Vice President George Bush and Gary Carter at the 1988 All-Star
Game. Associated Press  If anyone has reason to hope the
Republicans win the November presidential election, it's the
beleaguered Mets.   In the franchise's half-century history, a
striking trend has emerged: When a Republican is president, the
Mets tend to win. When a Democrat is in the White House, they
usually lose. (The Obama years have been especially unkind.)
Since the Mets began play in 1962, Democrats have held the
presidency for 23 years—and the Mets have had losing seasons in
19 of them. Conversely, in the 28 years in which a Republican
has been president, the Mets have had 19 winning seasons.
(Longtime baseball writer Marty Noble, of Newsday and other
publications, has noted this trend a couple of times over the
years.)  Five of the Mets' seven playoff trips have come under
Republicans. Conversely, nine of the Mets' 13 last-place
finishes have come under Democrats.  Not only that, but
sometimes turning points in the Mets' checkered hi