Hillary or Trump: Which of These is the Lesser of Two Evils?

[AFTT47]

A couple of questions. (Addressed to anyone interested in answering them.)

How bad could Trump really be and how much power does the potus really have?

Isn't the choice between the two a no-brainer and do you really fear that the voting population could make that big of a mistake, assumming you gave a certain answer to my first question?

Is it really fair to compair Hillary to her husband?

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I think there's a better chance I'll became president than Sanders, at this point. That ship has sailed for some time now.

The POTUS has enormous power.  But very little power over the kinds of things Trump most often claims he will do.  He could not build a wall without Congress, nor can he impose a tarriff all, by himself, nor could he change the tax code.  Nor would he have much control over the economy.

What he can do is exert military power.  Theoretically, he needs congress to start a war, but he can into conflicts that are wars in everything but name. He could fire nuclear weapons.  He can prioritize federal law enforcement, and he could indeed step up deportations.   He could drag his heels on implementing environmental laws.  

In fairness Bernie can't make college education free without congress either.  Most of the things promised by nominees are not within the powers of the president.

A potentially very big power (and duty) of the President is to appoint federal judges on both the appeals courts and the Supreme Court. These appointments must be confirmed by the Senate but there is only so much stalling they can do. For example, if the Republican Senate makes good on their promise to not consider President Obama's nominations to replace Antonin Scalia, his successor will do so - and he or she will have their way within reason. The Senate cannot drag their feet on a court vacancy for four years without there being consequences.

Speaking of Scalia, he became a SCOTUS Justice in 1986 under Reagan. He served on the court for 29 years. During his tenure, there were 5 different Presidents. A 2-term President typically appoints 2 SCOTUS justices. The next one may easily appoint 4. They will be be there, at the top of the Judicial Branch, long after Hillary or Trump have left the building (or perhaps this earth).