Hyperbole

In 2000, George W. Bush was elected to the United States Presidency having not won a majority of the popular vote. When we have a "minority president", they are generally not considered to have a "mandate". In this case, a leader might be apt to move more tentatively, to better "sell" their ideas to the unconvinced populace, and maybe even forego some major policy changes which might be unpopular.

If the last four years is any indication as to how President Bush behaves without a popular mandate, imagine what the next four years might be like...