Here at rabble.ca, we value the insights of our readers, and we take pride in the vibrant discussions that take place all year round at babble. So, as we all get set to take on the next 366 days, we asked you to take a leap and tell us what you think will be some of the big events of 2008. Hereâe(TM)s a little sampling of rabble readersâe(TM) New Yearâe(TM)s predictions.

Sean wrote in from Hamilton to give us his call on the year to come in Canadian politics: âeoeThe NDP will lose a few seats and again fall short of holding the balance of power, even though Dion will upset Harper in the election. Elizabeth May of the Greens will unfortunately not defeat Peter MacKay.âe

Jim, writing from Victoria, sees a bleak outcome in his 2008 crystal ball, âeoeHarperâe(TM)s negative advertising will successfully cast Dion as indecisive. In the fall, Harper will win a majority government and push through a vote to extend the Afghanistan mission until 2011.âe

Colleen in Saskatchewan was more upbeat about Ottawa politics, âeoeThe Liberals will squeak out a minority, and the NDP will hold the balance of power with over 40 seats.âe

Aside from the political forecasts, a number of folks went out on a limb and predicted that the Leafs will not win the Stanley Cup in 2008âe¦

Tim, also from BC, was by far our most prolific predictor. Hereâe(TM)s what he sees in store in 2008:

âeoeThe Liberals abstain on the Conservativesâe(TM) 2008 budget, the centrepiece of which is more corporate tax cuts. The Bloc and NDP vote against the budget, but it still passes.âe

âe The Conservativesâe(TM) new draconian copyright legislation becomes law. Dion fails to take a clear position on the bill, and about 1/4 to 1/3 of Liberal MPs vote in favour of it.âe

âeoeThe Liberals, Bloc, and NDP team up to pass legislation allowing the war resisters to stay in Canada. The Conservatives try to ignore the legislation.âe

âeoeFederal political polls remain stagnant. There is no federal election. Dion continues to talk about how Canadians do not want an election.âe

âeoeMainstream political commentators continue to focus on Stephane Dionâe(TM)s weaknesses as Liberal leader.âe

âeoeGeorge Bush declares that the âe~surgeâe(TM) of US troops in Iraq has accomplished its objectives, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, which the mainstream media continues to ignore. Despite declaring the surge victorious, George Bush doesnâe(TM)t bring any troops home from Iraq.âe

âeoeHillary Clinton narrowly defeats Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries, and becomes the Democratic presidential candidate. She picks Obama as her vice presidential running mate.âe

âeoeFox News immediately declares Hillary Clinton unelectable as president because she is a woman.âe

âeoeRudy Giuliani narrowly defeats Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee in the Republican primaries, and becomes the Republican candidate for president in the 2008 election. Giuliani then chooses John McCain as his 2008 running mate.âe

âeoeTurnout in the U.S. federal election dips below 40%. Sexism and racism play a factor in reducing the Democratic vote, and Giulianiâe(TM)s views on abortion and gay rights alienate Republican âe~valuesâe(TM) voters. The perception that the Diebold voting machines change some Democratic votes into Republican votes is also a factor in the historic low turnout at the polls.âe

âeoeHillary Clinton narrowly wins the 2008 presidential election, and becomes the first female president in U.S. history. Obama becomes the first African American vice president in U.S. history.âe

Finally, in an apparent application of Gramsciâe(TM)s âeoepessimism of the intellect,âe Tim skipped ahead to a little over a year from now with this all too realistic assessment:

âeoeThis last one is more for 2009, but Iâe(TM)ll make it anyways: Within a week of being sworn in as president, Hillary Clinton goes on national television and makes a presidential address in which she declares that George Bushâe(TM)s âe~surgeâe(TM) of U.S. troops in Iraq has failed, and that there needs to be a different strategy in Iraq. However, she too does not bring any U.S. troops home from Iraq.âe

Earlier, in his last column of 2007, rabbleâe(TM)s Wayne MacPhail made some predictions of his own for the year ahead in technology.

Do you have a prediction for the New Year, or do you want to take issue with some of the speculation made above? Then join the babble discussion thread here.

All of us here at rabble.ca look forward to the ongoing conversation with our readers. Together, letâe(TM)s make 2008 a great year for progressive politics and independent media in Canada!