What Happened To Transparency?
First President Obama flip-flopped on release of the torture pictures, which are likely to come out anyway. Now, the White House is blocking access to visitor records. They are using the same argument BushCo used, that the White House doesn’t have to reveal who is coming through its gates who might also influence public policy.
Despite President Barack Obama’s pledge to introduce a new era of transparency to Washington, and despite two rulings by a federal judge that the records are public, the Secret Service has denied msnbc.com’s request for the names of all White House visitors from Jan. 20 to the present. It also denied a narrower request by the nonpartisan watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which sought logs of visits by executives of coal companies.
White House officials say the policy is “under review.”
The White House is arguing that it should have the right to hold secret meetings “such as an elected official interviewing for an administration position or an ambassador coming for a discussion on issues that would affect international negotiations.”
“Change” is great, huh?
bobfrommadison Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
If by “change” you mean Ambassadorships going to the highest bidders, then, no…not so great.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Well, if after 8 years Obama gets one thing right, it’ll be a vast improvement over the Bush regime.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Alan, well done. I bang on ya when you don’t remain true to your positions and simple become a cheerleader for Obama. I appreciate your honest critique.
Well, if after 8 years Obama gets one thing right, it’ll be a vast improvement over the Bush regime.
Pooch, however, continues his unwavering support of Obama, abandoning any sort of principle he has.
EricG Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I wonder … can you be a real American and admit when your party and your elected-leader were wrong?
Can you face the responsibility of the fact that your party detroyed the economy, degraded our national security and violated the US Constitution?
Or are you only satisfied when someone says something against Obama and you cry like a baby when someone speaks about Bush?
You are the one who has abonded all principals in the name of your crusade to be ignorant with the rest of the conservatives.
Disgracing this nation more than anything Obama ever might do: you have your every-day conservative in 2009. An America-hater by defintion.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Screw “transparency”…the Obama administration has to worry about national security, etc.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Look: it’s under review, maybe they’ll change it!
June 16th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Well, you’ve got to remember that the POTUS is from the farm team,,, way farm team. Now that the Organizer-in-Chief is in the major league there is a learning curve that has to happen before he can come up to speed. All of those promises he made while he was on the campaign trail just might not be fullfilled. sad, very sad. :(
EricG Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Why don’t you at least try to show a little respect to the President of the United States?
Is it really that hard to be human for a minute?
goliath43 Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 12:03 am
eric
Respect is something earned not given. Your constant berating of the previous administration is getting a little old.
Can you face the responsibility of the fact that your party detroyed the economy, degraded our national security and violated the US Constitution?
I could say the same about the current administration because he has done nothing different from what Pres. Bush did other than sink us into a debt we can never pay.
I don’t follow a party line but lean alittle more conservative than liberal but I questioned Pres. Bush’s motives as I will question obama’s but don’t be hypocritical and say show respect to the POTUS when you do nothing but disrespect the past president
Daddio Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Well said Goliath. Eric has shown absolutely no respect for the previous President of the United States. So he has no grounds for his statement.
Eric rants about all the “hate” from conservatives, but fails to see the “hate” coming from his rantings here.
Eric rants about Bush “trashing” the constitution, but fails to see Obama pushing us towards socialism with government nationalizing banks, GM, and Chysler. And Eric fails to see the fallacy and danger of Obama putting this country in a massive TEN TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT, over ten years, that will massivly burden our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with a HUGH tax burden that they will not be able to pay off.
Eric needs to take the plank out of his eye so he can see the speck in others eyes.
Kregg Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 12:21 am
JFA said: Now that the Organizer-in-Chief is in the major league there is a learning curve that has to happen before he can come up to speed.
K: I think the learning curve is Alan’s. He’s now faced with the fact that HIS POTUS figures to have some privacy when running the country just like the last POTUS that Alan figured incompetent. Now he’s faced with the fact that either BO is just as incompetent as GW – or GW was just as competent as is BO. Tough curve, Al…
June 16th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
“It also denied a narrower request by the nonpartisan watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which sought logs of visits by executives of coal companies.”
This is where my interests lie. How many palms are greased by corrupt corporate suits trying to weasel themselves into government favor?
JFA Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Eric, get a real job!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
though I can see some narrow circumstances where keeping guests private can be expected. I think on the whole, they should be open for review. especially in matters that don’t involve our national security, However since “national security” could be misapplied to so many things it’s probably best if that was all out in the open. Especially as these lists are after the fact. Are they afraid of time travel?
Denying the list of coal industry execs is being overly secretive.
June 17th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Alan, did you really write this header? Are you feeling ok? I sure hope there is nothing wrong with you. :)
OldLefty Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Funny thing is, every negative legit thing about Obama I get from the NYT, Huffington Post, David Sirota, Tom Hartman, Center for American Progress.
I don’t know if the same negative critical analysis came from their counterparts on the right until after 7.5 years when Bush’s numbers were irretrievably low.
Daddio Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Quit trying to pick a fight Lefty. :) :)
Hey, I gotta go catch some ZZZ’s. Catch you all later.
steve Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Daddio
He just picked a guy from Utah and asked King from NY,NY to be the ambassador for Ireland and place other GOP law makers on his staff.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Funny thing is, every negative legit thing about Obama I get from the NYT, Huffington Post, David Sirota, Tom Hartman, Center for American Progress.
What’s NOT funny is that’s all you read ;-)
Just teasin ya a little Lefty.
steve Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
PINO
I agrre with you. The extreme left wants total left wing polices and to run things you have to be in the center where most voters are at.
Hardline line liberalism is as bad as being a hardline conservative. Obama is doing quite well in making those 2 groups mad.
This week hard line liberals are sounding off more than ever againist the president.
June 17th, 2009 at 3:48 pm