tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32578527.post9217111622492960912..comments2014-04-16T12:04:37.910-04:00Comments on Their Finest Hour: More Election Quick ThoughtsAllan Bourdiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10834411353444590771noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32578527.post-746360363628419192008-11-06T10:26:00.000-05:002008-11-06T10:26:00.000-05:00President Bush never claimed a mandate in 2000; he...President Bush never claimed a mandate in 2000; he did in 2004 saying, "I have earned political capital, and I intend to spend it."<BR/><BR/>He then, proceeded to squander his entire Presidency by not leading.<BR/><BR/>Under the vote totals I cited yesterday, Barack Obama's margin of victory was 4.5 million votes vs. Bush's margin over Kerry of 5.8 million - a drop of 22.4% in margin.<BR/><BR/>This doesn't qualify as a landslide on popular vote margin of victory. Witness:<BR/><BR/>1972: Nixon +23.2%<BR/>1976: Carter +2.1%<BR/>1980: Reagan +9.7%<BR/>1984: Reagan +18.2%<BR/>1988: Bush +7.8%<BR/><BR/>Bill Clinton was not elected by a majority of the popular vote in either 1992 or 1996.<BR/><BR/>When the final tallies are analyzed, and coupled with exit polling data, the end result will be that 2008 was a referendum on the Bush 43 Administration and not a groundswell for Barack Obama, except for the 3.7% increase in total electorate size that broke largely for him.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your comment.Allan Bourdiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10834411353444590771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32578527.post-74679841981157657942008-11-06T09:39:00.000-05:002008-11-06T09:39:00.000-05:00Your attempt to paint Obama's win as being close i...Your attempt to paint Obama's win as being close is a joke. It was Bush who declared a mandate in 2000 after losing the popular vote and manipulating a "victory". Obama won without the help of a brother governor and a court decision. Now that's a mandate.<BR/>In case you haven't noticed this country is quickly lurching left. Over eight long, disasterous years one thing is for sure - neocons cannot govern.SonnyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00367244871707563275noreply@blogger.com