What exactly is a 'mandate'?

[bluefire2000]

mandate: A command or an authorization given by a political electorate to its representative. -dictionary.com

I've heard a number of pundits say this morning that Ahnuld got a 'mandate' with his 'wide margin' of victory, which he can use to browbeat the legislature if needed. I believe the vote came out 55%-yes 45%-no. That means that had 6% percent of the voters voted the other way, there would be no recall. 6% doesn't sound like *a lot*.

I've heard this applied to what I would call pretty close elections before. I would consider a mandate something like 65% of the vote.

I accept that the recall won by a solid margin, but nowhwere near an overwhelming one.

Is there a commonly accepted definitino of an election mandate? Is it just me?

[Scottie72]

1. I agree....

Mandate in my own mind refers to elections:votes greater than 2/3. That would stem from the fact that is the amount needed to overturn a presidents veto and amend the constitution.

[Touchdown]

2. It's a guy who asks you out to dinner and dancing.

No, really...it's when a candidate wins in such an overwhelming landslide, that his agenda is seen as endorsed by the vast majority of voters (citizens), and that to obstruct that agenda is going against the American people.

Republicans always have mandates. See, Chimpy get's the SCOUTS to steal the election for him, and because he got 500,000 less votes than Al Gore, he has a mandate. Herr Groper wins less than half of California's vote, and has no agenda, so he does too! See how that makes sense?:eyes:

[bluefire2000]

4. I updated the def. of mandate

to reflect the political definition. I can't remember--did they actually say Bush won a 'mandate' in 2000? That would seem the height stupidity.

But I agree, whenever a Repub wins an election, if by more than 51%, it's a mandate!

BTW, what really got me today, on a related note, is when I heard people like Issa, Ahnuld, etc... say that 'Californians' voted for change, and 'californians' are better off now.

I'm Californian, I voted, and me and millions of other Californians disagree completely. They have another thing coming if they think they're going to magically fix things. I'm sort of glad there's a repub in office, for the electorate to kick around as things go south.

[billyskank]

6. When a republican wins by less than 50%

that's a mandate too. Weren't you told?

[JHB]

3. "Mandate" is...

...a blast of rhetorical hot air by newly-emplaced politicians intended to cow the opposition into aquiescing to his agenda with a minimum of debate or resistance. Formerly a bipartisan tool, but in recent times only Republicans are permitted to have one.

[bluefire2000]

5. *there* we are; I think that

captures it niceley. Thanks.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Deleted....

[Selwynn]

10. edit

(EDITED)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I Deleted It....

Why does Matt Drudge deny he's gay and why does he let his friend, Ann Colter call gays sodomites....

He's a hypocrite who derserves to be outed...

There's nothing wrong with being gay or strg8 but there is something wrong with closeted gays who form alliances with homophobes....

Think J Edgar Hoover....

Think Roy Cohn....

[Selwynn]

8. Mandate is not just about margine of victory

There is a clear Mandate in California and across the nation - its the economy stupid. If the economy was going strong in califorina, and there wasn't a buget crisis and recession, things would have looked different yesterday.

The way you get a mandate is by poll numbers that say 87% of people polled said that their number one issue was jobs, or something like that. That is what is called a mandate. It's like saying, "we're sending a message - you fix the job situation or we'll find someone who will." That's what a "mandate" is.

I'm not saying any of the examples I gave are factual, I'm just creating an example. I should say that a mandate is partiaully about % of votes - but the idea is that a clear chief issue and a high percentage of votes usually go hand in hand.

This is why you heard alot of talk about Bush being elected* without a mandate in 2000. It is because there really was no stand-out ultimate priority issue for Americans that year, in addition to him being elected* with only a (manufactured)fraction of the vote.

[burr]

9. mandate isn't just winning...

it's winning the election on a specific agenda, and then using your popular support to enact this agenda.

Arnold won votes, but lacked any message or specifics for the voters to support. The majority voted for the recall, but against arnold.

[bluefire2000]

12. hmm - good point

An overriding issue drives voters to the poll and they vote for the issue espoused by the candidate.

Well, if the mandate was the economy and jobs, Arnold isn't going to be able to help with either until the US economy turns around. He won't be able to change things any more than Gray could.

By the way, I side with those who feel that W. is in the same position Gray was in.

[kentuck]

11. Mandate is when a Repub wins...

It is questionable if a Democrat wins by the same margin...