Can America survive another Republican Admin? w/poll

Even though things look quite optimistic when a progressive prognosticates on the future right now, a small part of me continues to think about what might happen should the unthinkable occur.  How bad will it get if we elect another Republican to the world's most powerful position?  

When one seriously contemplates this scenario, the tin foil is known to self-apply at a very quick rate.  Personally, I can see a world in which we as a species are engaged in total war. The current crop of Republican candidates might be some of the few individuals who could potentially be worse presidents than G-Dub.  It is clear that the Dems have are going to be at least formidable this time around, but Americans are notoriously fickle.  So, my question to you is what do you think will happen should the Democratic nominee lose to the Republican nominee?  Please respond in the comments if you are so inclined.  Let's limit this to the first term only.  A decent argument can be made that the next president will be saddled with so much bullshit upon election that there's no way in hell a second term will come to fruition.  Whatcha think?
(P.S. Sorry about the short diary.  I start a new job at the ass-crack of dawn, and I can't focus enough to write more.)

•  Mojo Mug

  Just so you know, I don't think we can survive four more years of Republican rule.  God help us all.

  by nsaneone on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:16:27 PM PDT

•  NO

  We can't survive another Republican Presidency, at least not right after Bush is president. We can't let Iran and the Middle East blow up. Global Warming continues to be a problem, too.

  by BlueTide on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:22:48 PM PDT

  •  it's not even clear

    that we'll serve the long-term consequences of this one.

    by Turkana on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:27:12 PM PDT

    •  Very Likely Can't Survive Reagan

      A girdled tree takes a long time to die.

      But die it does.

      by Gooserock on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:20:22 AM PDT

      •  drowning

        in a bathtub of blood.

        by Turkana on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:51:05 AM PDT

        •  Grover's bathtub. n/t

          by jimreyn on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 02:35:40 AM PDT

  •  Have We Survived This Presidency?

    ......Has America survived the Bush presidency? I would say that is a debatable question.

    Another GOP president would be the final nail in the coffin.

    by frandor55 on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:29:33 PM PDT

    •  Good Point

      Health care is hard for me to come by. May be I didn't.

      by BlueTide on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:30:53 PM PDT

    •  Exactly

      Is this still America? Do you recognize it?

      by kyril on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:17:21 PM PDT

      •  My point, down-post.

        Yes, it's still America, but another 4 years could make it virtually unrecognizable.

        VOTE.

        by koNko on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 06:07:49 AM PDT

•  The jury's out on whether we survive this one.

  If I were a betting man, I'd say that 90% of the crap BushCo put in place as part of their Unitary Upgrade becomes a permanent fixture to the Presidency.

  Nothing about that is survivable long term.

  by chrississippi on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:28:55 PM PDT

  •  my thoughts exactly

    of course I would prefer a democrat in the WH, but even if they let one win in 08, it won't make much difference.

    by lisastar on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:35:54 PM PDT

    •  It will make an enormous difference.

      Think Rudi will stop digging?

      by kidneystones on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:48:38 PM PDT

  •  I agree. 90% sounds about right.

    Structural damage to the constitution.  Rot in the beaurocracy.  The elimination of expertise that you can't just hire back when the next Pres enters office.

    1000 Executive Orders on everything under the sun.

    A politicized military.

    And on and on.

    by LithiumCola on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:36:36 PM PDT

    •  All of Which Was Galloping Along Prior to Bush

      Remember the American Revolution was declared by our business leaders.

      Well they're conducting another one. This time for freedom from government for and by the people.

      We're 30 years into it and they're still winning.

      by Gooserock on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:22:27 AM PDT

•  Depends which Republican.

  Romney, maybe.

  Giuliani?  No.

  by Geekesque on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:29:10 PM PDT

  •  Ron Paul?....NO

    Giuliani? ....He might re-invent the swastika.

    by frandor55 on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:32:37 PM PDT

    •  You know who else re-invented the swastika?

      

      by Trix on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:41:14 PM PDT

  •  Any Repub Will Add an R to the SC

    which erases the practical Constitution.

    The answer for any R is "no."

    by Gooserock on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:23:22 AM PDT

•  Vote

  Democrat!

  by kpardue on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:32:21 PM PDT

•  It depends on what you mean by survive

  Will the United States cease to exist?  Probably not.  This is a big, powerful country.  

