Quote:
Originally Posted by drgoodtrips
/shrug. I'll take the approval rating correction at face value because I don't much care and it alters in no way the substance of my point. If a few percentage points and the surprising claim that almost 70% of the country is democrats make you feel good, have at it. As to "dramatic", I'll interpret the lack of substantive rebuttal as you backing away from what was really a piece of silly quibbling in the first place. And, I don't care much one way or the other - Bush is hardly the first or only politician to take various steps to expand his authority.
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I didnt claim almost 70% of the country is democrat, just that in the approval poll, the 67% who disaprove are 70% democrat. As for the rest, it is dramatic. There is simply no clear evidence that Bush would ever act anywhere close to what Chavez has done. He has sought no changes to the basic laws that seperate the powers and establish authority. He has not supported any legislation to nationalize private businesses. He has not attempted to do anything remotely close to maintaining executive power for himself after his term is up. Expanding the presidential authority is not even close to what chavez has done, especially in light of much of the presidential authority being taken by congress over the decades.
What has Bush done of any significance on his own? Spy on conversations between people in the US and suspected terrorists? Even this was publicized to congress. Managed a war? This is explicity a Presidential power, which is severly limited by the war powers act, and Iraq was specifically authorized by congress. Diplomacy? Research? I just dont see it. The President is essentially powerless without congress and judicial backing. There can be no other way without changing the constitution, which Bush has never sought to do nor shown any intention of doing.