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The transition
There may be no more remarkable example of the American democracy than the transition of power from one president to the next.
Consider these excerpts from Associated Press dispatch this afternoon:
"President Bush and Barack Obama will hold their first substantive talks Monday as the transition to a new Democratic administration accelerates. ...
Bush ... directed employees Thursday to ensure a peaceful and cooperative transfer of power. The transition is a delicate dance, in which the White House keeps the president-elect in the loop, and even solicits his input, but the decisions remain solely the president's.
'"We face economic challenges that will not pause to let a new president settle in," Bush told a gathering of hundreds of employees from the presidential bureaucracy, gathered on a White House lawn.
'"This will also be America's first wartime presidential transition in four decades,' he said. '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.' ...
"Bush and first lady Laura Bush will greet Obama and his wife, Michelle, at the White House on Monday afternoon. The current and future president will meet in the Oval Office while the first lady gives Mrs. Obama a private tour of the White House residence. ...
"Bush's comments to his staff, under a gray sky on the South Lawn, also had the feel of an early goodbye with 75 days left in office.
"He stood with the Cabinet, the first lady, and the vice president and his wife by his side. By the time he finished speaking and offered a wave to the crowd, Bush grew emotional. Laura Bush leaned in to give him a hug. ...
"The Bush administration has already arranged security clearances for key Obama transition staffers and is providing working space and policy briefings as well. Career employees, who keep their jobs even when administrations change, have taken on extra work to prevent any disruption in essential services.
'"We must keep our attention on the task at hand, because the American people expect no less,' Bush directed the executive employees." ...
It's all just another reminder to the rest of the world (and maybe more than a few within our country) of what makes this country special.
Consider these excerpts from Associated Press dispatch this afternoon:
"President Bush and Barack Obama will hold their first substantive talks Monday as the transition to a new Democratic administration accelerates. ...
Bush ... directed employees Thursday to ensure a peaceful and cooperative transfer of power. The transition is a delicate dance, in which the White House keeps the president-elect in the loop, and even solicits his input, but the decisions remain solely the president's.
'"We face economic challenges that will not pause to let a new president settle in," Bush told a gathering of hundreds of employees from the presidential bureaucracy, gathered on a White House lawn.
'"This will also be America's first wartime presidential transition in four decades,' he said. '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.' ...
"Bush and first lady Laura Bush will greet Obama and his wife, Michelle, at the White House on Monday afternoon. The current and future president will meet in the Oval Office while the first lady gives Mrs. Obama a private tour of the White House residence. ...
"Bush's comments to his staff, under a gray sky on the South Lawn, also had the feel of an early goodbye with 75 days left in office.
"He stood with the Cabinet, the first lady, and the vice president and his wife by his side. By the time he finished speaking and offered a wave to the crowd, Bush grew emotional. Laura Bush leaned in to give him a hug. ...
"The Bush administration has already arranged security clearances for key Obama transition staffers and is providing working space and policy briefings as well. Career employees, who keep their jobs even when administrations change, have taken on extra work to prevent any disruption in essential services.
'"We must keep our attention on the task at hand, because the American people expect no less,' Bush directed the executive employees." ...
It's all just another reminder to the rest of the world (and maybe more than a few within our country) of what makes this country special.
posted by Ira Fusfeld at
Thursday, November 06, 2008
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