Are there any of Bush's actions that future administrations CANNOT

[Poiuyt]

reverse? Either by legislative work or by executive decree? (aside from lost lives). Assuming we get an inspirational president and a hardworking Congress, is there any area where Bush has fucked up country and the Constitution permanently?

[silverweb]

1. I don't think so.

Short of an amendment to the Constitution, I think pretty much anything can be reversed.

The question is... WILL all the damage be reversed?

[Eric J in MN]

2. The spread of nuclear weapons during the Bush years...

...is almost impossible to reversse.

[Lex]

3. It'll take a while to get rid of his rightwing Supreme Court picks.

*sigh*

[havocmom]

4. The real question: Will there BE another administration?

These clowns go to jail unless they remain in power. Not necessarily in office but IN POWER. Thinking they don't hand over the power willingly

[rwenos]

6. You Raise The REAL Question

Which is almost never asked. Will this President leave office? Will he allow a Democrat to assume the Presidency? Will he declare a national emergency, and take broad emergency powers? Will he station the American military in our cities, and declare martial law?

Why aren't these questions being asked more seriously?

[havocmom]

10. Oh, bush will leave office. He is tired and getting difficult to handle

But the handlers will stay around... They HAVE TO or it's jail for the lot of 'em and people that powerful don't do time.

43 will be allowed by the powers to leave, making it appear like all is well. (Or he will be disposed of, setting the stage for open martial law and the draconion security measures most of us have seen coming. 43 managed to do what they assigned him to do. They will let him retire or not, but he will leave office.

They will have to install their next puppet. They aren't going to give up power. That America is gone, rotting in the ground next to the Bill of Rights.

[KharmaTrain]

5. There's Gonna Be A Lot Of Fall-Out

In theory a Presidential signing statement can be overuled by another...same with Executive orders. IRC, boooosh put a hold on a bunch of Clinton's order the moment he came in.

The real heavy lifting will be investigating the abuses of power and rewriting laws so iron clad a future booosh or Chenney or Gonzalez can't futz around with them to redefine the Constitution, Magna Carta and Geneva Conventions. After Vietnam and Watergate, the Demmocrats led by Frank Church dug into the abuses in the military and his Commission exposed a lot of the CIA hijinks going back to Eisenhower. It resulted in what many wingnuts claimed was "defaning" the agency and a justification both Chenney and Rumsfeld have cited as their need for a "unity" executive (translation: dictatorship).

Next is investigating the war powers act and once again restoring the power to wage war in the legislative where it belongs. There needs to be a higher standard as to how a President can launch a war with little than a Congressional wink and nod with no built-in review or oversight.

A lot of the changes depend on if there's a Democratic majority in both Houses...and preferably a veto-proof one of 60 in the Senate and 240 or more in the House. Also a lot depends on the outcome in Iraq...and if this illegal war leads to a tribunal in the Hague. The sooner this cabal is out of power, the sooner a true investigation into this war can begin and if crimes were committed, it's our obligation to ensure justice is served to those who deserve it.

Cheers...

[MannyGoldstein]

7. Possibly - Because Congress Refuses to Object

By refusing to object to Bush's taking of their powers, our Congress may have royally fucked us - future courts might rule that this refusal to object constitutes agreement with Bush, and might be used to preserve the dictatorial powers he's claimed for the President.

This is precisely how Hitler got dictatorial powers in Germany - his predecessor started claiming dictatorial powers and the Legislature didn't object. When Hitler became chancellor and pulled the same stunt, the Legislature tried to object - but the courts ruled that they had their chance, and blew it. The rest is history...

[seriousstan]

8. Only the Supreme Court and lower court appointees are sacred.

However, I would not be inclined to believe that a Dem President would cede the power accumulated under this President. Power corrupts.

[jwirr]

9. Many of the laws/regulations can be reversed. However, I think

the real problem is going to be having money to make some positive changes in such things as energy. I am very afraid to find out exactly how much of the government money has been stolen by *ss and Co. Not just for Social Security but by mismanaging various departments. Billions are missing in Iraq. How many are missing here?