Subscribe by RSS
The first official meeting between President-elect Obama and President Bush happened today at the White House. In a testament to the greatness of our democracy and freedom, pictures of the two men from different parties, and hugely varying policy stances, shaking hands and peacefully walking the White House grounds was something special to watch.
The report from Yahoo News:
WASHINGTON – All smiles and compliments, President-elect Obama and his wife, Michelle, called on President Bush and first lady Laura Bush Monday in a White House visit that was part political ritual, part practical introduction and a striking symbol of the historic transfer of power to come.
The president and Obama talked war and financial crisis. Laura Bush and Michelle Obama talked about raising daughters in the nation’s most famous house.
Then Obama flew back to Chicago to work on setting up the new administration that will take over on Jan. 20.
Mrs. Obama went out hunting a new school for the kids, visiting two of the capital city’s best-known private schools.
If first impressions matter, Obama and his wife displayed one similarity to the super-punctual Bushes, pulling up to the White House’s South Portico 11 minutes early. The couples traded warm and easy greetings in the crisp autumn sunshine, with the wives exchanging pleasantries about the fall hues each wore — Mrs. Bush in a brown dress and Mrs. Obama in a red one.
While Obama and Bush, in business suits, proceeded waving and smiling down the White House Colonnade for nearly two hours of private talks, Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Bush had their own agenda: talk of raising children in most unusual circumstances. Mrs. Bush conducted a tour of the living quarters of the historic mansion and made introductions to the army of residence staff who look after first families.
Michelle Obama had toured the White House before with daughters Malia, who is 10, and Sasha, who is 7. But the two women had never met.
The 43rd president and the man who will be the 44th — and first black — commander in chief met alone in the Oval Office, with no handlers or staff. It was Obama’s first time in the storied workspace, even though he had been to the White House previously for events.
Nether the Bushes nor the Obamas spoke to reporters, and details about their meetings were few.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said that Bush described the meeting as “constructive, relaxed and friendly,” covering problems at home and abroad, and that he personally pledged a smooth transition. Bush gave Obama a sneak peek at White House highlights, such as the Lincoln Bedroom and the president’s office in the residence, after their hour-plus in the Oval Office.
Video report from CBS News:
Video report from ABC News:
Video report from NBC News:
Raw video from the Associated Press:
Discussion and report from CNN:
Report on Michelle Obama’s meeting with First Lady Laura Bush from CNN:
Panel discussion on the meeting from Fox News:
A look at the body language of President-elect Obama and President Bush from Fox News:
There’s a lot of varying coverage to compare there between cable news and the broadcast outlets. Watching our current leader extend a friendly hand to our new leader, come January, is a bit awe-inspiring whether or not you supported Barack Obama. No blood shed and yet we have a peaceful transition of power. It is a testament to our democracy and the try civility of our nation despite the heated campaign season.
That’s not to say everyone is pleased with the election of Obama, however, everyone can hang their hat on how peaceful and strong our democracy truly is.
Visit the You Decide Politics Store »
Loading ...
Surely no one can diss Fox’s coverage of this event. Martha McCallum has been obama’s shining star on Fox during the whole election.
I think the class of the Bushes comes across here, in spite of the continuous bashing of Bush by obama during the campaign. I note someone in one of the videos said that obama never got personal with his insults. Where were they the last two years.
“Just hours after President Bush and President-elect Obama met in the Oval Office of the White House, details of their confidential conversation began leaking out to the press, igniting anger from the president, sources claim.”
”’Senator Obama would be wise to keep close counsel,’ a top Bush source warned.”
“Bush advisers view the leaks as an effort to undermine the president’s remaining days in office.”
“‘Senator Obama may not be familiar with a long-standing tradition of presidents holding their private conversations, private,’ a senior adviser explained to the DRUDGE REPORT.”
http://www.drudgereport.com/flashbol.htm
I wonder if Bush’s administration is as kosher with the making the transition happen.
Also, it is interesting to hear the Bush’s name and the word “class” come across in the same sentence. That is definitely not how his last 8 years would be described. I guess, people change even if it is in the last months.
The two men here have different views. Obama spoke about those differences. Now they are at a time where they have things that they need to discuss and Bush has to bring Obama up to speed. During this time, they both have to be professional and stick to business rather than differences. I believe it’s as simple as that. They don’t have to agree in everything, that is not the point of their meeting. Obama’s campaign has no play in their visit either.
