You will recall that George W. Bush was going to give America the “MBA Presidency.” Apparently, that turned out to mean “Management by A–holes.”

The Republicans were done in by the Bush team’s incompetent management of Iraq, Katrina and the economy.

Ironically, the Obama campaign – and, so far, the transition – holds the competence franchise.

All winning campaigns are praised for brilliance and efficiency. All losing campaigns are pilloried for disarray and divisiveness. But all accounts indicate that the community organizer from Chicago organized one of the steeliest, steadiest marches to the White House in history.

Since his election-night speech, Obama has maintained that air of cool command.

Unlike Bill Clinton in 1992, Obama picked his chief of staff first, not last. Clinton spent months in search of diversity. Obama is freed of that burden; he is diversity.

Obama’s campaign mastered the reality of the connected age. The AP story on his use of the web said he has 10 million supporters on his list. That’s 10 million people invested in him, 10 million people he can connect with – and mobilize – with the push of a few buttons.

That is a new form of power in America.

D.G. Martin had a great column recently about Obama’s use of Internet fundraising. D.G. said he got a lot of negative comments because he compared Obama to Jesse Helms, whose political organization (led by Carter) pioneered direct-mail fundraising.

But campaign fundraising is only the beginning of this story. Now we will find out how a linked-in network of 10 million people – with an inspirational and ruthlessly efficient leader – can change American government.

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