CNN

THANK GOD FOR TRANSPARENCY. WE THE PEOPLE NEEDED THAT!!!!

KEEP IT UP O' MAN AND BIDEN

Obama will need couple of advisers in each department. What a waste of tax-payers' money. Obama has no idea how to come to the center and govern. He wants to challenge moral issues and wants to repeal Bush's executive orders. What a joke....

remember when bush was putting his team together with cheney all warmongers guess what happened

With the new fool president elect and the tree hugger he is we will probably be payiing $5 a gallon for gas within the first year he's in office. Not to mention we will be sending money to people that hate us. Or is he going to fix that since he's part Arab?

It's great to see Pres. Elect Obama hit the ground running. I feel a littles less troubled about our future every day.

I would review Bush's executive orders even if I was McCain and elected. Funny how many people just up and "trust" Bush. He is a spoiled brat from a wealthy family who got away with breaking laws, drugs, and "bending the truth". FYI, bending the truth is still LYING! Do you honestly trust a lyer??? Oh, but he is such a good Christian! WHAT THE HELL EVER HUMAN! Then this country deserves the same fate as those Islamic republics. Religious fanatics in office killing off everyone that are not of their faith. It has already started. 1 sign is the surpression of rights of their most hated group, gays. Know this, I will FIGHT for my rights. And I really doubt that God would favor people so full of hate.

Maggie in SC- You're SERIOUSLY crazy.

For Wow, below:

By your own figures, Obama won by almost 8 MILLION votes, not almost 800,000. That's well over twice the margin that Bush won by in 2004, when he claimed HIS mandate.

Nice math skills there, buddy–and yes, I WOULD call that "out of the ballpark."

Dear WOW:

// 799,787 (rounded off) votes = Obama’s “mandate” //

Actually, the correct figure is 7,997,871.

There's a big difference between 7 million and 7 hundred thousand. I wouldn't expect a McCain supporter to "understand" something as complicated as general math. You are proof that Obama's education plans are desparately needed.

The fact of today's matter is that we now have a President who is real and calm, I know that Bush must have bought a lot of shredders to destroy most of his ugly transaction

Mr. Wow (November 9th, 2008 2:32 pm ET)

Care to check your math?

2008 Election results;
65,431,955 –
57,434,084
=
7,997,871 (not 799,787)

These are the watchwords for the Obama Administration Cabinet selections …

1.) Competency FIRST + Civility + Centrist Policy + Clear Communication + Meeting Commitments = a Winning Team in 2012

2.) 50% of the people in this country are women

3.) Unlike the Republicans don’t get caught in the future without a full pipeline … that’s how they ended up running McCain with Palin. Don’t repeat this mistake.

Someone needs to keep a very close eye on all the policies and his excutive orders. I trust Bush much more that I ever will B Omama's orders. He may have secrets in the wood pile we do not know about.

Obama said what he was going to do and now he's doing what he said.

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have waited for some common sense and respect of the Constitution for a long, long time!

obama will do fine . when a man is wise and surrounds himself with wise people his administration will be guided by smartness and intelligence.

Yea John,

I want to question the same question!!!!! Who are you people??? Oh well koombaya!!!!!!

the disabled veterans need the total of the paragraph 4.25 combined ratings table the ratings in there total and the amount the veteran is paid totally reworked. to make the veterans whole under the eyes of the law and for the 38US code to fall into line with the Americans with disability act.

God bless the President-Elect and guide him in his choices for those who will guide him. Americans, Give him a chance and pray. God help America.

QUESTION, WHO ARE THE 57 MILLION MORONS WHO VOTED FOR MCCAIN/PALIN?

I, for one, am always skeptical about too much power in the hands of one person/group/branch of government. The system of checks and balances may be cumbersome but exists for the prevention of tyranny which the Bush threw off balance. This imbalance created a rhetoric that pointed to the irrationality of a false impression of the cult of personality.

Compared that to the rhetoric of those who are intelligent, who coincidently, have been appointed to the incoming administration. It is almost like viewing that the Earth is no long flat.

Does anyone see the same thing as i do?

The first thing that needs to be done is to remove any religious right, conservative dinosaurs who believe in the "sainthood" of Karl Rove, Bill O'Reilly, and Shaun Hannity.

We need intelligent, non-biased people in this administration who will put this adminstration and the American people ahead of zealot idiology.

