Republican mandates

[kentuck]

When the Republicans win one House of the Congress, they say that the people gave them a "mandate". When the Democrats have a landslide election and win the House, the Senate, and the White House, like they did in 2008, they say they have to block the Democrats from legislating their agenda and to make the President a one-termer. They pretend the people made a mistake. They didn't really mean to put the Democrats in charge. It's a rather obvious contradiction which I am sure even Republican voters notice? Well, perhaps not?