In 2006, "Maestro" Alan Greenspan leveraged his wildly exaggerated reputation into an $8 million book deal with Penguin Press. Around this time, Greenspan gave interviews in which he suggested a "well-financed independent presidential candidate" would emerge in time for the 2008 ("or 2012") presidential election. Greenspan was probably referring to New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire independent who is long rumored to have designs on the presidency. Of course, Bloomberg decided not to run in 2008, opting instead to change the rules so that he can be mayor of New York for as long as he wants. Also, today is Election Day 2008, and Greenspan's prediction stands absolutely no chance of becoming true. (HT: Gregg Easterbrook.) You can read Andrew Ferguson's takedown of Greenspan's memoirs here.