Predictions for 2017

2017 is shaping up as a very interesting year. Here are my predictions for what awaits us:

- Attempt(s) will be made on Trump's life

- Internet ad revenue inflation scandal … particularly on social media

- The Trump agenda and appointments will sail through Congress

- Hillary will be pardoned by Obama (to cover his tracks)

- At least five major terrorist attacks in the US and/or Europe

- Stock market will soar at least 10% and then crater in the fall

- Merkel will no longer be heading Germany in one year

- Janet Yellen will step down at the Fed

The Oath

When our president twice took his oath of office, he swore to protect the American people from "all enemies, foreign and domestic." I can't believe that anyone truly believes that Obummer has fulfilled this pledge. Here are but a few of the instances where he has fallen down on his job one:

The Fast and Furious scheme inside his Justice Dept., his premature pullout from Iraq, his release of thousands of immigrant criminals, his unwillingness to identify the radicalized Muslim enemy, the series of terrorist attacks inside the U.S. on his watch, the release of hundreds of terrorists from Gitmo, his open borders policy, his tepid response to the ISIS threat, the Bowe Bergdahl prisoner exchange, his politically motivated "surge" in Afghanistan with no chance of success, his embracing of the Muslim Brotherhood, his sponsoring the Arab Spring and its dire consequences (Egypt, Libya, etc.), and his capitulation to Iran on their nuclear program/sponsorship of terrorism.

Enough? (There are lots more.) Obviously this man then had scant regard for this oath ... or the Book upon which he swore it.

Social Media

For whatever reason I have been somewhat averse to most social media ... in particular Facebook and Twitter. Now it is becoming very apparent that these new media are being used to recruit terrorists around the world, coordinate terrorist attacks and synchronize terrorism planning. In fact it has just been revealed that over 10,000 Twitter tweets are sent out to the world each day by ISIS. And I am quite sure that many of the other social media outlets are being likewise abused by terrorists.

Yes, this is the dark side of these Internet bugaboos ... to be balanced against all the societal good that they perform ... posting 142 pictures of your newborn grandchild, writing a review of your latest family visit to McDonald's, discussing the pros and cons of touring Greece during its financial crisis, lamenting the family pet that you just put down, sexting, rounding up your friends to attend a Bernie Sanders campaign rally, and complaining about how you were treated on your latest airline flight. All very interesting stuff ... and well worth the terrorism downsides that these social-media sites also engender.

So, may I suggest that you invest your last dollar in these social media software companies ... they are bound to make you a fortune ... if you can live to enjoy it.

Big Bang Theories

The heinous and gruesome Patriot's Day bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon are still being sorted out.  The best reporting that I can find to date is here:  NY Times Article.  But there are a number of comments and theories that are reflecting on what clearly appears to be a terrorist(s) act:

- President Barack Obama, who has not yet indicated that this was an act of terror, said, that “any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.” … virtually the same pledge he gave shortly after the Benghazi terrorist attacks in which four Americans were killed … over six empty months ago.  Please reference: ABC News Story.

- Attorney General Eric Holder may think that these attacks were an act of “sports-related violence” just as he is thought to have caused the labeling of the Fort Hood shootings (in which 13 Americans were slaughtered and 30 injured by a Muslim shouting “Allahu Akbar”) “an act of workplace violence”  Please reference: Main Justice Story.

- Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, I think, might have called these deadly explosions another “failure of human understanding” like he did the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11.  Please reference: Boston Globe Story.

- Obama's "neighbor," Bill Ayers  has been reliably reported to be in the Chicago area still, and, although he enjoys a good bombing now and then, could not be connected to this incident. Please reference: NY Times Story.

Afterward:  To see some pictures of possible bombers see: Infowars Link

The Oracle of Natick

Every New Year's eve a group of our friends get together to dine and celebrate, including a number of traditional events ... one of which is that each of us forecasts what will occur in the following twelve months.   Then the next New Year's eve we re-read these predictions and award a prize to our best oracle.  This year, I think I have exhibited remarkable prescience (if I do say so myself.)  Here were my predictions last time (6.3 right out of 10 ... and there is still a month and a half to go) which, if I were alllowed to win, surely would take the  prize:

• Democrats will lose their majority in the House but not the Senate

• Chinese stock market will collapse (-20%+)

• Obama will have a nervous breakdown

• Russia will shut off natural gas to the EU

• Scott Brown is elected to the Senate

• Gitmo will not be closed down

• Two new Supreme Court justices will be appointed (after much ado)

• Iran’s nuclear facilities will be shut down (or destroyed)

• Terrorist attacks in NYC, Los Angeles and Dallas

• General Motors will go public