The fact about what happened under the Republicam Party especially during Bush's reign, is that as all knowledgable commentators know, a disortion about the way our government operates which will not go away.
What has happened, and will be Bush's legacy as long as this contry lasts, is that the Constitution has been "broken" as a British minister said. The 'balance of power" which was supposed to be our guarantee of a Republic is shown not to work when people push it and the will to regard it's safegards are forgotten.

The America which was constructed with such care by the founders will forever be at risk: it's severe vulnerablility to disrespect will remain with us as long as it lasts: which may not be long. Patrick Henry was not joking:

"The price of liberty is eternal vigilance"
we dropped the ball.

It is yet another reason for the Republican Party to go the same way as the Whig Party before the Civil War. There is no such thing as a moderate Republican wing. Show me more than 10 moderate Republican politicians, and I'll show you a tolerant Nazi.

The rot set in when Nixon was elected with his Southern strategy, which was to appeal to all the bigots in the South and there are a lot. Reagan continued the rot with his contempt of Congress and the law. George I contributed to the conception of George II for which he should never be forgiven. George W has been more successful at destroying the U.S. than any terrorist bomber or army of bombers by wrecking the checks and balances in the Constitution, creating more debt in seven years than all his predecessors combined, and depleting both our treasury and our military with incompetence, hardheadedness, and just sheer stupidity.