IT'S WHO THEY ARE:

Obama: Change, but not from Bush: On many policies, Obama has followed Bush's lead (Nancy Benac, 3/01/09, Associated Press)

The Bush policy of imprisoning enemy combatants in Afghanistan without trial? The Obama White House is OK with that.

The Bush tax cuts for the rich that candidate Obama promised to wipe out early? President Obama will let them run their course.

The Bush team's claim of a "state secrets" privilege to avoid releasing information? The Obama White House has agreed thrice over, even as it reviews the policy.

Across the landscape of government, there are plenty of other instances in which Obama is staying his Republican predecessor's course -- at least for now.

W is an agent of change and a leader. The UR is a creature of conformity and a follower.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 1, 2009 9:53 AM