Advice--and Prediction--for the New Year

New year's resolutions--unachieveable? This year, beginning today, consider a resolution that is simple: Do your best with with the tasks you have been already been given to do. Granted, opportunity may--almost certainly will--come your way. But can you force this? While waiting for your opportunity ship to come in, pray for energy and concentration to complete the tasks at hand, however mundane. You'll work better if you talk to your doctor about a regimen of physical fitness to see you through your tasks. Why does physical fitness lend energy to your daily work? I have no simple explanation for you, but it does.

On the lighter side, a prediction: I have been correct about who will become President, at the pre-primary point, for six straight elections now. I will now venture a guess which may well be my first miss, but is nevertheless my gut feeling.

Huckabee.

Reason? He is an effective communicator who will pool, for the first time, populists, Republicans, poor people, Christians, old-time Clinton fans, rock-and-roll enthusiasts, little old ladies, and ring-nosed girls. He is also a splendid truth-teller. He looks a little like Gomer Pyle, but that only seems to endear him more to his base--which more and more appears to be most of us.

Meanwhile, Mr. Romney's character, style and content reminds me much of Mr. Kerry come back from the dead to the other side.

See if I'm right in November.