The open-and-shut administration

[jimnyc]

This was a campaign promise, Obama said his administration would be the most transparent ever. Perhaps it turns out to be one of the most secretive ever. And the odd thing is that I don't see any posting, or ranting, or media, taking him to task on this. I guess the Democrat side doesn't care that they were lied to, and continue to be lied to.


“My administration,” President Obama wrote on his first day in office, “is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in government.”

Those were strong and hopeful words. Four years later, it is becoming more and more clear that they were just words.

On Monday afternoon, open-government advocates assembled in a congressional hearing room to ponder what had become of the Obama administration’s lofty vows of transparency.

“It’s been a really tough slog,” said Anne Weismann of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “The lack of effective leadership in the White House, in the executive branch, has really made it difficult to have more significant progress.”

“They’ve been reluctant to take positions,” said Hudson Hollister of the Data Transparency Coalition, “and translate that to real action.”

“In the beginning of 2010, [Obama] said he made a significant mistake by abandoning some of his pledges related to transparency,” said Josh Gerstein of Politico, “and that going forward they would do things differently. Seems to me we are forward and it seems to me we’re not doing things any differently.”

It was a more-in-sadness-than-in-anger critique of Obama often heard from the political left, and the moderator, the Sunlight Foundation’s Daniel Schuman, was apologetic. “We’re placing a lot of blame at the administration,” he observed. “Or blame isn’t the right word — maybe responsibility.”

No, blame is just fine. The Obama administration’s high level of opacity, though typical of modern presidencies, is troubling precisely because the president was so clear about his determination to do things differently. As recently as early last year, some open-government advocates were still hopeful, presenting Obama with an anti-secrecy award at the White House. But even then, there were signs of trouble: The award presentation wasn’t on his schedule and was closed to reporters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-open-and-shut-administration/2012/12/03/0fe12754-3d9f-11e2-ae43-cf491b837f7b_story.html?hpid=z7

[Larrymc]

This was a campaign promise, Obama said his administration would be the most transparent ever. Perhaps it turns out to be one of the most secretive ever. And the odd thing is that I don't see any posting, or ranting, or media, taking him to task on this. I guess the Democrat side doesn't care that they were lied to, and continue to be lied to.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-open-and-shut-administration/2012/12/03/0fe12754-3d9f-11e2-ae43-cf491b837f7b_story.html?hpid=z7 they have to know by now that there being lied to, but the stupidity they showed in voting for him again, can only be Magnified, if they make any comments about his lies, so they just stay quit hoping we wont point it out

[Jbird]

they have to know by now that there being lied to, but the stupidity they showed in voting for him again, can only be Magnified, if they make any comments about his lies, so they just stay quit hoping we wont point it outI don't even give them that much credit. It's like there is some kind of illness out there and 50% of our population caught it. I knew there was a reason I never got a flue vacination....LOL Seriousely though ..they won't wake up until it hits us all in the head. I can't hardly stand even to debat (argue) anymore...it's like continualy smacking my thumb with a hammer. I call it the great Delusion.

[gabosaurus]

I guess the Democrat side doesn't care that they were lied to, and continue to be lied to.


We're trying to be more Republican in that manner.

[jimnyc]

I don't even give them that much credit. It's like there is some kind of illness out there and 50% of our population caught it. I knew there was a reason I never got a flue vacination....LOL Seriousely though ..they won't wake up until it hits us all in the head. I can't hardly stand even to debat (argue) anymore...it's like continualy smacking my thumb with a hammer. I call it the great Delusion.

And even the brain dead liberals can't explain it. They just go with the flow and change the subject instead of facing the issues. Fast and furious, Benghazi, continually bypassing congress, hiding everything - "Oh, but Bush did this and that". It only proves that to many it's party over country.

[Larrymc]

I don't even give them that much credit. It's like there is some kind of illness out there and 50% of our population caught it. I knew there was a reason I never got a flue vacination....LOL Seriousely though ..they won't wake up until it hits us all in the head. I can't hardly stand even to debat (argue) anymore...it's like continualy smacking my thumb with a hammer. I call it the great Delusion. an illness in deed, ignorance, and its running rampant, the more i learn about how much we give to those who Hate us, and our Military embracing the end to D.A.D.T. i was under the illusion that our Military could not be Shaken. it all seems disheartening

[Marcus Aurelius]

This was a campaign promise, Obama said his administration would be the most transparent ever. Perhaps it turns out to be one of the most secretive ever. And the odd thing is that I don't see any posting, or ranting, or media, taking him to task on this. I guess the Democrat side doesn't care that they were lied to, and continue to be lied to.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-open-and-shut-administration/2012/12/03/0fe12754-3d9f-11e2-ae43-cf491b837f7b_story.html?hpid=z7

so it would seem.

[Larrymc]

And even the brain dead liberals can't explain it. They just go with the flow and change the subject instead of facing the issues. Fast and furious, Benghazi, continually bypassing congress, hiding everything - "Oh, but Bush did this and that". It only proves that to many it's party over country.actually its worse than that, its individual agenda over Country, no concern or respect for Country or other people

[aboutime]

so it would seem.



Marcus. The truth is. They are not smart enough, or intelligent enough to know what kind of questions they should ask their Champion Liar.