  Would the U.S. be weaker, poorer, and less free if another Republican was elected?  Almost definitely.

  by caldreaming on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:32:49 PM PDT

  •  No It Is Not. It Is a Big, Powerful Military

    The Pentagon will survive.

    by Gooserock on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:23:57 AM PDT

•  Another Republican Administration?

  Nooo,No,,,,,No!

  by waynesdad on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:33:00 PM PDT

•  I am not sure that America has survived this

  Republican president, let alone another one.

  by LithiumCola on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:34:38 PM PDT

•  Perhaps

  Ask if the Constitution will survive another republican administration?

  by corwin on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:34:40 PM PDT

  •  The Constitution == S.C. and the Next President

    if Republican replaces 2 liberals with theofascists.

    Of course it doesn't survive.

    by Gooserock on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:24:58 AM PDT

•  I Got A Lot Of Faith In America

  so yes. But I am not sure any other nation will be talking to us if it does happen. I often wonder if the far right gets there could come a day in my lifetime where the rest of the world says something like, "you know you guys are fucking crazy. We're sick of dealing with you. See how you do when we're not working with or trading with you any more."

  by webranding on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:35:08 PM PDT

  •  I have faith that Almighty God...

    ...will protect the United States of America in its hour of peril and protect it from such a plague.  I also believe that God will administer Justice to those who have transgressed these past seven years.  Bush & Co. will eventually answer to that Higher Authority, and pay for their sins!

    by Randall Sherman on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:17:48 PM PDT

    •  err....

      There's a a very full graveyard of former empires that thought God was going to save them in their hour of peril.  Granted, I am a Christian too, but I think that's part of the problem with this country is people think it can't get too bad because 'someone' will step in at the last second and save us.  To quote TS Eliot, this is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper.

      by scionkirk on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:44:19 PM PDT

    •  That Would Be the God Who Commands Forgive All

      debt every 7 years?

      by Gooserock on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:25:57 AM PDT

      •  Faith is okay, but

        faith can't save America. Bush has destroyed "my America". I'm not sure we'll survive Bush or even a Democrat. Frankly, I don't see any Democratic President giving up all the power Bush and Cheney have amassed.

        by jimreyn on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 02:42:35 AM PDT

  •  But, see, another R Admin means we VOTED for them

    Which shakes my faith in "America" a lot.

    by BrentHartinger on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 11:20:26 PM PDT

•  Only if that Republican is Ron Paul...

  ;-)

  by Trix on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:38:02 PM PDT

  •  yeah

    Ron Paul reminds of us of a time when Republicans might be wrong on an issue, but they weren't batshit stupid and corrupt.

    by scionkirk on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:48:07 PM PDT

    •  I was being sarcastic

      Ron Paul is batshit insane.

      by Trix on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:52:15 PM PDT

      •  in the land of the blind

        the one eyed man is king.

        by scionkirk on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 11:20:35 PM PDT

•  What Worries Me Is When I Watch

  something like South Park and I often think, "shit, gosh Rudy might say we have to nuke our imaginations cause terrorist have kidnapped it."

  by webranding on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:38:24 PM PDT

•  Of course we'll survive

  The question is, as what?  I'm not so certain we can even definitively state what we are now; we no longer have separation of pwoers and checks and balances, we have uncontrolled domestic surveillance and police state apparatus, all overseen by a Unitary Executive with essentially unlimited powers.  There's no guaranty that the next occupant of the White House of either party is going to be willing to give up the Unitary Executive powers without a bruising constitutional showdown.  Certainly the vast globocorporate interests that have profited so handsomely under the current regime will be lobbying strongly for the perpetuation and expansion of the current policies.

  by ActivistGuy on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:39:09 PM PDT

•  It didn't survive the last one...

  ...the damage can never be repaired.

  by Bensdad on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:41:36 PM PDT

  •  It Didn't Survive Reagan nt

    by Gooserock on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:26:47 AM PDT

•  Election will be very tough

  The national polls right now mean nothing.  When the Republicans have their nominee, he'll have a ton of money, a constitutional electoral vote gerrymander advantage and some strong issues.  If Clinton is the nominee, she'll have a difficulty with the image of herself as "commander in chief," for sure.  Immigration might be a bigger issue than the Iraq war as the public has had some success stopping immigration legislation but no success stopping the Iraq War.  

  by Lois on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 08:42:44 PM PDT

  •  The Republicans Operate the Public Square

    and our mainstream national discourse.

    And they are the only important source of the tribute money required to distribute messages to the general public through the public square.

