Divided or Mandate?

[skybridge]

Does it matter? The opposition couldn't prevent anything when the Republicans LOST the popular vote either.

[skybridge]

He's already governed like he had a massive mandate, and he LOST the popular vote in 2000. If the popular vote didn't matter then, why does it matter now?

Reminds me of my post.

[skybridge]

America is evenly polarized.  Check out Bush's post-election approval numbers:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=2026&e=5&u=/latimests/20041228/ts_latimes/reelectionhoneymoonwithvoterseludesbushpollssay

I guess people are coming to their senses too late.

This is not a typical re-election. It was by far the 2nd closest victory ever for anyone who was already President (only 1916 was closer). You can't get much of a bounce when you're the most divisive politician since the Civil War.

PV reelection margins since the Civil War:
1872 - 11.8%
1900 - 6.12%
1916 - 3.12%
1936 - 24.25%
1940 - 9.96%
1944 - 7.5%
1956 - 15.4%
1972 - 23.15%
1984 - 14.21%
1996 - 8.51%

2004 - 2.46% (projected)!

In fact, Bush won reelection by the smallest percent of any president since the Civil War.