Just have a few comments/points/responses to make to various different posts.
First, I think a major point is being missed here. Palpatine is one conniving sob, hes sneaking and manipulative. He manipulates just about everyone throught the course of the PT (and actually the OT if you think about it)
first he uses the trade federation to blockade Naboo. Remember Palps is senator of Naboo at this point, so he obviously knows Padme, and knows how she will react. He then uses her to get the Current Chancellor booted from office so he can take over. I forget the group that he said was the real control over the senate (the group that was always with Valorum on his podium, and was later with Palps after he became chancellor, suprise, they were Palps 'minions'), who was controlling Valorum, but who was controlling them? Darth Sidious aka Palpatine. I agree that Valorum was actually not corrupt, but was in fact powerless because Palpatine already had people in place that were in positions that he was able to use them to tie up things in the Senate, therefore allowing him to convince Padme that the current Chancellor was indeed ineffective and unable to do anything (which in truth he was, but for different reasons)
then, in Episode II he gets padme off the planet for the vote of creating the army. He uses Jar-Jar, the gungan representative from naboo and not the brightest bulb of the bunch, to motion to give the Chancellor 'emergency powers' Jar-Jar is lead to believe that this is what Padme would have done, and since he's an idiot he does it thinking he is doing something for the greater good.
the seperatist, who do you think was leading the seperatists? Dooku? Grevious? Nope, it was Sidious also know as Palpatine. Remember he's pulling Dooku and Grevious' strings, he's really in charge of the Seperatist movement. And Palps doesnt care about them, hes using them to start his war, the war he will use to establish himself as emperor. Think about it. Seperatists win Palps is in charge. Clone Army wins, Palps is already controlling them, so he's still in charge. Its a win-win situation as far as palpatine is concerened. Is only real enemy is the Jedi, who havent been able to identify him as the Sith Master yet because he is clouding the force, manipulating it so they cant detect his presence.
and then he manipulates Anakin, tells him what he wants to hear, how to save Padme. and all that good stuff to turn him to the dark side.
he's manipulative, he's evil, he uses people to acheive his own goals.
like has been said, seeing the future with the force (or even sensing things) isnt 100% accurate, even for someone using the Dark Side, so Palpatine didnt quite forsee everything, Like the Jedi being sent to Naboo (though i would think that would be a logical event seeing as they are the protectors of peace) But either way, Palps isnt dumb, he modifies his plan accordingly (if its for the best dont know, ultimatly he succeeds in taking over the senate/republic so it works) and makes a decision and goes with it (he'd actually probably make a good business leader, or a political leader if he wasnt so evil

as far as Farther-less Anakin (does that make him a bastard?) and Palps or Plagueous having created him. Just because they (Palps, Plague, or both) created him doesnt mean they were aware of the Prophecy, or doing it to fullfill the prophecy. Maybe they were doing it to create an 'Uber' Sith to destroy all the Jedi. Maybe they were trying to fullfill a Sith prophecy and not the Jedi prophecy that the Council speaks of. Maybe Plagueous created Anakin before Palps killed him (im convinced Plagueous was Palps master and go on that assumption) and Palps knew nothing about it. Maybe Even with his use of the Dark Side, Plagueous was really just a nice guy and just wanted to have a son and settle down

one last thing (i think) as far as Sifo-Dyas goes. Didnt Obi-Wan say that Sifo Dyas was killed before the Kaminos said he ordered the the clone army? Did Sifo-Dyas turn to the dark side? Was Sifo-Dyas Darth Plagueous? Did Palpatine use Sifo-Dyas' name to order the Clone army? Did Oswald really kill Kennedy? we may never learn the truth...but someone out there does know...
*edit*
one other thing, Anakins 'appointment' to the Council and not being made a master. While he might have been equal (or above) to the other Jedi in power/ability that does not in any way (at least in my opinion) make him ready to be a master. I dont know what the trials are, the clone wars cartoon hints that anakin has essentially gone through the same tests as the trials would put him through, but i feel that the Jedi Council's reason for not making him a master was because he was emotionally not ready. I mean you have to (well you dont have to but i think its pretty obvious) his head is a little (by little i mean much) too big for his shoulders. Making him a master would only fuel his already present arrogance. Sure it gives Palpatine some leverage to turn him against the Jedi, but remember thats what he does, he uses peoples weaknesses to manipulate them. The Jedi Council/Masters are wise (despite making a few mistakes, or possibly missing warning signs, they are still a lot more experienced and knowledgable than Anakin was) and generally know what is best. And while they were in a very tough spot with the war going on and all, i think ultimatly had Palpatine not been tempting/manipulating Anakin, the decision they made would have been best for him (and even with the manipulation it was probably still best, because not being made a Master was only one of Anakins gripes). Anakin was essentially young/immature/self centered, and needed to grow out of this to truely become the most powerful Jedi ever, unfortunatly Palpatine got to him before he could and thus Anaking wasnt able to overcome the Temptation of the Dark Side as we see Luke do in ROTJ.
-Darth Simon