I doht think the Obama first few EOs are transformation, but they, certainly start to restore daylight to the Executive Branch.
The EOs on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Executive Appointments (ethics) are as meaningful (or more) than restoration of the Presidential Records Act.
Its all got me humming a tune
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right
Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right
For the last eight years, Bush's EO on FOIA allowed most FOIA requests to be denined or delayed as long as the department/agency could offer any "potential" legal justification for doing so (and it was nearly always "national security" with no futher explanation).
The Obama EO says FOIA requests should only be denied if there is a indisputable compelling national security or personal privacy issue to withhold such approval.
On executive appointments and the "revolving door" issue, at ome time during the Bush years, there were more than 60 Cabinet or Sub-Cabinet level positions filled by industry lobbyists/lawyers with business interests in programs adminsitered by their respecitve department/agency (
mining lobbyists making decisions at DOI, energy lobbyist at DOE, agribusiness lobbyists at DoAg, pharmaceutial lobbyists at FDA....)
The Obama EO.....NO lobbyists, corporate attorneys, or industry representative will be appointed at the Cabinet/Sub-Cabinet level of a department or agency with which the lobbyists companies might have business.
The new EO also bars any Cabinet/Sub-Cabinet official appiointed by Obama and who return to the private sector at some point in the next few years from lobbying their former agency/department for the full length of Obama's term of presiodent.
Nice start but the detail is always in the follow through.