INTERESTING WALL STEET ARTICLE - Obama Is Likely to Use Executive Power To Halt Drilling

NOVEMBER 10, 2008 Obama Is Likely to Use Executive Power To Halt Drilling, Fund Stem-Cell Work
By JONATHAN WEISMANArticle
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more in Politics »President-elect Barack Obama will likely use his executive powers after taking office to block new drilling leases on environmentally sensitive land in Utah and to allow federal funding of stem-cell research, putting a quick mark on policy making.


Barack Obama
"There's a lot the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action," John Podesta, head of Mr. Obama's transition team, said on "Fox News Sunday."

Mr. Podesta said Mr. Obama is "a transformational figure" and that the support he received among voters in some Republican states and conservative counties gives him a mandate to pursue his agenda aggressively.

Rolling back executive orders issued by the Bush administration could give Mr. Obama a fast way to put his mark on policy making after he takes office, as past presidents have. Other Bush-era executive orders that Mr. Obama could reverse include a ban on federal aid to family-planning organizations that counsel women on abortion, and a decision in December that restricts California in regulating greenhouse-gas emissions from cars.

The Bush administration has been rushing to implement regulations before Mr. Obama takes office. Unlike with executive orders, some of these would take longer for Mr. Obama and the Democrats to roll back.

One Bush-era measure Mr. Obama is likely to address quickly are the new oil and gas leases approved recently by the Department of Interior that would open up for drilling land near Arches and Canyonlands national parks in southern Utah's desert. Environmentalists said drilling in the area could potentially damage the parks and surrounding land.

Mr. Obama could also lift restrictions placed by President George W. Bush on the type of stem-cell research that can be funded with federal dollars. Democratic congressional leaders have vowed to push a twice-vetoed stem-cell research bill as one of the first acts of the next Congress.


Rahm Emanuel
Mr. Podesta and other top Obama aides fanned out on the Sunday news talk shows, suggesting that after Tuesday's electoral sweep, the incoming administration would begin to try to influence policy making before January's inauguration.

Speaking on the Sunday shows, Mr. Podesta, incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and transition Co-Chair Valerie Jarrett touched upon the detailed preparations the Obama team has made to pave the way for a smooth transition to the presidency. Mr. Podesta said his team has been working since early August, with transition leaders meeting frequently with officials in the Bush White House. About 100 Obama aides received security clearance before the election, so they could begin accessing national-security information immediately after Mr. Obama won.

Mr. Emanuel said the president-elect would be moving forward with his entire agenda as soon as he is sworn in. That agenda includes achieving universal health care, increasing education funding, implementing middle-class tax cuts and moving the country toward energy independence.

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Political Perceptions: A Realignment or Stars in Alignment?The first priority will be implementing an economic stimulus plan that includes tax rebates for the middle class and funding for infrastructure and school construction, Mr. Emanuel said. Then the new administration would regroup and push what he called the president-elect's four "reforms": education, health care, energy and taxes.

By putting those agenda items under the rubric of reform, Mr. Emanuel might make them more politically palatable. But any changes could also be implemented more gradually, as the Obama administration would pursue them as broader policy goals rather than specific legislation.

Mr. Emanuel, appearing on ABC's "This Week," didn't comment directly on whether Mr. Obama would back calls from senior Democratic lawmakers for Mr. Bush to allow ailing U.S. auto makers to tap a $700 billion fund set up to help the financial industry. But senior Obama economic advisers clarified that the president-elect supports the Democratic lawmakers' proposal to review the legality of making the funds available to the auto makers.

Ms. Jarrett, appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," dismissed criticism from some Republicans that the appointment of Mr. Emanuel, a brash, Democratic street fighter who had served for years in the U.S. House, marked a break from Mr. Obama's pledge to move beyond partisan battles in Washington. Joking that Mr. Emanuel will become kinder and gentler, Ms. Jarrett said: "That's part of the change we've been talking about."

