Editing 1122: Electoral Precedent
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|Created by a TIME TRAVELER. Please explain and flesh out each broken precedent. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
During election season in U.S. presidential elections — and especially in election night coverage — it is common for the media to make comments like the ones set out in the first panel of this comic. [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] is demonstrating the problem with making such statements, many of which simply come down to coincidence. | During election season in U.S. presidential elections — and especially in election night coverage — it is common for the media to make comments like the ones set out in the first panel of this comic. [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] is demonstrating the problem with making such statements, many of which simply come down to coincidence. | ||
− | After the first panel the next 56 panels in this comic refer to each one of the {{w|United States presidential election#Electoral college results|56 presidential elections}} in U.S. history before {{w|Barack Obama|Obama's}} re-election in 2012. The panels depict a pre-election commentator noting a quality or condition that has never occurred to a candidate until one of the candidates in that election broke the streak. In other words, one can always find at least one unique thing about a candidate who has gone on to win (or in some cases, lose) or the circumstances under which they won (or lost) that is unique from all previous winners (or losers). It's worth noting that some of these 'firsts' were truly precedent-setting (such as the first incumbent losing, the first president to win a third term, the first Catholic president, etc.), but the fact that they hadn't happened was no assurance that there wouldn't be a first time. As the years pass on, these 'streaks' become more and more nested and complicated, and then brought by Randall to the point of absurdity by pointing out very trivial things, such as "No Democratic {{w|incumbent}} without combat experience has ever beaten someone whose first name is worth more in {{w|Scrabble}}" (1996). | + | After the first panel the next 56 panels in this comic refer to each one of the {{w|United States presidential election#Electoral college results|56 presidential elections}} in U.S. history before {{w|Barack Obama|Obama's}} re-election in 2012. The panels depict a pre-election commentator noting a quality or condition that has never occurred to a candidate, until one of the candidates in that election broke the streak. In other words, one can always find at least one unique thing about a candidate who has gone on to win (or in some cases, lose) or the circumstances under which they won (or lost) that is unique from all previous winners (or losers). It's worth noting that some of these 'firsts' were truly precedent-setting (such as the first incumbent losing, the first president to win a third term, the first Catholic president, etc.), but the fact that they hadn't happened was no assurance that there wouldn't be a first time. As the years pass on, these 'streaks' become more and more nested and complicated, and then brought by Randall to the point of absurdity by pointing out very trivial things, such as "No Democratic {{w|incumbent}} without combat experience has ever beaten someone whose first name is worth more in {{w|Scrabble}}" (1996). |
The flaw made by pundits while reporting such streaks is that there will always be ''something'' that has never happened before in an election, and they purport to suggest that these things are related to the candidate's win or loss. Randall considers this a logical flaw. A common one is, as noted in several panels, candidates can't win without winning certain states. The question, however, is one of {{w|Correlation does not imply causation|cause or effect}}. | The flaw made by pundits while reporting such streaks is that there will always be ''something'' that has never happened before in an election, and they purport to suggest that these things are related to the candidate's win or loss. Randall considers this a logical flaw. A common one is, as noted in several panels, candidates can't win without winning certain states. The question, however, is one of {{w|Correlation does not imply causation|cause or effect}}. | ||
− | Given that there have only been 56 elections, there are always going to be things that haven't happened before. If you go out looking for them, you're sure to find some. There is no magic about why these events haven't happened. In most cases, it is merely | + | Given that there have only been 56 elections, there are always going to be things that haven't happened before. If you go out looking for them, you're sure to find some. There is no magic about why these events haven't happened. In most cases, it is merely coincidence. |
