Posted on 11/12/2008 6:37:11 PM PST by Beloved Levinite
President-elect Obama to President Bush: Time to tell all
BY MICHAEL McAULIFF DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Wednesday, November 12th 2008, 1:28 AM
WASHINGTON - Time to open the books, George.
President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is moving full speed ahead - and starting Monday, will demand access and details from what many regard as the most secretive White House ever.
"By the end of the week, we'll announce agency review teams that will complete a thorough review of more than 100 departments, agencies and commissions of the United States government, as well as of the White House," Obama transition boss John Podesta declared Tuesday.
He also said the members of those teams would all be announced online soon.
"This is part of our commitment to make this the most open and transparent transition in history," Podesta said.
Podesta, a former Clinton White House chief of staff, said the goal was to give incoming honchos the details they need to start making "strategic" decisions even before the inauguration and then to launch "signature policy initiatives" soon thereafter.
Both sides have praised the other's cooperation and information sharing.
But Tuesday, they had to smooth over reports the Bush administration was peeved with Obama aides who shared details of the two leaders' historic private confab on Monday, which would have had to have come from the Obama side.
Aides told some news outlets that President Bush was trying to get Obama to back his free trade deal for Colombia in return for Bush pushing a new economic stimulus that Obama wants.
"While the topic of Colombia came up, there was no quid pro quo," Podesta said.
"Whatever happened this morning was a result of reports which I think were not accurate," he said. "I think we've cleared it up and agreed to move forward."
Podesta added that he's had "excellent cooperation" from White House chief of staff Josh Bolten. "When we have a disagreement, we know how to pick up a phone and talk to one another," he said.
In another contrast to the current administration, Team Obama said it was banning federal lobbyists from contributing to the transition and would likely do the same for the inauguration.
Podesta said the tab for gearing up to take over will cost about $12 million, with $5.2 million coming from the Treasury.
In spite of the already emerging contrasts, Bush remained positive in his assessment of Obama - particularly the President-elect's devotion to daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.
"Clearly this guy is going to bring a great sense of family to the White House. And I hope Laura and I did the same thing," Bush told CNN.
"But I believe he will. And I know his girls are on his mind, and he wants to make sure that first and foremost, he's a good dad. And I think it's going to be an important part of his presidency."
mmcauliff@nydailynews.com
With Kenneth R. Bazinet in Chicago
The "no class" administration?
The obama overreach has started.
Arrogance has started.
yet the BDS voters are just cheering like good brownshirts.
Bush should open the books when The One produces his vault original certified, unaltered version of his Certificate of Live Birth. Until then, no dice.
Bush needs to slam the door in the marxist’s face. This is pathetic. And the democrats have already made their plans to ‘investigate’ the Bush Admin.
And the idiots that populate the GOP thought they needed to nominate to nominate an even more moderate dem butt kisser.
Bush should tell Obama to go ‘F****K himself
Shred everything.
most open and transparent in history eh
Clinton’s was supposed to be most ethical in history wasn’t it?
I am getting sick of the history-onics of this crowd
Followed by Ramos and Compion.
Well, immediate family is great, but I am concerned about an extended family in the White House. Such as Rezko, Ayres, Dohrn, Khalidi, Odinga, ....
Obama is much more like the “second coming of Jefferson Davis”.
The naive One has to do something to distract from all his soon to be broken campaign promises.
“It’s a tad premature to be issuing demands, seeing as how the Electoral College hasn’t even voted.” Ding! Ding! Ding! Ahhh... me now wonders if there might be truth and proof to the birth certificate story... the question is why would obama taunt bush like this?
Or worse yet, to bin laden’s cave.
The Electoral College has the last word as to whether Obami is qualified to be President!
That’s on December 1 !
And he has to produce his birth certificate!
I have never been so pessimistic. Things are bad but will not get better.
Since they want to be jerks about it, the earliest date is now January 19th.
They want transparency, they go first, show us Obama’s real birth certificate, college records, campaign donations! POS Podesta!
I have quit watching to news all together and I am coming here instead. Each day my blood pressure goes up and I am ready to rumble. The arrogance of these people is beyond pale. They are making a mockery of this country. There is no way I will abide by his nonsense. He and his thugs are over the top.
Time to remove the B, H AND O keys and tell O go to hell.
Well, when liberals start accusing you for what you may have done, be sure that is exactly what they plan on doing.
By the most secretive and opaque president-elect in history.
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