As far as the Electoral College, this pretentiousness that Republicans alone are the sole ones to blame for this is hilarious.
Why?
Because in 1979, it actually made it to Senate floor and went down, 51-48. The Senate was 58-42 Democrats, meaning AT LEAST NINE Democrats opposed it (and probably more since we were less extremist in both parties back then).
Better yet - guess who opposed it?
Minorities Opposing Senate Move for Abolition of Electoral College
(It won't let me copy and paste). Blacks and Jews were solidly AGAINST the abolition of the EC.
So let's please stop this utter nonsense in the light of HRC losing that this is any kind of Republican thinking or white supremacy or any other ridiculous arguments that won't change the fact that even when Bernie Madoff gets out of prison in time to vote in the 2140 Election, we'll still have the EC.
Democrats LOVED the EC when they thought Kerry was going to win in 2004.
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As far as mandate, well........what EXACTLY is a mandate and for what?
LBJ got a mandate to protect us from nuclear holocaust and sent 58,000 Americans to early graves in Vietnam.
Did Nixon win a mandate in 1972 - and if so to do WHAT exactly?
I'll grant Reagan in 1980 since he explicitly campaigned on three ideas (tax cut, increase defense spending, balanced budget) and pulled in a Senate unexpectedly.
The Democrats in 1984 said Reagan didn't get a mandate.......he only blew Mondale away by about 20 points. He lost two Senate seats but picked up 17 House seats.
What was Bush's mandate in 1988? To say the Pledge of Allegiance and not let Willie Horton out of jail perhaps? Accomplished!!!!
They said Clinton had a mandate in 1992 - I would say it was more of a 'negative mandate' against Bush, although Clinton made a tax cut (he lied, he raised them) central and health care for everyone (he botched it, more precisely SHE botched it) - oh, and definitely get them gays in the military!!! (he botched that, too)
What was Clinton's mandate in 1996? Some crap about building a bridge to the 21st century - while he was bombing pharmaceutical factories in Kenya to prevent being prosecuted.
The country mandate in 2000? We don't care and IT SHOWS!!!!
Obama in 2008? I think you have to say yes - even some Republicans admitted that one.
What exactly is Trump for? What mandate is there? He has a mandate to NOT be Hillary Clinton.
Accomplished. And you can't REALLY say the GOP has a mandate to work with him because the party sort of accidentally fell into power thanks to a weird election.
The only mandates in my lifetime by all stretches are Reagan in 1980, Obama in 2008, and the 1994 GOP takeover of the government when they campaigned overtly on the Contract with America.
Trump can't even be said to have a mandate to 'build a wall' since he lost the popular vote. Obamacare repeal MIGHT have a mandate.........but I figure it will be a modification at best.