Obama may reverse Bush policies on stem cells, drilling, abortion

[firedupdem]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama could reverse some of President Bush's most controversial executive orders, including restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, shortly after taking office in January.

Two other executive orders from Bush -- one dealing with a so-called "gag" order on international aid organizations regarding abortion, the other with oil and gas drilling on federal lands -- also are receiving increased scrutiny.

Obama's transition team is reviewing hundreds of Bush's executive orders, according to John Podesta, Obama's transition co-chair.

New presidents often use executive orders to put their stamp on Washington quickly. Unlike laws, which require months to complete and the consent of Congress, presidents can use their executive authority to order federal agencies to implement current policies.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/11/obama.executive.orders/index.html

[Mz Pip]

1. I hope he does this

on the first day. Time to start by putting things back to where they were 8 years ago and go from there.

We've wasted 8 years because of this anti-science, anti- innovation administration.

[gateley]

2. Yes -- I'd like to see him immediately come out of the chute and yank

all the horrific things Bush put in place. Make a statement, make it better.

Edit - embarrassing typo.

[Milspec]

18. Well I should hope so

I'm looking forward to some of his new executive orders too.

[Starry Messenger]

19. That's how I feel, too.

:( What a waste.

[pleah]

3. I want to see the word 'will' and not 'may' for once.

May doesn't mean squat imo.

[WinkyDink]

5. Not to mention "has done"!

[pleah]

9. ..

:)

[firedupdem]

4. Bush has signed some dangerous orders regarding the environment

in his last few weeks too. I hope those are reversed as well. I will try and find a link.

[MrGreene]

8. Just one request I have

Leave. Abortion. Stuff. Alone. Put judges in the SC to keep it legal but don't piss off some of the Democrat Right To Lifers by bringing the issue to the forefront and messing with the issue of international funding for the procedure. You either "idealistically" want to use the bully pulpit to discourage them as much as possible (to show that you do indeed value life) or you don't!

Pick one please that won't make you look amoral in any way to GENUINE church goers.

[Lyric]

11. In short: NO

I could care less what "genuine" churchgoers think or feel. Our Constitution protects our right to privacy, to make our own decisions about our bodies. So far as I am concerned, anyone who thinks that their biased religious dogma should trump secular civil rights is not a GENUINE anything, except maybe a genuine asshole.

[Starry Messenger]

12. "Democrat" Right to Lifers.

Interesting.

[MrGreene]

15. There are plenty of them

Here in Ohio my sister and her husband have been Pro-lifers who strictly voted along those lines. This year they voted for Obama not only because they were more concerned about economic issues of REAL SUBSTANCE but they believe the Conservatives will never have power to overturn Roe Versus Wade. They respectfully disagree with Obama on the issue but they think he actually believes abortion is a bad thing but that he has no power over the matter and the government cannot interfere.

They have apparently never taken into account that he can actually cause the number to increase by agreeing to have the government fund the procedure internationally itself.

If they ever learn about this it will not sit well for them at all. Not that it matters but hey it is Ohio and he barely got a majority here. Many other conservatives did not turn out here because they didn't like McCain. That's really why he lost. I've looked at the statistics. But that may change again in 2012 depending on whether the Republican nominee is a stronger candidate.

[Autumn Colors]

20. You missed the point....

The poster was pointing out your choice of using the word "Democrat" instead of "Democratic" ...

telltale symptom of lurking freeper types

[Jamastiene]

14. Interesting choice of words... "GENUINE" church goes.

Like someone who is pro choice is not a GENUINE church goer? Pfft, nonsense.

[supernova]

6. "MAY" ????? Better be "WILL" or "MUST"

Ain't no 'may' about it.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. No maybe's.

Definately only accepted here.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

10. When Clinton realized that Dumbya was going to be imposed as President

He signed executive order after executive order after executive order during his final days in a bid to make it harder for Dumbya to undo the peace and prosperity of the past eight years. I am hoping against hope that Dumbya doesn't decide to continue to be a jackass and issue a set of executive orders in his final days to seek to preserve his own legacy of failure and incompetence. But I don't have confidence in Dumbya's ability to do the right thing so it's probably futile

[Jamastiene]

13. I sure hope so.

It's what we hired him to do.

[rvablue]

16. As reported by the NYT, he's already got a stack of them waiting on his

desk to be signed into law Jan. 19th, so that he doesn't have to deal with that pesky Congress that will be back in Washington very soon. Or that's how I understood it.

[ismnotwasm]

17. I certainly hope so

Where to start? That fucked up gag order is the first thing, but then allowing science back in the white house is mighty attractive. Obama can improve the world simply by reverses some of these evil policies before he ever implements his own.