“We Have Two Presidents Now”
EmailFrom Senior Producer Tom Nagorski: Snapshots from a Tuesday morning: The President of the United States thanks returning troops at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. His Treasury Secretary speaks about the latest measures to battle the credit crisis. The President-elect holds his second news conference in as many days, to discuss plans to right the economic crisis. Mr. Obama plans yet another news conference tomorrow. His nominee for Treasury Secretary is garnering more attention than the man currently running the department. The period of transition is historically a time of hiring and planning for the president-elect, a winding-down for the occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The 1963 Presidential Transition Act was designed to give order to the process, to "promote the orderly transfer of the executive power." The statute also warned that "Any disruption occasioned by the transfer of the executive power could produce results detrimental to the safety and well-being of the United States and its people." Orderly transfer is one thing. But it is hard to recall a time when the President and President-elect were both so engaged in crisis management, hard to remember a time when the words and actions of the President-elect seemed to trump those of the outgoing man. That’s less a function of George W. Bush and Barack Obama than a reflection of the times. Clearly Mr. Obama realized in the last week or so that the usual slow pace of Presidential transitions, and deference shown to the sitting President, would not be enough to mollify the markets. January 20, in this context, seems a light year away. Hence the sensation, real if not exactly right: We have two Presidents now. Both are trying to navigate some very rough and unpredictable waters.
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I don’t know about ’2′
More like 1.25
Posted by: Deep Release | November 25, 2008, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
Bush & his administration should just resign now and allow the new President to come on in and start to work on trying to clean up the mess they have made. The Bush Adminstrationis doing nothing more than making things worse than they were before he passed the stupid bailout.
Posted by: spring | November 25, 2008, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
I didn’t think Obama had graduated from President 101 class yet.
Typical, Mr Celebrity thinks everything is about himself.
Posted by: HH | November 25, 2008, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
Unusually trying times call for unusual action. Hopefully the stimulus package will be enacted and ready to sign into law on innauguration day.
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | November 25, 2008, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
“…Mr Celebrity thinks everything is about himself.”
No, that would be John McCain, who has now become Mr. Irrelevant
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | November 25, 2008, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
HH: Why are you pretending not to understand?
Does it cost you anything to exercise “respect”?
Posted by: FM | November 25, 2008, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Can we drop one now, you know the do nothing lame duck one the one named George W Bush, the one that has nearly Destroyed and Bankrupted this country him can we rid ourselves of him NOW? And keep the smart lets do things one Barack H Obama can we have him now please?
Posted by: ANGIE | November 25, 2008, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
He is not the savior even though he thinks he is. He can do no more than is already being done. He is not smart at all, look at the people he puts around him, and they tell him what to say. At least, President Bush was his own man. Also, OUR President Bush will always be criticized because he is a Christian. And do you think he cares? Not at all he knows whose side he is on and who is on his side. Obama is not very bright, at all, I feel sorry for us.
Posted by: Janice | November 25, 2008, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
Janice, you must enjoy living in La La Land! Obama is a HARVARD LAW GRADUATE! Not smart? That is Bush all over. Bush should resign from christianity. He lies, manipulates, does everything that a real Christian loathes. He and Cheney, Rice and the rest of them are truly evil. Thankfully we will have a true, smart, able Christian in the white house after innauguration day.
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | November 25, 2008, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
FINE, AND THE REAL PRESIDENT CAN JUST RELAX AND VISIT NOW. SOMETHINGS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE.
Posted by: JOANNN TYAN | November 25, 2008, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
Bush is to being a good christian as Hitler is to being a great humanitarian. Bush is clearly evil incarnate.
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | November 25, 2008, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
Real Christian of him
Murderer of Innocent Iraqis
Torture
Spying on the American people
Bush is no Christian he is more like the Anti-christ!!! you should be ashamed to call him Christian all the lying evil things that man has done!
Posted by: Janice | November 25, 2008, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
I just watched Hasselbeck on the View complaining about Obama’s “President Elect” sign (it seems to irk her terribly), and then I switched over to the Fox News website (to see what the crazies were up to today) — lo and behold, that same ‘story’ is front and center headlines there. I knew Hasselbeck was far right, but I didn’t know she got her talking points from Fox everyday. Why doesn’t ABC just send her ass over there? She could pick up with ED Hill left off.
Posted by: hang | November 25, 2008, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
For the McCain and Bush haters: give it a rest; move on. Obama did.
Now, for the ‘two’ president thing:
I think somebody likes the limelight.
Obama does not have to give a big press conference everytime he appoints someone.
Obama needs to do what he has to do. It will ALL be reported by CNN, ABC, and all of the others, too.
I’m sorry, but anyone who does what Obama is doing just appears a bit boorish. Yes, appoint your cabinet people, etc. Do a press conference if you must; but don’t call the press every day.