− | In the last two panels | + | In the last two panels two more statements like the previous are given. They were both true before the {{w|United States presidential election, 2012|election in 2012}} on November the 6th. The comic came out in the middle of the campaign on October the 17th. The statements were constructed so that the first predicts that Obama can't win over {{w|Mitt Romney}}, and the second that he cannot lose. As Obama won the election he thus ended the streak ''Democratic incumbents never beat taller challengers'' whereas the other streak is still valid. |
− | The title text refers to the fact that {{w|Twitter}} was founded in 2006. Obama won in 2008, so at the time of the comic it was true that no white male person mentioned on Twitter had ever gone on to win the presidency; although certainly some former presidents, all of whom were white males, have subsequently been mentioned on Twitter. This streak was broken in the next election year when Donald Trump won the 2016 election. | + | The title text refers to the fact that {{w|Twitter}} was founded in 2006. Obama won in 2008, so at the time of the comic it was true that no white male person mentioned on Twitter had ever gone on to win the presidency; although certainly some former presidents, all of whom were white males, have subsequently been mentioned on Twitter. This streak was broken in the next election year, when Donald Trump won the 2016 election. |
− | During these last four weeks before the election | + | During these last four weeks before the election Randall posted no fewer than four comics related to this election. The others are: [[1127: Congress]], [[1130: Poll Watching]] and [[1131: Math]]. |
In 2020, Randall posted an update to this comic: [[2383: Electoral Precedent 2020]]. | In 2020, Randall posted an update to this comic: [[2383: Electoral Precedent 2020]]. | ||
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===Table of Broken Precedents=== | ===Table of Broken Precedents=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ''<font color="red">Please have someone else validate your row, as to make sure the table is accurate</font>'' | ||
{| border =1 width=100% cellpadding=5 class="wikitable" | {| border =1 width=100% cellpadding=5 class="wikitable" | ||
Line 34: | Line 37: | ||
| 1788 | | 1788 | ||
| No one has been elected president before. ...But Washington was. | | No one has been elected president before. ...But Washington was. | ||
− | | Discounting the Articles of Confederation and its {{w|President of the Continental Congress|president}}, Washington is the first president of the | + | | Discounting the Articles of Confederation and its {{w|President of the Continental Congress|president}}, Washington is the first president of the US. |
| True | | True | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 49: | Line 52: | ||
| 1800 | | 1800 | ||
| No challenger has beaten an incumbent. ...But Jefferson did. | | No challenger has beaten an incumbent. ...But Jefferson did. | ||
− | | Adams is the first president not to have a second term, due to signing the unpopular {{w|Alien and Sedition | + | | Adams is the first president not to have a second term, due to signing the unpopular {{w|Alien and Sedition acts}}. He was defeated by the challenger, Jefferson. |
| True | | True | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1804 | | 1804 | ||
− | | No incumbent has beaten | + | | No incumbent has beaten an challenger. ...Until Jefferson. |
| The 2 previous incumbents were Washington, who was unopposed, and Adams, who lost as an incumbent (to Jefferson). | | The 2 previous incumbents were Washington, who was unopposed, and Adams, who lost as an incumbent (to Jefferson). | ||
| True | | True | ||
Line 64: | Line 67: | ||
| 1812 | | 1812 | ||
| No one can win without New York. ...But Madison did. | | No one can win without New York. ...But Madison did. | ||
− | | | + | | New York (and most of the Northern states) voted for Clinton, but Madison swept the Southern states to take victory. |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| 1816 | | 1816 | ||
| No candidate who doesn't wear a wig can get elected. ...Until Monroe was. | | No candidate who doesn't wear a wig can get elected. ...Until Monroe was. | ||
− | | Despite popular misconception, Washington did not wear a wig, | + | | Despite popular misconception, Washington did not wear a wig, just false teeth. |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| 1820 | | 1820 | ||
− | | No one who wears pants instead of | + | | No one who wears pants instead of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culottes breeches] can be reelected. ...But Monroe was. |
| The first 5 presidents, including Monroe, all wore breeches. | | The first 5 presidents, including Monroe, all wore breeches. | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| 1824 | | 1824 | ||
| No one has ever won without a popular majority. ...J.Q. Adams did. | | No one has ever won without a popular majority. ...J.Q. Adams did. | ||
