Now that the election has been held, and we have a New President lined up, is there anything that Bush could do LEGALLY to hold his office?

I don't know, like declare martial law or National Emergency to maintain his hold of the White House or something.

Not according to the twenty-second amendment, thank God. Until Jan-20th 2009 Bush still has full power.

The only time a US President could be in power for more than 8 years (two terms) is in a case like ,if he was serving as Vice-President before ( for not more than 2 years) and his current President dies, (the Kennedey-Johnson 's case for instance) he then replaces the President for the remaining of the term and could run be elected thereafter for two full terms giving a total of 9 or 10 years. more details here

So we are in the clear, no Bush for a Third term. Legally.

How about illegal actions this administration can pull? Any or do we have a strong enough military that would put things to right in the White House?

I have thought many times that if anyone had the potential to become dictator of the USA it was Bush Jr. I still worry about it because he is still in the oval office for the moment.

I've been kinda worried about what Bush might do before he leaves office.

quote:

Originally posted by honilov:
I've been kinda worried about what Bush might do before he leaves office.

He's already trying to do plenty, between letting pharmacists and doctors refuse to do their jobs on religious grounds and lowering environmental standards across the board. Don't worry, he can still do plenty of damage before he goes back to Texas.

I'm afraid for the next 3 months, as mentioned - what harm he might do before he leaves...OMG

quote:

Originally posted by gizmogram:
I'm afraid for the next 3 months, as mentioned - what harm he might do before he leaves...OMG

Remind us 'Brits': does he have the power to declare war or doesn't that matter in his case?

Only Congress can declare war, but e can still use any of several ways to do something foolish to that end.

The wrecking crew leaves.

Haven't several administrations passed questionable laws in their dying days, though?

I get the impression Bush would have been glad to step down some time ago, rather than wanting to prolong his term. In this particular snafu, his biggest ever, he's gone well past the point where his daddy's connections usually step in to rescue him.

quote:

Originally posted by DorianGreyed:
Only Congress can declare war, but e can still use any of several ways to do something foolish to that end.

HA! That all depends on your definition of "war," doesn't it?

'...as President Bush and I finish our terms of office, we will ensure smooth and graceful transition of power to President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden..' Dick Cheney

Uh-oh. What's he up to?

Lately there has been a song playing in my head (over and over and over and over and..... (help!))

It most likely has nothing to do with this thread... or maybe it does......

Bert The Turtle (The Duck And Cover Song): Dick 'Two Ton' Baker [1953]

There was a turtle by the name of Bert
And Bert the Turtle was very alert
When danger threatened him he never got hurt
He knew just what to do

He'd duck and cover, duck and cover
He'd hide his head and tail and four little feet
He'd duck and cover!

He hid beneath his little shell until the coast was clear
Then one by one his head and tail and legs would reappear
By acting calm and cool he proved he was a hero, too
For finding safety is the bravest wisest thing to do

And now his little friends are just like Bert
And every turtle is very alert
When danger threatens them they never get hurt
They know just what to do

They duck and cover, duck and cover
They hide their heads and tails and four little feet
They duck and cover!

He hid beneath his little shell until the coast was clear
Then one by one his head and tail and legs would reappear
By acting calm and cool he proved he was a hero, too
For finding safety is the bravest wisest thing to do

And now his little friends are just like Bert
And every turtle is very alert
When danger threatens them they never get hurt
They know just what to do

They duck and cover, duck and cover
They hide their heads and tails and four little feet
They duck and cover!
They duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, and cover

Edit (addition) Cool I found a video with the song: http://www.archive.org/details/DuckandC1951

One thing Bush has to attend to before he goes is to find some way of avoiding prosecution -

'With growing talk in Washington that President Bush may be considering an unprecedented "blanket pardon" for people involved in his administration's brutal interrogation policies, advisors to Barack Obama are pressing ahead with plans for a nonpartisan commission to investigate alleged abuses under Bush.'
Obama's plans for probing Bush torture

That is a scary thing to read. NNN.

No so much that Obama administration wants to investigate, but the implications and potentials that this current White House can do on the way out the door.

Pardons by Bill Clinton and controversy
Pardons by George H. W. Bush
Pardons by George W. Bush ... only the beginning!

'A last-minute Bush administration plan to grant sweeping new protections to health care providers who oppose abortion and other procedures on religious or moral grounds has provoked a torrent of objections, including a strenuous protest from the government agency that enforces job discrimination laws...' Protests Over a Rule to Protect Health Providers

'The view of Delicate Arch natural bridge - an unspoiled landmark so iconic it's on Utah's license plates - could one day include a drilling platform under a proposal that environmentalists call a Bush administration "fire sale" for the oil and gas industry.

The Bureau of Land Management has proposed selling oil and gas leases in wilderness areas of Utah, including this rock outcropping, Hatch Point, out side Canyonlands National Park in the southeastern part of the state. (By Kevin Walker -- Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Via Associated Press)Late on Election Day, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced a Dec. 19 auction of more than 50,000 acres of oil and gas parcels...' Uproar Over Federal Drilling Leases Next To Parks

Interesting how busy you can suddenly become as a deadline approaches, isn't it?

Bush seems to have shown restraint when it comes to pardons - Bush uses clemency powers sparingly to the end.

On the other hand - Bush, Our Ex-Boyfriend

'The memos provide "legal" rationales for the president to suspend freedom of speech and press; order warrantless searches and seizures, including wiretaps of US citizens; lock up US citizens indefinitely in the United States without criminal charges; send suspected terrorists to other countries where they will likely be tortured; and unilaterally abrogate treaties. According to the reasoning in the memos, Congress has no role to check and balance the executive.' Memos Provide Blueprint for Police State