dkos: The Quiet Transition You are NOT Hearing About

[Coexist]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/20/141150/33/924/664212

You may have missed it on Friday last week when Obama announced the appointment of "Agency Review Teams" to go over the executive operations of government prior to Obama taking the oath:

The Agency Review Teams for the Obama-Biden Transition will complete a thorough review of key departments, agencies and commissions of the United States government, as well as the White House, to provide the President-elect, Vice President-elect, and key advisors with information needed to make strategic policy, budgetary, and personnel decisions prior to the inauguration. The Teams will ensure that senior appointees have the information necessary to complete the confirmation process, lead their departments, and begin implementing signature policy initiatives immediately after they are sworn in.

Now, it may not seem like a big deal, but for Washington, it pretty much is. Consider that the last two transitions -- from Bush I to Clinton, and from Clinton to Bush II -- had nothing like this whatsoever. When Clinton took office, people pretty much agree that his transition was fair sloppy, announcing cabinet posts and White House staff in a rush in the final weeks before being sworn in. And we know the Bush transition was a disaster. One word: Florida.

But there is definitely an air of change taking place during the unusually cold Washington autumn. Indeed, career employees of agencies are really impressed that this much forethought is going into the transition. Moreover, from what I've heard from some of the feds I know, it is rather remarkable. The transition team, almost surprisingly in some respects, has been given access to agency office space and staff to go over policy decisions and the like prior to January 20th.

Now, I realize people are clamoring for the "big change" in the form of some sort of sexy names in terms of Cabinet posts. But frankly, I think the obsession about "who" will be running these agencies isn't nearly as important as how President Elect Obama is demonstrating how he wants them to be run.

And the simple act of due diligence with respect to the executive is a earthquake of change unseen in at least the past twenty years, and potentially longer.

So, kvetch about the transition if you like. Get your pet peeves out about cabinet appointments and such. But so far, color me impressed, if only because the Obama administration is working now, doing their homework, and preparing to take charge on January 20th.

Definitely the kind of change we need in Washington D.C. And change that, frankly, is universally welcomed.

[MichiganVote]

1. Nobody recognizes it b/c we haven't see it since Eisenhower. Its called management.

[geckosfeet]

16. zactly

[poetsdream]

18. AMEN!

It's something we have't had in Washington or the top level of US corporations in YEARS! Like Obama said in one of his campaign speeches: 'What Washington needs is adult supervision.' The kids have had their wild party, now the adults are back home to clean up the mess and make sure it stays clean.

[tblue]

2. Wow. Just look at what experience as a community organizer can do.

Obama constantly astounds me.

[poverlay]

7. Lol ... good one! The man blew my doors so many times during the campaign that I'm finally coming

to the realization that, holy shit, he actually knows what he's doing! For the first time in my four decades of life, a president is actually doing the job he is supposed to do, and he's not even the president yet. I have no doubt that Obama will be the most respected and in many quarters, beloved, president since FDR. Possibly better. I find myself rejoicing in the trust I find myself feeling toward this wonderful man even though my every instinct is unused to trusting ANY public servant. As an Arizonan I must say that I have been softened up pretty thoroughly by Janet Napolitano. Putting her in charge of my security just confirmed President-elect O's wisdom and foresight.

In summation:
He constantly astounds me too.

[Coexist]

8. me too.

[Patiod]

13. Haven't heard a single MSM reaction to Napolitano

but my first thought was "who BETTER than someone who has challenging border security issues to deal with on a day-to-day basis?"

[poverlay]

14. This fine lady is the REAL pit bull. She has that not so common-common sense and a way of cutting

through the bullshit that has even the repugs in this state respecting her. She is an excellent choice and I am already sleeping better at night.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. This is the sort of thing the general public won't ever know about

and yet it will make the transition easier and allow the departments to be more effective immediately. Thanks for posting this!

[pinto]

4. Agree with the take. This seems clear headed, deliberate and competent management.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Excellent article that makes a very important point.

In the background, where we cannot see it..there is a lot of change and hard work going on.

This will also serve to help avoid and reverse some of the landmines and time bombs that BushCo is setting up for P/E Obama and his administration.

[truedelphi]

6. This kind of preparation for his big job is very reassuring

I am still not counting on all the "O"s being in place on all the keyboards when he arrives for work on Jan 21st, but with him in charge, no more worries about what will happen if there is another Katrina. Thi sis on eperson who will be ready for that 3Am call.

[babylonsister]

9. Nice find! Very reassuring-rec'd! nt

[Bobbieo]

10. Now, can we let Obama make his appointments?

[Historic NY]

11. It also allows him to ferret out the implanted moles.

[Cha]

12. This is among the important

change we need! Thanks FloridaDem!

[Alcibiades]

15. competence for a change

It is also pleasing that much of the shenanigans at the Bush administration have stopped. They are too busy shredding things and sending out resumes to really work on their schemes.

[RedLetterRev]

17. Bah-dah-BOOM!

My beloved has been railing over the specific appointments, but I've been saying that SOMEbody has to know where the light switches are and the bones are buried. The folks O's put in place so far are in a good position to know (and have reason to tell) where bones are buried and who among the living aren't on the up-and-up. True, I'm not as pleased as I could be with a few of the specific picks, but my "long range sensors" (and having watched a flawless campaign) say he's probably headed in the direction that Nancy Pelosi only gave a nod to: "draining the swamp".

That suckah has only gotten deeper since the Raygun era. It will take years to undo and can't be done in a single lurch, as much as I'd love to set fire to ever *-crony arse in DC. Practicality indicates things just can't work that way and have any sort of system survive. * is already scorching napalming the earth behind himself with one destructive executive order after another. Deregulation has quietly accelerated to warp speed. We won't know the scope of the treasury heist for years. Post-election, * and crew have taken a crap-pile and dumped a pig-waste lagoon on top of it.

Even if every one of use started with a shovel apiece, the gagging at what we're about to find will inevitably slow the work. Before the election, we said we wanted the smartest MFrs in the room. We're getting them, whether we like them each personally or not. They're going to know the likeliest places to start shovelling.

We're gonna hate it. But some nasteh work has got to be done.

[northernlights]

19. he intends to hit the ground running

along with the team.

This is so impressive. And I suspect it will filter down through the ranks, to boot. Doubtless his team knows what they're signing on to, can and will deliver.

I also get the impression when it comes to his staff and cabinet, slackers need not apply. Refreshing change after 8 years of record-breaking vacations.

[natrat]

20. wow ,people who actually care, who would have thought