[concerned about politics]

Voting for a conservative, by contrast, even if it causes Bush to lose, will make it clear to whoever wins that the country is conservative and demands conservative performance.

Why would they care? They won! Too bad for the conservative suckers - let them eat cake.

[inquest]

Oh, it'll have an effect. Especially if Republicans maintain control of Congress. Clinton was able to intimidate them mercilessly by pretending that "the people" were on his side. And even at that, he apparently was sensitive to conservative criticism, given that he didn't try the kinds of things Bush is getting away with now.