Whiny Congress asks Obama to please hold their hand.

[kentuck]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/04/democrats-growing-impatie_n_148585.html

<snip>
WASHINGTON — Democrats are growing impatient with President-elect Barack Obama's refusal to inject himself in the major economic crises confronting the country. Obama has sidestepped some policy questions by saying there is only one president at a time. But the dodge is wearing thin. "He's going to have to be more assertive than he's been," House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., told consumer advocates Thursday.

<snip>
An Obama official said the Bush administration reached out to the transition team about tapping into the money. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said Obama's transition team urged the administration to talk to bipartisan congressional leaders and assemble a meeting between the White House and Congress. The official said the Obama team offered to participate in a bipartisan meeting if it would be helpful.

Earlier this week, Obama was asked whether he worried that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson might begin spending the next installment of the money before he assumes the presidency. Obama demurred.

"Until Secretary Paulson indicates publicly that he's drawing down the second tranche, the second half of the TARP money, it would be speculation on my part to suggest that that money's going to be used up," he told reporters at a Chicago news conference Wednesday.

<snip>
"The Obama team has to step up," Sen. Christopher Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and one of the lead negotiators, said Nov. 21 in Hartford, Conn. "In the minds of the people, this is the Obama administration. I don't think we can wait until January 20."

Two days later, Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, a point man in helping his state's main industry, called on Obama to help resolve the dispute over money for the auto loan package.

"It would be very helpful if the president-elect would become more involved in resolving the issue over the source of the funds," he said. "I want him to offer his assistance. He is a person who can really bring people together."

Frank, shrewd and quick-witted, also poked fun at Obama's calls for a "post-partisan" governing environment in Washington. Frank predicted that regulatory legislation aimed at preventing abuses related to subprime mortgages and credit cards stood a much better chance next year, when Democrats have greater majorities in the House and Senate.

[EFerrari]

1. Who is Chris Dodd representing in these remarks, I wonder. n/t

[Abq_Sarah]

2. President Elect Obama is correct

To stay under the radar on this and work behind the scenes. He knows exactly what he's doing and I don't believe for one second that his team hasn't been talking with the necessary members in the house and senate. Congress needs to get their act together and stop the hand wringing. They also need to stop looking for political cover. They were elected to do a job, not play pass the buck.

[Hawkowl]

5. Keeping their powder dry

Anybody expecting Pelosi or Reid to do ANYTHING constructive, well, I have this wonderful bridge to sell them. The congressional leadership really needs to go. They are worse than useless.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Have there been previous instances of the P/E stepping into the activities of his office

prior to being Inaugurated?

[kentuck]

4. Probably unprecedented?

The bottom line is that the Congress does have the authority to act right now, if they had a little bit of leadership from their own. However, Obama would be accused of trying to usurp the powers of the Presidency if he tried to insert himself too deeply into a problem which should be in the confines and jurisdiction of the US Congress. All money and spending bills originate in the House of the Representatives, just like the bill to appropriate $700 billion dollars to the Treasury in fractions. It is up to the Congress to decide how the other $350 Billion is to be spent.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. That is what I thought. They are asking him to do something that would be

going against precedent.

[rvablue]

6. Instead of whining to the press, why don't they get to work writing DECENT legislation

so that President Obama has something to sign on Jan. 20th?

[Mist]

8. This congressional nagging is bizarre--not only is Obama not in office yet,

none of the elected Dem. senators and congresscritters are in office yet either. Not much can be accomplished until everyone's in place, right? We've all got to hang on another few weeks.

[DonCoquixote]

9. Has no one thought

That maybe the reason the R's are trying to get so much done in December is try and Force Obama into a postion before he has authority to do anything? They know that Dems eat their own, and they also know that Pelosi and Reid are much more interested in keeping their jobs than to actually work WITH Obama. If the Obama presidency were to fail, these folks could then go right back to their standard line of "those mean ol GOP types are too strong for us to do anything, but please make sure our paycheck gets here!"

[Lil Missy]

10. Isn't it amazing how bratboy gets a free pass and the onus is on Obama?

Before Obama even takes office????