What a brilliant man we have elected to become President!

When does the era of postpartisanship begin?

And after 8 years ot arrogance from the shrub everything he has done is subject to very close scrutiny.

For example, either charge the people held in GITMO with a crime, give them lawyers for their defense, or let them go. Locking people up for years without access to legal help or charges is the highest crime of the Republicans.

A lot of years ago I somewhere, somehow, became enamered with a
saying... the initals of which were P_P_P_P_P_P. (6PS)

PRIOR-PLANNING-PREVENTS-PISS-POOR-PERFORMANCE

Thank you President Elect for your PRIOR PLANNING...

Yup its that old(69yr)-retired-white guy from Ma. Former Republican

Bruce

A lot of years ago I somewhere, somehow, became enamered with a
saying... the initals of which were P_P_P_P_P_P. (5PS)

PRIOR-PLANNING-PREVENTS-PISS-POOR-PERFORMANCE

Thank you President Elect for your PRIOR PLANNING...

Yup its that old(69yr)-retired-white guy from Ma. Former Republican

Bruce

What is the matter, "Really conservative?" Does that sound Communist to you? Just when did caring about all citizens become evil? When did that become too liberal? When Palin said it was? Do you not see the problems in this country caused by greedy people who don't care a whit about anything but extending their personal wealth? You really can't take it with you, and people like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates could give all Republicans and others a lesson in accumulating wealth in order to help the "common good." There is nothing communist about being successful, and then using that success to help others attain the same. I know, you don't want anything coming out of YOUR pocket right? Don't worry, Obama even cares about you, and when the country is successful, we will all benefit.

Words cannot express my relief to have intelligence and a respect for the people back in the oval office. Honestly, I'm more happy to see Dick Cheney out than I am Bush. What he (Cheney) tried, and in some respects, succeeded in doing to the Constitution and accumulating executive power is unforgivable. Whenever he talked about "patriotism" it made me throw up in my mouth a little.

Having said all this, I expect Congress to get their act together too. I'm no more happy with them than I was with Bush/Cheney. While I don't expect instant results for any of our myriad problems, you better believe I expect better governance, better behavior from our elected officials and better communication & tranparency with the American people. Remember – YOU GUYS WORK FOR US.

NO PARDONS,

NO PARDONS, none.......dont repeat the wounds left by Nixon and Fords miscarriages....

Let Justice be restored

NO PARDONS

Johnny SC/USA I nodded in agreement when I read your post. LOL.

This has been a great week. Still feels like New Years Day after a fabulous New Years Eve celebration.

What a citizen will do when a leader is trustworthy

and what a citizen wont do when a leader has proven to be untrustworthy.

Behind you 110% Mr Obama

Fired up n Ready

I love that all the liberals are now talking about working across party lines and bringing everyone together, yada, yada, yada. When your party is going to have control, you want everyone to get on board, but you all have been yapping, whining and complaining for the last 8 years and certainly weren't willing to work across party lines when the shoe was on the other foot. You all are such hypocrites! All those people who said Bush wasn't their president, they didn't vote for him and he didn't represent them, etc... Now you want everyone who disagrees with Obama to do what you weren't willing to do with Bush? Thankfully, many conservatives are truly willing to work together for the better good of the country as long as we aren't talking socialism. Unlike the liberals who only want their own way, conservatives I know do want what is best for everyone and are willing to compromise, but all the vile stuff that has been thrown at us from the left does make it hard to want to work with ya'll.
It will also be interesting to see if the most liberal senator can actually play to the center.

I for one am really curious to find out what the Bush Administration did not want us knowing. The WMD intelligence reports–who the hell dreamed them up as cause to invade Iraq? I think it was Cheney and Rumsfeld who fed Dubya the manure.

And the Patriot Act which pretty much stripped the writ of Habeas Corpus from us–what the hell was that??!?!?!?

Even people like Rove can change. Nothing will stop this movement.

As a self employed person who has a $5000 deductible just to afford some type of insurance, I am anxious to see Health Care addressed. It is really difficult to feel like my family has no health care and to ask my family to always wait and see before getting health checks, always wrapping injuries to see how they feel, before ever having anything looked at. I feel my family is deprived, but un needed visits to the Doctor or Hospital can really set us back financially. I am anxious for relief.

