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Obama orders creation of declassification center

danarhea

danarhea

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President Obama created by executive order Tuesday a National Declassification Center to oversee efforts to make once-secret government documents public.

The order comes as part of Obama's promise to push government to err on the side of disclosure as it tackles the need to keep certain information from the public.
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On the surface, this might appear to be a refreshing development. When Bush was president, I bashed the crap out of him for the secrecy of his administration. But I believe there is a problem with any president, Democratic or Republican, in charge of declassification of documents:

1) The president could selectively decide what to release, and keep secret information that could embarrass him or his administration, as Bush did.

2) the president could selectively release information that would damage his political enemies.

These 2 reasons are enough to demand that the president obey Congress, when they demand information as part of an investigation. It is the law, as written into the US Constitution. Of course, Bush didn't, and you can bet the farm that Obama won't either. Why? Because Congress just doesn't have the balls to force the president to do it.

In the end, the problem isn't one that that needs a new law or executive order. It is one where a law is already on the books. You all know how critical I was of Bush for flaunting the Constitution. Well, I will state unequivocally, right here and now, that what I said about Bush also applies to Obama. If he ignores Congressional demands for data, he will be committing a criminal act. Now all that remains to be seen is if Congress will make future demands, especially in the unlikely event that the GOP takes back Congress in 2010, and what Obama's response to those demands, if any, will be. If he does the same thing Bush did, under those same circumstances, I will be calling for his head on a platter. And let's also see if Republicans are the only partisan douche bags out there, or if the Democrats do the same damn thing, and support presidential lawbreaking.

[/rant]

Article is here.
 
Next Obama will set up a direct line to Osama and the rest our enemies and tell them all of our plans. He is doing everything he can to help the bad guys and uses double speak in his appeasement talks.

Obama claims openness then he and his disciples hold more secret meeting than Bush did. The only openness coming from this imbecile is aimed at hurting our Nation in favor of his Muslim pals.
 
danarhea said:
On the surface, this might appear to be a refreshing development. When Bush was president, I bashed the crap out of him for the secrecy of his administration. But I believe there is a problem with any president, Democratic or Republican, in charge of declassification of documents:

1) The president could selectively decide what to release, and keep secret information that could embarrass him or his administration, as Bush did.

2) the president could selectively release information that would damage his political enemies.

These 2 reasons are enough to demand that the president obey Congress, when they demand information as part of an investigation. It is the law, as written into the US Constitution. Of course, Bush didn't, and you can bet the farm that Obama won't either. Why? Because Congress just doesn't have the balls to force the president to do it.

In the end, the problem isn't one that that needs a new law or executive order. It is one where a law is already on the books. You all know how critical I was of Bush for flaunting the Constitution. Well, I will state unequivocally, right here and now, that what I said about Bush also applies to Obama. If he ignores Congressional demands for data, he will be committing a criminal act. Now all that remains to be seen is if Congress will make future demands, especially in the unlikely event that the GOP takes back Congress in 2010, and what Obama's response to those demands, if any, will be. If he does the same thing Bush did, under those same circumstances, I will be calling for his head on a platter. And let's also see if Republicans are the only partisan douche bags out there, or if the Democrats do the same damn thing, and support presidential lawbreaking.

[/rant]

Article is here.
Click to expand...
You still do, and I'm waiting for the Obama bashing to begin.
 
Councilman said:
Next Obama will set up a direct line to Osama and the rest our enemies and tell them all of our plans. He is doing everything he can to help the bad guys and uses double speak in his appeasement talks.

Obama claims openness then he and his disciples hold more secret meeting than Bush did. The only openness coming from this imbecile is aimed at hurting our Nation in favor of his Muslim pals.
Click to expand...

Aw are you afraid that someone will be exposed in the Bush administration?
 
danarhea said:
On the surface, this might appear to be a refreshing development. When Bush was president, I bashed the crap out of him for the secrecy of his administration. But I believe there is a problem with any president, Democratic or Republican, in charge of declassification of documents:

1) The president could selectively decide what to release, and keep secret information that could embarrass him or his administration, as Bush did.

2) the president could selectively release information that would damage his political enemies.

These 2 reasons are enough to demand that the president obey Congress, when they demand information as part of an investigation. It is the law, as written into the US Constitution. Of course, Bush didn't, and you can bet the farm that Obama won't either. Why? Because Congress just doesn't have the balls to force the president to do it.