    A sick, dangerous system.

    by Gooserock on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:28:54 AM PDT

  •  Yes, establishment media advantage

    as well.

    by doinaheckuvanutjob on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 03:12:34 AM PDT

  •  Well, Immigration is certianly your issue. n/t

    by koNko on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 06:22:53 AM PDT

•  Ugh...the hyperbole

  Of course America can survive.  But many of our soldiers, our poor, our elderly, and our rights may not survive.

  by snout on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:01:17 PM PDT

  •  But...

    if we lose all that...will this still be America? What makes America America? I would argue that it's already in need of intensive life support, if it's alive at all.

    by kyril on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:20:31 PM PDT

    •  I said "many of"

      Read history.  We've been through worse and we've suffered greater losses.

      I don't say that to minimize the seriousness of what we face today, but we should also avoid overstating the case.

      Here's an excerpt from Al Gore's great MLK day speech:

      Fear drives out reason. Fear suppresses the politics of discourse and opens the door to the politics of destruction. Justice Brandeis once wrote: "Men feared witches and burnt women."

      The founders of our country faced dire threats. If they failed in their endeavors, they would have been hung as traitors. The very existence of our country was at risk.

      Yet, in the teeth of those dangers, they insisted on establishing the Bill of Rights.

      Is our Congress today in more danger than were their predecessors when the British army was marching on the Capitol? Is the world more dangerous than when we faced an ideological enemy with tens of thousands of missiles poised to be launched against us and annihilate our country at a moment's notice? Is America in more danger now than when we faced worldwide fascism on the march--when our fathers fought and won two World Wars simultaneously?

      It is simply an insult to those who came before us and sacrificed so much on our behalf to imply that we have more to be fearful of than they. Yet they faithfully protected our freedoms and now it is up to us to do the same.

      by snout on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 10:20:57 PM PDT

      •  We don't face the threats that our nations...

        founders did. But we face nuclear proliferation that could kill millions. Our global population is much higher, so disease can be much more deadly. Our technology now brings threats from global warming and toxic chemicals. We have some very real threats no matter who is president. Having seen what our current president has been willing/allowed to do I would have serious doubts that our rights as citizens would be more than a shell of what they once were in another republican administration. Of course I didn't believe Bill Clinton would be able to balance the budget.

        by Sacramento Dem on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 11:51:59 PM PDT

      •  We've Been Through Nothing of the Kind

        There's nothing remotely paralleling this time outside futurism and science fiction.

        by Gooserock on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:30:04 AM PDT

      •  With all due respect to Mr. Gore,

        America is facing enemies from within this time. Outside enemies are much easier to detect and guard against.

        That said, I agree that it is up to Americans to protect our freedom.    

        by bubbalie 517 on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 06:38:52 AM PDT

•  Words that come to mind

  
  are "Third World country" and "pillaged" and "death for lack of creativity".

  On the issues a 2008 Republican President-elect would be unable to do anything.  But he would have a small mandate to obstruct Democratic stuff for while longer.

  I'm not buying into the doomsday scenarios, I'm inclined to the ones of unbraked decline and mediocrity.  I think we would see a lot of creative people emigrate, which would make it almost impossible to be a frontrunning country again.

  by killjoy on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:27:35 PM PDT

•  As far as I'm concerned, this nation is already

  in serious decline. Another Republican administration?
  No credibility left, no allies, the accelerated rise
  of Russia and China, sky-high deficits and continuous
  wars. Kinda makes you want to band together and stop
  fighting among ourselves, don't it? Oh, throw in the
  accelerated destruction of the environment. I momentarily forgot that one.

  by Wildthumb on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:32:39 PM PDT

•  Let's not find out.

  Really.

  by kidneystones on Sun Oct 28, 2007 at 09:46:42 PM PDT

•  You need to know....

  That there is a strong current flowing in America.....where the message is.....that America cannot survive Democratic Party rule because the Dems will tax, spend, and socialize everything to the point that you will lose your personal $, your property, your personal liberties.........that there is a Liberal Agenda to radically change America.

  And people are scared.

  by LNK on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:07:31 AM PDT

•  Rs may be all we have to chose from.

  It's getting real hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys, Ds or Rs.

  by Mike Taylor on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 01:18:49 AM PDT

•  Yes, But.

  Yes, because humans can tolerate an incredible amount of misery and still survive.

  But, I'm not sure we'd recognize the place afterward.

  Before you decide I'm completely crazy, consider how much the ROW has invested in the USA and the fact that Donald Trump got his own TV show.

  by koNko on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 06:05:31 AM PDT