> My favorite:
>
> [from Aachen and Bartels, "Blind Retrospection," 2004]
>
> > Droughts and Floods, 1896-2000
> >
> > Having examined one especially colorful instance of blind
> > retrospection [a series of shark attacks in NJ in 1916 cost Wilson
> > votes], we turn in this section to a broader analysis covering the
> > entire continental United States and the entire 20th century. That
> > analysis focuses on electoral responses to climatic conditions—in
> > particular, to droughts and floods— in presidential elections.
> > Using data on drought and flood conditions in 48 states throughout
> > the century, we show that voters do indeed punish the incumbent
> > party at the polls for presiding over bad weather.
Ah. Mandate of heaven. Despair is looking pretty good.
-- Andy