Bush wins four more years
So the American people have chosen to stick with Bush. I thought they would, even though I doubted that a second term for Bush would serve America well. It turns out that I was right about the former&059; only time will tell if I am right about the latter.
Looking at the broader picture, though, I cannot help but think that this is the Democratic party’s Goldwater Moment. They’ve lost everything: The White House, Congress, and soon the courts. It’s now time for the Democrats to reinvent their party—lest America become a permanent GOP monoculture.
As for Bush himself, I hope he will be a better president in his second term, but I am skeptical. He already had the greatest chance he could have ever asked for to unite the nation and the world, but he squandered it for partisan gain. Will he suddenly discover a better use for his power now? I doubt it. With full-spectrum GOP dominance of the entire government, I fear that we can expect an even more radical agenda from Bush (though I agree with Kevin Drum that he might not be successful at implementing as much of it as he would like).
Oh, well. Any guesses on Bush’s nomination for Rehnquist’s seat on the Supreme Court?
Well, he has earned the right to lie in state now apparently. I just hope he does it as soon as possible. The outlook for America is truly bleak.
The outlook for America is truly bleak.
I don’t disagree with that assessment. I fear that, before too long, we will start seeing the words “Chief Justice Antonin Scalia” (or someone with a similar lack of appreciation for Constitutionally protected liberties) in the news.
Bush won’t be nominating Lawrence Lessig, that’s for sure!
Of course, there are many issues of greater significance than the composition of the Supreme Court, but that just happens to be the one that has my attention at the moment.
I’m not sure there are THAT many issues with of greater concern. That is a huge one, and the one that makes me suspect I may never move back to the U.S. That makes me extremely sad.
Well, UltraBob, as George Bernard Shaw said, “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.” The American people have chosen George W. Bush, and they certainly deserve whatever happens to them under his watch.
Like you, I doubt I will be returning to the U.S., at least not for the next four years. After that, who knows? There might not be much that resembles the America we knew left by then.
My guess is the replacement will be John Ashcroft. Talk about blind justice…
On the plus side this administration is stuck with its own mess.
My guess is the replacement will be John Ashcroft.
Could be, Christopher. Rumor has it that Ashcroft will be submitting his resignation soon, but that does not necessarily mean we’ve seen the last of him. It could easily be the case that the Bush administration wants to have a new Attorney General to push for Patriot Act II, perhaps with Ashcroft on a federal bench to defend it from legal challenges (although, in terms of the Supreme Court, I think Bush would be more likely to select Scalia or Thomas for Chief Justice if Rehnquist is unable to continue to serve). We could then presumably look forward to having Rudy Giuliani as AG.
Four more years of this, huh? America has chosen poorly…
On the plus side this administration is stuck with its own mess.
This is true. I was tempted to mention that as well, but I just can’t bring myself to justify the election results purely on that basis.
I see that I am not alone in my thoughts about the Supreme Court:
The Next President Bush
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