Posted on 10/05/2026 7:22:13 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Democrats aren't waiting for midterms results or more polls: They're sketching out a post-Trump playbook. From politicians on Capitol Hill to outside advocacy groups, the Washington Post reports, Democrats are drafting bills and ethics plans aimed at narrowing presidential power, tightening conflict-of-interest rules, and rebuilding barriers between the White House and the Justice Department once President Trump is out of office. Ideas on the table include curbing emergency powers used to justify tariffs and troop deployments, forcing public review of White House renovations, barring presidents from taking foreign payments without Congress' signoff, and blocking settlements that could shield a sitting president from tax scrutiny.
There's also a push to prohibit politically motivated prosecutions, require blind trusts for wealthy officials, and bolster civil service protections so a president can't easily oust career staff members. Backers frame it as a Watergate-style reform moment waiting to happen, noting a Pew survey that found broad unease with expanding presidential authority. Conservatives call the effort hollow, arguing that Democrats won't constrain their own presidents and that Trump is operating within a long tradition of muscular executive action. Even some advocates warn the big test won't be writing new laws, but whether a polarized Congress—and a public that may like decisive action—will actually enforce them. The Post piece can be found here.
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
LOL!! RATS have been systematically trying to reduce the power of the Executive Office every time a Republican sits in the White House.
But just temporarily until they get one of their own back in as pResident.
Yeah only Republican Presidents. For the dims it’s unlimited power!
Democrat presidents have been the worst offenders when it comes to abuse of power.
- Joe “Autopen” Biden
- Barack Hussein Obama
- Bill Clinton
- Lynden B. Johnson
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Woodrow Wilson
They can plot all they want. Trump will simply veto everything. Easy Peasy.
I am pretty sure that there will be an auto pen version of the veto stamp working full time by this point next year.
Where’s the part where the dems should they win in a month come up with the legislation then it goes to President Trump for a veto. And then in 2028 they lose again...LOL
That would require constitutional amendments. Good luck with that.
-SB
No way dems have any kind of majority after these midterms, any poll that shows otherwise if alighted with the WaPo, it’s totally fake news , vote vote vote indeed
Bkmk
This one is a real knee slapper!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.