Rock459:

Agreed. It can't be evaluated unless T is defined. Also, x should have some specified minimum value which would presumably be different for Obama and McCain.

I think the uselessness of the McCain equation can be highlighted by rewriting it:

Y(x) = 140,000 - R(x),

where R(x) = 16*T(x)/x.

In other words, without knowing T(x), they're saying that the residual force after 16 months is some unknown difference R(x) from 140,000, which could in fact be positive or negative. Well, duh. At least they take a guess at a linear drawdown for Obama, although it's not transparent how the advice factor "x" is derived (another unknown), especially since it is supposed to take into account "strategic pauses" in some average way (according to the Axelrod quote about Obama).

What useless tautologies. Thanks John and Chris. It's amazing you can get paid for this.