Why the popular vote matters

[Hippo_Tron]

Part of the reason that we attack *'s legitimacy is because he lost the popular vote. If a candidate wins the electoral college but not the popular vote, the country tends to be bitter about it. It becomes more difficult to get your agenda passed, at least in the first part of your presidency. Even if you live in a safe blue or red state, get out and bring your friends out to vote on Tuesday, because winning the popular vote does matter.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. This is what I have been saying all along! Kerry needs both....

EV's and Popular Votes!

[charlyvi]

2. True, Kerry needs to

legitimately win both; however, I disagree with one thing in your post. We don't attack shrub's legitimacy solely because he lost the popular vote. I think had he won the electoral college outright without the popular vote, he would be seen as the legitimate pres. by most of us--that scenario has happened before. Shrub did not win it outright, though; the SCOTUS allowed him to claim it. That's a huge difference, imho. But otherwise a good post.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. It's both, really...

He didn't win the electoral college legitimately but I think the country's attitude would be a bit different about that if he had won the popular vote.

[LiberalFighter]

7. gw* attempted to deceive the people into believing he won a mandate

How does one win a mandate when you lose the popular vote and the EV was close?

[Inland]

3. You think the repugs in congress are going to be impressed with 51%?

Were they impressed with Clinton's mandate after his reelection?

In their eyes, popular vote never confers legitimacy. As when they impeached Clinton, it was with the firm knowledge that most of America was against them and that it might take generations, or Christ coming again, for them to be proven right. In fact, the antagonism of the ungodly is a badge of honor, and majorities don't matter.

Supressing voting, gerrymandering districts, secrecy, payoffs==those aren't the actions of people who value or even want a popular mandate. They are people trying to escape the popular mandate for the OTHER policy.

Screw them.

[StupidFOX]

5. Turnabout is fair play...

I would laugh heartily if Kerry won the Electoral College without the popular vote.

[greyfox]

6. It may bite him in the ass (excuse me)

[politick]

8. I like the animation, greyfox

:)

[greyfox]

9. Hahaha

Me, too... dunno where I saw it, but I grabbed it...and shared.