Secrets of Prognostication

This might be an odd post to place directly after the brash prediction I just made below - that Al Gore will run for and win the Presidency in 2008 - but whatever. I never claimed wisdom or good judgement. ;)

I am going to tell you all about an amazing secret resource for political prognostication. Are you ready? Vegas, baby.

With the internet you can bet on anything. And one of the things you can bet on is politics. As you all know, when betting gets serious, odds get involved. You might also know that nothing focuses the mind like capitalism.

So if you really want to know what is likely to happen in the US presidential election, don't ask those silly journalist pundits. Ask the shadowy men who make their money making book. They don't care who wins. As long as they make money. Why just by sniffing around I now know that Vegas thinks that:

• The Democrats will probably win in 2008. But it'll be very close.
• Hillary will probably be the candidate (especially if Gore is serious about not running)
• The odds against Gore winning are shortening but are currently at 10:1 (compared to Hillary's 5:2. (They really should have action on whether he will be a candidate or not. and on when he will enter. But they don't.)
• Tony Blair will leave office between July and September 2007.
• But then David Cameron's conservatives will beat Gordon Brown, fulfilling his legacy as Britain's Paul Martin.

I'm not recommending you go gamble at any of these places. Anything can happen and races can change in a hurry. What I'm recommending is that you check that odds site before you spout off at a dinner party. It might serve to focus the mind.

(If politics isn't your speed, I suppose you maybe you'd like to know that the odds on favorite to win American Idol is someone named Lakisha Jones.)

Enjoy amazing your friends with your astute ability to predict the future. You don't even have to give me credit. :)