In 2004 this was the popular vote tally:
Bush 50.73% (62,040,610 votes)
Kerry 48.27% (59,028,444 votes)
Source -- see pg 11.
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On Nov. 3, Dick Cheney said this:
"President Bush ran forthrightly on a clear agenda for this nation's future and the nation responded by giving him a mandate." Source.
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On Nov. 15, William Kristol wrote this:
"The hair-pullers and teeth-gnashers won't like it, of course, but we're nevertheless inclined to call this a Mandate." Source.
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Continued below the fold.
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On Nov. 3, Time Columnist and Senior Editor Tony Karon wrote this:
"This time, of course, (Bush's) claim of a popular mandate is incontrovertible. His party has strengthened its grip on both branches of the legislature, and freed of any first-term restraints that might be thrown up by reelection concerns, President George W. Bush is well positioned to even more vigorously pursue his agenda." Source.
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On Nov. 5, George W. Bush said this:
"I earned capital in the campaign, political capital. And now I intend to spend it. It is my style. That’s what happened after the 2000 election, I earned some capital. I’ve earned capital in this election. And I’m going to spend it for what I told the people I’d spend it on, which is, you’ve heard the agenda . . . . " Source.
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In the The Heritage Foundation's Winter 2004 Quarterly Report Foundation President Edwin J. Feulner wroter:
"(Heritage Foundation supporters') support is key to making the absolute most of the incredible mandate we conservatives won on Election Day. . . ." Source.
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Media Matters chronicles several more of the crowings from the right, editorial boards, et mal about Bush's 50.7::48.2 "mandate".
Let's keep Bush's, Karon's, Cheney's, Feulner's, Kristol's . . . mandate assertions in mind come this next Wednesday morning.
. . .