U.S. policy, 2009 model

President-elect Obama met with President Bush at the White House today for the traditional post-election photo-op and tour. I bet if Dubya had the option, he'd hand over the keys this minute - it has to be awkward playing housesitter for a guy that so many people are so eager to see take charge. Doubly awkward considering Bush himself was arguably the main reason that Republicans were so thoroughly trounced.

There was also some news today about how the first few weeks of Obama's presidency might go, beginning with a plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. Also reported in the Toronto Star: Obama's apparently working out a list of policies he can and will immediately reverse upon taking office, which includes lifting a ban on stem cell research.

While the biggest problems - the economic crisis, the wars - will take much more time and effort to resolve, there's reason to believe Obama's America will differ from Bush's in some meaningful ways quite soon after the transition. A relief for liberals, yes, but also a testament to American democracy, as none other than Desmond Tutu notes in the Washington Post.

As Tutu reminds us, it's worth appreciating any country that allows its citizens to change course every few years when bad leadership leads them astray.