People will start to tune out if Obama keeps giving press conference after press conference.
Now Obama people, don’t be hating.
You’ll live longer.
Posted by: we hear you | November 25, 2008, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
Mr. “Wonderful Christian” Bush’s record:
spying on American citizens
tapping phones
manipulating evidence for phony war
lieing to the public
torture
Extraordinary Rendition program
“Mission Accomplished” 2005
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | November 25, 2008, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
you are right, “we hear you.” I just get so angry when people cite Bush as this great, moral Christian.
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | November 25, 2008, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
The ironic thing is, that Obama was being criticized for not meeting enough with the press!
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | November 25, 2008, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
LOL, listening to this you people sound like the followers of the various TV Evangelists. Handing out their last few pennies…
If you gave, good for you. If you did not understand the process of how the FEC handles these things, thats your own issue. Don’t whine about it after, hell…your guy won. It just kinda of hard to take the fact he is no different than any other politician in how he got there.
Posted by: Mike_C | Nov 25, 2008 12:43:36 PM
========================
That’s simply because no one spent much time vetting Bush’s faith when he was running for President. If someone would have spent HALF the time they did with Obama, they would have found out that Bush was a sham when it came to christianity.
No Christian can do what he has done and still call themselves a christian.
Posted by: Omentum | November 25, 2008, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
Of course Obama will get criticized by Fox and their followers. And Elizabeth Hasselbeck is about 1 step up from Sarah Palin and that’s not saying much–two airheads who say absolutely nothing of any value. Obama is trying to restore some confidence in our economy and this country, and feels that by communicating with the public, we will see some hope for our future. Bush hardly ever gave a press conference. He was too inarticulate to answer questions. Obama wants to communicate with the people of this country. What’s wrong with that? You haters just can’t accept the fact that he is an intelligent decent person who was elected by a huge majority of voters and he is our President for the next 8 years. Get used to it.
Posted by: geecee | November 25, 2008, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
YOURE DAMED IF YOU DO, AND YOURE DAMED IF YOU DONT.
Posted by: DIMPLES | November 25, 2008, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
At least Obama isnt a deer in Headlights at his press conference like lame W He informs the people,and doesnt have that Evil Grin like LAME W
Posted by: ANGIE | November 25, 2008, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Who cares what fox news says their ratings are going down anyway, noone is interested in the far right wing nonsense ding dong the GOP Is dead!! yah yippie yahoo
Posted by: ANGIE | November 25, 2008, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
Unfortunately, Obama is the .25 in the first comment. The “Office of President-Elect” bothered me from the first time I saw it — no such official office as that. And as for Obama being our President for the next 8 years; last I knew he’ll have to be ELECTED again in order to carry that out – where’s your crystal ball? I don’t remember in all the Presidential elections where a President-elect has had so much press prior to inaugruation day. Either he’s really full of himself or the powers behind him feel the need to use him to hold America’s hand.
Posted by: kat | November 25, 2008, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
SOMEBODY HAS TO STEP TO THE PLATE. BUSH SURE ISNT, AND WHERE IS MCCAINE? BOTH OF THEM ARE ACTING LIKE SPOILED CHILDREN, WHILE OBAMA HAS TO BE THE MAN ADULT. AT A TIME LIKE THIS. HOW DISHONORABLE IS THAT. OBAMA IS TRYING TO CLEAN UP BUSH AND MCCAINES MESS AND HE ISNT EVEN PRESIDENT YET. YOU DONT EVEN APPRECIATE THAT FACT. KICK BUSH OUT OF THE WAY FOR A REAL MAN!
Posted by: DIMPLES | November 25, 2008, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
I can’t judge whether Bush will go to heaven or not. I hope I go and I hope EVERYBODY goes.
I think we all agree that we were indeed attacked on September llth.
(we were also attacked before this.)
I’ve been thinking where we went wrong.
Obviously, we didn’t play it smart. We let fear, anger, rage creep in. We did indeed had to so SOMETHING. Democrats voted on this as well.
The American people (well, at least a lot of us) have the mentality of WWII &
John Wayne from parents or grandparents.
We see ourselves as the ‘good guys’.
For the most part, the American people are good. We do a lot of good works.
However, we have also done stupid things. We didn’t think things through step by step. We attacked Iraq – Sadaamn was bad. Okay. But now look at the mess we have. We were FOR Sadaamn because of Iran; then we were against him because he was ‘bad’ all of a sudden. He was bad for a very long time.
Sometimes you have to keep in the ‘bad’
dude so the REALLY ‘bad’ dude doesn’t take over. That’s the world’s reality.
Now I’ll say something nice about Obama.
He’s very intelligent, obviously. Most importantly, he has a calmness about him. That’s his personality. This might come in handy with other world leaders.
