Bush Pledges Smooth Transition to Obama Administration

[JME2]

From Yahoo

WASHINGTON – With the economy in a downward spiral, U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and the nation under threat from terrorists, President Bush pledged Saturday to make a smooth transition to an Obama administration a top priority for the rest of his days in office.

"Our country faces economic challenges that will not pause to let a new president settle in," Bush said in his weekly radio address. "This will also be America's first wartime presidential transition in four decades. We're in a struggle against violent extremists determined to attack us — and they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people."

In the Democrats' radio address, President-elect Obama stressed the nation must act swiftly to deal with continuing job losses and a financial meltdown that poses the "greatest economic challenge of our lifetime." He noted that he was already meeting with economic advisers.

"While we must recognize that we only have one president at a time and that President Bush is the leader of our government, I want to ensure that we hit the ground running on Jan. 20 because we don't have a moment to lose," Obama said.

Obama underscored many of the economic talking points from his news conference Friday, the first held since his victory. He said his administration's focus will be on creating jobs, stabilizing the financial markets while helping homeowners, and growing the middle class and strengthening the economy in the long-term.

"I do not underestimate the enormity of the task that lies ahead," Obama said. "We've taken some major actions to date, and we will need further actions during this transition and subsequent months. Some of those choices will be difficult, but America is a strong and resilient country."

Bush said the White House and federal agencies have been working for more than a year to make sure the next administration can get off to a quick start.

Intelligence officials have briefed Obama, the Justice Department has approved security clearances for members of his transition staff and, in the coming weeks, administration officials will brief the Obama team on major policy issues, including the Iraq war and the ailing financial markets. The president said he also would keep Obama fully informed on any important decisions he makes between now and when Obama takes over on Jan. 20.

Until then, Bush said he will continue to address the nation's economic problems and urge Congress to approve free-trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea and will host an international economic summit in Washington on Nov. 15 to address the global financial crisis.

"Earlier this week, more than 120 million Americans went to the polls and voted for a new president and Congress," Bush said of the election in which Democrats gained seats in both the House and Senate. "No matter how we cast our ballots, all Americans have reason to be proud of our democracy."

Bush and first lady Laura Bush have invited Obama and his wife, Michelle, to the White House on Monday.

"I join the American people in wishing President-elect Obama every success," he said. "Laura and I wish the Obama family as much joy and happiness as our family has found in this wonderful house."

Obama said he and Michelle looked forward to the meeting.

"We can't afford to wait on moving forward on the key priorities that I identified during the campaign, including clean energy, health care, education and tax relief for middle class families," Obama said.

...Yeah, forgive me if I don't believe a word of this.

[irishmick79]

...Yeah, forgive me if I don't believe a word of this.

I believe him. The White House has sent out several sternly worded memorandums to the bureaucracy that all agencies are to treat the Obama people as honored guests, and basically give them what they want. Each agency already has a point of contact established for the new administration, and they're already helping the Obama people assess the condition of the bureaucracy.

[Ender]

...Yeah, forgive me if I don't believe a word of this.

It's already happening. I don't have much positive to say for Bush, but I do think he did what he thought was best (though blinkered by his stupidity, ideology, and advisers). Ensuring a smooth transition to the next time in a time of crisis is the best thing.

Besides, does anyone doubt he wants to wash his hands of this mess and going back to having fun ASAP?

[Knife]

Please, while there may be ideologues who want to screw with the newbies; there are plenty of lifers in the government who realize their jobs are on the line if too many instances of tom foolery are perpetrated.

[irishmick79]

Please, while there may be ideologues who want to screw with the newbies; there are plenty of lifers in the government who realize their jobs are on the line if too many instances of tom foolery are perpetrated.

That, and there usually is a genuine interest in the outgoing administration to try and impart what they've learned to the incoming one.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Please, while there may be ideologues who want to screw with the newbies; there are plenty of lifers in the government who realize their jobs are on the line if too many instances of tom foolery are perpetrated.

How politically neutral are the civil servants in the US? Typically that is.

