An optimistic transition for global engagement

Jim Lehrer, anchor for PBS's The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, opened the Center for U.S. Global Engagement's "Impact '08" discussion. He began with the idea that the recent election sent a message from the American people that they want Washington to "run the government competently, not politically." Before beginning the discussion with Paul Begala, the senior transition advisor and counselor to President Bill Clinton, and Michael Gerson, chief speechwriter for George W. Bush, Lehrer outlined the impending influences on the new Obama administration. He said that, in order of importance, President-Elect Obama's transition period will be dominated by reality, spirituality, and ideology. Because ideology is last on this list, Lehrer said that it "was totally irrelevant to most voters."

Begala responded to Lehrer's first question about how the transition from Bush to Obama is going so far with a "so far so good". Because of Obama's "broad, methodical transition team", Begala believes the president-elect is demonstrating how his administration will be run as president. He also advocated a "bipartisan foreign policy" and diversity of ideology, background, and partisanship within Obama's Administration. Gerson agreed, and supported a strong foreign policy team that is "not ideologically the same" as each other.

Globally, both men expressed no doubts that President Obama will have "no choice but to engage internationally", unlike most presidents who focus on domestic issues during their first terms, Begala said. Gerson stated that although there will be a "tremendous conflict of priorities", America cannot afford to back off the international commitments that will ensure safety and health to countries that may harbor anti-American sentiments.

As far as America's image abroad is concerned, Gerson believes that as President, Obama will be given a "chance to start over" by supporting the promises he made during his campaign. Begala echoed these sentiments by highlighting the $2 billion educational fund that Obama spoke about for education around the globe and saying that he "must follow through."

The discussion ended on a very positive note with both men speaking about the optimism witnessed during this time of economic crisis and the two wars that America is involved in. "The great leaders in our culture are always optimistic," said Begala, who also extended that that same optimism runs "very deep in the bones of Obama." Gerson continued that "this is a moment where there's a reason for optimism," with the election of an African-American into the White House. Lehrer concluded with pride, in that these two representatives of two very different parties were using the same words of optimism and pride.

Continuity from Bush administration to new president assured

The Heritage Foundation held a discussion about the post-Bush transition period in response to Senator and Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden's remarks expecting a crisis to occur within the first six months of an Obama administration. Giving their expert opinions were Dr. James Carafano and Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation, and Clark Ervin of the Aspen Institute who was also the first Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security.

Carafano began the discussion by expressing that he "[doesn't] actually think the government is particularly vulnerable in this transition period." The only continuity problems that may occur, he said, will be in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) if an Obama administration comes to power. He continued with the thought that DHS would be a difficultly for the Democrats because it was created since they were last in power, so "they haven't been there" before.

Lisa Curtis is a Senior Research Fellow of the Asian Studies Center and contextualized the discussion by focusing on recent Afghan-Pakistan relations. She believes that lately the Taliban has been "emboldened" in the tribal areas of Pakistan where they have become de facto rulers and they are spreading into Afghanistan. The United States' response to this, she said, must be an increase in troops to the region because America must gain support of the local populations there to have any sway over the Taliban.

Clark Ervin concluded the discussion with a direct dismissal of Carafano's belief that the transition period is not a time of vulnerability. He called the transition a "heightened threat period" that needed to "close security gaps" that have been created since Sept. 11. Ervin said that another attack on American soil, particularly in regards to the current economic crisis, "would be even greater with a new attack", especially since America is already burdened by two wars.

Despite their differences, all three panelists agreed that the Bush administration was preparing to turnover their work of the past eight years and Ervin expected "joint table topics of the outgoing Bush team and the new incoming team."