i guess that McCain feels that he needn't bother

Presidential transition planning isn’t presumptuous; it’s ‘necessary.’

Yesterday, The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder reported that “Sen. Barack Obama has directed his aides to begin planning” for his presidential transition, should he be elected. Sen. John McCain’s campaign responded with derision, saying that Obama had “poor judgment” and was “dancing in the end zone” by making such preparations. But over at the Wonk Room, Center for American Progress Action Fund Director of Homeland Security P.J. Crowley argues that such advance work is necessary for any potential president:

Why is this important? Attempted attacks have become a staple of groups like al Qaeda. Given this heightened risk, one of our earliest conclusions was that the two candidates cannot wait until November to focus on this challenge. Advance work will be necessary to have an effective leadership team ready, establish relationships with key stakeholders across the country, prepare the public for what lies ahead and outline concrete priorities for the first 100 days and first year in office.

This is not being presumptuous. Actually, it is being presidential.

Crowley notes that the Center for American Progress Action Fund is launching a Homeland Security Presidential Transition Initiative “to help the president-elect, regardless of who wins, assess what will need to be done during the transition and in the first year to keep the country safe.” Perhaps, to avoid being hampered like the Bush administration, McCain’s team should concern themselves with preparing for the presidential transition process.

(Think Progress)