[L.N. Smithee]

One of the secrets of conservative America is how often it has welcomed Republican defeats. In 1976, many conservatives saw the trouncing of the moderate Gerald Ford as a way of clearing the path for the ideologically pure Ronald Reagan in 1980.

"Trouncing"? Jimmy Carter got about 51% of the popular vote. What nonsense!

[kennedy]

"Trouncing"? Jimmy Carter got about 51% of the popular vote. What nonsense!

He got less than that. In 1976, Carter won with 50.08% of the popular vote.

http://www.uselectionatlas.org/USPRESIDENT/national.php?year=1976

Of course, no Democrat has gotten that high a percentage of the popular vote since then (Clinton never managed to get 50%), so I suppose in their minds that is a "trouncing."