Long Term Effects Of Having A Crazy President?

[Loss Leader]

How would American democracy change if the President were actually unpredictable and unrealistic?

My belief is that the country would correct itself by draining power away from the President. Congress would make it increasingly difficult for the President to interfere with the administration of government. They could hold up key appointments for years. In terms of international affairs, Congress would make it clear that the President had no authority over trade, tariffs, treaties or monetary policy. The president pro tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House would end up as sort of joint prime ministers.

The most difficult piece would be the military. Congress could attempt to defund any military exercise it disliked. I think the most likely scenario is a team of lawyers that could advise the branches when an order from the President was illegal. This would shift military authority tremendously. The military would basically become its own branch of the government.

The President would become not much more than a figurehead. Pretty happy with their new powers, the other branches wouldn't cede them back to the next Prez.

Perhaps I'm overreacting. What do you believe would be the long-term effects on the role of the President if a truly unqualified individual were to take office?

 

[Varanid]

What could be done about executive orders?

 

[CJW]

What could be done about executive orders?

Tie them up in court as much as possible

 

[casebro]

Hope and Change?

But "truly unqualified", she will be impeached, and gone. Less, and it will be Situation Normal, as when congress is of the opposite party.

The Pres can't enter us into treaties, can't mess with his own department's finances. He hasn't got much leeway to be a Royal F **** up. Except to appoint SCOTUS members, which need approval.

 

[TragicMonkey]

My main worry is economic turmoil as investors take their money out of the US in anticipation of and reaction to craziness. I'm as diversified as I can be, but if the value of a dollar itself plummets there's not much I can do about it.

 

[Loss Leader]

But "truly unqualified", she will be impeached, and gone.

Impeachment is only for high crimes and misdemeanors. It's only been tried twice and failed both times (the last one miserably). Just being a difficult person isn't a crime.

 

[Fudbucker]

There's no check on the president's authority to launch nuclear weapons, so a crazy president could mean the end of the human race.

Although if Trump gave the order to launch a nuke, I think there would be a communications "breakdown" somewhere along the chain-of-command.

 

[Norman Alexander]

There's no check on the president's authority to launch nuclear weapons, so a crazy president could mean the end of the human race.

Although if Trump gave the order to launch a nuke, I think there would be a communications "breakdown" somewhere along the chain-of-command.

I suspect the responsible presidential staff will move The Football to somewhere Trump can't find it - probably a kitchen cupboard in the Capitol building.

They would also disconnect the Red Button, knowing full well that Trump will push it any time he has another fit of pique.

The Red Phone would be redirected to a Putin sound-alike who has been coached in cod-Russian-English and making up random chat that Donald will never understand.

In summary, the presidential coterie will eliminate or minimise the possibility of national harm from the idjit. They've had practice previously with The Shrub.

 

[Denver]

How would American democracy change if the President were actually unpredictable and unrealistic?

My belief is that the country would correct itself by draining power away from the President...

I essentially agree. Not liking either Hillary or Trump, this is why I would have voted for Sanders: his agenda would be largely frustrated and in 4 years we could get a new president, without much damage having being done.

The only scary thing is the military, but I expect the 'button' requires a call to war by congress, which they would not give.

 

[Trebuchet]

We've previously had a president with Alzheimers (Reagan), one who'd had a stroke and whose wife was running things (Wilson), and several who were drunkards (Grant, et al). How different are those cases? And then then are those who were merely dumb.

 

[casebro]

Impeachment is only for high crimes and misdemeanors. It's only been tried twice and failed both times (the last one miserably). Just being a difficult person isn't a crime.

And both terms are defined by the sitting Congress at the time. Or is it the Senate?

Or you might consider "Relieved of duty for medical reasons- bat crap crazy", which would probably need to fall under impeachment.

 

[Loss Leader]

There's no check on the president's authority to launch nuclear weapons, so a crazy president could mean the end of the human race.

Although if Trump gave the order to launch a nuke, I think there would be a communications "breakdown" somewhere along the chain-of-command.

Yeah, the "football" is just an authentication machine. The orders still go to human beings who have to choose to obey them. Not only that, but it's been reported that training has really gotten slack at Strategic Command. There's a real chance that someone in the chain would ignore the order.

That being said, General Tibbets said on more than one ocassion that he never hesitated in bombing Hiroshima, he was proud to do it and he slept with a clear conscience ever night.

 

[dudalb]

I essentially agree. Not liking either Hillary or Trump, this is why I would have voted for Sanders: his agenda would be largely frustrated and in 4 years we could get a new president, without much damage having being done.

The only scary thing is the military, but I expect the 'button' requires a call to war by congress, which they would not give.

The button does NOT require a war call by congress;the whole point was that the President could order a immediate nuclear launch if the radar saw a horde of Russain ICBM's coming in.

 

[Meadmaker]

The only scary thing is the military, but I expect the 'button' requires a call to war by congress, which they would not give.

I expect your wrong. It requires the President to give the order. Exactly what happens from there is somewhat speculative. I know that codes have to be transmitted. Someone in that chain could just say no, but, legally, there is no check or balance there.

I think there is probably some provision in the law that says it can only be done if there is imminent threat, but I'll bet that only the President can decide there's an imminent threat.

 

[dudalb]

Impeachment is only for high crimes and misdemeanors. It's only been tried twice and failed both times (the last one miserably). Just being a difficult person isn't a crime.

QUestion is if Donald being a difficult person results in abuse of power.

 

[dudalb]

Tie them up in court as much as possible

That would be the flash point;a EO is ruled unconsitituional by the Supreme Court ,and Trump in a fit of anger orders it done anyway ,or does a Andy Jackson "The SCOTUS has made it's decision,let them enforce it" routine which, nowdays, would result in his impeachmene for abuse of power in a New York Second.

 

[Denver]

I expect your wrong. It requires the President to give the order. Exactly what happens from there is somewhat speculative. I know that codes have to be transmitted. Someone in that chain could just say no, but, legally, there is no check or balance there.

I think there is probably some provision in the law that says it can only be done if there is imminent threat, but I'll bet that only the President can decide there's an imminent threat.

It would be interesting to see a well-researched analysis of this chain.

 

[dudalb]

The whole point of the emergency launch system was to allow the President to order an instant response to a nuclear attack, and having to go to congress and instant don't go together.
It was...and is.. a deterrant. There is a reason everybody knows about the Football and the launch procedure;it's a message to other Nuclear powers that a first strike would not keep you from being blown to kingdom also.

 

[NoahFence]

We've previously had a president with Alzheimers (Reagan), one who'd had a stroke and whose wife was running things (Wilson), and several who were drunkards (Grant, et al). How different are those cases? And then then are those who were merely dumb.

The world is much more stupid and much less patient now.

 

[Denver]

Saw this on wikipedia under Gold Codes^WP

...the president and Secretary of Defense must jointly authenticate the order to use nuclear weapons to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

But, you know. Wikipedia.