Year of the Rat, indeed.

Happy Chinese New Year!!! It is the Year of the Rat -- traditionally a favorite in China. According to every Chinese placemat I have ever seen, I was born in the Year of the Horse.

So what does the Year of the Rat mean to those of us who are holding our breath convulsively until November?

With the exception of 1984 (Reagan's landslide and reaffirmation of conservatism), Chinese Calendar's Year of the Rat (starting every 12 years on New Moon in February) has not been kind to Republicans - 1948 ("Dewey Wins!"), 1960 (JFK-Nixon), 1972 (Nixon's Watergate begins), 1996 (Bob Dole), 2008? (Bob Dole, part 3 1/3 ?).

Sigh.

Readings for the Year of the RatNation Multimedia Group
(Bangkok's Independent Newspaper) ^ December 29, 2007
Eugenia Last

The Year of the Rat is for the opportunist, the proactive, the profiteer and the politician.
This, indeed, will be a year to keep a watchful eye on those who run the world financially, intellectually and dictatorially.

The Rat year is also one of change, reform and the year to put
well-thought-out strategy to work.

Worldwide, it's a time when security will count and when political
giants will want to protect what's theirs.

As for the average Joe, the Year of the Rat means 12 months to
turn losses into gains and instability into security. It will be a time
to enjoy the simple pleasures and to be confident enough to be a
contributor to the Rat revolution.

Rat revolution???? Mao Tse Rat?