punkfolkrocker, that was my implied question: How much power does the outgoing president retain=why is there such a long period of time available for mischief making? I know the reasoning and that inaugurations used to be held in March because travel was so slow. However, that is no longer the case and it seems to me that December 1, say, should be plenty of time.

They are saying that Biden has spent the last few months formulating his cabinet members, long before he could be sure he would be elected. That seems logical to me.