NY Times and Boston Globe call on Dean to unseal gubernatorial documents

[Karmadillo]

http://nytimes.com/2003/12/05/opinion/05FRI2.html

The Doctor and His Documents

There is no good explanation for why Howard Dean's office sought to have nearly half of his gubernatorial records sealed away in Vermont. In a compromise worked out last year with the state archivist, Dr. Dean, his eye on a presidential run, succeeded in having documents he considered sensitive sealed for 10 years. (His attorney, inexplicably, originally wanted 24 years.) His period of concealment, a decade, is four years longer than his most wary predecessors', and safely beyond the reach of the two presidential terms he covets. "We didn't want anything embarrassing appearing in the papers at a critical time in any future endeavor," Dr. Dean explained at the time.

Give him credit for candor. But in working the primary campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, Dr. Dean is being increasingly zinged by Republicans and buttonholed by reporters who want to vet his 11-year executive record.

That sort of investigation is always appropriate. In this case, it's even more so since the candidate himself regularly presents his gubernatorial record as a qualification for the White House. Proper exceptions could be made for some highly sensitive documents, but hardly the sort of sweeping executive privilege that even presidents hesitate to claim.

more...

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2003/12/05/deans_unseemly_secrecy/

Dean's unseemly secrecy

HOWARD DEAN'S major asset as a candidate -- his trenchant criticism of President Bush -- is undercut by his continued foot-dragging on the 145 boxes of gubernatorial documents he has had sealed for 10 years in Vermont.

While all of the Democratic presidential candidates criticize Bush -- John Kerry, Richard Gephardt, and Dennis Kucinich with notable vehemence -- none has equaled Dean's ability to score points with Democratic voters by attacking Bush on the war in Iraq, tax cuts for the rich, and a range of other issues.

But one of Bush's glaring vulnerabilities is the excessive secrecy in his administration, and Dean will lose traction on the issue if he allows the impression to take hold that he, like Bush, believes that a great deal of information should be available to the governors but not the governed.

This is a fundamental matter, going to the question of whether Dean sees the nation as having a government of and by the people or only, at best, for the people.

more...

[WilliamPitt]

1. Ruh roh

Say what you will about Howard Fineman. On this issue, he may have pegged it:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/1000747.asp?0sl=-23

IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, especially presidential ones, the revealing moments—the defining moments—are the unscripted ones. The candidate doesn’t pick them; chance and circumstance do. The key is how the candidate responds. How does he (and the campaign team he’s assembled) handle the crisis? What does his behavior say about the kind of president he would be? The media (and, through us, the voters) will make their judgments.

The contretemps over Dean’s Vermont records hardly qualifies as a “crisis.” Still, Dean is the front-runner, and at this point in the campaign season, every detail of his life, career and actions is fair game, magnified and studied for clues to the kind of leader he might be. So far, the episode shows that Dean is a feisty guy (voters like that) with a tendency to shoot his mouth off (voters don’t mind that) who, when backed into a corner, dithers over telling the full story (voters don’t like that), doesn’t seem to know all of the latest facts (voters don’t generally notice that) and then tries to blame the staff (voters hate that). He’s managed to turn a one-day story into a week-long story, at least in Campaignland, and managed to generate curiosity and suspicion about exactly what the sealed papers contain.

I’ve covered Dean, on and off, for a year now, and interviewed him a few times. Watching him joust with Chris Matthews on “Hardball” for an hour at Harvard the other day, I can say (again) that Dean is the real deal—proud, smart, committed. But his tough-guy stance will backfire if he’s too arrogant or sloppy to prepare for the big league combat to come.

...more...

*cringing at inevitable Dean-supporter attacks*

[Hep]

10. CHARGE!

Let's get him, boys! *claws at Pitts's shirt*

Nah, whatever. If Dean isn't required by law, then I don't think he should do it. This is like the National Enquirer trying to beat your door down because they think you have in your basement.


I want Dean to say, "If you want these records unsealed, pass a law. And let's retroactively open ALL sealed files of ALL governors of ALL states. this issue would go away QUICK. That Dean is being singled out, and apparently for the first time in presidential politics (am I wrong?) is fishy to me. Yeah, I'm protective of him, but I wouldn't be calling for the records of anyone else were they in the same position.

[blm]

19. Well, if Dean and his supporters can accuse Kerry of being a

"corrupt Washington insider" and "Bushlite" and find success in attacking his integrity , then Dean better not have anything to hide in his own records.

