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Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?[W: 104]

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Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

Do you think Obama and the other presidents haven't had the same kind of system?

I'd say it's mostly a 20th century formation, with additional requirements, say after the War on Terrorism. The entire executive branch has gone through quite the transformation in that 100 year span. But you know, you have more transparency on many matters at the same time that you don't.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

I'd say it's mostly a 20th century formation, with additional requirements, say after the War on Terrorism. The entire executive branch has gone through quite the transformation in that 100 year span.

I'd say TR thoroughly modernized the presidency. By the way, I don't see "modernization" as a good thing.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

It certainly is. Public opinion has a strange effect on a negotiation process that is often unwieldy if you let it dominate. Your leaders need to be able to jostle for position, present alternatives and conduct an agreement without outside interference.

Not every little detail of a big bill should be public but not even letting the legislators see a bill before voting/passing it seems to be in the high end of opaque on the transparency scale.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

President Obama said recently his administration is the most transparent administration in [American] history. Do you agree or disagree?

No it is not. I would say the most tranparent presidency's were the ones from Washington through Taft. That is simply because a president really didn't have much to do and some spent most of their presidency sitting on the White House Lawn sipping iced tea or some other beverage. Wilson through Hoover would have the be the second tier of transparent presidency's. Starting with FDR, hidding things from the public became common place. You can debate which president hid the most and which the least, but for the most part transparency flew out the window. Wars, national security, behind the scene shennanigans, deal making etc, became common beginning with FDR. The presidency has evolved. Is the Obama administration more transparent than Bush II's, I don't know. It is probably just a matter of perspective and which party you belong to as to believe what each has said and let the public in on.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

It certainly is. Public opinion has a strange effect on a negotiation process that is often unwieldy if you let it dominate. Your leaders need to be able to jostle for position, present alternatives and conduct an agreement without outside interference.

The public is not "outside interference", but the whole reason for the negotiations in the first place. They should not be cut out of the process, but rather should have a clear view of all the goings on. What made his promise to this so powerful is that it's a further move towards the death of "private smoke filled rooms" deal-making politics.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

The public is not "outside interference", but the whole reason for the negotiations in the first place. They should not be cut out of the process, but rather should have a clear view of all the goings on. What made his promise to this so powerful is that it's a further move towards the death of "private smoke filled rooms" deal-making politics.

Yeah, it can be. I'd rather have politicians be able to negotiate without having the fear of political blow back by knee jerk reactions from the media, and the public. Look how many good things haven't happened because of such blow back.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

President Obama said recently his administration is the most transparent administration in [American] history. Do you agree or disagree?

He's transparent as in he's just like every other suit in DC. Say one thing and do another, make big promises and fail to deliver. All while taking credit for other peoples work on the good things, and blaming someone else for the bad.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

Do you think Obama and the other presidents haven't had the same kind of system?

Remember who invented the Spoils System.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

In order to make that call, one would need a clear understanding of how transparent Zachary Taylor's administration was. I, for one, have no idea. More transparent than Bush? Certainly, but that's not difficult. More transparent than Jimmy Carter? Than Rutherford B. Hayes? Than Calvin Coolidge? Who knows. It's a meaningless boast.

A transparent government only exists when there is a press willing to release details from the commanding administration. More transparent than Bush? No. The media was all over that one. The only information we get regarding Obama from the media is which Late-Night TV show he will be attending.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

Yeah, it can be. I'd rather have politicians be able to negotiate without having the fear of political blow back by knee jerk reactions from the media, and the public. Look how many good things haven't happened because of such blow back.

That's just an excuse to rule over an ignorant population. An extension of the old "we know what's best for you" routine. EVERY single political meeting that's not classified should be broadcast in full on one of the C-SPAN channels.

Speaking of "good things that never happenned", was it a good thing that Obama bargained away the public option in closed door meeting with insurance execs? Was it a good thing that Pelosi, et al continued to discuss the public option as it could happen even after she knew it was already bargained away? Is it a good thing that few if any knew what was in the bill they were voting on?

Hell, they weren't even transparent to each other in this process.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

You didn't actually want to hold him to that, did you? It was something to get the angry Democrats on board. It's self-defeating, for any party, to conduct the entire process in front of the public.

I don't know that anyone is arguing that all things need to be always in the open, such as posted on-line seven days prior (a promise broken btw).

But when we have the AG found in contempt of Congress for not providing requested documents, and then a President who claims Executive Privilege where it cleary does not apply, that is opaqueness where transparency should exist. Add to it no actual budget passed by the Dems in the Senate for four years, which also obstructs information from the public, and "pass this bill so we can see what's in it", then I believe we have precedence of non-transparency well in excess of anything in our lifetimes.

