January 22nd, 2009:

The Progress Report wrote:

Now Comes The Hard Part

From: The Progress Report [progress@americanprogressaction.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 9:36 AM
To: tomc2322
Subject: Now Comes The Hard Part

Elections have consequences

ADMINISTRATION — OBAMA ORDERS HALT TO LAST-MINUTE BUSH REGULATIONS:Hours after being sworn in as America’s 44th president, Barack Obama ordered “a freeze on new or proposed regulations at all government agencies and departments” made in the final months and weeks of Bush administration. A memo from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said that every regulation would have to be reviewed by the department or agency head appointed by Obama. In some cases, however, Obama is too late. For example, “just six weeks ago, the Bush administration issued revised endangered species regulations to reduce the input of federal scientists and to block the law from being used to fight global warming.” The rule went into effect before Obama took office, therefore requiring him “to restart the lengthy rulemaking process.” For rules that have already taken effect, “the Democratic-controlled Congress might be able to help the Obama administration by using the Congressional Review Act, a legislative tool to bring new federal regulations under scrutiny,” notes the AP. Obama will also act to overturn older Bush regulations; one of his first moves in office will be to reverse the “global gag rule” that “prevents federal money from going to international family planning groups that” provide abortion counseling or services.

Please go ahead and restart the lengthy rule making process, or use the option that Congress has, the Congressional Review Act. Most of Bush’s childish, spiteful acts point toward either the environment, or planned parenthood; in both cases he has implemented rules that defy all credible science and data.

IRAQ– IRAQIS WILLING TO HAVE U.S. WITHDRAW AT A FASTER PACE: In November, the Bush administration and the Iraqi government signed an agreement that would remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011. With the inauguration of President Obama, who has pledged to withdrawon a 16-month time frame, Iraqi government spokesperson Ali al-Dabbagh said yesterday that government officials support the U.S. leaving “even before the end of 2011.” “The government-owned newspaper Al-Sabah reported Wednesday that Iraqi authorities have drafted contingency plans in case Obama orders a ‘sudden’ withdrawal of all forces and not just combat troops,” the AP notes. “We are capable of controlling the situation in the country and we believe we have passed the worst,” remarked the chairman of the Iraqi parliament’s defense committee, Abbas al-Bayati. Today, Obama will meet with senior commanders to discuss thewithdrawal from Iraq. Obama reaffirmed in his inaugural address Tuesday that he would “begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people.”

Now comes the hard part? Really? Just turn out the lights, apologize profusely to whoever is standing closest to you, hand them the keys, and get in your vehicles and leave.