[Hep]

34. Doesn't matter

if he has something to hide or not. Suddenly we all become heavy handed police officers when faced with this kind of thing. I'm a firm believer in the 4th amendment. I'll spare you my West Wing reference.

Kerry isn't corrupt. He IS a washington insider, which he can't help. In fact, he's PROUD IF IT. HE aspired to it. I don't think there has been a time in history when the american public has ever gushed over washington insiders. We like the maverick. Kerry's been a good public servant and a terrific defender of liberal ideals. And I say this despite taking issue with his positions of late.

As far as Bushlite, that's a regrettable term. I'm sorry anyone uses it. It's SO subjective. I mean, bushlite means something a little different to everyone. Yeah, I think granting the right's premise on IWR and the amendment to the budget meets my criteria for bushlite, but I would rather give you the longhand version of my argument than some stupid buzzword. Shame that politics gets dumbed down that way, but we as individuals can be above it.

Subtle attacks on integrity pervade every primary. And they happen with or without present hypocrisy.

[blm]

41. Kerry is STILL a Washington outsider

who just understands the inside. If Kerry was the insider as is claimed, the Dem establishment would be more with him than Gep and others. Remember, Kerry was the one who EXPOSED even those Democrats involved in BCCI. The Dem powerstructure at the time targeted Kerry and even kept him OFF the final senate committee, which actually turned out good for the country because Kerry then uncovered Ollie North and IranContra.

Why do Deanies spread memes from 30 years of GOP operatives against Kerry anyway?

[Hep]

44. Give me a break!

You don't think Kerry is a Washington Insider?

Sorry, we just disagree.

[BootinUp]

11. Is that a Scooby Doo voice?

funny.

I generally agree that Dean needs to address this now in a more serious way. It can only hurt him if he doesn't. I'm am speaking more of the primaries. I don't think Bush will get a lot of traction by bringing it up in the general election.

[CWebster]

16. No attacks for Pitt today, but a message

I work in a library and just saw your book - The Greatest Sedition is Silence, in our latest shipment of new books.

Congrats

:toast:

[The Backlash Cometh]

42. Where was Howard Fineman when George Bush sealed his records?

Fineman and Tweety are one and the same. Republicans in Dem clothing.

[Terwilliger]

60. This really is outrageous

We need to tell Fineman that Dean will release his records when George W. Bush releases HIS gubernatorial records...NEVERMIND his undue secrecy with respect to presidential records, ESPECIALLY considering they won't release pertinent records on the 9/11 investigation.

FUCK FINEMAN!

[Larkspur]

2. OK, when are these clowns at the NYT and Boston Globe going to demand that

Bush make his records accessible to the public immediately. While on paper, Bush's records are stated as accessible to the public, in fact the public can't get them because of red tape designed by the Bushistas.

[dajabr]

6. Or the Energy Papers, the 9/11 Docs, the FOIA blocking on Bush1?(nt)

and Reagan? :shrug:

[DoveTurnedHawk]

8. Life Ain't Fair

We know the media is full of whores. Politics means dealing with unfair shit sometimes.

The fact is, this is an issue for Dean right now. It's a relatively minor one, but it has the potential to grow into a bigger one.

How he handles it will be very interesting.

DTH

[blm]

30. Or Dean's energy papers?

CLF seeks details of Dean administration’s talks with utilities
March 11, 2002
(from the State section)

By SUSAN SMALLHEER Southern Vermont Bureau

MONTPELIER — The Conservation Law Foundation will file a freedom of information request with the Dean administration today to find out how many contacts it has had with Vermont utility executives over the pending sale of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.

Mark Sinclair, senior attorney with the environmental group, said Monday that recent news reports about the financial contributions made by Vermont utility executives or board members to Gov. Howard Dean’s presidential campaign political action committee were “too much of a coincidence.”

Sinclair said the new offer from Entergy Nuclear of Jackson, Miss., last week wasn’t substantially better than the original bid, and doesn’t really address the serious concerns raised by the state earlier this winter about local control and other economic issues.

“The department didn’t get anything,” he said.

Sinclair compared it to the negotiations with Vice President Dick Cheney by energy companies that are now subject to an investigation by the General Accounting Office.