After the review, some heads should roll and, some jail time is in order.... The Bush administration politisized every agency of our government, from U.S. attorneys and beyond,..... It will take time to undo a lot of the wrongdoing,.... The Obama admin., has to begin with the U.S. attorneys. Then the signing statements, and so on.....

thats what the democrates said 2 years ago when they were promoting change with the house and senate control.you would be hard pressed to find anything they have changed .thanks for ending the war>

Bobby, MN November 9th, 2008 1:32 pm ET
America hit it out of the ballpark . . .
_______________________________
REALLY ????????????????

2008 Election results;
65,431,955 (53%) obama
57,434,084 (46%) mccain
122,866,039 total votes

799,787 (rounded off) votes = Obama’s “mandate”

That’s “out of the ballpark” ?????????????

LOL. Here we go! Brace yourselves.

Viva communista!!!

The best news I have heard (except for Obama winning) in eight years.

John McCain for a cabinet post!

Finally an intellect in the white house. What a task though to undo so much damage that the self serving GW did. He makes you proud to be an American.

Canada is cheering our US neighbours in their wise selection for President. Yes the world can!

I hope they do a very close review of the NSA's domestic spying practices

what are the vegas odds Barack Obama Time's Person of the Year? That's my prediction. Then again I predicted a Clinton/Obama victory and then held out hope for a Obama/Clinton victory, so I'm 0 for 2 so far...

I would hate to jinx it.

How refreshing to have an intelligent person with integrity in the white house again. One who truly understands the Constitution. I am so glad that I along with millions, voted him in. You go President-Elect Obama!!! We the people have your back!

I am beginning to see the sun rising over America again, and it's a beautiful sight not to mention feel.

Positive feeling – yep – still there!! Thanks everyone who are supportive and give intelligent opinions in this blog – very uplifting. Out of the caves and into the sunshine!

This IS the part in Obama's speech where he asks for the American people for help and get involved.

write, call, or email your local senators and representatives to petition to hold the republican tyrants responsible for ruining our country.

Dennis Kusinich was stalled from impeaching bush due to republican resistance....NO MORE!!!

In the forest of agencies there MUST be a thinning, not clearcutting. Also some should be consolidated with others that do the same work. We must get most bang for the buck from these changes.

Obama does what is best, he surrounds himself the best minds he can find, The way forward will take time but with the very best advice he can get we will get through all this, but the Republicans and Democrats MUST work together as the servants of the American people

YES WE CAN......YES ME MUST!!!

Just want this country needs.

1. Of course Economic Policy.

2 -3. Education & Health Care Policies

3. The war on Drugs, Current Policy has proven to be counter productive only perpetuating the problem. Prohibition doesn't work, Alcohol anyone?!? Regulate every drug, its a lot safer and it removes the Thug element on the Blackmarket. Capone lost big when alcohol was made legal, and the same will happen to gangs across this country if we regulate the drug supply. Kids are safer with regulation, if you don't believe me wrap your mind around this senario. A twelve year old walk into a liqour store and attempts to purchase some alcohol. He gets turned away because he doesn't have an ID. Now step back into the past and the same kid goes to a bootlegger asks for some alcohol and all he needs is money, no ID required.

Now take the same senario, and replace the alcohol with your illicit drug of choice. Now you should get why it would be easier to end the drug war completely and regulate. Addicts will always be addicts why not make help available if they want it, and make the drugs available as well in a regulated manner. Safer for addicts, safer for the community as well.

And lastly think about all the money that is being wasted on a endless war that can't be won, unless you kill off all of the addicts. Face it the US loves our drugs, so legalize and regulate. Make money off of the taxes, use that money for treatment and education programs.

Please post this, I really would like to help people understand this simple concept

First two orders of business.

Now that he's getting under the covers on many issues with which he had little familiarity or interest (security briefings just the other day, for example), I suspect he will be governing a lot closer to the present administration than advertised. But, at least he'll do so with eloquence and style, which is the important thing.

Dear Obama,

Last but not least, can you hire 3 Treasury Secretary so they can bounce off ideas of each other? Our economy is in a coma and we really NEED three WISEMEN/WOMEN. I cant imagine only one wisemen handling the economy. The more the merrier so they can challenge one another.

I look forward to seeing many Bush executive orders contradicted or removed.

Team USA has a new coach! I LOVE IT!!!!

Folks need to realize that Obama's left leaning views will be tempered somewhat by the machine, but his strong leadership will benefit all.

