51% is not a mandate. It's a controlling interest.

[Plaid Adder]

That's my slogan for this week. May it be fruitful and multiply.

The Plaid Adder

[annabanana]

1. I'm sure that's how he views it.

He really has no other conceptual touchstone.

[Gin]

3. The president has a "Man Date".....wonder where they went?

g

[LiberteToujours]

2. Not like it matters

Those of us who are so worried about what Bush is going to do with his "newly earned political capital" need to remember that Bush acted like he had a mandate in 2000 too. I don't think his behaviour is affected by how many people voted for him. If he is even crazier this term, it's because he doesn't have to get reelected, not because he feels he has a mandate.

[jean]

4. it's 51% of the vote but do we know what percentage that amount is of

the total population of voters (including everyone who did't vote?) That's his true support - he can't say "The American People are behind me." We really should stomp on this one every chance we get.

[BayStateBoy]

5. Bush Mandate = An Electoral WMD

[Adams Wulff]

Well put...

Let's see if it holds up after Bev Harris get's done with it.

[Lex]

6. I like that slogan.

I'll pass it around.

[Malva Zebrina]

7. Doesn't matter

at all to him. He claims he has a mandate and no one will dare dispute that except for those on AAR. He does not have one, but what difference would that make to him? Or anybody? He controls everything and will abuse everything and everybody in his path that obstructs his free path to fascism and will do so without much objection.

No one can bring legal charges against him because he does not have a mandate. It solely depends upon the ethics of an elected president to realize that he serves all people in the country. Any hint of such a thing and he would smirk and smirk and tell us we had better get on his bandwagon or else.

A normal thinking person in his position would reflect upon who voted for them and consider that they serve the whole country, the 51% who voted for him as well as the 49% who did not. To Bush, those who did not vote for him are considered shit in his eyes, especially New England. I fully expect to see some subtle punishment aimed at the blue states from his office, if not outright insults to some cultural practices as in his brie and cheese comment when someone mentioned they visited California.

[Plaid Adder]

9. I know it doesn't matter a good God damn to him.

I wrote a column for DU a long time ago where I argued that he was governing like someone who never expected to have to contest another fair and free election. Turns out I was right.

What pisses me off is that everyone else is all, "Ooh, now he has a mandate." Fuck that. He achieved a 3-point spread which was probably assisted by fraud and mechanical error and which would be considered statistically insignificant in many other contexts.

OK, majority rule, but part of American tradition has always been protecting the rights of the minority. Well, W. kissed that one goodbye long ago, so nobody's got any false hope on that score, I hope. I love this bullshit about him 'reaching out to Democrats.' He's gonna reach out to Democrats like a shark reaches out to mackerel.

Sorry. Got a little too rantalicious there. Still processing.

:argh:

The Plaid Adder

[Straight Shooter]

8. My slogan: bush says "mandate," I say "blank check"

No way they're going to effin' hijack any more of the English language if I have anything to say about it.

edit a word left out

[HockeyMom]

10. More of his FUZZY MATH?

I live in NY. Senator Schumer got 72% of the vote. That is what a REAL MANDATE is.

[Plaid Adder]

12. Yeah, a mandate is what Obama has.

That was the one @#$! bright spot in Tuesday's results--laughing our asses off every time they reported on the Obama/Keyes race.

Ah well,

The Plaid Adder

[NightTrain]

11. Keep in mind, only 60% of the eligible voters actually went to the polls.

That means Bush got 51% of 60%. That, in turn, means approximately 70% of the American electorate either voted against Bush or not at all.

30% is not a mandate; it's a fucking cult! Which makes sense considering that your typical Bushite is the political equivalent of a Moonie.