While Bush has been graceful, Obama’s people stab him in the back. A glimpse of things to come?
http://elections.foxnews......indusstry/
Isn’t it interesting, Stalin, that obama treated his first confidential meeting with the real President as a teenage “he said, she said” playground event? I understand that as soon as the plane took off obama told his aides all about the “confidential” meeting, and that his aides immediately pulled select reporters on the plane to the side and “leaked” the information. Integrity is certainly not the word of the day for obama.
Babs,
I fear that the Chatty Cathy Obama administration will be a danger to our National Security if they don’t start taking this seriously.
Are you kidding? The Washington Post is reporting that Obama won’t be attending the security meetings this weeks with world leaders – but his AIDES will. Holy sh*t.
Stalin, do you disagree with Rep. Brown in this article?
http://elections.foxnews....../comments/
we are doomed. the sky IS in fact falling. we are headed for a depression and Obama is leading the charge. the bailout is not and will not work. all the money will be lost and it will happen very quickly.
the economy will not recover until Obama is gone from office. Obama is the worst thing for the economy, national security and protection of our freedoms. he is on the wrong side of nearly every single issue.
by the time the idiot Obama supporters understand all of this they will find themselves waiting in line for a bowl of soup.
it will be a very long time before we ever see another dem. president once Obama is gone.
Now we are calling Obama, Adolf Hitler. LoL Heil Obama!
The leakage has not been linked to any party. It is unjust to blame any body. If President Bush is innocent let him order an investigation.He’s still the president but he might not do that because he knows the GOP for roumor mongering. Are they not chewing Sarah Palin for very trivial and unfounded matters? No wonder they are again speculating about Obama dictatorship and maxism.
Pats, the “leakage” of the meeting contents has nothing to do with “party”. It has to do with protocol and integrity surrounding private meetings between two presidents, even including a future president. There is no blame to be guessed at here, the contents of the meeting were given to reporters by obama aides. The obama camp is not denying that.
What is in question is the appropriateness of it.
I’m a little amused today that even the Huffington Post seems to be getting in on the new media past time of disecting obama’s every move.
http://www.huffingtonpost.....42848.html
Baba
“The Washington Post is reporting that Obama won’t be attending the security meetings this weeks with world leaders – but his AIDES will. Holy sh*t.”
Did article say if “aides” were ever allowed into the meeting ? Who invited Obama ? Couldn’t be that Bush ? What kind of message is he sending. ? Does he need pre-condtions to meet world leaders ?
Babs – “The Washington Post is reporting that Obama won’t be attending the security meetings this weeks with world leaders – but his AIDES will. Holy sh*t.”
Eric – “we are doomed. the sky IS in fact falling. we are headed for a depression and Obama is leading the charge.”
You two are hilarious. Seriously, Obama reported that he will not be attending because he wants to avoid any appearance of upstaging the current president.
Can you imagine if Obama went…?? The foreign leaders would be distracted and be wanting to talk to Obama since he is the new president.
“He wants to start with a clean slate,” said Ross Baker, a political analyst at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Baker said Obama appears sensitive to propriety and does not want to look as though he is setting policy when “he has not yet had his hand on the Bible” to take the oath of office.
President George W. Bush had been open to having Obama take part in the summit on Friday and Saturday of leaders of the G20, which includes top industrial and developing economies such as France, Great Britain, Italy, China, Brazil and India.
But neither Obama nor his aides will attend.
“He’s very interested and thought it was very good to have the meeting. But in a phrase you’ll hear in exceedingly large numbers of times between now and the 20th of January, there’s only one president at a time,” senior Obama aide Robert Gibbs told reporters on Monday.
From Rueters – http://www.reuters.com/ar.....CG20081111
Co-chair John Podesta holds a pen and pad briefing with the media on the latest transition developments from Washington, D.C.
Announces transition ethics rules, which are aimed at curbing the influence of lobbyists. They will not be able to contribute or raise money for the transition.
http://thepage.time.com/o.....lobbyists/
Lobbyists are not allowed on Obama’s transition team.
New ethics rules released Tuesday say federal lobbyists are prohibited from lobbying while working on the transition and cannot contribute financially.
