Here’s my amateur version of the late William Safire’s long-standing tradition of offering annual predictions. The list for 2012:
1. In 2012, UW-Whitewater will win the following number of national sports championships:
A. None
B. One
C. Two
D. More than two
2. The Whitewater citywide vote for president will be
A. A clear win for the GOP nominee
B. A close win for the GOP nominee
C. A clear win for Pres. Obama
D. A close win for Pres. Obama
3. In the Wisconsin presidential vote, the results will show
A. A clear win for the GOP nominee
B. A close win for the GOP nominee
C. A clear win for Pres. Obama
D. A close win for Pres. Obama
4. The national vote for president will be
A. A clear win for the GOP nominee
B. A close win for the GOP nominee
C. A clear win for Pres. Obama
D. A close win for Pres. Obama
5. In Wisconsin’s 43rd Assembly district, the winner will be
A. Incumbent Evan Wynn easily
B. Incumbent Evan Wynn in a close race
C. The Democrat easily
D. The Democrat in a close race
6. In a recall election,
A. Gov. Walker will be recalled by a large margin
B. Gov. Walker will be recalled by a small margin
C. Gov. Walker will not be recalled
D. There will be no gubernatorial recall
7. Whitewater’s North Street Bridge will be
A. finished in the first half of 2012
B. finished in the second half of 2012
C. never be finished
D. never be finished but become Whitewater’s leading tourist attraction (‘The Amazing and Exceptional Virtual Bridge’), complete with a large construction crane in the middle of the street
8. In the Wisconsin State Senate recalls,
A. the Democrats will retake the Senate
B. the GOP will retain the Senate
C. the Democrats will retake the Senate but lose the majority again in November
D. there will be no Senate recalls
9. After spring elections, Whitewater’s Common Council will be
A. more conservative
B. more liberal
C. about the same
D. there’s no left or right in Whitewater’s local politics
10. In the US Senate race from Wisconsin, the winner will be
A. Tammy Baldwin
B. Tommy Thompson
C. Mark Neumann
D. Jeff Fitzgerald
Adams’s guesses for 2012:
Here’s my local, amateur version of the late William Safire’s long-standing tradition of offering annual predictions. The list for 2012:
1. In 2012, the UW-Whitewater will win the following number of national sports championships:
C. Two. Same number of wins as in 2011.
2. The Whitewater citywide vote for president will be
C. A clear win for Pres. Obama. As in past years, the Democratic presidential nominee will sweep the city.
3. In the Wisconsin presidential vote, the results will show
B. A close win for the GOP nominee. Assuming the nominee is Romney, he takes Wisconsin in a very close vote.
4. The national vote for president will be
B. A close win for the GOP nominee. Assuming the nominee is Romney, he also takes America in a very close vote. Third party candidates, including the LP nominee, have a negligible impact on the race.
5. In Wisconsin’s 43rd Assembly district, the winner will be
D. The Democrat in a close race. Not a large margin, but a margin outside of a recount. Something less than former Rep. Hixson’s best results, but clear nonetheless in a reshaped district.
6. In a recall election,
B. Gov. Walker will be recalled by a small margin. A recall by a margin so small that there is a recount, and controversy will drag on for months. Walker’s inability to attract independents will doom his retention, but other GOP candidates will receive enough support from independent voters to win. In the end, Walker himself will have been too much for too many.
7. Whitewater’s North Street Bridge will be
A. finished in the first half of 2012, but there’s an outside chance that it will D. never be finished but become Whitewater’s leading tourist attraction (‘The Amazing and Exceptional Virtual Bridge’), complete with a large construction crane in the middle of the street.
8. In the Wisconsin State Senate recalls,
C. the Democrats will retake the Senate but lose the majority again in November. Redistricting matters.
9. After spring elections, Whitewater’s Common Council will be
C. about the same, and in any event, D. There’s really no left or right in Whitewater’s local politics
10. In the US Senate race from Wisconsin, the winner will be
B. Tommy Thompson. Thompson defeats Neumann and Fitzgerald, and then wins against Baldwin.