I have been reading some heavy criticism of our President-Elect's choices for economics, intelligence and defense posts primarily based on the fact that they are re-treads from the Clinton Administration or that he is keeping Bush-Hawks in their posts. I feel it is important to keep up the progressive pressure, but folks can we we give PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA a chance? As the Onion so aptly put it, he has just been given the worst job in America.
It is not even a full month since the election. W is still in office and (1) trying to stuff every hack he can into a civil service post for future interference with progress (2) trying to approve regulations that serve his friends and no one else apparently in violation of his own edicts while (4) pretending to cooperate with the transition. As President-Elect Obama has pointed out already, there is only one president at a time and for another 50 days (thanks to Bill in Portland ME I know this number) we have W like it or not. We know he won't step down and even if he did that would mean we have Cheney with the football with his finger on the Button!
So, in light of the fact that nothing other than organizing the team, trying to instill a respect for law and starting the process of writing legislation for progressive programs, can we stop the hurling of brickbats? If you are already a malcontent before any change happens, what hope do we have that change will happen?
I know that all the things I want to happen wont all happen and those that will happen wont happen as soon as they should or as soon as I want them to. What I am hoping for is that the rebuilding of the country begins on whatever front makes sense to the man who is going to be in charge. that is why we elected him as opposed to Senator McCain or you or me for that matter. While I would love it, for example, if the healthcare system was re-invented and the health insurance industry eviscerated, I am trying not to be so naive as to think it will happen overnight. Similarly, the change we need in the financial sector will not happen with the utterance of a magic word or the wiggling of a Genie's nose. Legislation is a process and as Otto von Bismarck is alleged to have said: "In order to retain a certain respect for sausages and laws, one must not see them being made."
Even under the best circumstances if the House and the Senate were to convene prior to the inauguration and agree on bills to reform healthcare, regulate the financial sector, and change the way we change the the environment, and President Obama signs the bills (assuming no added fillers that are objectionable) the bills would still have to be implemented - agencies reformed, rules and regulations written and approved and people appointed and trained.
I know it is hard to wait after an interminable eight years of being robbed blind, but we have no choice but to wait until we have the AUTHORITY to do something.
I am all for keeping up pressure on all fronts to enact the progressive changes that are needed to make the USA a more perfect union. Just remember, this is the person we wanted to replace 43. Let's not destroy President Elect Obama before he even takes office