If I'm not mistaken, I went through this with you before. You still don't get it. You have engaged in distortions on this thread and have attempted to undermine the legacy of a great President.
First off, you're obfuscating the 2004 election returns to make Bush`s victory seem larger then it was. If that wasn't bad enough, you have the audacity to compare Bush`s win with Reagan's landslide victories in 80&84. While its true that the GOP did pick up seats in the House and Senate, something that hadn't been done since LBJ in 1964, its also true, Reagan's party leadership and election day coattails actually gave the GOP control of the Senate for six years, from 1981-1986. Reagan used that Senate power and control to negotiate with Speaker Tip O'Neil to get his economic recovery plan passed into law.
I defend President Reagan for good reason. He set the stage for the 1994 GOP takeover of Congress and much of the current Bush policy agenda is straight out of the Reagan playbook. Strong defense, tax reform and support for pro-life issues.
But Bush`s victory this year was not amazing, surprising, astounding or record setting. Receiving more votes then Reagan did 20 years ago, when the nations population stood at 230 million, compared to 293 million today, isn't a great achievement. Turnout was key for the GOP victory and Christian consrvatives, aka. The Religious Right, came out in force for Bush. Just as they did for Reagan in 1980 and 1984. Reagan beat Carter by 8.4 million votes. Reagan beat Mondale by 16.8 million votes. Bush did receieve 11.5 million more votes then he did in 2000, but he beat Kerry by just 3 million votes. A solid win, but in historical terms, a tight victory margin.
"You still don't get it. You have engaged in distortions on this thread and have attempted to undermine the legacy of a great President"
What in the heck are you talking about?!? Since when have I "attempted to undermine the legacy of a great President"? I guess I vastly understated the case when I said you were being needlessly defensive about Pres. Reagan. It's clear now that you're actually off your rocker. No one on this site, least alone me, is attempted to "undermine" Reagan's legacy. I worked for Pres. Reagan when he was Governor of CA and in all of his presidential campaigns so I take a back seat to no one in my support of the former President. To point out Pres. Bush's remarkable personal and party electoral achievements and to note that he shattered Pres. Reagan's popular vote record by nearly 8 million votes (!) does nothing to diminish Reagan's record. Your continuing implications to the contrary are positively Stalinist.
"First off, you're obfuscating the 2004 election returns to make Bush`s victory seem larger then it was."
Please cite ONE example of where I've "obfuscated" anything about the 2004 election. I've been extremely factual in everything that I've posted. In fact, I've done a better job than the AP which is nearly 1.5 million votes in Pres. Bush's popular vote total. You may not like the fact that Pres. Bush obliterated Reagan's vote record, but facts are facts.
"While its true that the GOP did pick up seats in the House and Senate, something that hadn't been done since LBJ in 1964, its also true, Reagan's party leadership and election day coattails actually gave the GOP control of the Senate for six years."
You obviously need a refresher course in American history. Pres. Bush is the first President since FDR in 1936 to gain votes in the House and Senate while running for re-election. LBJ never even ran for re-election!! Pres. Bush is the first Republican President since Calvin Coolidge to gain seats in both Houses of Congress while running for re-election. This did NOT happen when Reagan was running for re-election in 1984. Also, Reagan was no help to his party in 1982 when Republicans performed extremely poorly at the polls (losing approx. 30 House seats). This stands in start contrast to Pres. Bush's first off-year election in 2002 when Republicans gained seats in BOTH Houses of Congress (after Pres. Bush campaigned tirelessly around the country). Those are the facts. Now get back on your medication.