>>>>>>
.
http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/Archive/Articles/Article/43924



Entergy linemen Chris Madison (left) and Freddie Chambers install a switch over a transformer Wednesday morning along Watkins Drive in north Jackson. Entergy Corp, parent company of Entergy Mississippi, recently won a number of prestigious electrical utility awards.

Reaching the pinnacle of success among electrical utilities has not been an easy achievement for Entergy Corp...

Entergy Corp, with annual revenues of nearly $10 billion, either owns, manages or invests in power plants generating more than 30,000 megawatts of electricity. It is the fastest growing nuclear operator in the country, and the second largest with a total of 10 reactors.

It recently purchased the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant for $180 million, and is legally postured to take advantage of future nuclear opportunities...
It could be said that when opportunity knocks — like when Entergy, in 2000, joined with privately held Koch Industries Inc. to form Entergy-Koch LP, which markets and trades power, natural gas and other energy commodities in North America and Europe — the accountants will be anxious to study the potential.
>>>>>
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0301/09/b01.html

Dean raises money from energy sources
February 27, 2002
By David Gram
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MONTPELIER — When Gov. Howard Dean wanted to raise money for a possible presidential bid, he followed the example of a former governor of Texas and called on his friends in the energy industry.

Nearly a fifth of the roughly $111,000 collected in its first months by Dean’s presidential political action committee, the Fund for a Healthy America, came from people with ties to Vermont’s electric utilities, according to a recent Federal Elections Commission filing.

It should be no surprise. Dean and utility executives have had a long and friendly relationship.

One donor who gave Dean’s PAC the maximum amount allowed — $5,000 — said he did so because he and his wife “agree with many of the things the fund is talking about — fiscal conservatism, education, health care.”
That donor is Robert Young of Proctor, who also is a top official at two utility companies that have had a lot of important business before state government during Dean’s nearly 11 years in office. Young is chief executive at Central Vermont Public Service Corp. and chairman of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.

>>>>>>>
http://timesargus.nybor.com/Legislature/Story/43125.html

The history of the purchase of Vermont Yankee can be found at the following location but key dates for filing of purchase agreements are:

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Purchase and Sale Agreement by and Between Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation, as Seller, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC, as Buyer and Entergy Corporation, as Guarantor, dated: August 15, 2001

Memorandum of Understanding among Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, Llc, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation, Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, Green Mountain Power Corporation, and the Vermont Department of Public Service re: Proposed sale of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station and related transactions. March 11, 2002

http://www.state.vt.us/psd/6545.htm#MOU

Entergy as in Koch Industries as in Koch brothers as in BFEE. They set McCain up when he ran, then ran ads against him and for Bush.

[dajabr]

48. Yes, those too. As long as the other Campaigns are on board.

Otherwise, it's just rank hypocracy.

[hlthe2b]

9. Exactly... We need to call NYT and BG on their hypocrisy...

Demand Georgie open his gubernatorial papers-- nothing of national security then!

[paulk]

14. This has nothing to do with Bush

Dean isn't running against Bush. He's running against eight other Democrats for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. If there's something in those files that would hurt him in his campaign against those eight other candidates, I want to know what it is. If he wins the nomination and there's something that could leak from those files that could damage him - I want to know what it is.

[dajabr]

21. Let's launch an investigation...

And find out if there are any docs that each candidate has not made public.

Complete transparency accross the board. I'd go for that.

And, while we're conducting a witch hunt, important information will continue to be hidden from the public by the Bushies.

I want to see statements from each campaign that they will comply with complete transparency and release all of their professional records and correspondence.

Think it will happen?

[paulk]

27. That's a great idea

if the media would take it up... it would even put pressure on Bush.

Will it happen? I doubt it.

But that doesn't absolve Dean. If he has something in those records that damages him as a candidate, we have a right to know - before we make the mistake of nominating him.

[dajabr]

29. Don't depend on The Media...

Candidates should willingly release the statements, or their supporters should contact them and demand they do so.

How long do you think it will take for the statements to come out?

[blm]

32. GREAT idea, See who bears up under closest scrutiny.

Heheh...the BFEE operatives have been on Kerry for over 30 years and couldn't take him down.

[dajabr]

47. Report back on how your call to Kerry Campaign goes...

Like to hear about their reaction.

Thanks for stepping up!

[blm]

52. heh...they've had 30+ yrs. of closest scrutiny by BFEE operatives.

Richard Mellon Scaife had an Arkansas Project hit on Kerry even before many heard the name Bill Clinton. I don't think Kerry fears any revelations and in fact WISHES there was greater scrutiny for all the candidates.

