Casey-pops 2013 Predictions

It's New Year's Day, dear readers, and time for Casey-pops predictions for 2013. You can check my 1st January 2012 blog to see how I did this year - let me just say that I had the right topics but was premature wth most of my predictions. The world moved slowly in 2012. ~~~~So here goes : Casey-pops predictions for 2013. (1). President Obama will see his 'higher taxes- more expenditures" program seriously curtailed, not only by the GOP-led House but by moderate Democrats who see his stance as a menace to their re-election. Look for the February debt ceiling negotiation to extend beyond the deadline and the federal bureaucracy grind down for a week or so before agreement is reached. (2). The US will be forced to bolster its troop presence in Iraq to prevent Iran from de facto annexing it in the Iranian effort to gain control of a Syria freed from the al-Assad regime but afloat in chaotic regional political and religious fighting. (3). Russia will salvage its mideast presence by appearing to be the broker of the deal the sees al-Assad exit Syria for exile, probably in the Urkaine, while Russia saves the leadership of the al-Assad military by incorporating them into the new Syrian army. (4). Greece will struggle on with its European Union lifeline, but a serious effort by Germany to solve the problem of the Euro currency strength will lead to the beginning of a plan for a two-level Euro meant to relieve the fiscal troubles in Spain and Italy. (5). Despite her current health problems, before year's end, Hillary Clinton will form an exploratory committee for the 2016 presidential race, and with that, she, and busband Bill, will retake the leadership of the Democrat Party, pushing Obama into an early lame duck role, which he will gladly embrace because he will finally realize that he has no idea about how to control, or even be part of, Washington politics. (6). Raphael Nadal will announce his withdrawal from the weekly grind of the pro tennis tour and will, like Roger Federer, choose his tourneys - because his knees will no longer support the week-after-week punishment that his game forces them to endure. (7). And speaking of sports, I predict that Tiger Woods will win a golf major this year, and my bet is it will be the Masters. ~~~~~~ That's it, dear readers. Happy 2013.