[bostonpete]

> Since he doesn't need to be re-elected, I'm assuming the opinions he has these days are truly his own without any other motive. That hurts. :(

If you believe he's doing it because it's what he believes is best for the country, that's the best you can hope for I guess. He's a smart guy, with an appreciation of the Constitution, and a lot more information available to him than the vast majority of people on any issue put before him. Given that he's not up for re-election again, I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt on his motivations in his second term.

That's not to say that I agree with every thing he does, just that I take comfort in knowing that he's relatively unencumbered at this point.

[danbmil99]

Any president would act thusly. He doesn't think he will abuse the power, and closing down the programs could risk him being blamed for any and all bad guy stuff for the rest of his term.

There is no upside for someone with power to ever give it up, for any reason at all. I'm still trying to figure out Gorbachev.