As a lay historian, I could not be more pleased with President Obama’s decision to use his first executive orders to restore teeth to the Freedom of Information Act and insist that the government err on the side of disclosure when it comes to official documents. Bush, however, and Rush, are shitting their pants.
“You couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Melanie Sloan, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, an advocacy group that tangled frequently with the Bush administration over records. “For the president to say this on Day 1 says: ‘We mean it. Turn your records over.’ ”
…It may not be the type of thing that Mr. Bush wants to hear, however. Experts said Mr. Obama’s moves would have the practical effect of allowing reporters and historians to obtain access to records from the Bush administration that might otherwise have been kept under wraps.
“Historians are overjoyed by this,” said Lee White, executive director of the National Coalition for History.
Amazingly, Limbaugh was completely transparent about the brick in his Fruit of the Looms.
LIMBAUGH: What I’m afraid of is that what Obama did with this executive order is actually make it easier for the media to go get Bush documents. Because you know Pelosi and some of the guys over in congress are talking about war crimes trials and charges and so forth. […]
What I’m afraid of is what Obama’s done here is made the gathering of the information for this kind of stuff– This is not American. This is not America. This is not what America does. We don’t– This is Banana Republic kind of stuff.
I like the executive order because it makes it easier for historians to make an accurate telling of history and because it adds sunshine to government and because Obama placed the highest priority on these things and because it keeps a campaign promise. The fact that it might make it easier to learn the secrets of the Bush administration is just gravy as far as I am concerned.
They are RIGHT to be scared.
Obama CLEARLY indicated the Freedom of Information changes would apply to the Bush Administration.
The “smoking gun” will be found. Bush and his criminal gang will be punished.
IF America does not punish the illegal activities of the Bush Administration the next Republican Administration will think they have a carte blanche to break the Constitution and the Law.
well, I hope so, but I’m a bit of a cynic on DC’s ability to provide accountability…at least, legally.
That’s why Obama, the Web 2.0 prez, has decided to crowdsource the prosecution of the George W. Bush regime. “Unleash the hounds”, and get the popcorn ready.
Knowing full well he may need some cover one day during his administration, the President decides to do this anyway. I like that. A lot.
Yep, Rush. It might expose those letters in which the Bush administration asked that certain drug charges not be brought forward to prosecution. Wonder what case that might be?
I love the fact that Limbaugh thinks that making government transparent to the people is “what banana republics do.” What a crazy nutball, that Rush.
On a related note: Boo–I would be curious to hear your take on Russell Tice’s recent revelations on Obermann’s show about NSA spying, which are heating up DKos right now. I find them plausible but do not know how much credibility Tice has. I know you have followed these issues closely so I would value your opinion.
Doesn’t Rush regularly travel to Banana Republics for his various vice fixes? You’d think he’d be an expert on how Banana Republics operate.
I hope Rush is peeing his pants scared right now. I still have zero hope that Bush himself or any of the top dogs will be held accountable for what they’ve done, but the record will be out there and everyone can see just what kind of monstrosities Bush allowed on his watch.
On the other hand – I wonder if Obama knows just how brave this action really is. This is exactly the type of thing that leads to assassinations and coups attempts. Hopefully he’s going into this with his eyes wide open and doesn’t think that this will just be “controversial” rather than dangerous.
Personally, I believe Obama is one of the most perceptive, intelligent men ever to hold his position; I’m sure his awareness of danger is clear.
Hell, his position alone places him in mortal danger; if he just sat in the Oval Office like a trained ape for the entire term & did nothing but follow orders (like his immediate predecessor), he’d still be in peril. However, he’s not one to waste opportunity.
Access is so unAmerican.
…entirely unless a court approves. For each and every document.
Transparency works, in government and on Wall Street.
Limbaugh clearly still wrestles with the demon of addiction which, coupled with oodles of lucre, enables him to bask in his delusion as contentedly as a polar bear in a Miami Zoo kiddie pool.
Some on the right are calling on Obama to follow his own rules and release his birth certificate.
See http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116385
Goes back three months, 500 posts and 7000 views
What actually is sort of interesting is there is no official review process to ensure a candidate for office is eligible. Obama is president because the electoral college said he was (and he took the oath twice).
Not that I’m complaining.
Agreed that this is a good “release the hounds” action that may set the record of history straight without Obama consuming his presidency rerunning the last eight years. If Bush is found legally to be a war criminal and goes to jail I will be pleased, but not much more than if the world knows and he has to live in Crawford/Houston the rest of his life knowing it.
How’s that presidential library going?
The autobiography about done?
Do you think someone may gain access to Cheney’s meetings on that oil business back in the early part of Bush’s first administration? That might prove of inestimable value for historians not to mention criminal prosecutors.