[dajabr]

56. Good, then he can LEAD by example...

And issue a statement that he has not concealed any professional docs, or will make them in their entirety available to the public.

I look forward to seeing it.

[hlthe2b]

58. I'm not saying Dean should NOT open his papers. What I am

saying is that it is a double standard. There were requests/demands for access to Bush's papers when he was running annd the NYT, BG were quite silent on that. Even after Bush squirreled them away at Bush SR Presidential library where Texas law can get at them...

[paulk]

62. I understand that

But - the media will do whatever it wants, like always.

I really don't care about Bush. I didn't vote for Bush and I don't plan on voting for him in 2004.

I'm trying to make a choice concerning who I want to represent me among nine democratic candidates - and if one of those candidates is hiding something that may influence that choice - I believe I have a right to know what it is.

[seaglass]

22. Whether the Globe or NYT demands something of Bush

has nothing to do with whether Dean is for or against open government.

This IS a test for Dean, I hope he passes.

[Ripley]

3. Are they also calling upon Bush to reveal his sealed

records from Texas that he sent to his Daddy's Presidential library?????

[Qutzupalotl]

45. Unfortunately, they're saying they are already unsealed

"for the most part." :eyes:

From another thread:
The Washington Post 's Al Kamen
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36809-2003Dec4.html

Dean attempted to deflect by saying he'd open up his files if President Bush would open his gubernatorial files. Problem is, Bush's files are for the most part open to the public. So now Dean says he probably won't make a decision about opening them before the 2004 election.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

4. It Might Have Been a Smart, Savvy Move at One Time

But one thing Americans HATE is a cover-up.

It's a tough situation for him.

My guess: he unseals them, and it turns out to have been much ado about nothing, because there's probably nothing damning in there.

DTH

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. There is no good explanation

unless of course you're a poltician, of which Dean is just like any other.

[Hep]

12. Don't need one

HE doesn't have to unseal them. Bottom line. He did nothing wrong, noting illegal, and nothing unprecedented.

You're just fixated on finding shit about him. My sig, written before your birth yet still written for you.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

28. Thanks for making my point

It's clearly politically motivated. Dean seems to be fixated on hiding shit.

[Hep]

37. NOT unprecedented

I know you can read. And I know you know what words mean.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

40. For some Dean supporters this will be a reality check

Dean is like any other politician, responding to expedience.

[Hep]

46. You call this reality check?

So you agree that he's done nothing that hasn't been done before and won't be done again? SO what's the big deal?

[Zomby Woof]

49. your sig line

...often applies to you. You're fixated with hatred for people who aren't voting for Dean in the primaries. Filled with hatred. It's rather comical when you go after people for even the most innocuous anti-Dean commentary. Your hatred for your 'enemies' is very intense indeed.

[Hep]

53. Prove it

You say so, but prove it! SHow me quotes! I have no respect for the bashers. I don't hide it. They deserve no repsect. I don't bash candidates. And it's not up to you to decide for ME what is innocuous. It's totally subjective.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ripley]

13. It's quite befuddling to me.

The people who say Dean is bad because the media loves him and props him up and says "he won the debate." And we all know the media is RNC with make-up on.

Then those same people post numerous media accounts of Dean being badgered about stupid crap and making mountains out of molehills. They exclusively have captions on CNN saying "Dean Flag Flap" or "Dean Papers Flap" and talk it to death.

I guess the media has a love/hate relationship with him. :eyes:

[Hep]

35. Wow, what an interesting point!

Well put! Yeah, maybe this eeeeeeevil media wouldn't keep posting Dean stories if their Dean stories didn't get so many hits from people who whine about Dean stories.

[Hep]

15. n/sl

no post, sorry.

[Karmadillo]

36. Megadeanos and an unsealed thanks, CWebster. I do my best.

Not sure why you think it's OK to make posts critical of other Democrats (Kucinich, Kerry), but seem puzzled when others make posts critical of Dean. Have the rules changed? Is he off limits? Last I checked, DU didn't stand for Dean Underground.

And your allegation I'm doing the work of the Republicans is silly. Despite Bush's functional illiteracy, there are plenty of Republicans who not only subscribe to the NY Times and the Boston Globe, but actually read the content. They're well aware of Dean's stumbling over the issue of his sealed records.

Who needs Republican smear artists...

