One President

Barack Obama was quite clear after the election.  There is only one president.  George W. Bush is the president until noon on January 20, 2009. 

The problem with that is that it requires the current president to not check out two months or so before the inauguration, which is exactly what Bush has done.  Bush may be the president, but he doesn’t seem to be too interested in doing the job these days.  He is the lamest of lame ducks. 

Bush checked out a long time ago.  So much for sprinting to the finish.  He seems all too happy to let Obama lead.  In fact, Bush seemed happy to let Obama lead during the campaign, following Obama’s lead on Iraq, among other issues.

So now Obama needs to be the president without any actual authority when he should be focusing on the transition (and maybe taking a day or two off).  That’s why Obama is out there announcing his economic plans and naming crisis teams.

I have a lot of contempt for George W. Bush.  He’s done a shoddy job as president (which is a kind assessment).  He’s continuing to do a shoddy job during his run-in.  I’m glad Obama is stepping up because someone so clearly needs to. 

Our economy is as bad it’s been in my memory (and I remember the recession in the early 80s) and is getting worse.  We’re embroiled in two wars — in Iraq and in Afghanistan against a regrouping Taliban.  The situation cries out for real leadership.  It’s a shame that so much leadership — coupled with real authority — is needed right now. 

We have two more months before Obama takes office.  Let’s hope Bush can stay out of too much trouble during this period and that the words and telegraphing of actions that Obama uses can forestall some of the worst that may come our way.

Obama and Former Clinton Staffers

Barack Obama has appointed several Clinton staffers to help him with his transition, as well as join his staff either in the Cabinet or in the White House.  We’re talking about people like Rahm Emanuel (the designated White House Chief of Staff), John Podesta (transition chief), Greg Craig (White House Counsel), as well as Hillary Clinton (rumored to be secretary of State).

I, apparently, am one of the few people who thinks this is fine.  Sure, Obama promised change in his campaign.  But he still needs some experienced people around him — people who know how to get a bill passed, for instance.

Like Bill Clinton or not — and I’m one of the people who thinks he did a mostly good job, even while despising his personal antics — his administration was the last Democratic administration; indeed, it was a successful administration too, getting re-elected.  Good people worked for Clinton.  And Obama is choosing some of the best of those people.

Up to now, Obama has shown that he knows what he’s doing.  He’s taken risks at the right times — and naming Hillary Clinton secretary of State is a risk.  He ran a very successful campaign (beyond the obvious success of getting elected).  I think he knows what he’s doing here.  We can quibble over the  individual appointments, but I think Obama is naming excellent people and is having quite a productive transition period.