The message of just sitting there at the desk is that he is on the job and not simply waiting things out until January 20th. The message that things are going to be hard but we can get through it all together. The message that he is going to help us all get through this.  These messages haven't been coming from the present administration in the White House and I am grateful that there is an adult ready to do what needs to be done...mainly calm the nerves of the American people.

I agree, the "present administration" has not been communicating effectively with the American people of late, and Obama has stepped in to fill the gap. Even Mark Plotkin of WTOP says he's never seen this sort of anticipatory (my word) presidential takeover of leadership. I think Bush, as he has done with so many other jobs he undertook, has become sick of the whole president schtick, and has gone AWOL. The Republicans would love to stick Obama with the meltdown economy-thing, and seem to keep trying to involve him formally in decisions being made. So far only his appointees have been involved, and that on an unofficial basis. Despite Bush's magical performance of early retirement, I hope Obama does not let himself be suckered into formally participating in Paulson's Bailout Ball.