Judge: Copy of disputed documents (re: Bush DOJ firings) goes to Obama

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge says the incoming administration of Barack Obama must be given copies of documents the Bush White House has been withholding from Congress on the firings of nine U.S. attorneys.

The order by U.S. District Judge John Bates is a minor victory for the House Judiciary Committee.

The committee wants the documents to help in the investigation into the firing of federal prosecutors two years ago.

The House committee was concerned that the documents would no longer be readily available once they were shipped to the National Archives when President George W. Bush leaves office on Jan. 20.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hq-4Z...

[WhiteTara]

1. kick

for justice

[Myrina]

2. Now, if we can ensure they don't arrive shredded or redacted ...

... then we'll be onto something.

[Frustratedlady]

3. It's a start, but imagine all the other documents, emails and tapes

that are destroyed, hidden or classified.

[2QT2BSTR8]

4. Someone please help me understand why Obama can't just declassify everything.

I mean he will be *ahem* IS the POTUS. Many apologies for not knowing the immediate reason on this, and many thanks to anyone who can explain it.

[sabra]

6. I believe the last paragraph of the snip covers your q:

The House committee was concerned that the documents would no longer be readily available once they were shipped to the National Archives when President George W. Bush leaves office on Jan. 20.

It seems to be related to access of information that is sent to the National Archives...

[2QT2BSTR8]

8. That still does not ring right. I mean even Carter was able to declassify

Of course that was 3 years after the fact, and Ford didn't do jack IMO.

[mopinko]

7. well, we will see what he declassifies.

he has promised transparency. i think that that will be a very good yardstick for his presidency.

[Peace Patriot]

9. Good question. I can't think of any reason Obama couldn't, except for

Bushwhack moles in the government lying to Obama, and committing other crimes and sabotage to deny him information and undermine his authority.

"The House committee was concerned that the documents would no longer be readily available once they were shipped to the National Archives when President George W. Bush leaves office on Jan. 20."

In other words, the documents MIGHT be disappeared. The House committee can't think of a good reason, either, that Obama couldn't de-classify improperly classified documents. And there really isn't any--that I know of--except foul play. Remember, Cheney even asserted that that prez and vp have the power to de-classify the status of a CIA NOC (top secret agent) after they had outed her, with absolutely no procedural/legal requirements, as passed by Congress and as exist in any regulations. They asserted unlimited classification/de-classification powers, by fiat. A lawful regime might not assert such sweeping powers, but certainly the prez has considerable lawful powers that would cover this situation.

So, the reason the House committee is concerned, and the reason they asked the judge to insure delivery to Obama, is probably the fear of illegal or illicit actions, to deny him, and them, access to the information.

[2QT2BSTR8]

5. dupe response

[populistdriven]

10. Was there ever any accounting for the documents that burned up in Cheney's office?

was there even a cause for the fire?

[OnyxCollie]

11. bushco will break the rules again and no one will do anything.

In game theory, if one side has all the power, it will not need to go to war, as the other side knows it cannot accomplish anything by doing so.

I posted my essay on game theory and the US Attorney firings the other day and it sank like a rock, so I'll post another link to it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...