Executive Order Of October 9, 2008

I have seen and heard some people – mostly self-identified political progressives – fret about the possibility that George W. Bush would find some excuse to postpone or cancel the election, some reason to suspend the Constitution and declare martial law and hang on to power after the expiration of his term. I have never once given a moment’s credence to this sort of thing. Bush has not given even the tiniest hint of wanting to do anything remotely like that – and to do it, he’d need the support of the military and the courts, neither of which have given the slightest hint that they would go along with such a thing no matter how exigent the circumstances.

Well, here’s another assurance that there will be no suspension of the Constitution and an orderly transfer of power on January 20, 2009. President Bush has signed an order expediting and fast-tracking transition team members into formal office to take effect after the election. The order clearly contemplates the end of Bush’s service as President and the beginning of his successor’s, which is to say Obama’s, and evidences a desire by Bush that his successor be able to get his people in positions of power and authority quickly. Which is more than Bush’s predecessor did for him, which partially explains why it was that on September 11, 2001, there were still key administrative positions of several response agencies vacant.

Rest easy, high-strung progressives. Democracy yet thrives. There’s less than a week to go.