I’m thinking in terms of negotiating treaties and the like. For example, would Bush be violating some sort of law (assuming the Florida matter winds up in his favor) if he sat down with Arafat and Barak and negotiated a treaty of some kind? Or, say he started talking up some new initiative of his to the new Congress, gathering up support for when he actually introduces it?
Can the president-elect start acting presidential before he’s inaugurated (sp?)?
I don’t think that a president elect ever did these kinds of things until he was sworn in. And that doesn’t happen until January. Presumably, we’ll have figured something out by then…
Yer pal,
Satan
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That didn’t stop Reagan from cutting a deal with the Iranians to release the hostages in 1981.
Hmmm…that was an odd posting anomoly.
Yes, it did. Carter completed the deal, and Reagan took credit for it.
First off, we already know who the president is and his name is Clinton.
However the presidential-elect can act any way he wants. (I mean if Rev. Jesse Jackson can broker peace agreements what’s to stop Gore or Bush from trying?) But, it would be very unlikely that a foreign nation would except the promise of someone who’s ability to support their word is in serious doubt.
Reagan won in a landslide, Bush or Gore will not have such a clear mandate.
Small nit to pick. Prez-elect may negotiate an agreement, settlement, or promise (which would not be binding on the U.S.), but only the lawful president can sign a treaty, which must then be ratified by Congress.
There’s nothing to prevent Bush or Gore from acting Pseudo-Presidential now. In fact, there’s nothing preventing you or me from acting Pseduo-Presidential right now. What is relevant is who will actually get innaugurated on January 20.
In fact, since we don’t have a president-elect right now, I’ve decided to start naming my transition team and main appointees right now, in case the electoral college should decide to select me for President. Fear Itself, would you prefer to be Secretary of the Interior or Ambassador to Chad?
IMHO
If Reagan wasn’t elected, the hostages would not have been released (at that time) - so Carter couldn’t take any credit except for loosing.
As far as negotiating treaties, remember Al Gore is STILL the vice-president of the United States and as such has the authority to…okay, not much of anything, but he would presumably have more authority than say, the Governor of Texas.
If either man were to act in any official presidential capacity (negotiating treaties, for example) prior to being sworn in, I believe that would be grounds for serious censure from Congress. Not a great way to start out your new administration. There is a clear protocol for transferring power from the old administration to the new so that there is absolutely no confusion about who the elected leader of this country is. Bill Clinton will remain President until the new President, whoever he is, is sworn in.
Well, they could always ask for a blow job in the Oval Office. Is that presidential enough?