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Enven the Shreveport Times picked up on a possible resintion of Bushes executive order. Obama has no clue about energy policy. We can only hope he picks some good people, but right now the word on the street is he is leaning towards the MI govenor for sec. of energy.

If polititians in MI knew anything about energy, they would have pushed the big three (sorry, not so big anymore)...The Detroit three to be more pro-active. We all know how well their doing now...Looks like the taxpayers are going to bail them out now....SORRY....I mean give them a loan.

We need to explore every pet. and gas reserve we have, while moving to more sustainable energy as fast as we can. This means government help. How about giving The big box stores encentives to install solar on their tens of thousands of acres of roopftops acroos the country. Need top start somewhere.
If this is true, we are in for a huge problem. MI is a mess and she has been a lousy governor. Jim Krow, you have been a defender of Obama, are you going to support this pick? of all the talent we have in this sector...he is going to pick her?
They had the gov. on the today show this morning asking her about this, all she wanted to talk about is how we need to save the auto industry.

I find it funny that Honda, Toyota, and Nissan aren't begging for money. In fact. while their sales have declined, which should be expected since we are in economic crisis, they have continued to expand their North american operations. They are BUILDING new plants in the u.s.

I will proudly buy a new Honda to replace my old one. A Honda built by American workers in OHIO (or tuscalousa, AL depending on the model I settle on).

Maybe someone could build some cng stations on the interstates and I could order me a cng civic
I'll second the CNG vehicles. But remember that GM is doing pretty good everywhere except the US.
Ford does pretty well in Europe....
Honda just completed an engine factory in Canada. Production capacity of 200,000 4 cylinder engines per year. Destined for the Civic. How often do you hear or read about an American made care exceeding 100,000 miles? My last Honda made it to 190,000 miles before I traded it in.
know dat knot dem New Yorkers Timey papers is 1 of those conglomerates
des talk 4 dem left wingie peoples.
Does this really come as a surprise to anyone? Regardless of your political thinking, its been as clear as the ears on his head that Obama was going to screw the oil companies. And his followers like it! Bend over America...and there ain't no vaseline in sight!
Tax'em till they bleed!

Better hide your wallets.
I figured he was going to get in office and steer the ship center to take the path in the middle. Try to set a precident for his presidency! I was wrong, this guy is staying left all the way. If he taxes these huge O&G companies and implements his plans as he talked in his campaign under this economic crises we will be reading about him in the history book sooner than later. I thought that he just spoke this game to get elected, if actually carries out his policies and taxes increases he will destroy this country and it want take four years to do it...he will have it done in the first two years of his presidency! This is scary people real scarry. All eyes r on this guy first impressions r everything. The Dow fell 150 points in his speech the other day he gave on his economic ideas, this shows the volitility of the markets to the sound of his voice. Just try and imagine what it will do when he impliments these plans. If he takes this country left we will be owned in two years by foreign nations completely! I can already see it coming! First it was AIG (Government Control and Bail Out) O, AIG wants another 40+ Billion....Then it was the $700 billion dollar bail out. Now GM wants 50 Billion to bail it out! Then they will have a say so in it..... Whats next? The american people r next when he bails us out then they will own us even more in the mean time....where are we gettting all of this money. CHINA, Russia, Middle east etc. The only escape of survival for this country is Energy Indipendence. Manufacturing is OVER unless we eliminate the Unions (we can not compete in a global market with Union workers) We must become energy Indipendent, keep that 700 Billion here in the states. This is our only alternative and at the same time we must get the rest of the world on our Energy plan to start the cash flow back into this nation or we are Doomed....and it doesnt look like our new president understands how to do this. God Bless us and Him!
>>I figured he was going to get in office and steer the ship center to take the path in the middle. br />
That's the lie Obama told to get your vote!
Why don't you wait and see what he actually does instead of listening to speculation?
I suspect that a President Obama will be more conservative than most people expect -- especially the left wing of the Democratic party....

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