The time has come to get your predictions ready for the upcoming State of the Union address. Some topics will be obvious, given that Alito will likely be confirmed mere hours beforehand and Bush will no doubt tout his two successful appointments. He will vigorously defend his warrantless domestic NSA spying program as legal and necessary protection. He will mostly likely propose to throw more money at the Gulf Coast, without providing preventative measures for the next disaster, and he will offer more empty education and healthcare programs without providing ways to fund them.

The major question is Iraq. Will Dubya be so bold as to announce a withdrawal date? Rep. Murtha has a prediction. He believes the troops will be gone by the end of the year. Would this simply be a political maneuver by Bush to ensure the GOP hangs on to the House and Senate? If Dubya does announce this dramatic event…”is he cutting and running?” Check the odds.