Economics/Global:

-> After refusing to reduce production during the global recession, Chinese corporations will be be forced to slow production and shutter factories while they try to liquidate inventory.  The ripple effect for materials suppliers may erase any recovery in economies worldwide.

-> The Gulf States will form an Economic Union, with a standard currency.  They will demand that their exports (Oil) be paid for in this currency.

Economics/National:

-> The US Economy will continue bumping along the bottom, but will end the year with 1 or 2% growth.  Unemployment will stabilize in the 10% range, but with no real potential for growth.

-> In media, at least two major US Newspapers will fold. Microsoft will drop out of their partnership in MSNBC. 

-> More Manufacturers and Corporations will leave the US, due to taxes and over regulation.

Economic/Washington State:

-> The Legislature will vote in close to $1B in new taxes, stunting and offsetting any positive growth in the local economy.

-> Boeing will begin manufacturing 787 aircraft in South Carolina.  They will announce a “competition” between WA and SC factories to see which can deliver more aircraft, on time and on budget.  The winner will retain the 787 line after the backlog of orders is filled.

Politics/Global:

-> The North Korean military will stage a coup.  Kim Jong-Eun (Kim Jong-Il’s designated hitter) will remain as a figure head for the junta, with or without his father.  The Junta will ask for Chinese assistance on reforming their economy on the Chinese model, while retaining all political/military power.

-> Iran will detonate a nuclear device (in a test), and simultaneously launch an ICBM capable of reaching any target in Europe, with a dummy warhead.  They will announce that they have a number of these missiles with nuclear warheads, which they will launch at various (undisclosed) targets, if they are attacked.

-> The Iranian Revolutionary Guard will complete their seizure of power in Iran, taking over complete control of the Military and Police apparatus.  Protesters will be ruthlessly suppressed.

-> Pakistan will fracture, with Taliban affiliated groups controlling the large swaths of the country.

-> Venezuela and Columbia will have a short border war, as Chavez tries to divert the public from his complete destruction of the countries economy and infrastructure.  Depending on US reaction, Chavez may be overthrown.  More likely, the Obama administration punish Columbia for “provoking” Venezuela.

Politics/National:

-> The Democrat regime will, after ramming through Obamacare, also ram through a universal Voter Registration program.  Shortly thereafter, they will ram through an Amnesty program for Illegal Aliens, which will give them a path to citizenship that is short enough to make the deadline to be registered to vote in the 2010 election cycle for House/Senate.  This item is predicated on the Democrat party retaining the Senate seat in Massachusetts.

-> The US Attorney Generals office will claim to be enforcing election fraud laws, but will only prosecute conservative/republican cases.

Politics/Washington State:

-> The Democrat party will retain control of the Legislature, ensuring that the state economy will continue to stagnate, in the face of higher taxes and more punishing business regulation.

-> Dave Reichert (R-ino, Bellevue) will be defeated by a conservative Democrat.

Environment/Global:

-> The tide will continue to turn against Anthropocentric Global Warming (man-caused, that is), as the GW Science establishment continues to be discredited.  The Political and Business elements of the AGW scare will continue to be revealed as profiteers and hoaxsters.  The level of disclosure will be so damaging that even the mainstream US media will be forced to cover it, and stop covering up for it.

-> Natural Disasters will occur, and be blamed on either AGW or the Mayan 2012 prophecy.

-> Speaking of which, the Mayan 2012 prophecy hysteria will begin to overshadow AGW hysteria.  As the year progresses, more and more things will be attributed to the coming apocalypse in 2012.

To balance out the above, I would like to add some some items that are not predictions, but are more of a wish list:

Global:

-> Pakistan and India sign a non-aggression and mutual aid pact, allowing Pakistan to focus their military on fighting Taliban elements in the country, and working with the US Military on cross border campaigns in Afghanistan.

-> The Iranian Military and Police turn against the regime and Revolutionary Guard.  A temporary government takes power, led by surviving opposition figures, leading up to open and free elections. 

National:

-> In the face of the loss of the Senate seat in Mass., and increasing evidence of a blood bath in the 2010 election cycle, the Democrat House and Senate caucuses elect new, more centrist leadership.

-> The GOP embraces the TEA Party and Libertarian/Conservative wing of the party, and gains 30+ seats in the House and 5+ in the Senate in the 2010 elections.

Local:

-> In the face of staunch opposition from Business, and the unemployed, the Democrat controlled legislature backs down from massive tax increases.

-> In a backlash to Democrat destruction of the state economy, fiscal conservative candidates take a majority of seats in the legislature, outside of Seattle.
_________________________________

I invite readers to post their own predictions, or rebut any of these items.