It May Be Time To Move Up Inauguration Day (Schorr/NPR)

[eppur_se_muova]

News Analysis
by Daniel Schorr
It May Be Time To Move Up Inauguration Day

Weekend Edition Sunday, November 2, 2008 · Hard to imagine, but in the horse-and-buggy days of our republic, the president was not inaugurated until March. Then, during the depression of the 1930s, Congress changed the Constitution to advance the inaugural date to Jan. 20. And now the question arises whether that is too long a vacuum in a world full of challenges to the new president.

There are wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that call for quick decisions that may not be honored coming from a lame-duck president. There is the likelihood that a Status of Forces Agreement covering American troops in Iraq may not have been reached by year-end when the current U.N. mandate expires. Unless that is renewed, American forces are left without a legal basis for operation.

There is Iran, enriching uranium and sowing the seeds of trouble throughout the Middle East, and reportedly willing to talk — but not to the outgoing president. There is the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, unlikely to yield the agreement that George Bush would like for his legacy. There is the financial crisis, requiring massive and swift action, and stimulus that a soon-to-be retired president will find it hard to deliver.

And, perhaps, most mystifying of all, there is the 20-nation summit conference that President Bush has convened in Washington for Nov. 15 to discuss coordinated actions to stave off further financial disasters. What long-range programs can be worked out with an outgoing president at odds with several foreign countries about how much regulation of the economy is needed? Or, should Mr. Bush have the president-elect in the room with him?

Moving up the inauguration date to Jan. 20 may have sufficed for President Franklin Roosevelt. Maybe it's time to consider yet another change — inaugurating our president, say, on Nov. 10.
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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96446766&ft=1&f=1057

O! M! D! He went there! :wow:

[jazzjunkysue]

1. ...which gives an incumbent a free pass for election fraud: No time to investigate

or recount.

Not. Happy.

[iamahaingttta]

2. I'm so glad SOMEONE is talking about the Status of Forces Agreement...

It's the October Surprise, and it's being ignored...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/54795.html

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/54913.html

[begin_within]

3. Like in a beauty pageant, where the outgoing winner crowns the new winner,

the current president should have to hand over the reins of power immediately on certification of the election.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Isn't that pretty close to what happens in a parliamentary gov't?

Canadians and Yerpeens, help me out here. How's it work?

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. November 10, Hell! How about November 6?

I would say November 5, But I think Obama needs at least one day to celebrate with his family.

[kimmerspixelated]

6. Exactly. Or no later than The Monday following Thanksgiving!

[3waygeek]

10. I prefer November 9 -- it's my birthday n/t

[LiberalFighter]

7. Daniel Schorr needs to check the procedures before being stupid.

What happens if there is a dispute on the results?

What happens when the results can't be ascertained because the election is close in 1 or more states?

What happens if the election is held on November 8th which would be the latest it could be held. The Tuesday after the first Monday would be either the 2nd through the 8th of November. Next time an election for President is held on the 8th is 2016.


Just leave it alone as it is. It gives the incoming President to prepare for the transition to power. And the necessary background checks on potential nominees.

As it is, the President has 72-78 days to put everything together for their Administration just on an interim basis. Even those they put in position for the interim need to be quality people to avoid possible scandals. Why risk it?

[pipi_k]

9. Besides which....

It's going to take Bush that long to find and pack up all his Tinker Toys, little green plastic army guys, his tricycle with the flat tires, and his collection of comic books...

[kimmerspixelated]

8. I find it odd about that Nov. 15th summit date.

Is there any possibly unknown connection with the fact that Bush signed over his power papers earlier than usual?