Bush will leave to successor "difficult agenda, damaged Presidency, legacy of crisis"

[DeepModem Mom]

USA Today, pg1: As Bush exits, his issues will linger
The vexing agenda the president will leave behind in 2009 is likely to guide the administration of his successor. Among the unfinished business: the war in Iraq, tax cuts, Medicare and Social Security.
By Susan Page
USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The 44th president will move into the Oval Office with an agenda defined in large part by the 43rd president.

In many ways, it will be George W. Bush's third term.

Among pressing issues left on the table: What's next in Iraq. How to restore America's reputation around the world. Whether to extend tax cuts that expire in 2010. What to do about Medicare's looming shortfall. And how to complete the job of helping the Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Katrina.

No new president gets a clean slate — global politics and the economy don't run in neat four-year cycles — but presidential scholars say the unfinished business Bush will leave for his successor is unprecedented since at least World War II.

"I can't think of a single modern president about to bequeath to his successor such a difficult agenda and such a damaged presidency," says Paul Light of New York University.

Presidential candidates from both parties, including some who promise a sharp break from Bush's policies, say that reality has influenced how they campaign and constrained what they propose.

All the major Democratic contenders fault Bush not only for the decision to invade Iraq but also for a war strategy they say has lengthened the conflict and multiplied its costs. With the federal budget surpluses he inherited now turned to deficits, he has made it more difficult to finance ambitious domestic initiatives that might reflect a successor's signature....

***

New presidents like to take office able to pursue ideas of their own, says Leon Panetta, a former California congressman and White House chief of staff for President Clinton. For 2008, he sees a "bitter reality" that "the next president is going to have to deal first and foremost with the legacy of crisis that he or she has inherited."...

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070711/1a_cover11.art.htm

[TahitiNut]

1. Smirky McCodpiece has NEVER cleaned up after himself. Never.

He's a black hole of accomplishment ... having NONE of his own and sucking up the time and resources of those who might otherwise make decent contributions.

[Ishoutandscream2]

2. What a royal fuck up

Has the man done anything right in his life? George isn't qualified to be a greeter at Wal-Mart, and here he is well into his sixth year of his presidency. Absolutely astounding.

[aquart]

4. He didn't do it alone.

He acted in concert with the Republican Congress. And some Democrats.

[mwb970]

17. Both Bush and Cheney have failed all of their lives.

The idea that a nation of 300,000,000 people would voluntary choose an idiot and a psychotic traitor - twice - to lead them is extremely depressing. We have gotten exactly what we deserve from this gang of criminals and liars.

[jtrockville]

22. They haven't ALWAYS been unsuccessful.

They've had stunning success at transferring public funds into their own private accounts.

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. Mission Accomplished! nt.

[Purveyor]

3. It is going to take an accomplished figure to 'right the ship of state'...

No time for a 'newbie' nor a 'wannabee', this country needs Al Gore...yesterday.

I haven't declared support before this post, but...there is no other viable, good for the country option.

I'll support most any non gop at the general, but for now, I'm throwing my lot for Al...

Never say..."never"!!!

[AlGore-08.com]

7. I agree. He's the only American with the experience and the vision

To lead us out of this mess to an improved America. Others running may struggle through and get us to a slightly less messed up America. But that's as much as they'll be capable of and it won't be enough.

[assclown_bush]

18. Only if HRC drops out...which is not going to happen...

She has the experience and the where-with-all to lead this country into safer waters.

Besides, Gore isn't even running.:shrug:

[lutefisk]

12. It has to happen if the country is to survive. I really feel that way.

If ever there was a call to duty, this is it, Mr. Gore.

[mmonk]

5. And more dictatorial power than King George III

to play with.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. And this is what he wanted

mission accomplised boys and girls

And you can bet the repigs will blame the democrat for the mess starting day one, not even waiting for the oath of office

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

8. Interesting: "George W. Bush's third term". Is that, 'foreshadowing'?

??????

