John Kerry, Howard Dean and the Boston Red Sox all fooled me this past year. Maybe we’ll get it right for 2005. Here’s my annual look-ahead:

In January, President Bush launches his second term, vowing to be a uniter, not a divider. He follows up by nominating first lady Laura Bush to succeed Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Fundamentalist Shiites win Iraq elections. Bush hails result as a victory for democracy.

Come February, the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl. President Bush predicts federal budget deficit will drop under $200 billion in new fiscal year. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas denies rumor he’ll join the Bush administration and says he’ll seek re-election. Former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard edges former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk for chairman of Democratic National Committee. President Bush nominates Donald Rumsfeld as new U.S. ambassador to Iraq, telling aides, “He got me into this; now he can get me out.”

March sees the Senate confirming Laura Bush as chief justice, 100-0. President Bush names Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as new Pentagon secretary. He is quickly confirmed. Poll shows Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, leads Gov. Rick Perry by 23 points in 2006 GOP primary matchup. Former President Bill Clinton announces candidacy for mayor of New York. Bill Parcells resigns as coach of Dallas Cowboys and is succeeded by Jimmy Johnson (no, not that one; the defensive coordinator of the Eagles).

In April, Gov. Perry resigns to become U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, saying its ranches remind him of his hometown of Paint Creek. Acting Gov. David Dewhurst says he won’t seek governorship in 2006. Texas Rangers win first eight games as Francisco Cordero gets eight straight saves. President Bush says he’ll withdraw 20,000 U.S. troops from Iraq.

May throws a political curve ball when Supreme Court throws out Texas’ U.S. House redistricting plan on grounds it was politically motivated and restores pre-2004 map. Former Reps. Nick Lampson, Max Sandlin and Charles Stenholm announce they’ll run to regain their seats. President Bush names his father, former President George Bush, as Middle East mediator.

Summer starts in June with Alan Greenspan retiring as Federal Reserve Board chairman. President Bush nominates former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm as his successor. Sen. Hutchison announces she will run for governor in 2006; Dewhurst says he’ll run for the Senate. So does Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio. Roger Clemens pitches no-hitter as Astros lead NL Central.

July: Fed chairman-elect Gramm tells Senate he’ll pursue an independent course and criticizes Bush administration for running up budget deficit. Senate confirms him with more Democratic votes than Republican ones. Hockey owners end 10-month lockout and implement a salary cap. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announces retirement, and President Bush names Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales to succeed her.

August brings dog days for Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, lagging behind Sen. Hutchison by 22 points in Texas GOP governor’s race. Former Rep. Martin Frost announces he’ll seek Democratic nomination for governor. After New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is injured, Rangers trade Francisco Cordero to Yankees for Alex Rodriguez. President Bush says his Middle East negotiator isn’t moving quickly enough.

President Bush starts the fall season in September by naming nephew George P. Bush, a newly minted Dallas lawyer, as attorney general. He reaches compromise with congressional Republicans on creation of private Social Security investment accounts by agreeing to raise the base for Social Security taxes. “I am pleased the Social Security tax rate won’t be increased,” he says. Despite union warnings, all but 20 hockey players report for new season. Yankees, Indians, Angels, Braves, Astros and Padres win baseball divisions.

In October, Congress rejects Social Security compromise on a bipartisan House vote. Astros defeat Yankees to win World Series, as Roger Clemens wins Game 7. Cowboys win first seven games; so do Washington Redskins. Former President Bush recommends a Middle East peace conference in Kennebunkport, Maine.

November elections see Democrats retain New Jersey and Virginia governorships. In New York, Bill Clinton defeats Mayor Michael Bloomberg. President Bush rejects Democratic pleas to send more troops to Iraq, saying the United States doesn’t want to interfere in Iraqi affairs.

And finally, in December, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton announces she will run for governor. She says it is unrelated to the fact that four of the last five presidents were governors first. Blizzard hits Kennebunkport, preventing delegates to peace conference from leaving for holidays. Emerging one week later, they announce a preliminary Israeli-Palestinian accord.