Six Ways for Obama to Walk It Like He Talks It

Barack Obama has promised a new kind of presidency, and John Dickerson of Slate has six ways for the president-elect to transform that promise into action.

• Embrace John McCain. A meeting with McCain would show graciousness in victory and could gain Obama a powerful ally for bipartisan action.
• Appoint Republicans. Obama now has the chance to turn his admiration for Abraham Lincoln's "Team of Rivals" into practice.

• Work without pay. He can afford to, and it would certainly back up his calls for "a new era of sacrifice."
• Increase disclosure and transparency. Full disclosure of all his donors would swiftly remove any suggestion of special interests having a say.
• Hold an inaugural event outside Washington. This would symbolize his "outside the Beltway" pledges—and where better than Iowa?
• Meet with a cross-section of religious leaders. A meeting with leaders from all faiths would kick-start Obama's plans for faith-based initiatives and quell fears that he is a "radical cultural liberal."

(More Barack Obama stories.)