Honestly, potus *NEEDS* to lose reelection, said potus being Trump is just icing on the cake

[ck4829]

I've been a member of this forum since 2004, so I'm not exactly a baby chicken around here. But take this into consideration: I have a sister born into a generation where they never once witnessed a president lose the reelection.

I think, that for some people that second election may seem symbolic rather than have real consequences. I think that when (I'm going to go ahead and say when) Trump loses the election, the American people in general, and young people in particular will say: Whoa! We actually have power to influence the political landscape!

And it will be a much-needed thing!

I also think we give the Executive Branch way too much power, far beyond the power granted in the Constitution. The president isn't supposed to be the pope or the CEO of America, not supposed to be some messianic figure, they're not supposed to be our equivalent of a king (*Still eye-rolling at Alan Dershowitz for the 'pearl of wisdom'*), they're supposed to essentially be the head of the Executive Branch and have co-equal power with the Legislative Branch.

I think the Executive Branch as a collective and abstract entity needs a reality check.

And I'm going to keep saying this. I hope Biden wins, promotes an agenda that benefits all Americans and also promotes a liberal, Democratic agenda that he was voted in for and I will not complain if Democrats in the House and the Senate ranging from Pelosi to the Squad hold his feet to the fire on certain things if they need to.

[Buckeyeblue]

1. I don't agree that the legislative branch and executive branch are equal

I think they are separate (as with the judicial branch). I think as head of state their are certain actions (military and diplomatic just to name two) the President has to be able to make unilaterally.

I think the problem has been that the Republican House or Senate has been acting as an arm of the president to give him a free pass on all of his bullshit.

And you are right, defeating an incumbent president is difficult. The fact that we had that scenario with Carter and Then Bush in such close proximity was an anomaly. I dont count Ford as an incumbent since he was not elected either President or Vice-President (in some ways for situations that led to Ford, you wonder if the President shouldn't be called an "acting" president?).

In think in the case of Carter, he had the Iran hostage situation that made him look weak. If his rescue attempt had succeeded, that election might have been quite different. I also think Reagan was a very strong challenger. In the case of Bush, I also think there was the perception of him being a weak leader. The economy, after 8+ years of trickle down economics, was very poor. And he faced a strong challenger in Clinton (whose campaign was incredibly well run).

W should have lost his reelection. I don't think Kerry's campaign was all that great. Nor do I think he was a particularly strong candidate for that time. And W benefited from some behind the scenes "help" from the Ohio SOS.

[Klaralven]

2. Congress needs to take back war-making powers and defund foreign meddling by the president