As go the Redskins . . .

Congratulations, Barack Obama, you’re our 44th president. That is, if the Redskins rule holds true.

On Monday, the Washington Redskins lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-6. (PAGE 6)

Since 1936, if the Redskins lost their last home game before Election Day, the party that lost the popular vote in the previous election wound up in the White House. If the Redskins won, the party that won the popular vote in the previous election won again.

(The popular vote distinction is important, given the 2004 results.)

Hogwash, you say? Heading into this election, the Redskins rule is 17 for 17.

-- Sam Farmer