Obama Reviews Bush Orders on Stem Cell, Drilling

[Luffy]

WASHINGTON – President-elect Obama's transition chief said Sunday the incoming administration is looking to reverse President Bush's executive orders on stem cell research, oil and gas drilling and other matters.


John Podesta said the president can use such orders to move quickly without waiting for Congress to act, highlighting the extraordinary powers a president can wield beyond signing legislation approved by Congress. Podesta said people should expect Obama to use those powers to reverse many policies of the Bush administration.


"I think across the board, on stem cell research, on a number of areas, you see the Bush administration even today moving aggressively to do things that I think are probably not in the interest of the country," Podesta said in a broadcast interview.


"There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Podesta said.


President Bush has limited federal spending on stem cell research, a position championed by opponents of abortion rights. Obama has supported the research in an effort to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Also, the federal Bureau of Land Management is opening about 360,000 acres of public land in Utah to oil and gas drilling, leading to protests from environmentalists.


"They want to have oil and gas drilling in some of the most sensitive, fragile lands in Utah," Podesta said. "I think that's a mistake."
Podesta also said Obama is working to build a Cabinet that is diverse. That includes reaching out to Republicans and independents — part of the broad coalition that supported Obama during the race against Republican John McCain.


A top House Republican said there is a willingness to try to work with Obama to get things done. But Rep. Eric Cantor also said to expect Republicans to serve as a check against the power held by Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California.


"There is going to be, I think, a willingness to try and get things done," Cantor said. "But at the end of the day I think you will see a Republican Party in Congress serving as a check and a balance against Mr. Obama's power and Speaker Pelosi's power."


Cantor, a Virginia Republican, is running to be the second-ranking Republican in the House — the job of minority whip.
Cantor and Podesta spoke on "Fox News Sunday."

Obama reviews Bush orders on stem cells, drilling - Yahoo! News

[krozar]

Finalfuckingly! Glad finally someone in there is an advocate for rational policy!

[X2thaU]

n0ice. Although im sure this is going to piss alot of people off...not the best way to start a presidency

[Luffy]

It's the right thing to do regardless if it pisses a bunch of rightwing folk

[krozar]

If he wants some right wing support, then he should pardon Ramos and Compean if Bush doesn't do it.

Bush didn't care much about Main St. Conservatives either. If you weren't a power player, the ball never entered your court. He was extraordinarily out of touch. That's why there are so many demands on Obama.

[Yedi]

Here is how you do it ... you do all the bad things first then later before the election you make the good things, so you will get reelected, ain't harder then that.

[Marlie]

Change does'nt happen overnight so it's gonna take awhile to undo everything Bush has done over the past 8 years but it's nice to hear Obama taking the initiative to start making some changes before he even gets into the seat.

[krozar]

My only worry is too much left-from-center. I love progressive policy but I know that you can't force things on the people and walk all over the minority party. The Dem party must be united and united under Obama. We can't have a Clinton era '93 and '94 Dem majority where the cohesion was in shambles.

That's why I like the choice of Rahm Emanuel. He's going to be Obama's bad cop. Obama will appeal to the media which is a big boon to a President's power legitimacy and Rahm will keep the Pelosis in line.

That being said, unless something really fucks up, Obama should be a shoe-in for re-election. The way Obama was in this election, he will be a powerful force once people have seen him running this country and know he isn't a radical Muslim terrorist; or even a socialist.

[PC Chris]

Originally Posted by krozar

My only worry is too much left-from-center. I love progressive policy but I know that you can't force things on the people and walk all over the minority party. The Dem party must be united and united under Obama. We can't have a Clinton era '93 and '94 Dem majority where the cohesion was in shambles.

That's why I like the choice of Rahm Emanuel. He's going to be Obama's bad cop. Obama will appeal to the media which is a big boon to a President's power legitimacy and Rahm will keep the Pelosis in line.

That being said, unless something really fucks up, Obama should be a shoe-in for re-election. The way Obama was in this election, he will be a powerful force once people have seen him running this country and know he isn't a radical Muslim terrorist; or even a socialist.

I was watching some morning show and they basically flat out said Obama is going to bring a Marxist type government to the US.

Am I the only non-obama supporter who is getting sick of that Generalization? that he's some new-age socailists? To me he's no different then a majority of the Democrats.

With that said it'll be hard for Obama to drop the ball on this one I think. He would seriously have to do something down right out there. Like implement a military draft or something.

[krozar]

I hate the term "Socialist" anyways. America needs to improve its labor system for itself and do what works and what's rational and not worry about labels based on stuff in the latter half of the 1800s.

Economies and markets are always evolving and to have ancient archaic policy based on old emotionally charged labels is just silly.

We don't need COnservatism, We don't need Socialism, we don't need Capitalism... we need America-2010s-Ism.

[Kickz]

I hope he doesn't take on too much, the way I see it the priorities right now shud be;

Economy; Jobs/Housing/Defecit
War; end it. Obama got a gr8t deal of support from the anti-war community and he needs to pay it back in full in his FIRST term.

[Righteous Judgment]

Originally Posted by Kickz

I hope he doesn't take on too much, the way I see it the priorities right now shud be;

Economy; Jobs/Housing/Defecit
War; end it. Obama got a gr8t deal of support from the anti-war community and he needs to pay it back in full in his FIRST term.

that would be a huge mistake that will bite us back hard even harder than our supporting Afghanistan in it's war against Russia.


Any hasty end to the iraq conflict would be a huge, monumental mistake

[Lord Namvel]

what i love about all this is, people, and i mean democrat and republican alike are really going to be paying attention to every single word, action and decision obama makes. before this, no one really gave a damn what the president did, until afterwards when it started effecting people in the nation, whether it had a positive or negative effect.

i think this is good though, just gives obama more drive to be the president this country will ever have, and it's not even january yet.

[Marlie]

Why not watch him? He's got alot to deliver on and high expectations to put the U.S back on top. I believe in the guy but I won't expect him to come pull my cat out of a tree or save a burning building full of people. These things take time. We did'nt get into this overnight and everything can't be fixed overnight but just as long as he makes some progress then I'm happy.

[Bara]

This could be a very interesting "presidency". There is a check and balance system for a reason. Will be an interesting 4 years and we will see about the next 4. People tend to follow someone "making a difference" until it effects them adversely. Coming in swinging is a dangerous way to do it.

[San Goku]

If its responsible research and motives are good and it cures my grandpas alzheimer's, then i'm for it. It will be an interesting presidency.

[Hanukkah Harry]

^That's the entire point.
The reason conservatives are against it is that it uses dead fetuses, some from abortions.
They are aqainst progress.

[Righteous Judgment]

Originally Posted by zshortysmall

^That's the entire point.
The reason conservatives are against it is that it uses dead fetuses, some from abortions.
They are aqainst progress.

Don't stem cells need to be alive to viable?