Is it true that Bush doesn't have any power?

Question

I thought that he had to get things through Congress, and the opposition party are in the majority.
Can he declare war without passing it through Congress?

Answer 1

The President does not need Congressional authority for everything. For example, he can send the Marines anywhere, anytime. That is why they are referred to as "the Presidents own".

With the Dems holding such a slim lead the Pres. will still get some things through by cross-over votes. He will just not have a rubber stamp anymore.

To be honest I think President Bush has done a pretty good job. Taxes are lower than they have been in years, and unemployment is drastically lower. If not for the war what would the Democrats have to campaign on? So they take what they can and blow it completely out of proportion. Don't forget they voted for the war. Were they fooled into it? That means one of two things. Either they all were fools or perhaps the President was fooled also.

WMD's, they were there, Hell he used them twice, on the Iranians and the Kurds. Do people think he used all he had? How would it look if the ones they found all had, made in USA stamped on them?

Answer 2

He has power. The problem is he has too much. He has the pwer to Veto legislation that congress passed. Unfortunately #$@#$$! Clinton decided to enlarge this power and created line Item Veto. Bush has the power to appoint judges. Unfortunately He put two nut cases already to the supreme court. Bush still can invade coutries, but he can't declare war. Its a little moot when Bush is bombng the heck of Iran, but congress doesn't officially recognize that we are bombing that country to the stone age. Are fore fathers believe in balance of pwer. That means Bush can screw with congress and congress can do vice versa. This prevents America from flying off the deep end. Of course If a party holds both congress and Presidency. THat party goes out of control. Thats why Bush screwed up so badly and also Carter.

Answer 3

THE PRESIDENT CANNOT DECLARE WAR , BUT CAN WAGE WAR FOR 60 DAYS WITHOUT REPORTING TO CONGRESS! AS FAR AS POWER, HE HAS THE POWER OF A VETO, SORRY SLEW IS WRONG, THEY DONT HAVE A LINE ITEM VETO BUT THEY WANT IT. AS FAR AS TIMOTHY BS COMMENTS, JUST RIDICULOUS, HE JUST SAID EVERYTHING THE DEMS ARE AGAINST, SO NOT BUSHES FAULT. THE PROBLEM THERE IS UNLESS YOU HAVE A 60-40 MAJORITY YOU REALLY HAVE NO POWER!
UNLESS CONGRESS HAS A 2/3 MAJORITY TO OVERRIDE THE VETO, THEN THEY ARE POWERLESS.
NOW THE SCARY PART OF ALL THIS IS EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT COULD BE SIGNED AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHOUT CONGRESS APPROVAL, LIKE FOR EX. JIMMY CARTER CREATED FEMA WITHOUT CONGRESS. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT JUST NEED A SIGNATURE, BELIEVE IT, THE PRESIDENT HAS MORE POWER THAN ANYONE REALIZES! .........A Presidential Executive Order, whether Constitutional or not, becomes law simply by its publication in the Federal Registry. Congress is by-passed. .....

Answer 4

after congress became democratic bush became a lame duck. this means he can't get any bill passed and all funding for his actions must be approved by his opponents. Not only that but any republican running for president will stay away as they try to establish thier own identites for the election vote. and most of those people are the party power brokers.

unfortunatley, this means that most likely everything will remain close to the same until Jan 20th 2009 around noon.

Answer 5

Unfortunatly he was given a blank check by Congress to do whatever he wants. Which is why he's running up the Iranian thing, prepping us for another militery misadventure.
He can't declare war, but he can use troops in an emergency situation and not have to get approval.

Answer 6

Bush is the LAMEST of lame ducks! In your question you note: "I thought that he had to get things through Congress, and the opposition party are in the majority."

But even when he had the majority in Congress his second term is stained by failure. All of these things happened in his second term with a Republican congress:

1. Social Security Reform Plan - Rejected.
2. Immigration Reform Plan - Rejected.
3. Energy Policy and Drilling in ANWR - Rejected.
4. Gay Marriage Amendment - Rejected.
5. Harriet Miers nomination to the Supreme Court - Rejected.

All of these things happened while the Republicans had a majority in Congress.

Kind of ironic when one recalls Mr. Bush bragging about having political capital after he was re-elected.

Answer 7

Interesting answers. Its sad to me though that so many of you seem to hate our president. Yet you think Clinton was such a great president. It's also sad that you so easily jump on the hate bush band wagon and believe everything that the liberals in power of the democrat party tell you without doing your own research. In a way I hope Hillary or Obama win the white house in 08 boy what a time America will experience if that happens! But maybe 4 years of higher taxes and fighting terrorism over here when we cut and run from the middle east is just what we need to be woken up. We will see.

Answer 8

ask another question, now who flashed Saddam Hussein out of a hole?, who invaded Iraq and is planning to sent out more troops? if the answer to the questions is Bush then one thing must have gotten into his head;Power ! The congress will have less impact because the shift in majority has happened when Bush is almost ending his term all he needs to do is convince them that "it is important and that he will win" pretty sad .

Answer 9

Bush has plenty of power, but it's limited by Congress. You can be sure that Bush is refilling the ink in his veto pen as we speak.

Answer 10

Generally a president only has power with the backing of Congress and the senate in general. Congress mistakenly gave him the `open sesame key`, I think it is time they took it away from him, and made him more answerable, before he gets every young soldier in his forces killed. He has gone too far this time.