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Test your forecasting skills for D.C. area with 7th annual ‘predictions quiz’ Test your forecasting skills for D.C. area with 7th annual ‘predictions quiz’
(4 days later)
As some readers will remember, I stepped down as an opinion columnist in February and returned to my first calling doing straight news. As a result, I forsook my Thanksgiving tradition of naming the Washington area’s “Turkeys of the Year.” No matter how much objective evidence I offered, it wouldn’t do for an impartial scribe to finger politicians or football team owners for ineptitude.As some readers will remember, I stepped down as an opinion columnist in February and returned to my first calling doing straight news. As a result, I forsook my Thanksgiving tradition of naming the Washington area’s “Turkeys of the Year.” No matter how much objective evidence I offered, it wouldn’t do for an impartial scribe to finger politicians or football team owners for ineptitude.
Happily, however, my new role allows me to continue making unreliable predictions about politics and other matters in our region in the coming 12 months. I do so in the form of a multiple-choice quiz — copied from a format used by the late New York Times columnist William Safire — so you at home can test your prognostication skills.Happily, however, my new role allows me to continue making unreliable predictions about politics and other matters in our region in the coming 12 months. I do so in the form of a multiple-choice quiz — copied from a format used by the late New York Times columnist William Safire — so you at home can test your prognostication skills.
A year ago, in making predictions for 2015, I pledged to increase the degree of difficulty. I did so after my editor accused me of picking easy questions for 2014, when I only missed two.A year ago, in making predictions for 2015, I pledged to increase the degree of difficulty. I did so after my editor accused me of picking easy questions for 2014, when I only missed two.
Promise made, promise kept. For 2015, I got only three right, out of nine. I was correct, for instance, that school spending would arouse the biggest fight between Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and the Democratic-controlled legislature.Promise made, promise kept. For 2015, I got only three right, out of nine. I was correct, for instance, that school spending would arouse the biggest fight between Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and the Democratic-controlled legislature.
On the downside, I also predicted that Hogan would kill the Purple Line, that Virginia ex-governor Robert F. McDonnell (R) would be in prison by now and that continuing dysfunction would keep the local National Football League franchise from contending for the playoffs. Pay no attention to the man behind the byline.On the downside, I also predicted that Hogan would kill the Purple Line, that Virginia ex-governor Robert F. McDonnell (R) would be in prison by now and that continuing dysfunction would keep the local National Football League franchise from contending for the playoffs. Pay no attention to the man behind the byline.
[Annual ‘predictions quiz’ lets you forecast what awaits Washington region in 2015.] [Last year’s quiz: Forecast what awaits the Washington region.]
Undeterred as ever, here is the Seventh Annual Washington Region Predictions Quiz for 2016. My selections are at the end. Undeterred as ever, here is the Seventh Annual Washington Region Predictions Quiz for 2016!
1. In the U.S. presidential race, Virginia’s 13 electoral votes will go to: In the U.S. presidential race, Virginia’s 13 electoral votes will go to:
(a) Hillary Clinton. We need to verify that you are an actual person.
(b) Donald Trump. Local sports fans will celebrate or mourn as:
(c) Ted Cruz. We need to verify that you are an actual person.
(d) Jeb Bush. The trials of the six Baltimore police officers facing charges related to the death of Freddie Gray will result in:
(e) Marco Rubio. We need to verify that you are an actual person.
(f) Someone else. Former District mayor Vincent C. Gray (D), free of the risk of criminal charges­ over illicit funds in his 2010 campaign, will:
2. Local sports fans will celebrate or mourn as: We need to verify that you are an actual person.
(a) Both the Nationals and our NFL franchise make the playoffs. To fill the U.S. Senate seat of retiring icon Barbara A. Mikulski (D), Maryland will elect:
(b) The Nats make the playoffs, but the football team comes up short. We need to verify that you are an actual person.
