US self-implodes and is absorbed by China.
No seriously, I believe maybe Obama would have a challenge from Secretary Clinton, or maybe a Moderate buisness oriented democrat, (Mark Warner, perhaps, though that is not his personality)
The Republicans would nominate Mitt Romney, due to his buisness expertise. Mitt picks a heavyweight on foreign affairs and the republicans win in a landslide. Obama is not seen in 2012 as a figure of hope and change, but a likeness of Pity and Disgust.
At face value, I see 2012 paralelling 1996.