Anyone involved in the transition who later becomes a lobbyist isn’t able to lobby the new administration for a year on matters on which they worked for Obama.
Also says by the end of the week they’ll announce agency review teams to provide the president elect with the info needed to make strategic policy, budgetary and personnel decisions.
Says Obama-Biden are “hard at work” at trying to select their Cabinet, but adds that most president-elects don’t make those announcements til December.
Jd
“Also, it is interesting to hear the Bush’s name and the word “class” come across in the same sentence. That is definitely not how his last 8 years would be described. I guess, people change even if it is in the last months.”
…………………………………………………..
How about a list. Give your reasons. Things Bush,, by him self,, did that shows no “class”. Make your point !
Bill, I don’t know if it’s normal for aides to be at such meetings, but the invitation went out weeks ago to whichever candidate won to attend.
Bill, if there is one thing I am learning from you is that I don’t have to make a point.
we all can just say what we want, with out being held accountable. I hope babs jumps on your case for even asking me the question.
lol.
but Guantanamo Bay comes to mind… classy?
Public speaking… classy ?
http://www.telegraph.co.u.....16579i.jpg … classy?
http://bagnewsnotes.typep.....ical-9.jpg … classy?
just a few, i can think of.
Babs
For Obama, whose only foreign experience was as a child, meeting World leaders seems to me very important. A chance to get to know. Maybe discuss World recession. Help him get started day one
Yes, that was the point of not only inviting the president-elect, but as I recall the dates for the meetings were set when they were expressly so that the president-elect could attend (whoever that would be). I don’t get obama just sending his aides to take notes or whatever. I’m getting the impression that his priorities are all screwed up, and that can get the whole country all screwed up real quick.
By the way, Michael Steele will announce as soon as Thursday that he’ll be running for the chair position in the RNC. Newt has declined it, but is reportedly working closely with Steele. I can get behind Steele easily, he’s a good man, and I think he can definitely help to reshape the party.
Babs
Every good idea that people liked of McCains, Obama adopted. As President he will Do his. Example, drilling. Is why I call him Flem Flam Nan.
If Neewt backs Michael Steele he must be good. McCain’s lethal mistake. I do not know him, at least by name
Babs
I like him. Did not know his name. Watched him many times on Hannity.
Who votes to decide ? Did you know Glenn is coming to Fox ?
Jd
“Lobbyists are not allowed on Obama’s transition team”
………………………………………………..
WRONG
Jd
Lobbyist can not work for Obama transition team except under certain conditions
Eric F
No telling how many times you have posted this will not happen or this will happen…..Have you ever been right? Wait, I know that answer
If Bush don’t have us in line for soup then Obama could not do it. It’s all up hill from here.
USA
“If Bush don’t have us in line for soup then Obama could not do it. It’s all up hill from here.”
What economic signs tell you that ? National debt and unemployment is rapidly rising. Stock market in bad shape
U.S.A.
you are a funny guy. the days leading up to the election the DOW was rising. why? because McCain was gaining ground. the day before the election the DOW was close to flat. after Obama was elected what happened? the DOW fell and is still falling, just as i predicted. had McCain been elected the DOW would be up big time.
its so obvious that Obama is bad for business. everyone can see it except for the zombie Obama supporters. good luck with that tax rebate. lol.
change- its all you will have left.
USA
If, instead of blaming Bush, you really want to understand what got us in this situation. Find a non-political neutral source and look up the history of ACORN involvenment with sub-prime housing. It should tell you about Bill Clinton, Fanny and Freddy, and Democrat Frank. And more
Sub-prime lead to the collapse of our economy. All those big finanical institution fell holding all that bad notes. Educate yourself on this as EricF has. His style is not my style, but he is knowlegable. Are you ?
Bush is not tied to Acorn. Obama is.
Bush actually wanted more regulation, the dems were the ones that said nothing was wrong. why? because they were getting paid off.
i have heard that women voters swayed the election or hispanic voters or young voters but the truth is that uneducated voters are the ones that truely swayed the election. sad. now we will all suffer the consequences.
Evidence Points to Republicans being in bed with Feddie not ACORN.
On April 18, 2006 home loan giant Freddie Mac was fined $3.8 million, by far the largest amount ever assessed by the Federal Election Commission, as a result of illegal campaign contributions.
Freddie Mac was accused of illegally using corporate resources between 2000 and 2003 for 85 fundraisers that collected about $1.7 million for federal candidates.
