Madam, - Should opinion bear some relation to facts? I ask merely for information.
I remember 13 US presidential elections since 1952. In five, the incumbent won (Eisenhower in 1956; Johnson in 1964; Nixon in 1972; Reagan in 1984; and Clinton in 1996). In three, the incumbent lost (Ford in 1976, Carter in 1980, Bush Snr in 1992). In two, the incumbent funked it (Truman in 1952, Johnson in 1968). In three, the incumbent was ineligible, having served two terms (Eisenhower in 1960, Reagan in 1988, Carter in 2000).
Thus we find that the incumbent won five of 10 elections in which he was eligible to stand: 50 per cent.
Yet on August 30th Mark Steyn revealed that incumbents generally are "unbeatable". Do you intend to impose this sciolist on a downtrodden country for much longer? - Yours, etc.,
KEVIN CASHMAN,
Military Road,
Cork.