The mainstream media has been reporting the last few days about Bush's attempts to put in place regressive rules in the last few weeks of his administration. Is anyone surprised? These rules favor his buddies in bad industries, and attempt to gut the people's right to regulate these industries.

One thing that very un hip reporters don't seem to understand is that Bush himself defined the way to undo such rules - what he did to Clinton's rules. That is to issue an "interim rule" which is effective immediately, then at the same time put that rule up for public comment. It doesn't do any good to sue over the interim rule, because the rule will be finalized with public comment before the government would even be required to answer the complaint. And, under the lax standards of the Administrative Procedures Act for rulemaking, the public comments can be shoved aside and a predetermined agenda put into place. That's exactly what Bush did to a number of Clinton rules. Obama should do the same with these last minute Bush rules. Or, maybe Obama, an attorney and a smart guy, can think of a better way to do it. But in any case, if any of these reporters thinks that Obama is going to sit by and wring his hands wondering what to do about Bush's last minute rules, they are living in a dream world.

So I hope that Obama goes full force to undo these last minute rules. But, I also have to comment about the eratic behavior of Sec. of Treasury Paulson in the last month. I mean, when he first started speaking about a remedy to some of the economic problems, he emerged as a light in the dark Bush administration - someone who was talking straight and wanted to do what was right. But now, he has flipped flopped and done so many contradictory things, and now seems to be trying to "one up" Obama - the worst thing he could do - I am growing increasing skeptical about Paulson. He's just one more of these egotistical guys who wants control of everything and can't accept the fact that he isn't getting the job done. And it could very well be that the job is too big for one person, but in the context of that, Paulson shouldn't be acting so arrogant.

I can't wait till all these Bush people are out. Obama is picking too many of the old guard, but he is a new coach. Let's hope that he is guiding them to new directions. If not, then the problems will continue to increase.