Much of the illegal fund raising benefited members of the House Financial Services Committee, a panel whose decisions can affect Freddie Mac. Notably, Freddie Mac held more than 40 fundraisers for House Financial Services Chairman Michael Oxley, “Republican” from Ohio.
The FEC also found Freddie Mac officials used staff and resources to raise money from company employees to give to candidates, and that in 2002 the corporation itself gave $150,000 to the “Republican” Governors Association.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...../from/RSS/
Thank god not everyone goes to the school of EricF and Bill.
Jd
There you go again. Your cmprehension of what you read is poor. I was talking about sub-prime, not the other end of Acorn…Sorry
JD, are you trying to tell us Fannie/Freddie have been MORE in bed with Republicans than Democrats?
Surely blame is to go around, however, should we ignore this:
Every single Democrat who sat in hearings saying Fannie/Freddie were fine had their pockets lined by both corrupt organizations.
Fannie/Freddie should be dismantled as they’re corrupt organizations abused by Democrats and Republicans. The Clinton admin filled it with corrupt cronies, Bush probably did the same, Obama will probably also do the same. It’s a joke since people like the outrageously criminal Franklin Raines took millions of dollars while Fannie tanked.
What about the ashamed and corrupt Jim Johnson, the man who ran Fannie into the ground and then was asked by Obama to head his VP search committee?
Jim Johnson:
“An Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) report[1] from September 2004 found that, during Johnson’s tenure as CEO, Fannie Mae had improperly deferred $200 million in expenses. This enabled top executives, including Johnson and his successor, Franklin Raines, to receive substantial bonuses in 1998.[2] A 2006 OFHEO report[3] found that Fannie Mae had substantially under-reported Johnson’s compensation. Originally reported as $6-7 million, Johnson actually received approximately $21 million.”
JD, sure enough Republicans have abused Fannie/Freddie as well, however, we’d all be ignorant to excuse the abuse on both sides of the aisle. Fannie and Freddie are corrupt and should eventually be dismantled.
Why should government-run private entities be donating campaign money to ANYONE? It’s a corrupt practice.
Bill Hedges Nov 11th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Jd
“Lobbyists are not allowed on Obama’s transition team”
………………………………………………..
WRONG
I’m laughing out loud thinking that there will be no lobbyists involved with the Obama administration. Even if he manages to not hire a single lobbyist for his transition team, you’re just plain ignorant to believe there will not lobbyists involved in his administration. Lobbyists simply represent a certain cause, company, or industry, that’s all, it’s rather innocent for the most part. The thing is though, I don’t care since lobbyists don’t scare me, they’re just a term tossed about to scare voters into thinking they’re being screwed.
No lobbyists in the White House.. now I’ve heard it all.
Jd
Lobbyist can not work for Obama transition team except under certain conditions
Sorry
Jd
“Thank god not everyone goes to the school of EricF and Bill.”
You need comprehension skills. I talk about Acorn involvenment in sub-prime, and you try to crush my comment talking about Acorn fund raising.
Your ignorant
Palin2012
i love that woman, she will make a great president. so down to earth, so in touch. of course the msm will try to drag her down once again but she will be better prepared. the only question is who to pick as a running mate? hmmmm.
EricF, how about Bobby Jindal? They’d make a great team, I think.
The idea of banning lobbyists from a Transition team is laughable, let alone Washington. And obama says that even as he holds a press conference with the Labor Union boss and the Big 3 dog standing behind him. Who does he think he’s kidding?
Babs, i would love to see Mel Martinez but he was not born in the USA. maybe the law will be changed by then or maybe the Repubs can just ignore the law like the dems have.
Palin/Martinez would be an unstoppable force.
Well, it is good to know I can stir emotions!!!
Nate – “JD, are you trying to tell us Fannie/Freddie have been MORE in bed with Republicans than Democrats?”
No, I was not. My point was directed at Bill in that he was saying ACORN is the reason for the Freddie\Fannie problem. I was pointing out that his fellow republicans are more in bed with Freddie than ACORN is.
Nate – “I’m laughing out loud thinking that there will be no lobbyists involved with the Obama administration.”
I should have rephrased this to read guidelines for Obama’s transition team concerning lobbyists. i had meant that they are not allowed as in they can not lobby whilst they are working with Obama and they can not work in the fields of policy in which they lobbied.