[Knife]

How politically neutral are the civil servants in the US? Typically that is.

Most are people just doing their jobs. But like most populations, you get ideologues in there scattered around. So mostly neutral I guess, with usual dispersion of nutballs.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Most are people just doing their jobs. But like most populations, you get ideologues in there scattered around. So mostly neutral I guess, with usual dispersion of nutballs.

Very little possibility of them devolving into the bullshit the British Civil Service was notorious for under Thatcher?

[Havok]

Slightly of the serious part of the topic... As far as transitions go... Clinton had all the Ws removed from the White House keyboards before Bush settled in. Any thoughts on if Bush may do something similar to Obama?

Ender is correct though. As much as he fucked it up, Bush tried to do what he thought was right in accordance with his beliefs. I'm sure he is aware that a smooth a transition as possible is in the best interest of the country.

[irishmick79]

Most are people just doing their jobs. But like most populations, you get ideologues in there scattered around. So mostly neutral I guess, with usual dispersion of nutballs.

Very little possibility of them devolving into the bullshit the British Civil Service was notorious for under Thatcher?

Lower level federal employees have imparitality pretty much mandated. There are stiff punishments in place for employees who fail to maintain impartiality in the course of their duties. If there's bumfuckery to be had, it's carried out by higher level authorities.

[Yogi]

I believe him. The White House has sent out several sternly worded memorandums to the bureaucracy that all agencies are to treat the Obama people as honored guests, and basically give them what they want. Each agency already has a point of contact established for the new administration, and they're already helping the Obama people assess the condition of the bureaucracy.

Do you have a source for this?

[irishmick79]

I believe him. The White House has sent out several sternly worded memorandums to the bureaucracy that all agencies are to treat the Obama people as honored guests, and basically give them what they want. Each agency already has a point of contact established for the new administration, and they're already helping the Obama people assess the condition of the bureaucracy.

Do you have a source for this?

I'm a government employee with ICE. I've seen the memos, but I doubt I'm allowed to copy/paste them.

[Ender]

Slightly of the serious part of the topic... As far as transitions go... Clinton had all the Ws removed from the White House keyboards before Bush settled in. Any thoughts on if Bush may do something similar to Obama?

Actually, it came out that that was a lie. Rove leaked that so that the press was in an uproar about it for the first month or so while the new administration halted all uncompleted initiatives by Clinton and started rolling back dozens that had already passed.

[Havok]

Slightly of the serious part of the topic... As far as transitions go... Clinton had all the Ws removed from the White House keyboards before Bush settled in. Any thoughts on if Bush may do something similar to Obama?

Actually, it came out that that was a lie. Rove leaked that so that the press was in an uproar about it for the first month or so while the new administration halted all uncompleted initiatives by Clinton and started rolling back dozens that had already passed.

Really? Well that fucking sucks. I thought that was hilarious and very much in line with Clinton's personality and humor. Did the press actually get into an uproar?

[RedImperator]

If you're a member of the outgoing administration, obviously you'd prefer the incoming administration to maintain as many of your policies as possible. Spiteful obstructionism simply lessens the probability of that happening. I'm sure the Bushies are quietly lobbying the incoming Obamaites to change as little as possible; not pissing them off by fucking up the transition is, like, step one.

[JME2]

Please, while there may be ideologues who want to screw with the newbies; there are plenty of lifers in the government who realize their jobs are on the line if too many instances of tom foolery are perpetrated.

That, and there usually is a genuine interest in the outgoing administration to try and impart what they've learned to the incoming one.

I want to believe this, but Bush has demonstrated enough consistency in his beliefs and character over the last 8 years that I've been certain he'd aim for a petty, scorched earth-style transition.

[Mr Bean]

I want to believe this, but Bush has demonstrated enough consistency in his beliefs and character over the last 8 years that I've been certain he'd aim for a petty, scorched earth-style transition.

There is a very real legal case for Bush to be handed off to the Hague for a War Crimes trial over the Iraq war. Pissing off the new guy with all the guns is not a good idea. It's my prediction that five years from today(Assuming he wins reelection) or three years from today(Just in time for the election) either Iraq or someone else on behalf of Iraqi refugee's will ask for Bush and Co(Rumsfield, Wolfwitz, Cheney, Rove) as conspirators.