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Karmadillo]

63. Well, thanks for the excuse to post this link

My "mission" here is not to promote anyone? Maybe not. I'm sure you'll be neither interested nor persuaded by what I wrote (other DUers have done much better by Kucinich and I did kind of go on too long), but I thought the fact the evidence once again shows you're wrong might make you think twice before you post ridiculous accusations in the future.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=291703

The Dennis Kucinich you may not know

I would guess most voters, dependent as they are on a less than adequate national media for information, don't know much about Dennis Kucinich. What they do know about him no doubt suggests Don Quixote probably had a better chance of knocking down a windmill than he has of winning the Presidency. It's not all that surprising that even some progressives may have succumbed to their inner Tim Russert or Candy Crowley to decide someone with his progressive views can't be elected in the oppressive darkness of the nightmare world gleefully ruled over by George W Bush. Still, I can't help but believe that if voters knew more about Kucinich, who he is, where he came from, what he wants for his country, they might be willing to reconsider.

By any measure, his life is inspirational. I linked to an article below that describes the hardships he faced as a child, including serious poverty which led to his family having to live, at times, in a car. And as if that wasn't enough for one family to bear, he and his siblings had to live in an orphanage for five months due to his mother's illness. Also discussed is his rise and fall as Cleveland's mayor and his amazing political comeback (there's another link to an article giving a good summary of the controversy surrounding this time of his life). Once you learn how hard he fought to escape the circumstances into which he was born without ever forgetting where he came from and those who didn't escape, once you learn how he remained true to himself even in the face of devastating adversity, you might begin to view him in a different light.

You might even expect to find he was one of those elected representatives willing to stand up, regardless of the cost, against the Patriot Act and the Act authorizing the disastrous War on Iraq--and you would be right. He not only voiced opposition to these blows against freedom, he not only voted against them, he not only took a public position at severe odds with the majority of voters, he did every single thing he possibly could to stop these measures from passing. He fought and he fought and he's still fighting.

During the last debate, though I thought he performed well, he came off as very serious, sometimes angry. Not exactly the choice demeanor in today's happy talk entertainment world. Still, I'd ask you to think twice before judging him too harshly. Given his genuine concern about the terrible poverty of so many, both here and across the globe, given his concern about our obscene health care system where profit is funneled to the usual suspects while those in need suffer, given his concern about the grotesque exploitation of the many so the few can luxuriate in a coccoon of indefensible comfort, given his concern about our insane destruction of the environment, he has a lot to be angry about. So do we.

more...

[THUNDER HANDS]

17. Dean should unseal his records....but...

Only...AFTER...he's the nominee. Then he should make a big stink about it and say, "I'm totally open to the idea of making all my records public and will do so if president Bush opens his records as governor of Texas."

He should put Bush on the defensive about his records. But he'd be stupid to open them up now before he's the nominee.

[paulk]

23. Why after?

What if there's something in there that hurts Dean? That hands Bush the presidency? Wouldn't you rather know that before the nomination, so we can nominate a better candidate?

It's our job, as Democrats, to nominate someone with the best chance of beating Bush - if Dean is damaged goods wouldn't you rather know that BEFORE we nominate him?

[THUNDER HANDS]

25. only if Bush agrees to do the same

Dean should open them up, as a challenge to Bush to open up his own records. If Bush doesn't bite, then neither should Dean. But by all means, Dean should turn this issue around and use it to his advantage.

Put Bush on defense and make the issue HIS records. He should say "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

[JohnKleeb]

26. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

Funny thing, he did say that. I believe.

[paulk]

31. I find this argument weak

You assume the Dean will be the nominee. What about the other 8 Democrats running for the nomination? Don't they have a right to know what Dean is hiding?

And just because Bush hides his records, doesn't make it right for Dean to. I would hope that a Democratic candidate would aspire to a higher standard than G.W.Bush.

[Don_G]

33. Go Belly Up For Another Rethug Attack?

Screw that. Get Dimbo to unseal his records. As it is, the Libriarian has 10 days to get the request to the Texas A-G and the A-G has 45 days to respond.

Why give in? Fight the bastards!

[paulk]

54. you're not responding to what I wrote

Dean is NOT our nominee. Don't we, as Democrats trying to choose a nominee, have a right to know what's in those records? Especially if it's damaging?