The majority elected him because they believed he is a leader, and we're all going to see that they were right..

Please forget all the crap from the McCain campaign. It was all presented in place of useful ideas.

Welcome to an intelligent world. 'bout time.

Dear Obama,

Choose fromer NATO Commander Clarke as the Defense Secretary. He's a great man! He was man enough to bust out his party and join the Demo for a new cause, liberating America to a GREAT Nation.

In times like this, you need the few, the proud, the braves and GUTSY men and women.

Yes we will.

Goodness, the list just keeps going........

I want to see some charges brought up on the Bush adm.

america has to stand up to war criminals and make them know that the way they did america and it;s reputation around the world will no longer be accepted.

NO MORE rewarding tyrants!!!!

Whatever you do, just leave stem cells ban ALONE!! I just read somewhere that the Japanese used wisdom tooth to create stem cells and it was as good as usting babies.. Let the BABIES rest in PEACE!!!

Hooray! Go Mr. President Elect. Strip down the bloated and convoluted agencies that have been sapping taxpayer's dollars for decades. You'll need a microscope for military spending. No more contracts for $900 toilet seats. Our military deserve their rightful health benefits and education benefits. Don't forget FEMA - it's a joke.

I couldn't say it any better than Johnny!
_____________________________________________________
Repeal the Parriot Act! and shuitter Guantanamo forever! God, I can only dream.
Stop using our military as a global police force and realize that terrorism is a law enforcement issue, not a military issue. No matter how large and powerful your army is, you will never defeat an ideal with bombs and bullets. You can never have a military strong enough to stop a group of 20 people bent on causing destruction. Deal with the causes by understanding and action, not the symptoms with a gun.
Understand and accept that our constitution stands heads and shoulders above any agency, any government and any politician.
I believe that our new President already understands many of the above points, this is why I voted Dem. for the first time in my life.

-Johnny
SC/USA

FIRST $150BILLION WAS LIKE A SPIT IN THE BUCKET AND NOW

A DOUBLE SPIT THE THE BUCKET AND THE TURTLE TRYING

TO OUTRUN...OUTRUN AND OUTRUN.....YES WE CAN...I PROMISE

WE'LL GET THERE .....BUT WHERE?

It's time to clean house! The Bush Administration spent the last eight years filling every federal department with unqualified extreme-right loyalists. Most of them would rather have seen the agencies they worked for dismantled rather than made leaner and smarter to better serve the public good (and public pocketbook).

I look forward to looking at the Justice Department, EPA, Dept. of Education, etc., and knowing that they are staffed with intelligent men and women committed to the idea of national service and not just serving the narrow agenda of an administration who thought they were above the law.

For this to happen, a lot of former cronies are going to be getting their two weeks notice, and I hope that the new president and his team replace them with smart people who represent a range of political ideas.

Sorry the poison is here to stay. 9/11 has changed everything. WE have been ushered into the age of the AntiChrist. Because of terrorism, I dont think our world is EVER the same again. They'll strike again. IT's sad. Thank God for the Constitution but the DEMONS of extremism is too DARK>.....

I see that "HATERS" aren't blogging on this issue....why..cause it's nothing negative to say....Obama is handling his business!!!

I'm hoping very few of Pres. Bush's directeves are kept. The more we can undo from his disasterous presidency the better.

This is absolutely the best thing that Obama can do to start with. On day one, he can reverse ALL of Bush's executive orders that have harmed our rights, prevented scientific advancements, and destroy the environment in the name of oil.

We are already on our way to returning the USA back the the greatest county in the world, despite the efforts of the Bush administration to destroy everything for their own benefit.

President-elect Obama is doing the right thing, slow and steady, he wants the right people for the right postion, if it is a Republican so be it.
To Roy in Chicago,we all have to worry about Bush, since he made a comment on Global Warming, that it is happening...He is also digging for Uranium near the Colorado River. It was mentions on another news channel. Yes by the 20th of Jan, Bush could do a lot of damaging....

Peace is what we need...

Repeal the Parriot Act! and shuitter Guantanamo forever! God, I can only dream.
Stop using our military as a global police force and realize that terrorism is a law enforcement issue, not a military issue. No matter how large and powerful your army is, you will never defeat an ideal with bombs and bullets. You can never have a military strong enough to stop a group of 20 people bent on causing destruction. Deal with the causes by understanding and action, not the symptoms with a gun.
Understand and accept that our constitution stands heads and shoulders above any agency, any government and any politician.
I believe that our new President already understands many of the above points, this is why I voted Dem. for the first time in my life.

