Only One U.S.President at a Time!  

I wish Bush would go back on vacation... like he did just after he was elected. I think the economic pronouncements and cabinet selections are giving the American people hope and the rest of the world a little more confidence as well. It won't be easy but at least we have someone intelligent.

I think when Obama said he was ready to hit the ground running, he probably wasn't expecting to be running full speed in place BEFORE his inauguration. Lame duck season is always a tricky one to navigate for both the president and the president-elect, but with the current financial crisis, it's a rock and a hard place for both men. One has the legal authority to act but little public confidence - and not just because of who he is, but because he'll be out of office in two months. Any steps that he takes now are going to lack real force because he's not going to be around to see them through. He could make the most brilliant decision ever, and I doubt it would make much difference in the tenor and sentiment in the country. Everyone knows that he's gone in two months anyway and they'll be working with Obama's administration.

Obama, on the other hand, doesn't have the legal authority to actually do anything yet - but he does have the ability to make a difference where it honestly counts the most right now, and that's in affecting the mood of the country as a whole and the markets specifically. By stepping up with a plan, being calm, cool and collected, Obama is basically saying to the world "Hang on, we're working on this." By being assertive and vocal now, he's making it clear what kind of leader he'll be. It's kinda like having your dad on the phone when you're in a major pickle, and knowing he can't do anything from where he is but... don't you feel so much better hearing him say, "Okay, honey, I'm on my way. Just don't do anything stupid until I get there"?

0bama is possibly making an extreme mistake in appearring to be a co-president. The mistake would be one of over exposure. That is, even if what he has to say is brillant, people will get tired of seeing his face and hearing his voice if he is on the tv and radio all the time. Even before the inaugeration? Does 0bama think we all crave to see his face, hear his melodious voice, and to contemplate his wisdom, every day?

0bama needs to get real. Highly talented show business performers know very well that even if one is brillantly highly talented, people get tired of seeing the same act over and over. 0bama is already showing us his 'act'. Over and over.

It would help 0bama and the nation, if 0bama would back off until he is President. That way, 0bama can delay the evitable of the nation just simply getting fed up with the man.

Think ya got that right on Bush dam if he does and damed if he dont

It seems that Obama is more interested in upstaging Bush then in helping the economy. The trouble is that he will hurt the economy but in his case it will be all right because he is Obama, the great, ruler of --- ,etc. And it seems that Bush has been villainized so much, that he will be blamed even if he did the best for the economy in opening up oil drilling in the States.
It seems this election was won on idolization rather on what the country needs.
I am waiting for the four years when the American people who voted for Obama realize their mistake.

Well, I certainly don't think it would be hard to upstage Bush on the economy. I also think people need to know that Obama is coming up with a plan. What he's doing is very similar to the things that FDR did between his election and his inauguration. That's how he was able to get so much legislature through in those legendary first hundred days.

I just heard that Obama had appointed Paul Volker to head up his economic team and that made me feel better. When the part of the banking act of 1935 (Glass Steagall was repealed after 300 million dollars worth of lobbying by the investment banking industry, Volcker was the only Washington official to object. He went on record saying that he did not think that repeal was a good idea. Boy, was he ever right. I just hope Obama listens to him better than Clinton did. (Not that I think Clinton was a bad president. I just think he was way off on that one.)

Obama has been making speeches, yes, but it is not likes he's following Bush around in all his economic summits and meetings with foreign officials. And of course his cabinet choices and economic plans are going to be important, we are only a little more than a month away from Obama taking office.

We're in a totally unique situation that we've never been in before, in my opinion, and I'm actually impressed by the way it at least appears that the outgoing and incoming Administrations are cooperating with each other, seemingly for the good of the country. It's true and Obama himself said it shortly after being elected we have one President at a time but with the crisis our economy is in on so many levels he really has to take an active role before Inauguration Day.

When Phil Gramm said we were in a "mental recession" a few months ago I totally disagreed and was actually rather offended but I'll definitely concede that the mental outlook of the country is important when it comes to the economy. People have lost confidence in the Bush Administration, rightly or wrongly so, and seeing Obama introduce his new economic team seems to have given a shot in the arm to the stock market, at least. "Hope" does matter when so many people seemed to have lost it!
Annie

it can only be expected that obama will get crazy publicity. just think about it. this was by far the most historic election. there was a black candidate and a female candidate that made it very far in the electoral process. as well as vice presidents. and since the entire country thinks bush really dropped the ball the country is excited about obama.

I feel if Obama were actually interested in "hitting the ground running" and helping the American people - he would be using his time meeting with Bush and with Congress in an attempt to get his plan in action. Instead, he's holding press conferences that aren't really telling anyone anything more than what he said during his campaign.

I tend to feel that he hasn't learned to "Walk the Walk" yet - he's still talking the talk.