Yes, believe it or not, we’ve a new decade to deal with, and it’s time to look ahead and hope and to look back and reflect with a few predictions thrown in.

American humorist Will Rogers once said, “There are two things you never want to see being made, sausage and legislation.” Oklahoma’s favorite son certainly nailed that right on the nose. The much ballyhooed health care bill is a prime example with various senators allowing their votes to be bought off for huge cash infusions into their states. The process can only be labeled an obscenity. No rational person can deny that our health care system needed some tweaking and some modernization but to attack it with a cleaver is not the way to do it. One final note: did you notice nothing was done about tort reform? Gee, the trial lawyers win again and we the people lose again.

It looks like more legalized gambling is in the cards for the Bay State as our intellectually and morally bankrupt elected officials can’t seem to come up with any better schemes. Heaven forbid they tackle the bloated State House staffs or our courthouses. No, that’s not going to happen because those folks are political appointees, sort of our version of sacred white cows.

Charlie Sheen must be quite a guy. Yes indeed, get drunk and strangle your wife and then put a knife to her throat and threaten to kill her, according to police. Isn’t it interesting that you never read of big, tough Charlie tackling a guy, only women? Colorado Deputy D.A. Arnold Moradkin noted that Sheen faces two to eight years in prison and a fine as high as $500,000 for menacing. Yeah, right. As a member of the Hollywood beautiful people club watch Sheen skate with a $5,000 fine and ninety days probation.

The most incredibly stupid idea of the decade is President Barack Obama’s insistence on closing “Gitmo,” the Guantanamo Bay Prison. He made this a campaign promise and now it’s an albatross around his neck, the exact same scenario as Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner. Yes, I’m sure by now that the president realizes this to be a dumb and very dangerous move, but stubbornness is a cruel master. (I know, I’m blessed with it also.) By turning some of these extremely dangerous terrorists and zealots loose we are begging for multiple disasters.

How many of you saw the original Ghostbusters movie? Remember our threesome traveled about New York City capturing all these hideous monsters and putting them into the containment grid? Then Walter Peck, the pencil-necked geek from the EPA, came and demanded the grid be shut down and when it was, all the monsters were spewed out and went on to terrify Gotham? Remember the scene with them all shooting out? This is what it will be like when the gates of Gitmo open. It will be like throwing open the gates of Hell, but at least the ACLU will be happy, so who are we to complain?

The hottest man and woman of the decade: well, this took a lot of thought but I have the winners. For the distaff side it’s jazz singer Diana Krall and on the male side…. well I’m just too modest to tell you, but if you guessed Brownie the cat’s father, Norfolk’s leading columnist, then you are 100% right.

By the way, my fellow correspondents in Washington tell me that Hillary Clinton’s picture has been appearing on the sides of milk cartons in our nation’s capital with the caption “Have you seen this woman?” The funny part about it is no one’s looking. Strange, eh? No doubt, she’s become the victim of another “vast right wing conspiracy.”

Sports report: the past decade was a dandy for the Patriots and the Red Sox and even the Celtics won a championship. The Bruins were mediocre at best. What’s ahead, you ask? The Celtics are old and brittle. KG is banged up again, ditto Paul Pierce. Ray Allen is getting long in the tooth and his best days are behind him. Rasheed Wallace is a riddle wrapped in an enigma and has too many games where he’s part of the problem, not part of the solution. Rondo’s a terrific young player, Perkins is an O.K. NBA center, and Glen Davis will come along but … these guys cannot play against the younger, athletic clubs.

The Bruins will do O.K. but they lack a big scorer, and instead will stress defense first. The players they have are not geared for that type of system. Another early flameout in the playoffs is looming.

The Patriots are both too old and too young, but they are rebuilding and will be a better team next year. They have got to find a running back, though; I mean a horse, that can carry the team. With Wes Welker out and not expected back before the 2011 season they are in a lot of trouble and getting past the first round in the playoffs will take a small miracle.

The Red Sox should have a very strong pitching staff, perhaps the deepest in the majors. Their defense appears sound but with the loss of Jason Bay, they will have a tougher time scoring runs. They desperately need a big bat for the middle of the lineup. Let’s see what the brain trust comes up with. Hint: I’m not terribly hopeful.

Prediction: the Patriots will draft Tim Tebow with their number one pick. Bill Belichick covets players with intelligence, character, athleticism, leadership, and, most importantly, versatility, players who can perform in various roles. Tebow could play as a running back, receiver, quarterback, or as a wildcat back. Let’s see if the coach agrees with me. I’ll get some immediate feedback as I’m sure he reads my column regularly, and will probably want to go over this with me.

Welcome to 2010!