-Johnny
SC/USA

The enormity of this transition is so deeply needed. So many key areas need renovation and reconstruction with seamless integration. How to keep the country moving while retooling at the same time. The work is staggering to imagine and I am so glad my President is here. Intelligence, integrity and inspiration. Yes we can. Yes we will. Yes we must.

Finally... finally, I made a great choice in my Presidential pick!!

There's a new coach for TEAM USA... see you ALL in the Gym.

Let's ALL get this going...

We need Carl Rove behind bars on January 21st, a citizens arrest for ignoring Subpoenas from congress.

There is so much Republican poison that needs to be drained from America's wounds. This recovery will take years.

To all you Republican Hate-Mongers out there, either choose to be the loyal opposition and help America, or go die. We need different points of view, we can tolerate opposing points of view that are genuine in their intent to come up with a solution, but we cannot tolerate hate, racisim, divisiveness and sabotage. Those that choose to do this really hate America and should be shunned, cut off from commercial support, and ostracized by democratic society (are you listening 'Truth Hurts').

Can he start with the one where Bush protects himself from prosecution for this war? And then the one banning dissent for the war? And the one that wants to prevent people from gathering peacefully in Washington? This could keep him busy for a while!! Glad he's smart enough and energetic enough for this. Can you imagine McCain even looking at Bush's executive orders, let alone dismissing any of them? We chose the right guy!

"a sense that the country is working on behalf of the common good."

I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means.

Just think, a government not intimated by science and willing to provide information on birth control worldwide. I think now we have a little glimpse of what it was like at the beginning of the Renaissance as Europe came out of the Dark Ages.

America hit it out of the ballpark. We picked the best man for the job and now he will pick the best people for his cabinet. We've waited 8 long years, we can wait a little while longer.

YES HE WILL.

I hope he takes a long hard look at the Deapartment of Education, does away with it, and returns power to the States.

America, isn't it nice to have an intelligent President-elect who is exploring how to use his executive powers in the best way possible to help the people.

I can't wait to see who's among the motley crew who receive last-minute executive pardons.

It Seems Like Obama Is Doing A Good Job Already And He Is Not Even President Yet! I Think We Have Made A Good Choice Electing Obama!

I hope they take a long look at the Department of Homeland Security and the awful relationship they have with contractors. Look at contractors period in the government.

Also look at the Corp of Engineers and the fact that they make their money from other agencies which means their focus is the money and not the service. It's a horrible way for govt. agencies to do business when other govt. agencies are waiting like vultures to take all of their funds.

That's his promise, to go through every budget line by line and eliminate those that are not needed. Bush once said that he "will" rule America like a CEO for a company. That's a wrong philosophy, and I'm glad a real prez is now in the white house, and will actually do the work himself.

And this is why we voted for him..... finally a man of real intellect and intelligence running this country.

President of the Harvard Law Review.... now that should tell you that Barack Obama understands the law! He will deliver the change that we need. It will not matter one wit what the far right says, he is bringing change! And we, the people, are ready to support him just as we did in the campaign and election!

He is on the track, doing something important.

Give him time to organize his cabinet and initial preparation work. Good preparations lead to success. No point rushing through to take actions.

Hope Republicans understand the need to work as a team to help this new president to be for the benefit of the country.

If you have doubts or queries, you can feed back to President Elect Obama and he will be more than willing to listen to you. Communicate in proper and respectful manner and things can be clarified. By doing this, Republicans can gain back the respects from non-Republicans.

A President 'working for the common' good???....Imagine!!! Stem cell research??...Imagine! An accessible President...IMAGINE!!!

Let's see how many executive orders Bush tries to slip in before January 20th....he already is seeking to open up roadless areas in Utah that are federally protected, seeking to weaken the EPA, and will probably seek to antagonize every nation we are at odds with before January, pushing missle defenses we don't need......such is his legacy! Well, soon he will be back at his armoured Texas compound....for good!!

Now this is what I call a very savvy gesture coming from our President-elect. So much of Bush's wide-sweeping executive orders were put into effect without rhyme nor reason, no real thought involved at all...just the grandiose knowledge that he could do as he da mned well pleased!!!

Makes you glad Obama is an attorney.