Advertisement

Easy win gives Bush free rein to enact changes

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP

The Republican leader is now the most powerful president since the 1960s

Advertisement

President George W. Bush's confident assertion in his victory speech that his election campaign agenda would be quickly enacted was more a statement of fact than bluster.

Mr Bush's easy win and his Republican Party's taking of a majority of seats in both houses of Congress have made him the most powerful American president since the 1960s, analysts said yesterday.

With the added clout, he would have little difficulty enacting changes to social security, the tax system and the makeup of the country's highest court, University of California, Berkeley, political scientist Nelson Polsby said.

'When both houses of Congress are in the hands of the same party as the president and as well organised as they are, they can do almost as much as they want,' he said.

Advertisement

Mr Bush confirmed his intention to use his new strength last Thursday after defeating Democratic Party challenger John Kerry.

loading
Advertisement