Obama Demands Bush do More for Economy, Car Makers, Before January 20.

The Obama-Bush Whitehouse liason this week was more than just a symbolic meeting between the outgoing and ingoing leaders of the free world.

According to the New York Times, President Bush and President elect Obama were in the first stages of negotiation that would see the Whitehouse quickly approve a second major stimulus package for the US economy. The deal is particularly focused on help for the ailing US automaker industry, with car giant General Motors starring down imminent bankruptcy.

Bush wants to get thought a controversial Free Trade Agreement with Colombia, which has been stalled in the US House and Senate. In return for passing the trade agreement Bush would allow a stimulus package tailored for the US car industry and nation wide infrastructure investment to be signed into law well before Obama takes the Whitehouse reigns on January 20, 2009.

More from the New York Times:

Mr. Obama went into his post-election meeting with Mr. Bush on Monday primed to urge him to support emergency aid to the auto industry, advisers to Mr. Obama said. But Democrats also indicate that neither Mr. Obama nor Congressional leaders are inclined to concede the Colombia pact to Mr. Bush, and may decide to wait until Mr. Obama assumes power on Jan. 20..

Separate from his differences with Mr. Bush, Mr. Obama has signaled to the automakers and the unions that his support for short-term aid now, and long-term assistance once he takes office, is contingent on their willingness to agree to transform their industry to make cleaner, more energy-efficient vehicles.

A week after Mr. Obama’s election, and more than two months before he takes office, the steadily weakening economy and the prospect of many more job losses are testing his effort to remain aloof from the nation’s business on the argument that “we only have one president at a time.”

Rahmbo: Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obamas newly named Presidential Chief of Staff is as partisan and ruthless as they come. He even once joked that the literal translation of his first name was "Go screw yourself."

Emanuel, who earned the nickname of Rahmbo for his past outbursts and hard line attitude to people, has some interesting story's to tell, one of which involves a famous 1990's Clinton campaign moment when he famously Stood up at a Little Rock, Arkansan restaurant.

At "the end of a Clinton campaign, Emanuel expressed dismay with Democrats he felt had betrayed the team. He picked up a steak knife and shouted "Dead!" as he spiked the knife into the table. Shouting the names of other disfavored Democrats one by one, he stabbed the table shouting, "Dead! Dead! Dead!"

But when Rahmbo accepted the position of Whitehouse Chief of Staff by his new boss' he had more of a re-conciliatory tone toward Washington politics.

"I want to say a special word about my Republican colleagues, who serve with dignity, decency and a deep sense of patriotism," Emanuel wrote. "We often disagree, but I respect their motives. Now is a time for unity, and Mr. President-elect, I will do everything in my power to help you stitch together the frayed fabric of our politics, and help summon Americans of both parties to unite in common purpose."