Q&A: Lame Ducks and Why the Big Delay

Question:  What’s a Lame Duck, anyway?

Lol, Lame Duck is one of the funnier political terms, we think. A “Lame Duck” is the name for the President who’s living out the very end of his term as President, while the President Elect waits in the wings.

You might be thinking, “Well - the election is over. Why can’t Obama just take over right now?”

See, there’s this thing called a ‘transitional period’ - the election is held in November for a reason, when the Presidents term does not actually expire until January.  What’s the reason? Why the big hold up?

Well, there are a few reasons.

1. These things take time. As listed earlier, Obama had advisors to appoint, positions to fill for his Presidential Cabinet.  He has to get his people in place.

2. Decorating the White House. Haha ok not necessarily, but seriously. There was another family living there. The Bushes have to move out, and the Obamas have to move in. There are rooms to choose, drapes to buy, drawers to sort out, closet spaces to assign. These are very real and practical things but it’s a reality for the Obamas just like it would be for you. He doesn’t just have a new job. His family has a new address!

3.  When the Constitution was written, we didn’t have the means of modern transportation and technology that we do now. Things happen faster today than they used to. The period of time for the transition factored in travelling by horse. ;)