I'm Puzzled

monster · 10-18-2008, 02:48 PM

Why is it that a newly elected president does not take power immediatley, but instead the old guy stays in office for a few more weeks doing as much damage as he can? This in a country where almost every other employee who is fired or resigns is immediately given a box to pack, watched while they pack it, then escorted to the door?

It's pretty much the opposite in the UK. If you resign you are usually required to work out your notice (although this is changing), but the Prime Minister takes power immediately.

Pie · 10-18-2008, 02:53 PM

Gives the new guy time to pick his cabinet, etc.
(And time for the Clinton administration to remove the "W"s from the keyboards...)

Sundae · 10-18-2008, 02:53 PM

True. I've always worked my notice - I skipped out of the NHS slightly early because I had accrued annual leave and I was due to finish over Easter (2 Bank Holidays, lovely!) But even then I had 2 weeks after resigning of mooning about and dreaming and not doing much. Which I was paid for.

SteveDallas · 10-18-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

Why is it that a newly elected president does not take power immediatley, but instead the old guy stays in office for a few more weeks doing as much damage as he can?

Because That's The Way We've Always Done it(tm).

Griff · 10-18-2008, 05:05 PM

It takes time for the courts to choose a new President.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-18-2008, 05:16 PM

By the time the votes were gathered & verified, the college electors notified and travel to gather & vote, all on horseback, it was time to shut down for Christmas and New Years. Then the elected needs time to choose his gang, get them to Washington, and settled in, again by horsepower. The pattern was set.

Undertoad · 10-18-2008, 05:28 PM

That's now the lawsuit period.

Aliantha · 10-18-2008, 05:29 PM

There's always a gap between when our new guy gets elected and when he takes office for much the same reasons as the US. Paliament gets shut down till the new guy gets sworn in though, so basically, the country here is in limbo for a month or so till the new gov takes over.

Clodfobble · 10-19-2008, 08:44 AM

It's important to note that it used to be longer, about four months. When FDR was elected, the Great Depression was gearing up, and he and the old administration were completely unable to cooperate in creating relief programs and whatnot--which meant he was legally powerless, not being the President yet, but the old President was symbolically and publically pretty powerless as well, and nothing got done while the economy tanked farther. Because of this, they pushed future elections back to just 2 1/2 months before the turnover.

10-18-2008, 02:48 PM	#1
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I'm Puzzled Why is it that a newly elected president does not take power immediatley, but instead the old guy stays in office for a few more weeks doing as much damage as he can? This in a country where almost every other employee who is fired or resigns is immediately given a box to pack, watched while they pack it, then escorted to the door? It's pretty much the opposite in the UK. If you resign you are usually required to work out your notice (although this is changing), but the Prime Minister takes power immediately. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-18-2008, 02:53 PM	#2
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Gives the new guy time to pick his cabinet, etc. (And time for the Clinton administration to remove the "W"s from the keyboards...) __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

10-18-2008, 02:53 PM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	True. I've always worked my notice - I skipped out of the NHS slightly early because I had accrued annual leave and I was due to finish over Easter (2 Bank Holidays, lovely!) But even then I had 2 weeks after resigning of mooning about and dreaming and not doing much. Which I was paid for. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-18-2008, 05:05 PM	#5
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	It takes time for the courts to choose a new President. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

10-18-2008, 05:16 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	By the time the votes were gathered & verified, the college electors notified and travel to gather & vote, all on horseback, it was time to shut down for Christmas and New Years. Then the elected needs time to choose his gang, get them to Washington, and settled in, again by horsepower. The pattern was set. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-18-2008, 05:28 PM	#7
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	That's now the lawsuit period.

10-18-2008, 05:29 PM	#8
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	There's always a gap between when our new guy gets elected and when he takes office for much the same reasons as the US. Paliament gets shut down till the new guy gets sworn in though, so basically, the country here is in limbo for a month or so till the new gov takes over. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-19-2008, 08:44 AM	#9
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	It's important to note that it used to be longer, about four months. When FDR was elected, the Great Depression was gearing up, and he and the old administration were completely unable to cooperate in creating relief programs and whatnot--which meant he was legally powerless, not being the President yet, but the old President was symbolically and publically pretty powerless as well, and nothing got done while the economy tanked farther. Because of this, they pushed future elections back to just 2 1/2 months before the turnover. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

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