Electoral Mandate -- Perhaps?!

To the novice political observer, it would have been clear that President Obama held an electoral mandate when he took office. Not only did he overwhelming win an election that was called as early as could be (10pm CST), but he also held control in both chambers of Congress. Some would say he was almost given free reign to do whatever he pleases because this so called mandate was so dominant. In addition, he didn't win this election on his own; no politician can win an election on his/her own. They owe much of their success to the party, therefore the party will expect results in return and the candidates following through on their mandate. However, if looked at closely, his actual mandate may be in question.

The truth in the matter is that the Democratic Party held the mandate, not President Obama. At the time, the GOP was, and still is, in shambles, therefore the Democrats held a mandate more or less against Republican ideas. As it's been talked about countless times, a vote for Obama was more of a vote against President Bush and Republican ideas than for President Obama's ideas. While partisanship may be growing, according to our book party strength is probably weakening because accounatability is in question and people are clearly expecting too much out of the presidency.

This doesn't mean though that it's a direct endorsement of Democratic ideas, or even President Obama's ideas for that matter. It just so happened that President Obama was the best candidate to portray this idea of "change" and distance himself the most from so called "typical politics" to appeal to the masses.

And while he still holds that mandate today, signs are showing it to be weakening and the chances or him continuing to lead w/ his mandate are slim. He took office w/ such extraordinary expectations (see this YouTube clip) that it would be impossible for anyone, Republican or Democrat, to hold on to the mandate he was given. It is also being demonstrated abroad by British MEP Danielle Hannan and his criticism of the way President Obama is handling the economic recovery.

And is the case w/ either party that holds the presidency, President Obama for this example, the approval numbers will most likely start to slide over time, the anti-Obama sentiment will grow, and that mandate will slowly slip away.