Hopes to be skinned alive

The rabid right-wingers are relying on superstition rather than facts fearful that Mitt Romney might not be elected pres come Wednesday morning. The so-called Redskins Rule that the incumbent party always lose the presidential election if the Washington Redskins lose the game before the vote. Apparently, it has ‘predicted’ 17 out of 18 presidential elections. But its record is a bit scratchy of late. They lost in 2004 but the incumbent stayed in power, so if we take it from there, it’s only 50-50 (with 2008 going the ‘expected’ way). Hardly a compelling bellwether. Why don’t they dig up Paul the Octopus from his grave for good measure?


And then there is talk of a Romney surge, with the small print that this is in Pennsylvania, rather than the implied nationwide. The neo-cons and their allies hope that by saying it enough times it will materialise (like the constant references to Jimmy Carter). Barack Obama could lose Pennsylvania and still win if he takes Ohio and a few smaller swing states. I’m not saying Obama will win because voter turnout (and Republican curtailment of it as attempted in Ohio and latterly in Florida) could derail him, but I do find the desperation of those who decry the president amusing.