It's really not the MSM's fault they have nothing but Wannabe Journalism Students, who never qualify, or pass the tests in Pre-school that would allow them to actually become Honest, Journalists.

So. They do the next best thing that requires NO personal responsibility, or thinking. They just follow the crowd, say what they say, think what they think, and vote for any TOM, DICK, or HARRY as long as they SAVE THE WORLD from THEMSELVES first.

[Kathianne]

He's not the only progressive now voicing concerns. I'm with the Professor here, these people need to **** *** **** **!

http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/12/disheartened-obamaphiles-should-just-stop-talking/


Disheartened Obamaphiles should just stop talking (http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/12/disheartened-obamaphiles-should-just-stop-talking/) http://legalinsurrection.com/wp-content/themes/legal/images/comments.png (http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/12/disheartened-obamaphiles-should-just-stop-talking/#comments)
http://legalinsurrection.com/wp-content/themes/legal/images/link.png (http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/12/disheartened-obamaphiles-should-just-stop-talking/)
Posted by William A. Jacobson (http://legalinsurrection.com/author/bill/) Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 2:43pm

It’s hard to know whether to cheer their disappointment or commiserate.
My natural inclination is to tell them to S*** *** **** ** considering that they have subjected us to four more years.


From Michael Goodwin, Obama 2: Even more reckless (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/obama_even_more_reckless_CsWlB2ywB2zyfuS9d9JMsL):

People weren’t paying attention. Those are the people now surprised that President Obama is still stridently campaigning instead of doing the real work of governing.


Even some who voted for him last month are puzzled as he threatens to take the nation off the fiscal cliff if Republicans don’t give him the tax hikes he demands now and puts off entitlement reform until later. He even wants to increase spending.
I’ve talked to people who supported him, and their surprise is surprising.


Both are smart, accomplished men, but I’m baffled that they didn’t see this coming.
“I thought he was going to move toward the center after the election,” one stunned Obama backer told me. Another said he believed the president’s positions were opening gambits and he would compromise. “It’s the first round,” he insisted.
From Ralph Nader back in September, reflecting the progressive angst that Obama is more abusive than GWB (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/25/ralph-nader-says-obama-is-war-criminal-worse-than-george-bush_n_1914154.html?utm_hp_ref=tw) (h/t @danriehl (https://twitter.com/DanRiehl/status/275320676393578498)):

<object id="flashObj" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" height="412" width="486">











<embed id="flashObj" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" seamlesstabbing="false" flashvars="videoId=1849751937001&playerID=1409164951001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAETmrZQ~,EVFEM4AKJdRjek0MS21pRz f_GTDAM-xj&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" height="412" width="486"></object></p> From Glenn Greenwald (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/26/obama-drones-kill-list-framework):

For the last four years, Barack Obama (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/barack-obama) has not only asserted, but aggressively exercised, the power to target for execution anyone he wants, including US citizens, anywhere in the world. He has vigorously resisted not only legal limits on this assassination power, but even efforts to bring some minimal transparency (http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/court-today-fighting-cias-secrecy-claims-drones) to the execution orders he issues.


This claimed power has resulted in four straight years of air bombings in multiple Muslim countries (http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-06-30/politics/30095838_1_al-qaeda-qaeda-somalian-islamist) in which no war has been declared – using drones (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/drones), cruise missiles and cluster bombs (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/7806882/US-cluster-bombs-killed-35-women-and-children.html) – ending the lives of more than 2,500 people (http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/07/17/analysis-cnn-experts-civilian-drone-death-numbers-dont-add-up/), almost always far away from any actual battlefield. They are typically targeted while riding in cars, at work, at home, and even while rescuing or attending funerals (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/20/us-drones-strikes-target-rescuers-pakistan) for others whom Obama has targeted. A substantial portion of those whom he has killed – at the very least – have been civilians (http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/05/10/analysis-why-we-must-name-all-drone-attack-victims/), including dozens of children….


The result is that, for so many, it is genuinely inconceivable that a leader as noble, kind and wise as Barack Obama would abuse his assassination and detention powers. It isn’t just rank partisan opportunism or privilege that leads them not to object to Obama’s embrace of these radical powers and the dangerous theories that shield those powers from checks or scrutiny. It’s that they sincerely admire him as a leader and a man so much that they believe in their heart (like Obama himself obviously believes) that due process, checks and transparency are not necessary when he wields these powers. Unlike when a GOP villain is empowered, Obama’s Goodness and his wisdom are the only safeguards we need.
My conscience and hands are clean.

[Robert A Whit]

And even the brain dead liberals can't explain it. They just go with the flow and change the subject instead of facing the issues. Fast and furious, Benghazi, continually bypassing congress, hiding everything - "Oh, but Bush did this and that". It only proves that to many it's party over country.

Well said.

Jim, today I want to praise you and this forum as the best forum of all times. I thought I would miss AOL forums. We had some knock down slug it out fights. I got the boot from AOL so many times ... LOL

When fighting with our left wing friends, they don't understand kind replies. They want bloody brawls. I don't know how you managed but at least on this forum for riight now, the lefties almost come off as human beings.

I ought to send you the link to some lawyers site where he booted me forever. Want to know why he booted me?

I stood up to him. That is all i did. And he hated it.

I would say he is lucky if he has half a dozen posters and most of them are hard core lefties.