Bush Signs Presidential Transition Order

Executive Order Effectively Turns White House Keys Over To Either Obama Or McCain

(CBS/AP)  A piece of paper that President Bush signed Thursday helps ease his way out of the White House when his term ends and clears the way for his successor.

For seven years and nearly nine months, he has signed virtually every memo or order or piece of legislation imaginable. He even vetoed a few bills, but the directive he put his name on Thursday was one that few talk very much about. Basically, it's the executive order that turns the keys to the White House over to whomever is elected president on Nov. 4.

A little publicized truth is that Washington can't wait until inauguration day next Jan. 20 to figure out the details of a transition to a new presidency. Both Barack Obama and John McCain already have designated officials to oversee such a transition once the outcome of the election is known. The transition team of the winning candidate will set up procedures for selecting key personnel and making policy decisions in the 11 weeks between the election and when the new president takes office.

Congress has appropriated $8 million to finance transition operations.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush's order was designed to help coordinate efforts already under way to ensure a seamless transition. She said Bush wants to make sure the next president's team has everything it needs to hit the ground running.

"This is especially important as our nation is fighting a war, dealing with a financial crisis and working to protect ourselves from future terrorist attacks," Perino said.

Bush's order established a presidential transitional coordinating council whose members include top officials from the intelligence and national security community, as well as the White House budget office, the Justice Department, Homeland Security and other agencies. Even before the election, they will work with the Obama and McCain campaigns "on an equal basis and without regard for party affiliation," the order directs.

"The council shall assist the major party candidates and the president-elect by making every reasonable effort to facilitate the transition between administrations," Bush's order said.

President Clinton issued a similar Executive Order on presidential transition to his successor, reports CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller -- though his came after the election, on Nov 27, 2000.

[airboatboy1]

I think McCain can save a few bucks by getting rid of his "transition team". Why would he need one?

[harbinger09]

This is funny--McCain made Republicans embrace a former mistress as potential first lady, illegitimate teen pregnancy, an Airhead for a VP and now they must embrace socialism and helping out the poor with a 300+ billion dollar mortgage bailout--before its over, the Republican party will seem more liberal than the Democrats and the Republicans have to swallow it--because he is all that they have.

Paying for a public bailout,ignoring subpoenas, obstructing investigations, then supporting airhead females for VP with secessionist party spouses and championing pregger teens indeed--what were those conservative values again? Hypocrites.

[liberalme]

Any information they give to Obama.They may as well give to Al Qaeda.


Posted by mr22582 at 08:21 P

Scumbucket---you never have any facts,

[royalia]

Does ya really wanna bring up personal and business associations? Do ya know the history of the Bush and bin Laden families? Check it out, it''s really interesting! Did Bush let the bin Laden family and members of the Saudi Royal family fly out of the U.S. when all other flights were grounded right after 9/11? Check it out. Do a little searching about those mysterious flights out of Florida and Lexington, KY.

[royalia]

"Any information they give to Obama.They may as well give to Al Qaeda."

What can anyone say to above idiocy? Are you still convinced he is Muslim? When is the last time you saw him on tv praying toward Mecca? He has to do that five times a day if he''s Muslim. You betcha! See if you can find the Youtube video of Obama preparing to go to Mecca! Did you hear what Gen. Patreus said today about talking with the Taliban? He''s starting to sound like Obama! Hmmmm....I bet he''s converted to Islam! Argh! Our general is a Muslim! Was the Iraq War a good idea? Hmmmm....methinks we should have focused on Afghanistan and Pakistan. We sure could use that trillion dollars we''ve spent in Iraq right now, eh?

[usclimey]

Posted by mr22582

You just a sore loser. And I mean looooooosseeeeeeerr

[usclimey]

How does it feel Georgie boy - the most reviled president ever - hell Nixon was the good guy compared to him.

[usclimey]

None of the true Texans I know have two seconds for Bush. They all wish he''d slink back to Connecticut where he came from.

[usclimey]

Posted by redbds

Hay red, you''d be convinced something was wrong with Obama if he revealed he was the second coming himself. Lies beget lies beget more lies. If 22 months of the toughest scrutiny the world can find doesn''t give any respectable news outlet anything to write about, IT AIN''T THERE. Give it a FVCKIN REST

[pr_boxer]

Obama can learn everything Bush knows in about 10 seconds, after that it''ll be dead time.... like Bush''s cortex.

[tejasdemo]

Dont come to Texas...go to Iraq...it''s hot there too

[dbaecht]

"W, don''''t let the door hit you in the a@@ on the way out. Texas, you can have him."

WE DON"T WANT HIM.

[citizenusa-2009]

McSame CLEARLY has an itchy trigger finger and wants to go out in a "blaze of glory". All the old gas bag is really entitled to is to be in the middle of a Cindy/Palin sandwich. That will shut him up for awhile..or give him a heart attack. Either way, he needs to fade into the background..(if he can remember where it is).

[citizenusa-2009]

I am becomming more and more convinced that Oblama is hiding something and that he is not just dishonest but an outright liar. This gets more disturbing every day.]
[Posted by redbds at 02:35 PM : Oct 09, 2008]

You need to grow up and get a life...disturbing, my a.s.s.!

[midvale3]

W, don''t let the door hit you in the a@@ on the way out. Texas, you can have him.

[citizenusa-2009]

Bush is such a pathetic lame duck that his presence doesn''t even prompt people to comment..wow..what a rotten apple...I WILL WATCH the criminal hearings when he and CHENEY are tried for war crimes, though..

[bobnjersey]

[I am becomming more and more convinced that Oblama is hiding something and that he is not just dishonest but an outright liar. This gets more disturbing every day.]
[Posted by redbds at 02:35 PM : Oct 09, 2008]

dishonest ... liar ... disturbing?

have you noticed the people that have been in power for the last eight years ... are you disturbed about that at all?

[redbds]

I have seen six differant spokespersons for the Oblama campaign on TV today. Each was asked about Oblama''s relationship with Ayers. Each answered the queistion by deflecting it as a dirty trick of the McCain campaign and trying to change the subject to the economy. I am becomming more and more convinced that Oblama is hiding something and that he is not just dishonest but an outright liar. This gets more disturbing every day.

[renonv5]

Posted by gunfighter51 As I said, we shall see.

[bobnjersey]

[the directive he put his name on Thursday was one that few talk very much about. Basically, it''s the executive order that turns the keys to the White House over to whomever is elected president on Nov. 4. ]

how did the singing statement read ... ''i reserve the right afforded to me under the constitution of the united states to do as i please ... despite what i just signed''