More than sixty groups call for revocation of presidential secrecy directive

[MiaCulpa]

Source: Raw Story - John Byrne

More than 60 organizations called on President-elect Barack Obama Wednesday to revoke President George W. Bush's executive order on presidential secrecy and lift the veil in numerous areas of governmental furtiveness.

The groups' recommendations demand efficiency and openness from the Freedom of Information Act process, reforms in the classification system to reduce overclassification and ensure that presidential records are handled in accordance with US law and congressional intent.

Among the groups include the National Security Archive, OMB Watch -- a watchdog group of the White House Office of Management and Budget -- and the Radio Television News Directors Association.

"President-elect Obama can make a difference on Day One in the way his administration relates to the public," National Security Archive's general counsel Meredith Fuchs said in a release. "Secrecy got out of control in the last eight years, but a few focused directives will go a long way towards reopening the government."

Full article at the link...

Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/More_than_sixty_groups_ca...

---

Let's hear it for an end to the Bush doctrine!

*cheers!*

-Diane

[superconnected]

1. At first I thought they'd be rethuglicans.

I agree, an end to the bush doctrine.

[babylonsister]

2. This is great. Rec'd! People need to express how important this is,

though I imagine PE Obama is aware of how messed up the past 8 years have been.

[MadMaddie]

3. If the veil does get drawn back

I think the American people will be so shocked and the criminal activity by the * admin they will want prosecution.

Just a feeling...

[PSPS]

4. "ensure that presidential records are handled in accordance with US law and congressional intent."

The groups' recommendations demand efficiency and openness from the Freedom of Information Act process, reforms in the classification system to reduce overclassification and ensure that presidential records are handled in accordance with US law and congressional intent.

This isn't good enough. The legal and political system in our country is broken as long as having presidential records not "handled in accordance with US law and congressional intent" is even possible. That's the real problem. Despite existing laws and regulations, bush was able to do it anyway. This means the existing system is worthless because obeying the rules is apparently entirely voluntary.

Simply issuing an executive order saying "we've decided to start acting lawfully" is a child's way of dealing with a very serious problem, and I hope a mechanism can be put in place so that it is impossible for the next criminal administration to get away with this.

[Winterblues]

7. The only way such a "mechanism" could be put into place is by

Putting in an entire new Congress. Remember it was the Democrats in Congress that Allowed the Republicans and the Bush* Administration to flaunt the Laws of the Land. Impeachment is "Off the Table"....Accountability is also "Off the Table" if their actions tell the tale..

[skyounkin]

5. It pisses me off

that we even need to have this discussion.....how much crap has this administration covered up? And that the dems in congress allowed it to happen is even more maddening.

[bemildred]

6. "governmental furtiveness", boy is that a good description of our government.

Government that fears the light of day has no place in the USA.

[thesquanderer]

8. Priorities

Obama has stated his priorities of the economy, Iraq, health care, and education. But right up there has to be addressing the Bush administration's assault on civil liberties and excessive use of secrecy... It can't be all about guns and butter, or there will be no democracy left to defend. I hope this topic gets lots of RECs...

[bonito]

9. K&R n/t