loose because they don’t get the terrorist threat. Average people do every time they see a TV report about a bomb in Europe or the Middle East. Or some file footage of Sept. 11. Until Democrats are willing to come out and say they are 100 percent committed to the war on terror they will loose and loose big.
Other predictions I really don’t know but the war on terror and the terrorists’ war on us will continue. There is a fifty/fifty chance of a terrorist attack on the US, there will be major new terrorist attacks in Europe, Russia and Asia. There will also be large scale terror attacks on our allies in the Middle East including Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Turkey. The war in Iraq will sputter on insurgents will keep carrying out suicide attacks and America will make slow process in its efforts to rebuild that country.
Closer to home, I predict the movie industry and theater owners in an attempt to make up for slow ticket sales will offer all sorts of contests, specials and giveaways. Many theaters will cut ticket prices, others will offer things like free popcorn, soda pop, etc. and contests get a chance to win a car or a trip to Hawaii when you buy a movie ticket. Some theaters will also do things like eliminate matinees or close on slow nights like Monday and Tuesday. We’ll also see more direct to DVD movies and some movies released in theaters and DVD at the same time.
In the Academy Awards, I predict Brokeback Mountain won’t win the Best Picture or Best Director Oscars. My guess for the winner George Lucas, he’s done a lot for the movie industry and he isn’t controversial. He’s also been snubbed by Hollywood. My guess, Lucas will win Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith. It will be an easy way to avoid the gay controversy, gay cowboys will hurt Hollywood sales all over the world, and still honor a movie visionary. It’ll also reconcile with all the fans who are pissed at Hollywood for snubbing Mr. Lucas.
One more prediction: Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl, they’ll probably loose but they’re a better team than the Indianapolis Colts and Jake Plumber is the best quarterback in football these days.
Okay those are predictions, don’t bet any money on them, but remember them. At least a few of them will come true.