Here are the Guidelines as stated by Obama’s transition team.
· Federal Lobbyists cannot contribute financially to the transition.
· Federal lobbyists are prohibited from any lobbying during their work with the transition.
· If someone has lobbied in the last 12 months, they are prohibited from working in the fields of policy on which they lobbied.
· If someone becomes a lobbyist after working on the Transition, they are prohibited from lobbying the Administration for 12 months on matters on which they worked.
· A gift ban that is aggressive in reducing the influence of special interests.
What are you thoughts on this Nate? To me this sounds like a move in the right direction.
EricF, well, the Governor’s meetings have kicked off in Miami this morning. I’ll look forward to hearing about the progress for reorganizing and stabalizing the party. From there, I think the sky’s the limit. And 2010 becomes much more important than 2012 at this point. Without a good 2010, we’ll not have much hope for 2012.
“What are you thoughts on this Nate? To me this sounds like a move in the right direction.”
You’re correct in that we should give President-elect Obama the benefit of the doubt. It just sounds funny to me because every politician pledges some kind of sweeping reform and yet most of it never happens. I will remain cautiously optimistic that Obama will hold firm on some of his promises.
Every politician seems to bat around lobbyists as pinatas but then always ends up dealing with them or hiring them. We’ll hold President-elect Obama to his promise to see if he can keep it. If so, I applaud his efforts to take one major step in reducing outside interests in Washington.
The one thing on that list which I do majorly agree with:
· If someone has lobbied in the last 12 months, they are prohibited from working in the fields of policy on which they lobbied.
I feel that way with Henry Paulson right now since he formerly was the head of Goldman Sachs. To me that screams conflict of interest when dolling out $700 billion since he has too many friends in the banking industry.
jd
I was not. My point was directed at Bill in that he was saying ACORN is the reason for the Freddie\Fannie problem”
I replied
“There you go again. Your cmprehension of what you read is poor. I was talking about sub-prime, not the other end of Acorn…Sorry
jd
“Evidence Points to Republicans being in bed with Feddie not ACORN.
On April 18, 2006 home loan giant Freddie Mac was fined $3.8 million, by far the largest amount ever assessed by the Federal Election Commission, as a result of illegal campaign contributions.
Freddie Mac was accused of illegally using corporate resources between 2000 and 2003 for 85 fundraisers that collected about $1.7 million for federal candidates.
Much of the illegal fund raising benefited members of the House Financial Services Committee, a panel whose decisions can affect Freddie Mac. Notably, Freddie Mac held more than 40 fundraisers for House Financial Services Chairman Michael Oxley, “Republican” from Ohio.
The FEC also found Freddie Mac officials used staff and resources to raise money from company employees to give to candidates, and that in 2002 the corporation itself gave $150,000 to the “Republican” Governors Association.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...../from/RSS/
Thank god not everyone goes to the school of EricF and Bill.”
jd
Here is your response to my sub-prime comment…No mention of sub-prime. Who needs to go back to school ?
Bill – “Who needs to go back to school ?”
You do, bill.
But the good news is you can get 4,000 toward your tuition (with 100 hours of community service) when you decide to go back!!!
I know, I know… Thank me later.
“If, instead of blaming Bush, you really want to understand what got us in this situation. Find a non-political neutral source and look up the history of ACORN involvenment with sub-prime housing. It should tell you about Bill Clinton, Fanny and Freddy, and Democrat Frank. And more
Sub-prime lead to the collapse of our economy. All those big finanical institution fell holding all that bad notes. Educate yourself on this as EricF has. His style is not my style, but he is knowlegable. Are you ?”
jd
Here is my comment. NOTICE. I am talking about sub-prime. Not a word about campaign contribution. Which you choice to respond to me about in rebutal
There you go again
You go to school
jd said
“Well, it is good to know I can stir emotions!!!”
Your stir emotions with eratic logic. Twisting comments to try to win points, as proven above
Bill, Are you playing the worlds smallest violin?
jd
No. Simple showing your inability to respond to another person’s comment in a logical way.
jd
As you just did, again
Sorry, Bill…
It is kind of a boring day in politics. Just filling in the time, till some breaking news happens.
JD
Accepted.. I am going shopping. Slow day, as you say