"But Bush`s victory doesn't measure up to PresReagan's landslide victories of 1980 and 1984."
I'm a big Reagan fan (worked on his campaigns as far back as 1976), but Reagan's victory in 1984 was more personal than party. As I recall, the Republicans lost seats in both the House and the Senate. This contrasts with Pres. Bush's stunning successes in 2004 and 2002. He is the first President since FDR in 1936 to gain seats in both houses of Congress while running for re-election. Pres. Bush is also the first President in a very long time to pick up seats in the House and the Senate in the off-year (2002) and general (2004) elections.
Yep, me too. 76, 80 and 84. Great time.
As I said, the 2004 election outcome was a victory for the GOP across the board. No doubt about it. But I wouldn't call it a stunning success. Maybe the Democrats are astonished and in disbelief. Not me. It's a party mandate and I believe the President along with the GOP leadership will take advantage of this victory during the next two years. I hope and pray they act wisely and don't piss away this historical opportunity to change America.
>>>>Reagan's victory in 1984 was more personal than party.
Not really. The GOP controlled the Senate from 1981 through 1986 and that control gave Reagan a significant level of power during his negotiations with Speaker Tip O'Neill. The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and Tax Reform Act of 1986 became law because of Reagan and the GOP Senate control.
Didn't Clinton pick up Seats in 1998?