Long way to go, but I will say he's making some good moves.

The Agitator » Blog Archive » Yes, He Did:

"Obama rescinded Bush’s 2001 executive order allowing former presidents, vice presidents, and their heirs to claim executive privilege in determining which of their records get released to the public. Even better, he’s requiring the signature of both his White House counsel and the attorney general before he can classify a document under executive privilege.

...Said this:

For a long time now there has been too much secrecy in this city. The old rules said that if there was a defensible argument for not disclosing something to the American people, then it should not be disclosed. That era is now over. Starting today, every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information, but those who seek to make it known.

The mere fact that you have the legal power to keep something secret does not mean you should use it. The Freedom of Information Act is perhaps the most powerful instrument we have for making our government honest and transparent and holding it accountable. I expect my administration not only to live up to the letter but the spirit of this law.”

Yes, it’s only been one day. But this is mighty impressive. Obama’s top priority upon taking office was to sign orders rolling back his predecessor’s expansion of executive power. Put another way, Obama’s top priority upon taking office was to institute limits on his own power.

That’s something even a cynic like me can celebrate."

Hit & Run > Obama Re-Examines the President's Power to Disappear Enemies - Reason Magazine:

"...In addition to issuing executive orders that restrict the interrogation techniques used by U.S. personnel, call for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison within a year, and in the meantime require reviews of the cases against the detainees held there, President Obama today ordered a review of the government's policy concerning the detention of legal residents designated as enemy combatants because of alleged ties to terrorism. Specifically, he signed a memorandum instructing 'the attorney general, the secretaries of defense, state and homeland security, and the director of national intelligence to conduct a review of the status of the detainee Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, who is currently held at the Naval Brig in Charleston, S.C.'"

But it is worth remembering how screwy the entire system is - Fred On Everything:

"In a sane world, a president would sign in online. User ID, password, bingo, he’s president, spare me the media circus. Why involve the rest of us? When I get a new job, I don’t need a $150-million parade that blocks the streets everywhere. It’s a sign of a defective character."