Academic

Transition Watch

By Muriel Morisey

Some of us are such junkies for all things political that even the transition is, if not as exciting as the campaign, at least a source of intense fascination.  So, as a politics addict, I am deep into a new obsession: what can the transition process tell us about President-elect Obama’s plans and priorities?  It seems the transition will be much like his campaign in many respects — with high standards of excellence, efficiency, competence and, to the extent possible, no drama.  The news media are doing their best to drum up controversy, but the Obama operation is running so smoothly some tv journalists are resorting to long stories about The Puppy. 

But some noteworthy things have already happened.  If news reports are correct, legions of experts are spread out across the government looking deeply into every office and issue in the bureaucracy.  This is unprecedented in its scope and early timing.  It may facilitation many needed changes that undue the damage of the Bush years.  Yet two other aspects of the transition worry me.

First, according to Transition co-chair John Podesta, as President Senator Obama will make robust use of Executive Orders to counter some of the regrettable Bush policies.  To the extent President Obama will undue problems created by Bush Executive Order, this makes a great deal of sense.  But the nation will not be well served if President Obama continues along the path of undue executive incursions on congressional prerogatives.  As much as the 111th Congress might like to accomodate the new President, Congress’ status as a co-equal branch of government is much weaker because of Bush’s unwarranted claims of executive power.  Barack Obama can be President for 8 years, at most.  His successor might be a power-hungry executive in the Bush-Cheney model.  Given the current plight of the Republican Party, that may seem unlikely now.  But it’s no more unlikely than Barack Obama’s election seemed eight years ago. Congress must look out for its own power, especially with a smart, savvy, charismatic President of their own Party in the White House.

Second, I worry about reports that applicants for political appointments will undergo intrusive inquiries into their person lives, their family members, and every aspect of their finances.  They must reveal every “handle” they’ve ever used on the Internet.  They must report on “any” association” that “could be used — even unfairly — to impugn or attack your character or qualifications for govenment service.”   I understand why a new President would hope for the most thorougly vetted Administration in history, but I wonder how many good people will fail to pursue jobs to avoid this extreme level of scrutiny.  Had this been a necessary aspect of getting my job as a political appointee in the Carter Administration, I might never have applied for the position.

ShareThis

Full post as published by BlackProf on November 13, 2008 (boomark / email).