A year ago, we predicted Rick Perry’s election as governor and John Cornyn’s as U.S. senator and wrote that the St. Louis Rams would lose the Super Bowl. We also predicted that the Democrats would hold the Senate and that the Steelers would win the Super Bowl.

Nobody is perfect.

So we will try again.

January: Sen. Tom Daschle announces he won’t seek the presidency in 2004. President Bush denounces Saddam Hussein for resisting the United Nations’ arms inspectors. Senate Republicans reassign Sen. Jim Jeffords, a Vermont independent, to an office in Union Station. The Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl.

February: Hillary Rodham Clinton denies she will seek the presidency. Chief Justice William Rehnquist announces he will retire in June. The Bush budget urges a new 15 percent across-the-board tax cut. The U.N. inspectors say they found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but the White House expresses skepticism. The Dallas Cowboys release Emmitt Smith.

March: Former Florida coach Steve Spurrier signs former Gator Emmitt Smith for the Washington Redskins. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announces she, too, will retire in June. The Democrats warn of a filibuster against Bush’s court nominees.

April: Democratic hopeful John Edwards, the North Carolina senator and a former trial lawyer, opens six free legal services offices in Iowa and four in New Hampshire. Bush warns Saddam Hussein that his days are numbered. The Texas Legislature passes a congressional redistricting bill that eliminates three Democratic seats.

May: Al Gore reiterates he won’t run unless there is a clear demand. After a 10-day Democratic filibuster, the Senate confirms Texas Judge Priscilla Owen for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Senate passes the Republican budget with increased defense spending, a 15 percent tax cut and a $350 billion deficit; the Democrats complain of fiscal irresponsibility. The stock market is down 12 percent so far this year.

June: Bush nominates Solicitor General Ted Olson as chief justice and White House counsel Al Gonzales as an associate justice. The Federalist Society hails Olson but condemns Gonzales as “too liberal.” Hillary Clinton denies she will seek the presidency in 2004. The Mavs lose the NBA semifinals to the eventual champs, the Sacramento Kings.

July: The Texas Rangers, with Alex Rodriguez hitting over .350, lead the AL West over the defending champion, the Anaheim Angels. Gore announces plans to compete in the annual bike race across Iowa, but he denies a political motive. The Senate confirms Gonzales for the Supreme Court, 91 to 9, but the Democrats vow to fight the Olson choice. Bush’s job approval drops to 56 percent. He warns Saddam Hussein that his “end is near.”

August: On the third day of the bike race, Gore hits a group of Boy Scouts, prompting cries of “Run, don’t ride.” He immediately announces his candidacy for president. Before recessing for its summer vacation, the Republican-controlled Congress passes a budget with a $300 billion deficit.

September: Vice President Dick Cheney emerges from a secret mission to Iraq, accompanied by Saddam Hussein, who announces he has resigned as Iraq’s president and accepted Bush’s offer to join the war on terrorism. Dallas Cowboy quarterback Thad Hutchinson breaks his hand, and the Cowboys coax Troy Aikman out of retirement. The Rangers clinch the AL West title.

October: With polls showing Bush 20 points ahead of his prospective rivals, the demand grows for a new Democratic entrant. Mrs. Clinton denies she will run. The Phillies beat the Rangers in the World Series. The Senate confirms Olson as chief justice, 51 to 49. Condoleezza Rice resigns as national security adviser to become commissioner of the National Football League.

November: Former President Gerald Ford is named the new national security adviser. Investment banker Phil Gramm and economic consultant Dick Armey urge Bush to change his “disastrous” deficit policies. The White House condemns them as “turncoats in Democrats’ clothing.” Saddam Hussein announces the capture of former Afghan leader Mullah Omar.

December:With Bush’s job approval at 71 percent, Sens. Edwards and John Kerry quit the Democratic race. Mrs. Clinton announces she will enter the New Hampshire primary against Gore and names Bill Clinton her campaign manager. Emmitt Smith scores three touchdowns for the Redskins as they win the NFC East title from the Cowboys.

— Carl P. Leubsdorf is Washington bureau chief of the Dallas Morning News.