That the Press fails to do its Constitutionally enabled investigations to a level we've also never seen is icing on the non-transparent cake.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

Yeah, it can be. I'd rather have politicians be able to negotiate without having the fear of political blow back by knee jerk reactions from the media, and the public. Look how many good things haven't happened because of such blow back.

Transparency is your best protection against corruption. All things behind-the-curtain your greatest enabler of corruption.

So I'm gonna call your post grossly misinformed.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

Transparency is your best protection against corruption. All things behind-the-curtain your greatest enabler of corruption.

So I'm gonna call your post grossly misinformed.

It's not black and white, yes transparency can be good, but some negotiations need to be done behind the curtain. For example, it is very likely we wouldn't be posting this right now, because nuclear war might have happened if the Cuban Missile Crisis couldn't be adverted with behind the scenes negotiations.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

A better question would be, can you EVER remember a transparent administration? Well, at least prior administrations didn't have drones flying over our heads. Stay away from the windows guys.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

I don't see how on that one, actually. Watergate and the Pentagon Papers were pretty serious swings. Not to say that this President is the most transparent, but he's certainly not the worst for transparency. I'd say he's fairly....well, typical for our day and age.

You have a point, but I suggest that this administration has carried backroom corruption to a level we have never before seen in Washington. In prior administrations back to Adams, and as late as Nixon and Bush43, it was seen as an aberration to be condemned; now it's seen simply as "business as usual" (Chicago style).
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

It's not black and white, yes transparency can be good, but some negotiations need to be done behind the curtain. For example, it is very likely we wouldn't be posting this right now, because nuclear war might have happened if the Cuban Missile Crisis couldn't be adverted with behind the scenes negotiations.

The exempt for classified material has already been stated. And let me say, I'm personally quite surprised to see you arguing for closed door politics. What's up with that?
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

The exempt for classified material has already been stated. And let me say, I'm personally quite surprised to see you arguing for closed door politics. What's up with that?

I'm not, I'm just noting that having everything open can be bad for things, especially with our crappy media, and our idiotic population.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

I most certainly did. I bought it hook, line and sinker. And I stuck around to inspect what I expected. That's why I quickly turned from Obama voter and supporter to Obama hater. It's not as bad when someone lies to your face when you know it's a lie. But when you believe them and find out later, that's where I was.

And no, it's not self-defeating to hold public business in front of the public.

You believed a promise, made by a professional politician, "hook, line, and sinker"?

Seriously?
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

You have a point, but I suggest that this administration has carried backroom corruption to a level we have never before seen in Washington.

And we know that because there has been no major corruption scandal involving this adminstration, so it's clear that they are covering things up to a much greater extent than any other in history.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

Not the most, but so-so.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

And we know that because there has been no major corruption scandal involving this adminstration, so it's clear that they are covering things up to a much greater extent than any other in history.

It's so bad it makes 1824 look like a visit to the mall Santa.
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

That's just an excuse to rule over an ignorant population. An extension of the old "we know what's best for you" routine. EVERY single political meeting that's not classified should be broadcast in full on one of the C-SPAN channels.

Speaking of "good things that never happenned", was it a good thing that Obama bargained away the public option in closed door meeting with insurance execs? Was it a good thing that Pelosi, et al continued to discuss the public option as it could happen even after she knew it was already bargained away? Is it a good thing that few if any knew what was in the bill they were voting on?

Hell, they weren't even transparent to each other in this process.


True CB... plus pelosi herself stated they would have to pass the Bill, to find out what was in it_ Don't remember her exact words'''

Obama Ran on Transparrency_ to get Elected' "' guess what " he lied''''
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

In order to make that call, one would need a clear understanding of how transparent Zachary Taylor's administration was. I, for one, have no idea. More transparent than Bush? Certainly, but that's not difficult. More transparent than Jimmy Carter? Than Rutherford B. Hayes? Than Calvin Coolidge? Who knows. It's a meaningless boast.

Why would you say he was more transparent than Bush? Honestly, I'm not seeing much substantial difference between the two here. At most, you can fault Obama for pushing the transparency angle in 04, but most people figured that was bull****, anyway
 
Re: Is the Obama administration the "most transparent administration in history"?

Why would you say he was more transparent than Bush? Honestly, I'm not seeing much substantial difference between the two here. At most, you can fault Obama for pushing the transparency angle in 04, but most people figured that was bull****, anyway

What exactly is it that you feel this administration has been concealing? And how could any of it rank alongside intentionally misleading the country into a war?
 
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