It's a Whole New World With Barack

Although Barack Obama was adamant in his first press conference after the election that there is only one president of the United States, and until January 20, 2009, it remains George Bush, there is a website Change.gov where the president elect has been posting to the country and beyond.

Immediately, change.gov posted a long list of priorities and promises. That list disappeared off the website, but now it's back, slightly reworded and without the criticism of the Bush administration that was prominent in its earlier edition.

In addition to news, videos, and an interactive section where viewers can tell their unique stories to the administration, there is an agenda section. There are twenty-three articulated issues: civil rights, defense, disabilities, economy, education, energy & the environment, ethics, family, fiscal, foreign policy, health care, etc.

Then there is the "additional issues" list: faith, arts, child advocacy, Katrina, science, etc.

There is even a way to apply for a job. If one doesn't materialize from Obama, the Census Bureau is hiring 140,000 Census takers. Click here to learn more about these temporary jobs.

Once a viewer has gone through the substance of the site, which is worth some time, there is the 2008-2009 Presidential Transition Resources site.

The Presidential Transition Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-293) authorizes the General Services Administration (GSA) to develop a transition directory in consultation with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Act provides that the transition directory "shall be a compilation of Federal publications and materials with supplementary materials developed by the Administrator that provides information on the officers, organization, and statutory and administrative authorities, functions, duties, responsibilities, and mission of each department and agency." Senate Report 106-348 clarifies that the directory is intended to "assist in navigating the many responsibilities that fall on a new administration" that is "confronted by an overwhelming amount of material."

This site is less accessible, since it is drenched in legalese. But it is a crash course in learning what government is supposed to do.

This will be the first YouTube presidency. In order for it to work, we have to work.