Random thoughts cross my mind in this post-primary run to the fall elections.
1. Obama vs. McCain will lead to a lopsided Democratic victory with majorities in both the House and Senate.
2. My guess is that the vice president will be either Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano who visited Valparaiso in May or Virginia Sen. Jim Webb. Hillary Clinton will lead legislation through the Senate.
3. Two prominent Hoosiers will play important roles in the new cabinet. Former Congressman Lee Hamilton, co-chair of the bipartisan Iraq study report that was snubbed by President Bush, may be the next secretary of state.
4. Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar may end his distinguished career as United Nations ambassador.
5. Colin Powell will be given a prominent post, perhaps the secretary of defense, and redeem his reputation that was tarnished by misinformed intelligence delivered at the U.N.
6. Condoleezza Rice will return to academia. Dick Cheney will reap his Halliburton rewards but won't live long enough to enjoy the billions. Biographers will credit him as the neo-con brains behind the gross sins of the Bush administration. Donald Rumsfeld will write his memoirs.
7. George W. Bush will retire to his ranch and will be honored by few. Would that he could learn from Jimmy Carter how to bless humanity in retirement. G.W. avoided impeachment primarily because no one wanted Cheney to succeed him.
8. Al Gore will lead the global warming efforts of the world and Washington will change course to back him.
9. Unilateralism will give way to international cooperation and the motto "war is not the answer" will give hope for world peacemaking. No more pre-emptive wars.
10. The Iraq War will end sooner than imagined with Mideast nations playing a serious role in stabilizing the region.
11. The bloated military budget (now more than all other nations combined) will be pared down for defense and not to seek regime change in world affairs.
Within a term, America will establish a universal health care system that will cost less than we are now paying with single-pay care but with choice of facilities and physicians. It will be modeled after successful systems of democracies and improved upon.
Indiana may go the way the nation goes -- for change. As our beloved America makes a regime change -- be hopeful.
Amen until next Wednesday.
The opinions in this column are solely those of the writer. Wolf is a retired minister and lives in Valparaiso. Write to him c/o The Times, 1111 Glendale Blvd., Valparaiso, IN