AlQaeda was just being AlQaeda with their stupid letter to Obama. We need to isolate these people from the rest of the world. Bush’s mistake was that he isolated US from the rest of the world. I’ll admit to that.
Maybe Obama can convince them to stand together against Al Qaeda or whoever else wants to destroy democracy.
Now, it’s obviously to me that our brand of democracy won’t work in Iraq. We need to get that out of our heads. Whatever works for them is good with me. What about you?
Also, what do you think of the bailout?
All of a sudden we have ALL of this money to wave around. With all of that money we could have set up ALL schools with first rate equipment and teachers.
With all of that money free clinics and hospitals could have been set up for a very long time.
With that money we could have done a lot of things.
I think it’s all a scam. Now don’t just blame Bush. Remember Pelosi and her cohorts standing on the Senate floor.
Pelosi was losing it there on the steps of the senate. She looked crazy.
Why all the urgency NOW? Everybody is getting on that band wagon.
WE ALL BETTER WRITE OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO ASK THEM HOW ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO WORK.
Posted by: write your representatives NOW | November 25, 2008, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
Where is McCain, you ask. What do you want him to do? Hold press conferences?
It’s not his place to do this. He’s merely a senator now. If he held a press conference, people would be mad about that.
What about Bush, you ask. Well, he is a lame duck now. That’s how it’s going to be for Obama at the end of HIS time.
As for the marathon press conferences:
It’s of MY opinion (I didn’t say you had to agree) that there are too many calls to the press. Soon, people, including Obama fans, will tune out.
That’s the reality of it all.
I do believe that the media will report what Obama is up to each step of the way.
Obama is NOT the president yet.
This IS the in-between stage that happens when we change presidents.
Obama is busy picking his cabinet and such things as that. Every president does the same thing Obama is doing now.
He’s not re-inventing the wheel – as much as some would like to think so.
I wasn’t for Obama at election time.
I, however, as an American, would like to see Obama do great. That IS the smart thing to do.
Now, we should all move on.
Breathe deeply; live longer.
Posted by: write your reps now | November 25, 2008, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
No, we don’t.
Seems some have never learned the facts. The facts are George W. Bush is the President of the United States of America. Barack Hussein Obama is the president-elect. Essentially nothing even close to a president.
The boy wonder does like to be that center of the attention. What was it they called it, star power, or just plain hungry for star recognition. Just wait till ma and the kids and aunt jaumima move in. Boy wonder always flies second to the dark knight.
Posted by: Buyer's remorse | November 25, 2008, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
get real, where’s the birth certificate
Posted by: Kay Geebie | November 26, 2008, 2:36 am 2:36 am
Please don’t name-call anymore.
It’s counter-productive, and it just makes everything worse.
Lets move on.
It’s the smart and classy thing to do.
I didn’t say to give up. Write your representatives about the bailout money and the terms that go with it.
Lets get some clarity on this.
Demand that the ‘big shots’ do not get any bonuses or perks until they pay the taxpayers back every dime.
Demand to know: what’s going to change in the banking and auto industries.
Posted by: demand to know | November 26, 2008, 11:01 am 11:01 am
NOW WE CAN SEE WHO REALLY LOVES THEIR COUNTRY, OR WAS IT JUST POLITICS AS USUAL, TO WIN?
Posted by: DIMPLES | November 26, 2008, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
FOR THOSE WHO SEEM CONFUSED ABOUT THE CHANGE OBAMA WAS TALKING ABOUT. THE CHANGE IS IN THE GOVERNMENT. ONE THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE. A GOVERNMENT WITH INTEGRITY, AND HONESTY THAT YOU CAN TRUST TO DO THE RIGHT THING. NOT FOR GREED, AND SELF GRATIFICATION. A GOVERNMENT WITH BRAINS, NOT A ONE TRACK MIND DOING THE SAME OLD THINGS THAT DONT WORK. WHERE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO LOVE THEIR COUNTRY SO MUCH? LEAVE HIM ALONE, AND LET HIM WATCH HIS BACK. EVERYONE WITH A BRAIN CAN SEE WHATS GOING ON. IM JUST SAYING.
Posted by: DIMPLES | November 26, 2008, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
The birth certificate (or lack of anyone seeing same) has bothered me for some time. Why wasn’t one produced?
Posted by: NYNick | November 26, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Since we are on the subject.. Wasn’t MCcain born in Panama… that is what his birth certificate says….I did not know Panama was a part of the United States….lol
Posted by: talking about birth certificates | November 28, 2008, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
Bush really isnt Christian anyways…he is a Mason
And we will see about Obama, b/c he isnt a man of the faith in any regard
God bless America – He will control the hearts of man to do his biding and accomplish His divine purpose
Dont be surprised if Obama gets his life turned around to be the greatest president in the history of America
Posted by: White Bishop | December 11, 2008, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
Some are saying that Obama, isn’t this or that, but I suggest that you read your bibles go the book of Judges,and read the story of Deborah and Barak.
