That said, I’m much more cautious than you. I know enough about American history to know that the the sudden occurance of — how do I put this — an extraordinary circumstance is never outside the range of possibility. Let’s just leave it at that.

I’m reminded of the example of Toby Ziegler who, on re-election night, would not tolerate even the brief appearance of party balloons in the West Wing until all the returns were in and the race had been called.