I have a mandate for this post.

From the Kerry Spot, taking issue with Howard Dean's categorization that 51% is not a mandate:

Oh, where to begin? That no candidate has gotten that high a percentage since 1988?

K, great, but so what? I guess Bush should be proud of his ability to unite the nation against John Kerry on a scale not seen since 1988. But this point is akin to saying that Freddy v. Jason was the best Freddy movie in years because he hadn't appeared in a slasher flick since 1994. While technically it's true, both the movie and Bush's mandate arguments are both weak and full of crap.

That one who never came close to his party's nomination ought not to scoff? That the good doctor has yet to win a race, even a Democratic primary, outside Vermont?

Okay, if I guy who actually ran in a primary has no place to comment on a "mandate" because he never won, then where does Jim Geraghty get off claiming he knows more since, as far as I know, Geraghty has yet to even run for President in the first place?

That if 51 percent isn't a mandate, then no Democrat since Lyndon Johnson has had a mandate?

I'm not sure where there are arguments that any Democrat since Johnson has had a mandate at this point.

That Bush's 59.1 million votes was the highest total for a presidential candidate in American history? That Bush was the first president since Franklin Roosevelt in 1936 to win re-election while adding to his party's majorities in the House and Senate?

That more people voted against Bush that any other President in history? That due to some Constitutionally questionable shenanigans in Texas the Republicans won House seats?

Had Bush run on an actual agenda other than Kerry will get us all killed, you may take the time to argue that he has some sort of "mandate" for his agenda. Since he did not, can we please stop wasting time thinking he does? Thanks.

Oh, one more thing. If a Democrat wins the White House with 51% of the vote, does that mean Republicans and those at the National Review like Geraghty will fall in line with that Democratic President's view that he has a mandate? Just checking.

*UPDATE* Hey Kerry Spot readers. My response to the post that brought you here is up over here. Enjoy.