# Exception to "Redskins Rule" **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 4, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880 "2012-11-04T20:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/1 "2012-11-04T20:18:41Z")
Red Zone just mentioned that the incumbent has lost only once when the Redskins won the Sunday before Election Day. Which election is that exception? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/2 "2012-11-04T20:28:19Z")
Per Wiki, 2004 is my answer. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/3 "2012-11-04T20:32:17Z")
I have to say, the rational part of my mind realizes that there is no actual causation. The irrational part of my mind is pulling for Washington like crazy. (Plus, I started RGIII this week.) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/4 "2012-11-04T20:54:39Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Red Zone just mentioned that the incumbent has lost only once when the Redskins won the Sunday before Election Day. Which election is that exception? 1. However, the originator of the rule has pointed out that if you go by the party that won the popular vote (as did Gore/the Dems in 2000), the rule is unbroken. ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/5 "2012-11-04T21:08:31Z")
Redskins aint winning this game… but if they lose and Obama loses than there are about 10 other “predictors” that have will have their streaks broken. Everything from Chia Pets and Halloween masks, to the Scholastic Kids votes. Either way it goes these predictions of things not related to actual polling will come to an end. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/6 "2012-11-04T22:25:48Z")
You’d be better off focusing on the Tarantino Effect. Quentin Tarantino made the movie _Pulp Fiction_ in 1994. And no incumbent President since that movie was released has lost an election. Most scholars agree that _Pulp Fiction_ fundamentally changed the accepted rules of both film narrative and American politics. ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/7 "2012-11-04T23:41:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You’d be better off focusing on the Tarantino Effect. Quentin Tarantino made the movie _Pulp Fiction_ in 1994. And no incumbent President since that movie was released has lost an election. Most scholars agree that _Pulp Fiction_ fundamentally changed the accepted rules of both film narrative and American politics. this may yet be the best, concise, intelligent, and insightfull post\*\* ever \*\*on the SDMB. Well done sir/madame!! ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/8 "2012-11-05T00:57:41Z")
[Relevant XKCD](http://xkcd.com/1122/). ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/9 "2012-11-05T01:02:40Z")
The rule also says that if the Redskins lose, the incumbent party loses. The OP’s version leaves out that crucial detail, now that the Redskins have lost. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-to-redskins-rule/639880/10 "2012-11-06T13:52:48Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > 1. However, the originator of the rule has pointed out that if you go by the party that won the popular vote (as did Gore/the Dems in 2000), the rule is unbroken. \*smh. Are you saying that because Gore won the popular vote in 2000, then the Dems were technically the incumbent party in 2004, so the streak holds? Other than that, I don’t understand what you are saying.