| Jackson won the plurality of the popular vote and Electoral College. But as it was a four way election, he did not achieve a majority - so the vote went to Congress, who elected John Quincy Adams. | | Jackson won the plurality of the popular vote and Electoral College. But as it was a four way election, he did not achieve a majority - so the vote went to Congress, who elected John Quincy Adams. | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| 1828 | | 1828 | ||
| Only people from Massachusetts and Virginia can win. ...Until Jackson did. | | Only people from Massachusetts and Virginia can win. ...Until Jackson did. | ||
− | | Jackson was from | + | | Jackson was from Tennessee, while all previous presidents were from Massachusetts or Virginia. |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| 1832 | | 1832 | ||
| The only presidents who get reelected are Virginians. ...Until Jackson. | | The only presidents who get reelected are Virginians. ...Until Jackson. | ||
| Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe were the only re-elected presidents at that time, and they were all Virginians. | | Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe were the only re-elected presidents at that time, and they were all Virginians. | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| 1836 | | 1836 | ||
| New Yorkers always lose. ...Until Van Buren. | | New Yorkers always lose. ...Until Van Buren. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1840 | |1840 | ||
| No one over 65 has won the presidency. ...Until Harrison did. | | No one over 65 has won the presidency. ...Until Harrison did. | ||
− | | He was 68 | + | | He was 68, and died of pneumonia 31 days after giving the longest inauguration to date. |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1844 | |1844 | ||
| No one who's lost his home state has won. ...But Polk did. | | No one who's lost his home state has won. ...But Polk did. | ||
− | | | + | | Polk lost Tennessee to Clay but took 15 of the 26 states including New York. |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1848 | |1848 | ||
− | | | + | | The Democrats don't lose when they win Pennsylvania. ...But they did in 1848. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1852 | |1852 | ||
|New England Democrats can't win. ...Until Pierce did. | |New England Democrats can't win. ...Until Pierce did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1856 | |1856 | ||
− | | No one can become president without getting married. ...Until Buchanan did. | + | |No one can become president without getting married. ...Until Buchanan did. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1860 | |1860 | ||
| No one over 6'3" can get elected. ...Until Lincoln. | | No one over 6'3" can get elected. ...Until Lincoln. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1864 | |1864 | ||
|No one with a beard has been reelected. ...But Lincoln was. | |No one with a beard has been reelected. ...But Lincoln was. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1868 | |1868 | ||
− | |No one can be president if their | + | |No one can be president if their parent are alive. ...Until Grant. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1872 | |1872 | ||
|No one with a beard has been reelected in peacetime. ...Until Grant was. | |No one with a beard has been reelected in peacetime. ...Until Grant was. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1876 | |1876 | ||
|No one can win a majority of the popular vote and still lose. ...Tilden did. | |No one can win a majority of the popular vote and still lose. ...Tilden did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1880 | |1880 | ||
|As goes California, so goes the nation. ...Until it went Hancock. | |As goes California, so goes the nation. ...Until it went Hancock. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1884 | |1884 | ||
− | |Candidates named "James" can't lose. ...Until James Blaine. | + | |Candidates named "James" can't lose. ...Until James Blaine. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1888 | |1888 | ||
|No sitting president has been beaten since the Civil War. ...Cleveland was. | |No sitting president has been beaten since the Civil War. ...Cleveland was. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1892 | |1892 | ||
|No former president has been elected. ...Until Cleveland. | |No former president has been elected. ...Until Cleveland. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1896 | |1896 | ||
− | |Tall | + | |Tall midwesterners are unbeatable. ...Bryan wasn't. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1900 | |1900 | ||
|No Republican shorter than 5'8" has been reelected. ...Until McKinley was. | |No Republican shorter than 5'8" has been reelected. ...Until McKinley was. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1904 | |1904 | ||
