A READER EMAILS: “Why doesn’t anyone including Instapundit, say the obvious: The market was up when it looked as though McCain had a chance. Now that Obama has won — as a direct result — the market is tanking. Obviously — almost 500 point loss each day since Obama has won the election!”

Well, the stock market is certainly tanking:

Major indexes have lost about 10 percent since Barack Obama was elected president — a vote preceded by a steep rally — and the losses represent the Dow’s worst two-day percentage decline since the October 1987 crash.

Is it really fair to blame this on Obama? I don’t know, but those who thought he was going to bring about a stock market rally by being elected have certainly turned out to be wrong.

UPDATE: Reader Jonathan Adams thinks it’s fair to blame Obama, and cites this story: China urges Obama to respect free trade, defends currency policy. Adams comments: “If even the Communists worry about Obama’s violation of free trade principles, I think it’s reasonable to put failure to assuage the fears of those who expect and rely upon a free market squarely on his shoulders. Yes, the headline has a distinct Orwellian feel to it, but in context with the pre-election statements and post-election market moves … what if they’re serious?”

ANOTHER UPDATE: The breakdown of denial?