Obama with a huge 2012 Mandate

What if the Republican ticket collapsed in 2012 (maybe a Santorum-Gingrich or Santorum-McDonnell ticket) and the result was a Democratic sweep up and down ballot?

Obama winning over 360 electoral votes, the Democrats picking up two more Senate Seats in Arizona and Nevada, and the Democrats retaking the house is what I'd consider a mandate here.
 
I imagine 2014 would be worse for them than OTL, but other than that I don't know if much changes. Maybe the disaster is large enough to convince GOP primary voters that the RNC is right in arguing that they need to modernize, and we get someone like Rubio or Bush in 2016 (or hell, maybe even Romney decides the third time's the charm and runs again), but I'm somewhat skeptical.
 
Argh, there's an article out there- I'm almost certain it's from WaPo- written, I think, after the 2014 midterms listing all the major legislation the GOP had obstructed. If someone can find it, it's like an exact play-by-play of where the Dems would start if they had a new majority in 2012. But I can't find it just at this second. Will look again in a minute :-/

The top priority is certainly an immigration bill. After two years of obstruction they all must certainly know what they're dealing with and will just get the best bill they can as soon as they can. If the GOP decide to negotiate, fine, if they don't jump on board right away, the Democrats will just negotiate with each other.

Beyond that, there was hope for climate change legislation, additional student loan reform, a jobs bill, and another stimulus package (though I don't know if that flies in 2012). You could also take a look at all of Obama's executive orders and see which ones would be better served with actual legislation.
 
AHA!

It was in 2012. And the other point it makes is appointments. Judicial appointments would finally go through.
 
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