President Barack Obama, in his first full day in office, revoked a controversial executive order signed by President Bush in 2001 that limited release of former presidents' records.
The new order could expand public access to records of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in the years to come as well as other past leaders, said Steven Aftergood, director of the Project on Government Secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists.
"It's extraordinary that a new president would address this issue on his first full day in office," Aftergood said. "It signifies the great importance he attaches to open, accountable government. The new order suggests President Obama will take a narrow view of executive privilege and assert it in a much more limited way than what we've seen in the recent past."
"For a long time now, there's been too much secrecy in this city. This administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information but with those who seek it to be known," Obama said before a gathering that included his senior staff. "The mere fact that you have the legal power to keep something secret does not mean you should always use it. Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency."
Is it really possible that we will finally learn the truth behind of what the Bush administration has been up to for eight years?
Have I mentioned just how incredibly happy I am to have Barack Obama as my new President?
I've been grinning ear to ear since Jan. 20th noontime. It just gets better and better. :)
ReplyDeleteObama does this knowing that his own records will be more accessible to the public. This tells me he is serious about accountability and transparency.
ReplyDeleteMy only question at this point concerns the torture issue. Will he ban its use by private contractors in government employ?
For all our country has been through, it would be very satisfying to see Bush and his flunkies brought up on charges, any charges.
ReplyDeleteSo far all the President has done is appease the far left of his party and not done the work that he was elected to do represent the people of the United States.He signed an order to empty out Gitmo, appeasing the far left, putting America at risk, he signed an order to use taxpayer moneys to kill babies in foreign countries again appeasing the far left and putting babies at risk around the world.
ReplyDeleteAll he is doing is paying off debt to special interest and not putting any thought into what he is doing to America. It will be nice in a couple of weeks when he is done with this dog and pony show and actually starts working for all of us.
My grandmother's long held housekeeping tip: Sunshine is a natural disinfectant. Seems President Obama's of the mindset that it's always good to throw open the drapes and let the light of day burn off the disease and decay of our country's moral integrity.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or is it REALLY a lot easier to breathe than it was a mere 4 days ago?
Yeah for Real Transparency! Yes I hope this opens up what Bush really did for this country! Anyone who's read RFK jr. book knows it's not good. Now can you get some transparency in Alaska???
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