(c) The football team makes the playoffs, but the Nats come up short. The proposed Pepco-Exelon electric utility merger will:
(d) The Capitals make the playoffs, alone among Washington’s major pro teams. We need to verify that you are an actual person.
3. The trials of the six Baltimore police officers facing charges related to the death of Freddie Gray will result in: In the legal battle over the name of Washington’s NFL franchise, a federal appeals court in Richmond will:
(a) No convictions, as all are acquitted or their trials end with hung juries. We need to verify that you are an actual person.
(b) Only one conviction, of the driver of the van in which Gray suffered his fatal injury. Planned service on the District’s streetcar will:
(c) More than one conviction. We need to verify that you are an actual person.
4. Former District mayor Vincent C. Gray (D), free of the risk of criminal charges­ over illicit funds in his 2010 campaign, will: In a showdown legislative session in Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) will win:
(a) Run for and win the at-large D.C. Council seat of Vincent B. Orange (D), as Gray is lifted by voter indignation over how an overzealous U.S. prosecutor derailed his 2014 mayoral reelection bid. We need to verify that you are an actual person.
(b) Run for Orange’s seat but lose, as voters doubt Gray was entirely clean in the scandal or think at least he should have prevented it. The site selected for the new FBI headquarters will be:
(c) Run for the Ward 7 council seat of Yvette M. Alexander (D) and win. We need to verify that you are an actual person.
(d) Run for Alexander’s seat and lose. This is a non-scientific user poll. Results are not statistically valid and cannot be assumed to reflect the views of Washington Post users as a group or the general population.
(e) Stay out of the council race but continue to snipe at Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D). My selections: 1. (a); 2. (c); 3. (b); 4. (c); 5. (a); 6. (a); 7. (b); 8. (a); 9. (b); 10. (a) Happy New Year!!!
5. To fill the U.S. Senate seat of retiring icon Barbara A. Mikulski (D), Maryland will elect:
(a) Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D), who benefits from leadership experience and support of the Democratic Party establishment.
(b) Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D), backed by a coalition of uncompromising liberals, African Americans and feminists.
(c) Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D), who makes a late but splashy entry in the Democratic primary.
(d) A Republican, as the GOP proves Hogan’s victory in the gubernatorial race was no fluke.
[He’s baaaack: Vincent Gray is speaking out and threatening Bowser.]
6. The proposed Pepco-Exelon electric utility merger will:
(a) Suffer a huge setback, as District regulators at the Public Service Commission reject it for a second time on grounds that it provides inadequate protection against future rate increases­ and insufficient support for solar power.
(b) Win approval with late backing from the Bowser administration and a massive advertising campaign.
7. In the legal battle over the name of Washington’s NFL franchise, a federal appeals court in Richmond will:
(a) Agree with a lower court that the team name is disparaging to Native Americans, so the team should lose its trademark protection — but the Supreme Court ultimately will decide the matter.
(b) Agree with the team that the First Amendment guarantee of free speech protects the name and thus the trademark — but the Supreme Court ultimately will decide the matter.
8. Planned service on the District’s streetcar will:
(a) Finally begin after years of delays and cost overruns.
(b) Be delayed again while the Bowser administration struggles to ensure the cars are safe and don’t disrupt traffic.
(c) Be scrapped for good, as Bowser concludes the project was bum from the start.
9. In a showdown legislative session in Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) will win:
(a) Medicaid expansion.
(b) Increased education funding.
(c) Tighter gun controls.
(d) Two of the above.
(e) None of the above.
(Note: No way he gets all three.)
10. The site selected for the new FBI headquarters will be:
(a) Greenbelt, in Maryland, partly because of Mikulski’s influence.
(b) Landover, in Maryland, also with Mikulski’s help.
(c) Springfield, in Virginia, partly because the White House wants to keep a swing state happy.
My selections: 1. (a); 2. (c); 3. (b); 4. (c); 5. (a); 6. (a); 7. (b); 8. (a); 9. (b); 10. (a). Happy New Year!