[irishmick79]

Slightly of the serious part of the topic... As far as transitions go... Clinton had all the Ws removed from the White House keyboards before Bush settled in. Any thoughts on if Bush may do something similar to Obama?

Actually, it came out that that was a lie. Rove leaked that so that the press was in an uproar about it for the first month or so while the new administration halted all uncompleted initiatives by Clinton and started rolling back dozens that had already passed.

Sort of - Clinton staffers did pull some 'W's from keyboards, but they didn't do the several thousand dollars worth of damage like Rove was claiming at the time. Rove basically took some innocent and harmless pranks and blew them up into a story about Clinton people ransacking the white house on their way out.

I want to believe this, but Bush has demonstrated enough consistency in his beliefs and character over the last 8 years that I've been certain he'd aim for a petty, scorched earth-style transition.

Bush wants a smooth transition both for the reasons Red pointed out, and so he can take a snarky jab at the democrats about how he was treated when he came into office. He can say he's being professional, while the democrats are acting like children. Still, he ultimately does want to secure his legacy and his achievements and deliberately antagonizing the incoming president during the transitional period is a good way to undermine how he'll be remembered.

And there is no way in hell a former US president winds up at the Hague. If Obama is serious about being bipartisan, he simply can't let the Iraqis do something like that. And how would that be in the interests of the Iraqis? The Iraqi government would be complicating Obama's diplomacy a lot, and would probably increase the weight of a lot of Iran's rhetoric about the Great Satan amongst Iraqi shi'ia. I can see how the refugees might desire such a case, but if anything they would want to open it in US courts in order to press for immigration access or some other compensation, rather than outright war crimes convictions.

[ray245]

I suppose he can allow it in his 2nd term. He might be unpopular for a short period of time, but it will do wonders for the public image of USA, and allow history to judge him kindly.

[Big Phil]

I suppose he can allow it in his 2nd term. He might be unpopular for a short period of time, but it will do wonders for the public image of USA, and allow history to judge him kindly.

Have you thought this through... at all? There's no chance in hell ANY American President will allow ANY former American President to be carted off to some foreign country to be tried.

[ray245]

I suppose he can allow it in his 2nd term. He might be unpopular for a short period of time, but it will do wonders for the public image of USA, and allow history to judge him kindly.

Have you thought this through... at all? There's no chance in hell ANY American President will allow ANY former American President to be carted off to some foreign country to be tried.

Idealistic idea I suppose. Other than national pride, why should Obama from a moral standpoint, let Bush run free?

[Anguirus]

So that the Republicans won't turn obstructionist. That's just how it is. Even if he wanted to see Bush arrested, it would destroy his popular support instantaneously. It would also set a dangerous precedent for him...say he goes after al-Qaeda in Pakistan. If the next president doesn't like Obama, he can move to have him arrested for an illegal invasion and have precedent.

For better or for worse, the American people will certainly not accept an American president handing another one over to a foreign power for trial. Far better to spend his political capital on energy policy and health care.

[Shroom Man 777]

That sets precedent so that any POS in the future will be to charge American presidents with warcrimes and haul them to the Hague or something.

[Knife]

That sets precedent so that any POS in the future will be to charge American presidents with warcrimes and haul them to the Hague or something.

Self preservation over ideology. Something the ideologues don't discuss much.

[Broomstick]

I suppose he can allow it in his 2nd term. He might be unpopular for a short period of time, but it will do wonders for the public image of USA, and allow history to judge him kindly.

Have you thought this through... at all? There's no chance in hell ANY American President will allow ANY former American President to be carted off to some foreign country to be tried.

Idealistic idea I suppose. Other than national pride, why should Obama from a moral standpoint, let Bush run free?

I don't feel like explaining this one tonight, but let me assure you that there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of that ever happening. If Bush is going to be punished for misdeeds in office either the US will do it or it won't be done at all.