Quick use of executive power planned

Washington: Barack Obama will assume the US presidency with a real mandate for change, and will likely use his executive powers to do things quickly, perhaps reversing Bush administration policies on stem cell research and oil exploration.

John Podesta, who's handling Obama's preparations to take over in the White House on January 20, said on Sunday that Obama was reviewing President George W. Bush's executive orders and other issues as he prepares to put his own stamp on policies after eight years of Republican rule.

"There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Podesta said.

"I think that he feels like he has a real mandate for change. We need to get off the course that the Bush administration has set."

Use of executive authority is the quickest way for a new president to exert his power, given that passage of new laws by Congress can be a painfully slow process, even when the chief executive enjoys a legislative majority.

Podesta pointed specifically to two particularly controversial Bush executive orders as candidates for reversal.