Reply #14: Tough Call [View All]

Assuming that we have to choose one or the other, I guess I'd prefer having the Presidency, especially with how powerful the Presidency has become under Bush. With his ability to sneak controversial nominees into cabinet positions through his use of "recess appointments" and his flouting of enacted laws through "signing statements" and advice from his legal counsel, his power is almost unlimited right now, especially since the GOP-controlled Congress is not really TRYING to "check" his power, nor hold him accountable for...well.....just about anything. Since Bush is getting away with all of this, what's to stop future GOP presidents from acting any differently? Plus, we can almost be sure that there will be more Supreme Court vacancies during the next presidency and we will want to be able to ensure that the new justices will be more like the more moderate members of the SC who are likely to retire instead of enabling the GOP to add more "stealth" conservatives to the SC. With the presidency, we would also have the ability to shape foreign policy and, hopefully, try to repair and undo some of the damage that Bush's "War on Terrorism" has wrought on the world and on our own citizens. It WOULD suck not really being able to get much done in Congress with a GOP majority unless they suddenly decided that genuine bipartisanship and cooperation are far better for the country than corruption and divisiveness. Unless the GOP undergoes a massive transformation, I can't see this happening. I'd love to get proven wrong, however.