Posted on 11/11/2008 1:48:06 PM PST by IbJensen
Washington - President-elect Barack Obama plans to use his executive powers to make an immediate impact when he takes office, perhaps reversing Bush administration policies on stem cell research and domestic drilling for oil and natural gas.
John Podesta, Mr. Obama's transition chief, said yesterday Mr. Obama is reviewing President Bush's executive orders on those issues and others as he works to undo policies enacted during eight years of Republican rule. He said the president can use such orders to move quickly on his own.
"There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Mr. Podesta said. "I think that he feels like he has a real mandate for change. We need to get off the course that the Bush administration has set."
Mr. Podesta also said Mr. Obama is working to build a diverse Cabinet. That includes reaching out to Republicans and independents - part of the broad coalition that supported Mr. Obama during the race against Republican John McCain. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been mentioned as a possible holdover.
"He's not even a Republican," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said. "Why wouldn't we want to keep him? He's never been a registered Republican."
Mr. Obama was elected on a promise of change, but the nature of the job makes it difficult for presidents to do much that has an immediate impact on the lives of average people. Congress plans to take up a second economic aid plan before year's end - an effort Mr. Obama supports, But it could be months or longer before taxpayers see the effect. Mr. Obama could use his executive powers to at least signal that Washington is changing.
"Obama's advantage of course is he'll have the House and the Senate working with him, and that makes it easier," said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. "But even then, having an immediate impact is very difficult to do because the machinery of government doesn't move that quickly."
Presidents long have used executive orders to impose policy and set priorities. One of Bush's first acts was to reinstate full abortion restrictions on U.S. overseas aid. The restrictions were first ordered by President Reagan and the first President Bush followed suit. President Clinton lifted them soon after he occupied the Oval Office and it wouldn't be surprising if Mr. Obama did the same.
Executive orders "have the power of law and they can cover just about anything," Mr. Tobias said in a telephone interview.
Mr. Bush used his executive power to limit federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, a position championed by opponents of abortion rights who argue that destroying embryos is akin to killing a fetus. Mr. Obama has supported the research in an effort to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's. Many moderate Republicans also support the research, giving it the stamp of bipartisanship.
On drilling, the federal Bureau of Land Management is opening about 360,000 acres of public land in Utah to oil and gas drilling. Bush administration officials argue the drilling will not harm sensitive areas; environmentalists oppose it.
"They want to have oil and gas drilling in some of the most sensitive, fragile lands in Utah," Mr. Podesta said. "I think that's a mistake."
Two top House Republicans said there is a willingness to try to work with Mr. Obama to get things done. But they said to expect Republicans to serve as a check against the power held by Mr. Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress.
"It's going to be a cheerful opposition," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. "We're going to carry those timeless principles of limited government, a strong defense, traditional values, to the American people."
Mr. Pence is expected to take over the No. 3 leadership post among House Republicans.
In other transition matters, Mr. Obama's new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, would not say whether Mr, Obama would return to the Senate for votes during the postelection session this month. Mr. Obama's presence would be extraordinary, given his position as president-elect, especially if Congress takes up a much-anticipated economic stimulus plan.
"I think that the basic approach has been he's going to be here in Chicago, setting up his economic, not only his economic team, but the policies he wants to outline for the country as soon as he gets sworn in, so we hit the ground running," Mr. Emanuel said.
Also, Mr. Emanuel would not commit to a Democratic proposal to help the auto industry with some of the $700 billion approved by Congress to for the financial bailout.
Mr. Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a letter Saturday to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that the administration should consider expanding the bailout to include car companies.
Mr. Podesta appeared on "Fox News Sunday," as did Mr Pence, and CNN's "Late Edition," where Mr. Reid also was interviewed. Mr. Emanuel spoke on ABC's "This Week" and CBS' "Face the Nation."
The LOVE of money is the root of all evil. That makes the American government EVIL.
Disagree. It’s the Golden Rule. The people with the Gold Rule.