In the end, the problem isn't one that that needs a new law or executive order. It is one where a law is already on the books. You all know how critical I was of Bush for flaunting the Constitution. Well, I will state unequivocally, right here and now, that what I said about Bush also applies to Obama. If he ignores Congressional demands for data, he will be committing a criminal act. Now all that remains to be seen is if Congress will make future demands, especially in the unlikely event that the GOP takes back Congress in 2010, and what Obama's response to those demands, if any, will be. If he does the same thing Bush did, under those same circumstances, I will be calling for his head on a platter. And let's also see if Republicans are the only partisan douche bags out there, or if the Democrats do the same damn thing, and support presidential lawbreaking.

[/rant]

Article is here.
Click to expand...

No government regardless of where in the world, should have too many secrets. Transparency and accountability are key for a free society. And I agree, Congress under Bush was far far far too wussy to stand up against Bush on this.. well Cheney more likely. And congress should stand up against Obama and demand that he follow the law, I agree fully. Then again so should Congress :)
 
PeteEU said:
Aw are you afraid that someone will be exposed in the Bush administration?
Click to expand...
This is a pretty disingenuous question.
 
American said:
You still do, and I'm waiting for the Obama bashing to begin.
Click to expand...

You know, your lies with the one liners are getting old and stale. Take your BS someplace else.

Hey folks. Unlike American, you have read what I have posted. Have I or have I not bashed the living crap out of Obama?
 
Last edited:
danarhea said:
You know, your lies with the one liners are getting old and stale. Take your BS someplace else.

Hey folks. Unlike American, you have read what I have posted. Have I or have I not bashed the living crap out of Obama?
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You'll be bashing Bush long after he's dead, which would make your feign criticism of the One, miniscule.
 
Moderator's Warning:
American... you're trolling. Either post on topic, leave the thread, or I'll help you leave the thread.
 
PeteEU said:
Aw are you afraid that someone will be exposed in the Bush administration?
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone is afraid of this....If there was wrong doing,let it be exposed.
 
PeteEU said:
No government regardless of where in the world, should have too many secrets.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately most government do have too many secrets.

I agree with Dan here. I want to see a lot of transparency in the government; but I'm not holding my breath on this one. I don't know if it will do what it needs to do. Maybe some independent agency in charge of documenting government should do this. But so long as the parties can get their mits on this, we'll not see true transparency.
 
PeteEU said:
No government regardless of where in the world, should have too many secrets. Transparency and accountability are key for a free society. And I agree, Congress under Bush was far far far too wussy to stand up against Bush on this.. well Cheney more likely. And congress should stand up against Obama and demand that he follow the law, I agree fully. Then again so should Congress :)
Click to expand...
How would anyone ever know how many 'too many' are?
 
Councilman said:
Next Obama will set up a direct line to Osama and the rest our enemies and tell them all of our plans. He is doing everything he can to help the bad guys and uses double speak in his appeasement talks.

Obama claims openness then he and his disciples hold more secret meeting than Bush did. The only openness coming from this imbecile is aimed at hurting our Nation in favor of his Muslim pals.
Click to expand...

Post #3 and the thread has gone full-retard! Wow, Councilman, you're really on your game today.
 
I think over all it's a good move. Having people whose sole job it is to keep an eye on the declassification of old materials is a good thing. There will always be executive oversight and privilege, but this is a move in the right direction.

Too many secrets are the downfall of any relationship, including that of countryman and state.
 
Strucky said:
I don't think anyone is afraid of this....If there was wrong doing,let it be exposed.
Click to expand...

I agree, I think underneath, everyone wants to know? If nothing happen, lets move on, if something happen, let's $%^ or get off the toilet.
 
hazlnut said:
Post #3 and the thread has gone full-retard! Wow, Councilman, you're really on your game today.
Click to expand...

Moderator's Warning:
Knock off the trolling and focus on the topic.
 
Bassman said:
Let's not forget that there are secrets that need to be kept that way. Such things as the Nuclear launch codes and other military secrets need to be kept under lock & key!
Click to expand...

Yea, I can agree with that, and even thanked you for posted this, but other items, especially those that can result in embarrassment to a president and his agenda, belong to the American people. The government belongs to us, not them.
 
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