The pattern was interrupted when the financial crisis hit and 2007 and 2008, the last two years of the Bush administration, experienced a serious bear market but the circumstances were unusual, and the few times over the last hundred years that the cycle did not hold true to form did not affect the long-term percentage of the cycle.

FORBES: The Truth About Presidential Election Years And Stocks

Mr McCain's running-mate, Sarah Palin, is a Nixonian fantasy come true, perfectly designed to create a cycle of accusation and counteraccusation.

ECONOMIST: Americans cannot escape from the shadow of Tricky Dick

The questions as to what really matters to an organization are: Did the work accomplished during the cycle make the user story come true?

FORBES: Measuring What Matters: From Outputs to Outcomes: Part 2