If you really want to see change start with yourself, then you can see the changes in other.
Remember there is a higher power in play here and it is not man.
Peace be until you all
Posted by: Linda B | December 12, 2008, 12:35 am 12:35 am
Some of you pepole are CLEARLY clueless to tons of whats been going on. Did anyone see the interview with the guy who made the movie about Obama voters? There were about 80% of them that voted for him just because, they had no real reason and didn’t have a clue what he stood for or against. When it all boils down to it. Gods voice will be heard. Did anyone happen to acctually research anything while this election was going on? Did over half of any of you acctually watch the news? So many people either voted because of Color, or stupidity. NATIONAL POLES SHOW THAT. PROVEN FACTS. And the fact that Obama is for abortion. Come on dont tell me no one knew that? He said it SO MANY TIMES. And that if you would have paid attention you would have noticed that his tax plan was SO much worse than McCains because it was going to cost people SO much more in the future. Bet no one saw that either though did they? My point is presents some facts before you go bashing people. And be careful who you put your mouth on and what you say about them. The bible says touch not my annointed. In other words, you talk bad about a christian then God deals with you. I would just hate to be you when you get dealt with by God.
Posted by: Brandon | December 13, 2008, 12:46 am 12:46 am
I did not vote for Obama because of abortion and the tax plan. He is now the president elect. I am an american. I will support him with everything I have. If my convictions are being violated, I will write to my congressman. I will not bash Obama. Some creeo threw shoes at my president. It doesn’t matter if I like him or not, he is my president. Every american should feel insulted. I call this concept unity. We need it now. I urge all of you to think like Americans, and get behind your elected leaders. Lobby if something is wrong, but be americans. I pray that Obama has done nothing wrong. We don’t need another scandal like we had with Bill Clinton. I urge you all to unite and be americans.
Posted by: Dan Reynolds | December 17, 2008, 8:51 am 8:51 am
I did not vote for Obama, not because of the party he is with (Democrats), but because I feel that he does not have enough experience.
He is still wet behind the ears, but since he was voted into office, I will pray for him and his family.
I also believe that it is not wise to speak ill of our current president. Just think of what he has to go through, could any of you do the same job he or any president has done?
Most people would crack under the pressure. I mean being in charge of the whole of the United States.
This country in itself is a hard country to run, with every decision that he has made, he get bashed.
It seems like it is everyones biggest kick is to bash President Bush. He has made mistakes, but he is not perfect. He never claimed to be.
What everyone needs to do is Pray for him, not condemn him.
I remember somewhere in the Bible where it says “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”
There seems to be a lot of sinners throwing a lot of stone President Bush’s way.
We all need to look inside our selves and question what kind of people we are. Are we acting like Christian’s ourselves? Or are we being Judgemental towards someone who is a child of God?
No one knows what is in Bush’s heart except God.
I suggest everyone read Matthew 7: 1-5
Posted by: Dreamer | December 19, 2008, 1:28 am 1:28 am
God has picked his man and his
name is Barrack Obama,so suck it up.
Pray for him.Pray that he will do what
GOD wants him to do.If you do this we will have peace and prosperity.Is there
anything better than that?
Posted by: Leroy | December 19, 2008, 11:26 am 11:26 am
Obama is an empty suit full of ahhs, umms, uhhs. He cannot think for himself and is spoonfed from his advisers. He won the election because he is the “Messiah” who came to save the whole world.
Posted by: Lizbeth | January 2, 2009, 2:28 am 2:28 am
Do you know how dangerous it is to speak against prophets? President George W. Bush wasn’t only our former president, he was a prophet called by God. He wasn’t perfect, but he is a Christian and a prophet.
Posted by: Seer | January 22, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am
The bottom line is that GOD is in control and even though I did not vote for Bush, God uses whom HE wants when and how HE wants and we are responsible to pray for our country. I voted for Obama because it clearly seems that Republicans do not care about Main Street! The saddest thing today is that a man shot and killed his five kids and his wife over losing his job. It is time for us to pray for our country and the economy and for GOD to give Obama wisdom in how to bring our country out of this trying time. This is about hurting people not about billionaires who keep asking for money from the federal gov’t and giving CEOs more $ instead of helping 90% of our country who are regular families and folks that are trying to put food on the table, pay a mortgage, and pay their bills.
Posted by: Mojo | January 27, 2009, 11:18 pm 11:18 pm
We have to let the pass go, not be bitter, and angry. If you notice all are calling Obama the first black president, do they realize that he is bi-racial. Not all black is what that means. He has part white in him. I do not call this historical at all. I believe that the Lord sits on the throne and set the government where He wants. I am trusting In the Lord, not man.
Posted by: Sylvia L Campbell | May 20, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm