Judge: White House Visitor Logs Are Public

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

(12-17) 10:11 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --


White House visitor logs are public documents, a federal judge ruled Monday, rejecting a legal strategy that the Bush administration had hoped would get around public records laws.


The ruling is a blow to the Bush administration, which is fighting the release of records showing visits by lobbyist Jack Abramoff and prominent religious conservatives.


The records are created by the Secret Service, which is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. But the Bush administration has ordered the data turned over to the White House, where they are treated as presidential records outside the scope of the public records law.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/12/17/national/w100931S95.DTL

[AndyA]

1. HA HA! Cough 'em up, Bushie!

Let's just see how many times Abramoff visited the White House, and for how long, and who he was there to see, etc. I'll bet it'll be very revealing!

[niceypoo]

34. They will just refuse

They know that the congress wont do anything about it.

[tom_paine]

38. Sadly, there is a 95%+ chance that is exactly what will happen.

We are a nation of tyrants, not the Rule of Law.

[mod mom]

2. How much you want to bet they disappear? or have Jeff Gannon/Guckert redacted?

[Purveyor]

4. The only hope is that because these are Secret Service generated lists, they (the SS) retained a

copy of anything they turned over to the White House.

[mod mom]

15. I often wondered about the secret service. Don't they swear to uphold the constitution?

Wouldn't they be privy to the blatant law breaking that has occurred? I would think they have an internal view that others don't.

[CreekDog]

3. Wow, they don't have much time to destroy them, do they?

I mean, does anybody think because of a judge's order that we are going to see them?

That's a good one!

:rofl:

[HuffleClaw]

5. when have they listened to judges?

they'll just say the logs are a matter of 'state security' or some crap

or maybe they've been 'mislaid'?

[grasswire]

6. then let's also have Cheney's energy mtg logs

The oil people who entered the WH for those meetings are on that record, too. Cough it up.

[BadgerKid]

7. It would be great to have these released online

seeing as these are public documents.

[TheDebbieDee]

8. Those damn visitors logs were shredded months ago!

Why do you think the document shredding bill was up 500%?

[Wapsie B]

9. It would be wonderful if someone kept digital copies of everything.

Ah......one can only dream..........

[Botany]

20. If they haven't been shredded you can be damn sure that they will be now.

Has it really been 7 years since the coup of 2000?

[Buns_of_Fire]

57. ...and here, we see a worker busily preparing documents for the GWB pResidential Liberry...

[sinkingfeeling]

10. And we want to know about Jeff Gannon's visits as well.

[kestrel91316]

11. Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon

[xxqqqzme]

12. Is it true he could check in any time he liked but

could never leave?

[Mnemosyne]

17. Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon

Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon

Yep, and whom are they trying to hide now? Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon Jeff Gannon

Has a certain 'ring' to it, doesn't it? :evilgrin:

I think Andy would love this!!! :hug:

[Javaman]

22. My first thought as well. nt

[Mnemosyne]

54. And I would bet there are some "Christian" leader types

we would be very interested to learn were there.

Wasn't Haggard *'s religious "council" at one time? Yep.

[Jim Sagle]

52. Psstt...lala lala, the media can't hear you.

[Mnemosyne]

55. And they never will if she remains silent. n/t

[Zorra]

13. What's that sound? Sounds almost like a giant paper shredder

working overtime.

[progressoid]

14. That was my first thought as well.

Look for a "clerical error" in the next few days.

[FREEWILL56]

36. I wonder if all the WH stalling fails and they go after him bigtime

if bush might try putting himself into the shredder. Nope, it won't work as he'd need a shrubber.
:eyes: :P

[jeff30997]

42. Lol!

It reminds me of that scene in Fargo.

[pipoman]

48. ...

[progressoid]

16. "The ruling is a blow to the Bush administration"

No it's not. They'll do what they always do: Whatever the hell they want.

[yellowcanine]

19. Not to mention that they will appeal it right up to the time Bush slinks off into the sunset anyway.

OTOH this cannot be a good day for Dickhead Cheney, so something good has happened anyway.

[pleah]

18. Cough, cough bushdicky!

[aquart]

21. What judge did this thing?

[katty]

23. FOIA means 'hand 'em over!

[Mnemosyne]

24. That damn dick! Who could've known what an environmentalist he is at heart?

RFPs (Requests for Proposal) for the Week

Pickup, Transportation, And Disposal Of RCRA And PCB Hazardous Waste Plus Management Services

Document Type: Presolicitation Notice

Solicitation Number: SP4400-03-R-0012

Set Aside: Total Small Business

Contracting Office Address: Defense Logistics Agency, Logistics Operations, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, Federal Center 74 Washington Avenue North, Battle Creek, MI, 49017-3092

Description: Full Service Management of Hazardous Waste Program at DRMO’s Dyess, Hood and Sheppard to include collection, storage, processing, transportation for final treatment, disposal or recycling; management of collection accumulation points, data management, preparation of reports and environmental training of base personnel. All responsible sources may submit an offer which will be considered.

Original Point of Contact: Jeffrey Hisey, Contracting Officer, Phone [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected] - Kathy Smalley, Contracting Officer, Phone [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected].

Post Wide Refuse and Recycling Collection and Disposal Services<[br />
Document Type: Modification to a Previous Presolicitation Notice

Solicitation Number: USSS030011

Set Aside: Total Small Business

Contracting Office Address: Department of the Treasury, United States Secret Service (USSS), Procurement Division, 950 H Street, NW, Suite 6700, Washington, DC, 20223

Description: The purpose of this amendment is to answer all questions submitted prior to the closing date of this solicitation. 1.) I wanted to know if my firm would have a competitive opportunity to win this contract if we have not had previous experience with document destruction services specifically? If business entity establishment is less than two (2) years, provide related experience of key personnel. Past Performance shall be valued as acceptable, unacceptable, or neutral. 2.) May we use our past experience with much larger contracts that included recycling and document destruction services? Yes, if the experience is pertinent to this requirement. 3.) Do you have a sample of a past formatted quote on what the submitted quote should look like? If so, can you send a copy? There is no mandatory format for the RFQ. It should contain all information requested in the solicitation. 4.) Do we enter "New Business? for your question or areas to respond to past experience if we have no past experience? If no past performance information is available the company should indicate this in their offer. 5.) Should my company utilize a subcontractor does the prime contractor need a security clearance as well as the subcontractor? Yes, only if the prime contractor’s personnel intend to perform any services proposed under the contract. The Contractor shall submit proof of security clearances and SSF 3237?s (12/02), U.S. Secret Service Contractor Personnel Access Form(s), for all proposed personnel at time of proposal. 6.) We currently have security clearances for our employees through the IRS, but we do not know if that meets your requirement for proof of security clearances and we do not know if the forms we submitted to them were SSF 3237's. Do you have a copy of SSF 3237 that you could provide or instruct us as to where we can obtain this form? IRS security clearances do not meet the USSS security clearance requirements.

The Solicitation is hereby changed to read “The Contractor shall submit proof of security clearances and SSF 3237’s (12/02), U.S. Secret Service Contractor Personnel Access Form(s), for all proposed personnel prior to contract awards. 7.) Do you have an estimate of the number of canvas carts currently being supplied at each of the different service locations? Also do you have the approximate size or holding capacity of these carts? Each cart can hold approximately 25 burn bags (depending on how full the bags are). The vendor supplies the carts. When the vendor arrives they usually bring about 15 carts. We don't use a set amount at any location, because it changes each time. 8.) Do you have a copy of the Collective Bargaining Agreements referred to under SCA Minimum Wages and Fringe Benefits? No, The Service Contract wage rate and labor category will be available prior to contract award. It is the responsibility of the Contractor under the Collective Bargaining Agreement to provide wage rates. 9.) You state that award is anticipated within 10 days after receipt of quotes, what is anticipated start-up date for new contract? Approximately seven (7) to ten (10) days after the award date or as soon as possible after date of award. 10.) Can you provide current contract dollar amount and who current contractor is that is providing the service? The present contractor providing Pickup & Destruction of Sensitive Waste Material services is Mid Atlantic Shredding Services and the current rate is $0.095 cents per lbs.

Original Point of Contact: Simona Pickett, Contract Specialist, Phone [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected].

2/14/2003


A few more @ link, interesting:

http://www.sdbmagazine.com/news/news.asp?ID=3608&SubCatID=18&CatID=6

Busy little company.



Dick Cheney
Shreddin' With Dick


Spotted on 10/19, by an eagle-eyed Wonkette reader: The Mid-Atlantic Shredding Services truck making its way up to the Cheney compound at the Naval Observatory.Fun fact: Mid-Atlantic Shredding Services has been contracted by the Secret Service for our Executive Branch s record-not-keeping needs.

The present contractor providing Pickup & Destruction of Sensitive Waste Material services is Mid Atlantic Shredding Services and the current rate is $0.095 cents per lbs.

You better get crackin , Dick that evidence won t destroy itself!

Wonkette: Stop Him! He’s Getting Away! Very….Slowly

http://wonkette.com/politics/dick-cheney/shreddin-with-dick-211028.php


Maybe they should let jr. do it. He has plenty of energy.

[Mountainman]

25. They won't comply.

[Ilsa]

39. ITA. They never comply. They make excuses and blame

everyone else. These are people who said they believed in accountability. But apparently no for themselves.

[Kokonoe]

26. What about visits of prostitutes who happen to be gay? n/t

[Dr Fate]

27. Maybe Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi will force him to comply! LOL! Just kidding. n/t

n/t

[MetaTrope]

28. Oh, you kidder!

:P

[sellitman]

45. I wish

I wish that your post wasn't so friken hilarious.

[Sanity Claws]

29. Judge appointed to bench 1987, Reagen administration

A Republican who stood up for the rule of law.

[Magleetis]

30. Those lists

will never see the light of day. And there is nothing we can do about it.

[Bitwit1234]

31. The arent' going to get them

What you bet. They will have been shredded or whatever...remember cheney said he had already did that to his...and those he didn't he wasn't going to turn them over, they belonged to him.

[SteppingRazor]

32. I recall the words of Andrew Jackson after a SCOTUS decision he didn't like...

"John Marshall has made his decision; let him enforce it now if he can."


The Bush administration will greet this news with a yawn. If anyone asks for these documents and cites this court decision, they'll just say, in not so many words, "Fuck you, we're keeping them." They'll stall, they'll ignore, and in Jan. 2009, they'll walk away.

[humbled_opinion]

33. LOL like the Bushies care about the rule of law... hahaha ...

You will never see those logs...

[The Backlash Cometh]

35. Made my day.

[acmavm]

37. So, how long until the criminal puts out another of his edicts otherwise

known as a signing statement?????

[Judi Lynn]

40. Judge Lamberth is a Reagan appointee, too!

More from the article:

In a lawsuit brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a liberal watchdog group, Lamberth ordered the Secret Service to turn over visitor logs regarding nine conservative religious commentators, including James Dobson, Gary Bauer and Jerry Falwell.

"I think it's hugely significant," said Anne L. Weismann, the watchdog group's chief counsel. "The judge saw their arguments for what they were."

White House spokesman Tony Fratto and Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller said lawyers were reviewing the decision and they would have no immediate response. The Bush administration is expected to appeal the ruling.

In a separate case, CREW had sought an order declaring illegal a Bush administration policy under which the Secret Service destroys its copies of the logs once they are turned over to the White House.

In that second case involving White House visits by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Lamberth said he did not have the authority to issue such a ruling.

Because the logs were declared Secret Service records, however, they cannot be destroyed without approval from the National Archives.

The Bush administration had sought to have the case moved to another judge by consolidating it with a similar lawsuit before U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer, an appointee of President Bush.
(snip/...)

If only we could get a miracle here, and _Bush couldn't get around the law, this time. If only!

[jimshoes]

41. Does the Congress have to fund this

pack of criminals? Either obey the law or declare this a dictatorship already. Let's get it on already.

[NMMNG]

43. The Bush Admin fighting making their records public?

Naw! :sarcasm:

[One Sweet World]

44. I am about as shocked as you are

haha

[Marrah_G]

46. Not public yet

The WH will appeal and drag it out for years.

[Virginia Dare]

47. If a Dem gets in office, a different tune will be sung I'm sure..

can you just imagine President Hillary Clinton keeping secret as to who she invites into the White House?

[Marrah_G]

50. Of course THEN it would be wrong.....

[lovuian]

49. Thank you JUDGE

Thank You Thank you

[yardwork]

51. The White House is owned by the people of the United States.

The president is our employee. We absolutely have the right - in fact, we have the obligation - to monitor who is visiting the White House and talking with the president.

The fact that this is even a question is a disgrace.

[Ian David]

53. Let's just flood The White House with thousands of individual FOIA requests. n/t

[Toots]

56. Cheney has already had the SS destroy the records..

They are not there to be made available...Another instance of destroying evidence.. and they will get away with it as well.