that's pure sophistry, pdq. Lamebrains on the right just have to compare everything to Clinton.

In 1992 Clinton got more of the popular vote than anyone else.

In 2000, Bush did not.

Many of the people who want reform have suggested instant runoff voting, by the way, which would alleviate the problem you bring up here: with a direct popular vote fortified with IRV rules, the final winner would always have more than 50%. But for people who adhere to the status quo,

(1) Clinton's popular vote majority was clear in 1992
(2) Clinton's electoral majority was clear in 1992
(3) Gore's popular majority was clear in 2000
(4) Bush's electoral majority was unclear in 2000 at the time vote counting stopped

If you don't see the differences there, it's your problem.

I think pdq's accusation really applies only to pdq:

Whom you consider a "legitimate" president depend more on the "R" or the "D" after his name than reality.