− | |No one under 45 has | + | |No one under 45 has become president. ...Roosevelt did. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1908 | |1908 | ||
|No Republican who hasn't served in the military has won. ...Until Taft. | |No Republican who hasn't served in the military has won. ...Until Taft. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1912 | |1912 | ||
|After Lincoln beat the Democrats while sporting a beard with no mustache, the only Democrats who can win have a mustache with no beard. ...Wilson had neither. | |After Lincoln beat the Democrats while sporting a beard with no mustache, the only Democrats who can win have a mustache with no beard. ...Wilson had neither. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1916 | |1916 | ||
− | |No Democrat has won | + | |No Democrat has won without Indiana. ...Wilson did. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1920 | |1920 | ||
|No incumbent senator has won. ...Until Harding. | |No incumbent senator has won. ...Until Harding. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1924 | |1924 | ||
|No one with two Cs in their name has become president. ...Until Calvin Coolidge. | |No one with two Cs in their name has become president. ...Until Calvin Coolidge. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1928 | |1928 | ||
|No one who got ten million votes has lost. ...Until Al Smith. | |No one who got ten million votes has lost. ...Until Al Smith. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1932 | |1932 | ||
|No Democrat has won since women secured the right to vote. ...Until FDR did. | |No Democrat has won since women secured the right to vote. ...Until FDR did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1936 | |1936 | ||
|No President's been reelected with double-digit unemployment. ...Until FDR was. | |No President's been reelected with double-digit unemployment. ...Until FDR was. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1940 | |1940 | ||
|No one has won a third term. ...Until FDR did. | |No one has won a third term. ...Until FDR did. | ||
− | |FDR is the first and only president to | + | |FDR is the first and only president to serve 4 terms due to his popularity/policies, made impossible by the {{w|Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution|26th amendment}} |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1944 | |1944 | ||
|No Democrat has won during wartime. ...Until FDR did. | |No Democrat has won during wartime. ...Until FDR did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1948 | |1948 | ||
|Democrats can't win without Alabama. ...Truman did. | |Democrats can't win without Alabama. ...Truman did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1952 | |1952 | ||
|No Republican has won without winning the House or Senate. ...Eisenhower did. | |No Republican has won without winning the House or Senate. ...Eisenhower did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1956 | |1956 | ||
− | |No | + | |No Republican has won without Missouri. ...Until Eisenhower. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1960 | |1960 | ||
− | | | + | |Republicans without facial hair are unbeatable. ...Kennedy beat Nixon. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1964 | |1964 | ||
− | | | + | |No Democrat has won without Georgia. ...Johnson did. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1968 | |1968 | ||
|No Republican vice president has risen to the Presidency through an election. ...Until Nixon. | |No Republican vice president has risen to the Presidency through an election. ...Until Nixon. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1972 | |1972 | ||
− | | | + | |No wartime candidate has won without Massachusetts. ...Until Nixon did. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1976 | |1976 | ||
|No one who lost New Mexico has won. ...But Carter did. | |No one who lost New Mexico has won. ...But Carter did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1980 | |1980 | ||
|No one has been elected President after a divorce. ...Until Reagan was. | |No one has been elected President after a divorce. ...Until Reagan was. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1984 | |1984 | ||
|No left-handed president has been reelected. ...Until Reagan was. | |No left-handed president has been reelected. ...Until Reagan was. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1988 | |1988 | ||
− | |No | + | |No Democrat who has won Wisconsin (without being from there) has lost. ...Until Dukakis did. |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1992 | |1992 | ||
|No Democrat has won without a majority of the Catholic vote. ...Until Clinton did. | |No Democrat has won without a majority of the Catholic vote. ...Until Clinton did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|1996 | |1996 | ||
|No Dem. incumbent without combat experience has beaten someone whose first name is worth more in Scrabble. ...Until Bill beat Bob. | |No Dem. incumbent without combat experience has beaten someone whose first name is worth more in Scrabble. ...Until Bill beat Bob. | ||
