Bush acting presidential

Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal: It has been widely reported and noted by commentators, but it bears repeating: President George Bush is presiding over one of the smoothest administrative transitions in U.S. history.

And not by accident. By all accounts Bush is determined to smooth the way for the incoming administration as much as possible.

It is Bush’s finest hour since his initial display of leadership immediately after 9-11, when the nation was still in shock and he delivered the best speech of his presidency.

And it’s not just symbolic. Bush’s handling of the proposed auto bailout is an example.

Stopgap measure

After Congress rejected the bailout proposal, Bush authorized a stopgap measure: He dipped into previously authorized funds for just enough money to keep the Big Three auto companies alive until next year; but not as much as they wanted, or as had been proposed in Congress.

Why? Bush noted that while ultimately the right decision might be to let the auto companies fail, “I feel an obligation to my successor. I’ve thought about what it would be like for me to become president during this period..”

Yes, Bush has like presidents before him proposed a blizzard of last-minute rules changes to satisfy his corporate and ideological supporters, many of which the Obama administration will reverse.

But otherwise, Bush is acting presidential in his final days in office.