Its a crap shoot...the economic woes, statistically any way, will probably get better before 2012. Even if McCain does nothing the economy will most likely regroup before 2012 assuming the oil prices drop at some point in the future. How much, who knows (but before you say it Ken, it wont be back 20$ a barrel I'll wager). So you could be looking at an economic recovery in 2011-12.

OR

This downturn could be a real stinker, deep and long. They've shot the tax cut wad on Bushes binge.

I can envision 3 + years of "stay the course" spin waiting for the limited McCain economic stimulus packages ( that they can put together without creating a deeper deficit) to work. McCain will take have to take  deep cuts in Medicade DHS and lets face it DOD.

All this plus fighting the Iraq war will bury McCain and the US...by then his health and our patience will be shot anyway.

On the other hand McCain could be so inept that a rip roaring 20,000 point Dow wouldn't save him.

Note to John. Don't pardon Bush