Office of the President-Elect?
I’ve been giving this some thought. There’s a new office in our Government. It’s the Office of the President-Elect. Completely new fabrication by President-Elect Obama. But to what purpose?
The site (cleverly named change.gov) explains it as:
Throughout the Presidential Transition Project, this website will be your source for the latest news, events, and announcements so that you can follow the setting up of the Obama Administration. And just as this historic campaign was, from the beginning, about you — the transition process will offer you opportunities to participate in redefining our government.
Come back often as we define new programs and possibilities to engage and be part of this administration.
Not exactly an explanation of the office itself, but more of the the website. In all, it seems to be a Office designed to give the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect a public face. As if they needed one.
I see two things here. One, it claims to be opening up the process of the transition. That could be good. If it’s followed through with. It may, but I have my reservations. The other thing I see this office being is a way for Obama to hasten his Presidency. He can’t legally, of course, but by creating this office, he creates a sort of overlap of the current “lame duck” Presidency with his own “hope” filled presidency.
It also makes me wonder if President Bush is just ready to be done. Why else would you let the President-Elect overshadow you like that? Or are his advisors leading him down that path?
November 7th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I would say along the lines of what we saw during the campaign. Vocally he is going to do a very good job at pointing out he is not President yet… however he will let his advisors and spokespeople work on the overshadowing and keeping the public excited.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:21 am
It is an actual, legitimate office, spelled out in federal law, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963.
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/gsatransitionopinion1final.htm
November 9th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I wouldn’t say that that spells it out Fred. It does allow for the GSA to supply the president-elect some office space, but doesn’t say anything about creating a governmental office (An “office of” is different from office space.).
November 11th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
How about this:
http://www.opm.gov/transition/TRANS20R-Ch1.htm
“The Presidential Transition Act of 1963, as amended, establishes the transition team as a Federal entity to provide for the orderly transfer of power between Administrations [3 USC 102 note].”
So it is not just four walls and some doors, but a functioning organization — as interpreted by the Office of Personnel Management.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I believe that paragraph actually is referring to the department within the GSA and not to the people on the President-Elects transition team. The GSA team is the team that helps with the transition for every President so you could argue that it could be called the Office of the President-Elect.
I did a bit of research based on your (fredmdud) earlier comment and the resulting post is here: http://www.donkephant.net/2008/11/10/office-of-the-president-elect-not-just-a-fabrication/