last week, dana milbank had a bit in the Post talking about how no incumbent since 1952 who didn't face opposition in the primary has lost re-election, and so this fares well for el shrubbie.
here's my letter (published today) in response:
Teahouse of the November Moon
Monday, November 24, 2003; Page A20
Dana Milbank's Nov. 18 article, "History's Tea Leaves Point to Bush's Reelection," notes that since 1952, all incumbents who didn't face a primary opponent were reelected. Aside from the problems with his sample size, let's take a look at some of the other tea leaves floating in the saucer.
No president with a last name starting with "B" (James Buchanan or the first George Bush) has won reelection. Also, the only other father and son to be president, John and John Quincy Adams, lost their reelection bids.
And last and most important, all presidents who lost the popular vote (John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes and Benjamin Harrison) were ousted after one term. Adams gained the nickname "Old Man Eloquence," Harrison was known as the "Human Iceberg" and Hayes was known to critics as "His Fraudulency."
The tea leaves say that George Bush is neither eloquent nor an iceberg. But they do say something else.
Dana Milbank's Nov. 18 article, "History's Tea Leaves Point to Bush's Reelection," notes that since 1952, all incumbents who didn't face a primary opponent were reelected. Aside from the problems with his sample size, let's take a look at some of the other tea leaves floating in the saucer.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9098-2003Nov23.html
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