[mrgorth]

66. No

If it bothers you so much don't vote for him. He was the governor of a state when they instituted civil unions AND he's a doctor. I'm SURE there's a good reason for the secrecy but his challenge to Bush is grand. Let the shrub open first. If Dean opens his first I promise you that Bush won't.

[paulk]

68. If you're running for public office

there's NO good reason for secrecy. Unless you're trying to cover your political ass, which Dean has already admitted to.

The relevence of being Governor and being a doctor is a mystery to me.
His challenge to Bush is juvinile, although it does reinforce the meme that he's the nominee. Which he's not.

Once again, I don't give a shit what Bush does. I find it hard to understand why so many Dean supporters have swallowed the "if Bush did it, it's ok for Dean to do it" excuse.

Does it sit well with you that Dean lied about protecting people's medical records on "Hardball"? Is it ok for Dean to lie because Bush is a liar? Is it ok for the other 8 Democratic candidates to lie because Bush is a liar?

[pruner]

18. since when do unsigned editorials…

carry the weight of the papers' editorial boards?

:shrug:

[DoveTurnedHawk]

20. That's the Standard Practice

I almost never see a signed editorial piece, if it's coming from the editors. It's almost always offset in its own section, too.

DTH

[Loonman]

24. Write to the Globe, I did

[email protected]



Ask them why they didn't go after W's records with the same zeal.

[HuckleB]

38. I agree.

However, I do want to see demands for Bush to follow suit. Further, Dean has a bargaining chip to keep the pressure on Bush to open his records. He should use that chip, not just throw it away.

[Hep]

43. LTTE time.

Get cracking

[MIMStigator]

51. The worst part is his lie that he was protecting medical histories

It took the Boston Herald one day to expose that and find letters he released with medical history info.

[Hep]

57. He never said he was protecting

EVERY medical history. Care to show a quote?

Seriously, what passes for a legit argument against Dean is amazing.

It's like calling someone olympic caliber if they can jump over the hose in the backyard.

[MIMStigator]

64. Yes he did. He specifically said the reason was protecting med histories

and the article said he released them before and talked about one he released that had someone's history of mental illness in it. If he claimed he didn't want to release AIDS histories but would release mental illness histories that lie would be even worse than the original one

[Hep]

70. And the question goes unanswered

If you assert that he said he wanted to seal ALL medical histories, show me the damn quote.

Bottom line.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

71. did he say "some"?

it works both ways of course but you do get credit for defending another Dean gaffe (lie?) as much as is credibly possible.

[Terwilliger]

59. We need an all out letter campaign to these idiots about Bush's secrecy

and how unseemly THAT is!!!!!

[Karmadillo]

69. How many stories have the media "disappeared" for Bush?

While I think Dean should release his records, the media silence regarding the secrecy surrounding this Administration (9/11, Bush's military non-service, the investigation (or lack thereof) of Bush's insider trading, the Administration's energy policy, the Plame affair etc) is nothing short of staggering. While letters wouldn't hurt, until there's a political party that's willing to stand up to corporations and their publicity outlets on our behalf, we're going to get, at best, half the story.

[madfloridian]

61. A triplet post from you on this topic. One was locked.

Here is the one from last night.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=823808

[Karmadillo]

65. Time to scoot! The Dean police are on to me!

Strange you're more concerned with what I post than with Dean's decision to keep public records sealed. Still, in my defense:

1. The first post dealt with how Dean's "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours" stunt flopped.

2. The second dealt with a new development when the "I can't release them because they deal with the personal concerns of my constituents" excuse flopped.

3. The decision of two major newspapers to editorialize against the front runner for the Democratic Nomination would seem to be the legitimate subject for a new post. If you disagree, you should know how to use the alert button by now.

I can't imagine being on the end of a similar post if the subject of the sealed records debate was Bush or Cheney. If you think three postings are too many, you should have been around when the secrecy surrounding the Administration's energy discussions was at issue. New threads every day for weeks. Of course, that was Republican secrecy. I guess when our side wants to hide from the light of public scrutiny, it's OK.

[madfloridian]

67. I think Dean should and will open his records.

Of course he will have to do so. I do not understand the rest of what you are saying.

Thanks so much for calling me the Dean police. That is really Democratic.

It shows your goal is not unity in any form.

I did not have a "stunt" or whatever you call it. I happen to think Bush's touting his "open" records is wrong...as they are not really open.

Dean's own party will bring him down.

[Moderator]

72. dupe

Please continue the discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=823808


I am locking this thread.


DU Moderator