First 100 Days

President-Elect Obama will hold a press conference someday soon to outline his priorities for the first 100 days of his administration.  There's little doubt that the economy will take precedence over all else.  A change in war strategy will be an early priority.  The government is only funded through midnight, March 6, so much effort will be expended early next year on finishing the unfinished business President Bush left us.  It will be May or June before any time opens up to embark on new agenda items.

It's always tempting to take on the really big issues like health care reform or energy independence early on, but those will only become law if President Obama takes very good care to build the political capital necessary to overcome powerful opposition.  President Clinton barged ahead with health care reform soon after taking office in 1993, and he suffered the loss of the House Democratic majority the following year over that failed attempt and didn't regain it during his remaining six years in office.  That was quite a price to pay.