Mandate from the People -- Post Election #3
Sorry It's been a couple of days.
There is something that is troubling me. I have heard many times now from the Spin out of the white house and the GOP that the Bush administration has received a mandate from the public. Yes, Bush (jr) is the first US president to receive the majority of the vote (greater than 50%) since Bush (sr). But I would hardly say that he received a mandate from the people. When you look at it, he won by just over 200,000 votes (that was the margin of victory here in OH). Had Kerry won Ohio, the results would have been different. Yet the administration gets up in front of the camera and acts as if it had won by 15% or more. When in reality they barely edge Kerry out.
I think it's a sad state when the race is so close, they consider it a major victory if the election isn't decided in the courts.
My point is, will this lame duck president follow the will of the people, or will he only go more conservative, because he knows that he won't be up for re-election in four years. One thing is for sure, this adminstration will be different for his last. There are already rumours that the big players in his cabinet are leaving (Rice, Powell, Aschcroft, Thompson, Ridge and maybe even Rumsfield sorry if I mispelled any of them). Will he replace them with people that better reflects how divided our country really is, or will he replace them with even more conservative people?
One thing I find outright scary is how much of Karl Rove we have seen since the election. For those of you who don't know who he is. He is the presidents main political advisor. It is even rumoured that he is the one responsible for speading romours about John MacCain, having a black child out of wedlock, during the 2000 election. If that is any indication of things to come, it scares me.
My prediction, if Bush goes more moderate, it will start to heal the division in the country, but alienate the hardcore conservatives. Yet if he goes more conservative, it will deepen the divide in the coutry, and all of the conservative will be basking in glory. If the later happen, look for a really ugly election in 2008.
Up next -- Who did I vote for?
posted by Carrie's Husband @ 10:55 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I respect you greatly, but a couple of things for you:
I think you need to stop and think about the word "mandate." Mandate was used after the 2000 election by the Democrats to undermine Bush's position. Look at previous Presidents - take Clinton, or Lincoln. They were not elected with over 50% of the vote, yet I don't recall anyone saying they didn't have a "mandate."
I personally think we need to stop using the word mandate in politics. If someone wins an election, it's their job to do the job the majority of people (who voted) elected him/her to do.
Also, where did "lame duck" come from? Isn't that usually used for an outgoing President between that Nov. & Jan. time where they are just sitting around waiting for the next person to come in? Since Bush has another four years (unless you know something I don't), isn't it a bit early to judge how much he'll accomplish?
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