[Dudoight]

This emphasis on 'divided' puzzles me. What did the voting numbers look like when the USA was 'undivided'?

[talosiv]

This emphasis on 'divided' puzzles me. What did the voting numbers look like when the USA was 'undivided'? That's mediaspeak for "we lost control of the House, Senate, and the presidencey, but you still have to advance our agenda anyways". -R

[Clive]

"This emphasis on 'divided' puzzles me. What did the voting numbers look like when the USA was 'undivided'?"

Licia would agree with you.

If popular mandate, one based on numbers, means anything (once the election is decided) in a congressional federal system, Bush has a mandate that has not been obtained by any previous president.