I think you underestimate "o"
He's an arrogrant, elitist, narcissist.
I don't think we will have seen the power grab to tilt the balance of power to the executive office like none other since Lincoln
I find it more alarming that Bush picked someone who wasn’t a Republican, and in fact had NEVER been a Republican!
Ed
Who’s everyone? I recognize a pander when I spot it. The only person who truly favored drilling in this campaign was Sarah Palin.
I’ve never understood how an executive order has the power of law. If the president can do it why not the governnor or even mayor?
Second, Podesta, another Clintonite. They should have elected Hillary.
As for making all these changes, I have a feeling he learned some stuff the other day that made HIS leg tingle.
Listen, dope, I guess you don’t know a joke when you hear one. Have a good day. You need one.
there is also the water issue for the type of extraction required in Wyoming, Utah, etc... we don't have any and the people on the East side of the divide don't want to share any of their water.
Oh I have no doubt they will go even higher than $4, this downturn was simply to take the eye off this significant pocketbook issue when people went to vote. McCain had it as an issue until people saw it was working and like the October Economic Surprise started quickly lowering prices on oil by November 4th. The O stated he thought prices should be much higher — and under him they will be.
so were you one of the 20%ers?
I know a joke when I hear one and this is the second time today I heard a joke. Don’t have a nice day IN SPADES.
And that is exactly what will bury this American form of so-called democracy.
Our eventual form of government will not be a socialist or communist one, however. The form into which it will morph will be the present political class's worst nightmare.
Goodnight, Obomba. Goodnight, Barney. Pleasant dreams.
LIke all Democrats, and many Republicrats, being a member of the Elite Political Class requires one be a congenital liar!
It will drive this nation into the arms of dictatorial fascism.
John Podesta, Mr. Obama's transition chief, said yesterday Mr. Obama is reviewing President Bush's executive orders on those issues and others as he works to undo policies enacted during eight years of Republican rule. He said the president can use such orders to move quickly on his own.
I think that fat, dumb and apathetic USA citizens deserve to get slapped around by so-called executive powers and executive orders by a renegade, Socialist president until they wise up to the following. The federal Constitution doesn't authorize constitutionally clueless Obama and Congress to do much of the crapola that he promised to do during his campaign.
In fact, where so-called executive orders are concerned, not only does the Constitution not say anything about executive orders, but the USSC ruled in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer that executive orders do not have the force of law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youngstown_Sheet_%26_Tube_Co._v._SawyerExecutive orders are evidently a traditional way for the president to put orders to subordinates in writing, orders based on constitutionally delegated federal powers, so that the president has a basis to fire them if they don't do their jobs (corrections welcome).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_order_(United_States)
In other words, an executive order has as much lawful impact as a Form 180 sitting on John Kerry's desk, waiting for his signature.
But Obama doesn't want anybody to know this. He couldn't push his Constitution-ignoring, special-interest agenda as president if people understood executive orders.
Again, USA citizens are seemingly choosing the "privilege" of complaining about a federal government that ignores the limited powers delegated to it by the federal Constitution over demanding that the federal government work within its constitutional restraints; arguably a federal government shutdown.
Soon they'll be marching down Pennsylvania Avenue on inauguration day to the strains of the Horst Wessel Song.
But-But-He said he was going to impose a windfall profits tax on big oil.That wouldn’t increase the price of gas would it?They will pay it all from their own profits and not pass the cost on to the consumer wouldn’t they?Riiiiggggghhhhhttttttt.
I do believe, after what the Republcrat Party has been dishing up since RWR (excepting Gov. Palin) and the nation sleazes its way into pure communism, there will be a resounding revolution that will cause the political class, their allies and enemies of polite society to be treated as war criminals.
Leftist lie, cheat and steal with conviction and then shamelessly accuse conservatives of lying, cheating and stealing. It is what they are. Love or hate Michael Savage, he is absolutely correct when he states “liberalism is a mental disorder”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.