So- who thinks Bush is leaving in 2009?

[Marr]

I'm beginning to doubt it. You don't steal elections to practice democracy, and you certainly don't vest all power in the Executive Branch simply to hand it to someone else.

[BlueStater]

1. If he declares himself dictator...

...that might be the first time that opportunist McCain stops kissing his ass.

[MrCoffee]

2. If we can throw habeas out the window, the 22nd Amendment is nothing.

[Marr]

5. Excellent point.

They're anxiously dismantling the 4th as we speak.

[MrCoffee]

6. There's no difference...once one part goes, it's all gone.

[yurbud]

11. yeah, that's been around a twelfth as long

[Eric J in MN]

3. I still think Bush is leaving.

It would be bad for business for him to stay. Turmoil would result.

[Marr]

8. You know, if a president can go on TV and demand the right to torture

and lock people up on a whim, and most of the country just lays back and accepts it... I doubt they'd even care about Bush stealing a third term, or installing himself permanently- or until the "war" is over. Some would complain, but what does that matter?

[wakeme2008]

4. Yes and No... If a Repug wins he would be Forced out... But I could

see him playing games to stay if a Dem wins. :grr:

[magellan]

7. Bush** doesn't matter

The Office, and all the power they've concentrated in the Executive Branch, does. All they have to do is ensure that it's always inhabited by some dumb cluck like Bush** who'll do their bidding with enthusiasm and no questions asked. And to make that happen we have the likes of Diebold.

Judging from the fascism on parade in Congress, any number of them could easily be put forward and front the job at least as well as Bush**.

[Marr]

9. I agree with you, but at the same time-

Bush seems to be the same sort of egomaniac that has seized power for himself permanently in so many other countries. He seems like a man who adores having authority, and I seriously doubt that he'd put his party before himself. He never has up to this point.

And if some other Republican corporate loyalist wanted the job...? So what? Bush can already stick anyone he wants in prison. This just smells more and more like Hitler and Nazi Germany, where the old government realized too late that they had a tiger by the tail.

[yurbud]

13. Bush is Ferdinand Marcos without the charm or intellect

[magellan]

20. You could be right, Marr

Your estimation of Bush** is spot on. He's certainly the type to do something like you suggest. But I'm not sure it isn't out of his hands; that there aren't other, more powerful figures pulling the strings who might want to maintain a semblance of the rule of law, to give them more time to do whatever it is they're doing. In that case, it's no skin off their nose if another yes-man takes his place.

In a way I wish he'd try it...At least that would prove what he's really about.

[Syrinx]

10. I think that has become a reasonable question to ask

A few years ago I would have laughed and called you a silly name. No more.

[yurbud]

12. It won't be until after the nuclear terrorist attack that will require us

to nuke Iran, like Cheney told the Pentagon last summer.

[yurbud]

14. He still has one pretty powerful backer--MSM. If he grabs power

they will back him because they probably fear the Democrats undoing all the favors Bush did for them. And if the Democrats don't undo it, they should fear us.

[bowens43]

15. Of course he'll leave.

[Dem2theMax]

16. He's leaving.

We are no longer allowed to say more for fear of being locked in the dungeon.

[flordehinojos]

17. bush (and his silent, complicit father) love power and control too much.

i will be surprised if he leaves the oval office. i seriously doubt it, and people who still believe that we have a democracy will be in for a surprise.

[mmonk]

18. He gets whatever he wants.

[elocs]

19. In reality, I think Bush will leave office in 2009.

I think that there are those of us who tend to think the worst so we can be pleasantly surprised if something better happens. Nobody knows, that's why we are asked what we "think".

[City Lights]

21. If he holds on to power, he'll have some reason (The Big Lie) for doing

so. He won't just declare himself King. Something really awful will...um...just happen and he'll use the horrible incident to do whatever he wants, and much of America will blindly go along with it.