− | | | + | | |
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2000 | |2000 | ||
|No Republican has won without Vermont. ...Until Bush did. | |No Republican has won without Vermont. ...Until Bush did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|2004 | |2004 | ||
|No Republican without combat experience has beaten someone two inches taller. ...Until Bush did. | |No Republican without combat experience has beaten someone two inches taller. ...Until Bush did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|2008 | |2008 | ||
|No Democrat can win without Missouri. ...Until Obama did. | |No Democrat can win without Missouri. ...Until Obama did. | ||
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|2012? | |2012? | ||
− | |Democratic incumbents never beat taller challengers. | + | |Democratic incumbents never beat taller challengers. If Obama wins (as he did) it will break the streak. |
− | |Barack Obama is 6' 1" (185 cm), and Mitt Romney is 6' 2" (188 cm) | + | |Barack Obama is 6' 1" (185 cm), and Mitt Romney is 6' 2" (188 cm) |
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
|2012? | |2012? | ||
− | |No nominee whose first name contains a "K" has lost. | + | | No nominee whose first name contains a "K" has lost. If Romney wins (but he didn't) it will break the streak. |
− | | | + | | Discounting third party and small nominees, these nominees won: Franklin Pierce, Franklin Roosevelt, Barack Obama |
− | | | + | | Unbroken so far, so true |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
|} | |} | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
+ | {{incomplete transcript}} | ||
:The problem with statements like | :The problem with statements like | ||
:"No <party> candidate has won the election without <state>" | :"No <party> candidate has won the election without <state>" | ||
Line 334: | Line 333: | ||
:"No president has been reelected under <circumstances>" | :"No president has been reelected under <circumstances>" | ||
− | |||
:1788... No one has been elected president before. ...But Washington was. | :1788... No one has been elected president before. ...But Washington was. | ||
:1792... No incumbent has ever been reelected. ...Until Washington. | :1792... No incumbent has ever been reelected. ...Until Washington. | ||
Line 350: | Line 348: | ||
:1840... No one over 65 has won the presidency. ...Until Harrison did. | :1840... No one over 65 has won the presidency. ...Until Harrison did. | ||
:1844... No one who's lost his home state has won. ...But Polk did. | :1844... No one who's lost his home state has won. ...But Polk did. | ||
− | :1848... | + | :1848... The Democrats don't lose when they win Pennsylvania. ...But they did in 1848. |
:1852... New England Democrats can't win. ...Until Pierce did. | :1852... New England Democrats can't win. ...Until Pierce did. | ||
:1856... No one can become president without getting married. ...Until Buchanan did. | :1856... No one can become president without getting married. ...Until Buchanan did. | ||
:1860... No one over 6'3" can get elected. ...Until Lincoln. | :1860... No one over 6'3" can get elected. ...Until Lincoln. | ||
:1864... No one with a beard has been reelected. ...But Lincoln was. | :1864... No one with a beard has been reelected. ...But Lincoln was. | ||
− | :1868... No one can be president if their | + | :1868... No one can be president if their parent are alive. ...Until Grant. |
:1872... No one with a beard has been reelected in peacetime. ...Until Grant was. | :1872... No one with a beard has been reelected in peacetime. ...Until Grant was. | ||
:1876... No one can win a majority of the popular vote and still lose. ...Tilden did. | :1876... No one can win a majority of the popular vote and still lose. ...Tilden did. | ||
:1880... As goes California, so goes the nation. ...Until it went Hancock. | :1880... As goes California, so goes the nation. ...Until it went Hancock. | ||
− | :1884... Candidates named "James" can't lose. ...Until James Blaine. | + | :1884... Candidates named "James" can't lose. ...Until James Blaine. |
:1888... No sitting president has been beaten since the Civil War. ...Cleveland was. | :1888... No sitting president has been beaten since the Civil War. ...Cleveland was. | ||
:1892... No former president has been elected. ...Until Cleveland. | :1892... No former president has been elected. ...Until Cleveland. | ||
− | :1896... Tall | + | :1896... Tall midwesterners are unbeatable. ...Bryan wasn't. |
:1900... No Republican shorter than 5'8" has been reelected. ...Until McKinley was. | :1900... No Republican shorter than 5'8" has been reelected. ...Until McKinley was. | ||
− | :1904... No one under 45 has | + | :1904... No one under 45 has become president. ...Roosevelt did. |