[rwenos]

9. It Won't Be That Bad

The President can do AMAZING things with Executive Orders. The first week he was in office, Bill Clinton lifted the ban on abortions in military hospitals, and changed a bunch of environmental regulations also. The key is for a President to come in WITH A PLAN. The transition is key -- even Reagan said, in December 1992, "It's the most important time in any Presidency."

The stem cell ban, the environmental regs, the petroleum reserve, doing away with the "faith-based initiative" (what a crock) -- all can be changed or abolished in the afternoon on January 20th, with a stroke of the President's pen. A Dem President could (and SHOULD, by God!) fire every single political appointee in the Justice Dept., the FIRST DAY.

Jack Kennedy lifted passport restrictions, and blacklisted actors and filmmakers like Sam Wanamaker and Dalton Trumbo were back in Hollywood in a few weeks, in 1961. Eisenhower ended the Korean War within three weeks of taking the oath of office.

And with a Dem Congress, the first 100 days can be a time to restore the New Deal.

All they have to do is want it.

[DeepModem Mom]

15. Certainly, Bush was able to change direction on a lot of things, unfortunately, immediately. nt

[defendandprotect]

10. There may not be a people's government nor a Treasury left when Bush departs --

[MatrixEscape]

11. Emperors leave things willingly to successors?

Let's overlook the fact that Bush is a titular head who only presents a face to love or hate. It really does not matter one bit how you love or hate the face, it is there to amuse, amaze, and distract you from the deeper cabal behind it.

Due to the total ruination of what was once a believable branch of our government, (despite the fact that it has for a long time, been largely been titular and a form of convincing propaganda via personality) we find a quesiton that looms before us: Will the Oz Head leave the stage at all? Will there be a new Administration and President?

Well, all bets are off. Yes, there may be. However, the new powers granted to that office are both in effect and can easily be ramped up in any, and I mean ANY, crisis or time of emergency, real or false flag.

So, we will just have to see if that office has been ruined in the sense of providing a sour legacy for the next titular head, or if it has merely set the stage for a new form of "necessary" tyranny and the final blow to the suspension of any rights we have imagined we have.

We know that the Constitution is now just a piece of paper. In fact, Jr's new powers are proof of that. I mean, they are a fact and a matter of public record. So far, there has been barely a growl or whimper from the general populace because the fact that it HAS happened does not hold sway on the idea that it can't happen here.

[Adsos Letter]

13. And who knows what the degree of crisis will be...

we still have a year-and-a-half to go and, at the speed with which things can happen in our 21st century world; especially with so many economic, constitutional, and war fuses already lit or smoldering, it is practically impossible to gauge the depth of crisis the next administration will have to face.

[Marr]

14. The first step in correcting this stain on the country is impeachment.

As a nation, we need to state clearly that abuse of power is not acceptable, that no one is above the law, and that the president is not a king. We need to salvage what is left of our respect for law.

Impeachment is the best way to begin this process.

[C_U_L8R]

16. The new (democratic) justice department

will certainly have it's hands full

[FredStembottom]

19. The next Pres. will also receive the benefits of.......

world-wide relief that Bush is gone. Especially if new Pres. is from the other Party.

That should help.

[paparush]

20. This assumes that Cheney_Bush will peacefully leave office...

I have my doubts about that one...

[bdamomma]

21. fuckin stupid man leaving his negligent and incompetent shit

for someone else, well, does that mean * is outa there in 2009.

[Rhiannon12866]

23. This is the thing that baffles me. Why do we have so many candidates?

Who in the world would want this job after the terrible mess that Bush* has left us with?:shrug:

[Johonny]

25. I imagine

If you look at Bush and Cheney's bank account it becomes clearer. I think the Rethug candidates think they can gravy train off American taxes for 8 more years.

[Rhiannon12866]

26. Thank you. This makes sense to me.

But who in their right mind would elect another Republican, after all of this?:shrug: