So, it looks like this week's buzz word is mandate. It's all over the place, and not just about the election.

From Online Etymology Dictionary:
mandate (n.)
1501, from L. mandatum "commission, order," noun use of neut. pp. of mandare "to order, commit to one's charge," lit. "to give into one's hand," probably from manus "hand" (see manual) + dare "to give" . Political sense of "approval of policy supposedly conferred by voters to winners of an election" is from 1796. Mandatory is attested 1576, "of the nature of a mandate;" sense of "obligatory because commanded" is from 1818.
mandate (v.)
"to delegate authority, permit to act on behalf of a group," 1958, from mandate (n.). Used earlier in the context of the League of Nations, "to authorize a power to control a certain territory for some purpose" (1919).

Google news search for mandate

Recently, it was "coordinate," now it is "mandate." I just find it interesting that within a few days, a word gets used by governors, senators, representatives, news channels, newspapers, public radio, talk shows, and everything else that is in the public's eyes and ears. What does it all mean? Who knows, but sounds fishy to me.