:1908... No Republican who hasn't served in the military has won. ...Until Taft. | :1908... No Republican who hasn't served in the military has won. ...Until Taft. | ||
− | : | + | :1912... After Lincoln beat the Democrats while sporting a beard with no mustache, the only Democrats who can win have a mustache with no beard. ...Wilson had neither. |
− | :1916... No Democrat has won | + | :1916... No Democrat has won without Indiana. ...Wilson did. |
:1920... No incumbent senator has won. ...Until Harding. | :1920... No incumbent senator has won. ...Until Harding. | ||
:1924... No one with two Cs in their name has become president. ...Until Calvin Coolidge. | :1924... No one with two Cs in their name has become president. ...Until Calvin Coolidge. | ||
:1928... No one who got ten million votes has lost. ...Until Al Smith. | :1928... No one who got ten million votes has lost. ...Until Al Smith. | ||
:1932... No Democrat has won since women secured the right to vote. ...Until FDR did. | :1932... No Democrat has won since women secured the right to vote. ...Until FDR did. | ||
− | :1936... No | + | :1936... No President's been reelected with double-digit unemployment. ...Until FDR was. |
:1940... No one has won a third term. ...Until FDR did. | :1940... No one has won a third term. ...Until FDR did. | ||
:1944... No Democrat has won during wartime. ...Until FDR did. | :1944... No Democrat has won during wartime. ...Until FDR did. | ||
:1948... Democrats can't win without Alabama. ...Truman did. | :1948... Democrats can't win without Alabama. ...Truman did. | ||
:1952... No Republican has won without winning the House or Senate. ...Eisenhower did. | :1952... No Republican has won without winning the House or Senate. ...Eisenhower did. | ||
− | :1956... No | + | :1956... No Republican has won without Missouri. ...Until Eisenhower. |
− | :1960... | + | :1960... Republicans without facial hair are unbeatable. ...Kennedy beat Nixon. |
− | :1964... | + | :1964... No Democrat has won without Georgia. ...Johnson did. |
− | : | + | :1968... No Republican vice president has risen to the Presidency through an election. ...Until Nixon. |
− | : | + | :1972... No wartime candidate has won without Massachusetts. ...Until Nixon did. |
:1976... No one who lost New Mexico has won. ...But Carter did. | :1976... No one who lost New Mexico has won. ...But Carter did. | ||
− | :1980... No one has been elected | + | :1980... No one has been elected President after a divorce. ...Until Reagan was. |
:1984... No left-handed president has been reelected. ...Until Reagan was. | :1984... No left-handed president has been reelected. ...Until Reagan was. | ||
− | : | + | :1988... No Democrat who has won Wisconsin (without being from there) has lost. ...Until Dukakis did. |
− | : | + | :1992... No Democrat has won without a majority of the Catholic vote. ...Until Clinton did. |
− | : | + | :1996... No Dem. incumbent without combat experience has beaten someone whose first name is worth more in Scrabble. ...Until Bill beat Bob. |
:2000... No Republican has won without Vermont. ...Until Bush did. | :2000... No Republican has won without Vermont. ...Until Bush did. | ||
− | : | + | :2004... No Republican without combat experience has beaten someone two inches taller. ...Until Bush did. |
:2008... No Democrat can win without Missouri. ...Until Obama did. | :2008... No Democrat can win without Missouri. ...Until Obama did. | ||
− | : | + | :2012... Democratic incumbents never beat taller challengers. No nominee whose first name contains a "K" has lost. Which streak will break? |
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==Trivia/Errors== | ==Trivia/Errors== | ||
* There was an error in the original 1800 panel of the comic, as Jefferson (not Adams) was the first challenger to beat an incumbent, when Jefferson beat then-president Adams in 1800. This was later corrected. | * There was an error in the original 1800 panel of the comic, as Jefferson (not Adams) was the first challenger to beat an incumbent, when Jefferson beat then-president Adams in 1800. This was later corrected. | ||
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* Also, one of the statements of a streak for the 2012 elections can be considered wrong: in 1952, the Republican candidate/running mate Eisenhower/Nixon defeated the Democratic alliterative ticket Stevenson/Sparkman (in what can only be described as a landslide). The comic has been changed, and now reads "Democratic incumbents never beat taller challengers" as the streak which would have the Republican ticket as the winners. | * Also, one of the statements of a streak for the 2012 elections can be considered wrong: in 1952, the Republican candidate/running mate Eisenhower/Nixon defeated the Democratic alliterative ticket Stevenson/Sparkman (in what can only be described as a landslide). The comic has been changed, and now reads "Democratic incumbents never beat taller challengers" as the streak which would have the Republican ticket as the winners. |