Reply #12: 1980. Carter could have won the election one of several ways:

[leveymg]

1) Fired Energy Sec. James Schlessinger who allowed the major oil companies to shift refinery output from gasoline to fuel oil production in 1978 and 1979, creating an artificial gas shortage.
2) Refused the bad advice given by Henry Kissinger and David Rockefeller to allow the deposed Shah of Iran entry into the United States, provoking the Embassy takeover.
3) Ordered close electronic and human surveillance of George W. Bush and William Casey, and threatened their arrest, after receiving information that these rogue intelligence operatives were involved in the "October Surprise", an illegal deal with figures in Iran to thwart official U.S. diplomacy by continuing to hold the hostages until after the elections.
4) Prosecuted George W. Bush and Henry Kissinger for their roles in facilitating the 1976 assassination of Orlando Letelier in Washington, DC.

These are historical lessons one hopes President Obama is familiar with and has learned from. One can hope, anyway.