In reference to this post on TPM talking about the org chart that they've posted on the presidential transition site. TPM calls out this block in particular:

There's something about definitively seeing "The Constitution" at the top of all branches, and seeing the VP definitively inside the executive. I felt a small bit of relief, not a lot, just a little. Like a ship's passenger on the deck after a violent storm at sea, still holding, white-knuckled, to the rails, for minutes after the storm has passed, and just getting the idea to convince the fingers that they might not have to hold so tightly anymore.

2004, Bush wins 284 electoral votes, 51% percent of the popular vote...the narrowist win for an incumbent since 1916, and it was called a mandate.

Wonder how much "mandate" will be mentioned in the days ahead. Mostly I see apologies for Events by conservatives..."oh, no Republican could have won in this environment," somehow ignoring the realities of the last eight years, as if that's had no effect. (And for that matter, logically they're implicitly saying "we suck on the economy", the biggest admission that Republicans are worse for the middle class's wallet, which I think is funny there wasn't anyone loudly underlining that.)

Now I expect a lot of "Well, you know. Events." Nothing about a mandate. Less about the accomplishment and more about how the "tsunami" simply pushed Obama into the white house, as if against his will.