Nation editor: Obama White House secrecy an ‘insidious tendency’
Published: June 17, 2009
Updated 8 months ago
The Obama administration has refused to release a Secret Service list of the names of White House visitors, prompting angry comparisons to the Bush administration. The White House is arguing that it sometimes needs to hold secret meetings on sensitive issues, but a federal judge already dismissed that argument in two Bush administration cases.
Chris Hayes, editor of the Nation, told MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann on Tuesday, “Power tends to consolidate. It tends to want to defend itself, and that’s a really insidious tendency and that’s, I think, what we’re seeing here.”
“I don’t even know what motive there is,” Hayes suggested, “other than this basic raw institutional prerogative of, you know, protecting oneself and accruing the maximal amount of power and latitude.”
Olbermann noted that the refusal to release the records, like the Obama administration’s brief supporting the Defense of Marriage Act, appears to suggest that the administration is “playing it way too safe, that the pledge of real change has — really changed.”
“This is the big, $64,000 central existential question at the heart of this administration,” Hayes agreed. “The disposition towards consensus and the incrementalism — is that salutary or is that ultimately not going to be enough to meet the challenges of the moment?”
“I continue to hope that they’re headed in the right direction,” concluded Hayes, “but there’s real concern and I think it’s legitimate.”
This video is from MSNBC’s Countdown, broadcast June 16, 2009.
Download video via RawReplay.com
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Now that’s change that you can believe in!
USA is run by banksters. Obama is their teleprompt reader.
Hey bathroom floor licker, shouldn’t you be practicing your wide stance at some public men’s restroom?
motorfingaz,
what a crass little shiite you are. but frankly your nomer speaks volumes. perhaps you frequent the same bathroom that Haggard did. stop projecting buddy. everyone here can see that you regularly suck on neoKUNTs.
At lease we still know many have no idea how the US Govement Works. Obama has to deal with issures they he can win now and go for the others are the new elections come. In the US Govenment we have Branches of Govenment to rule not a Dictator. Bush had blank check on taxpayers money and the Republican Law Makers in his back pocket. Most Americans disagreed with the Bush Policy but with our Democracy it was voted on. Americans looked for President Obama to come in and dictate to our Law Makers and change what was needed. I notice none of the Talk Show Host say a word about how Republicans will stop and success needed on the issues of Gays or Health Care. Now as for visitors to the White House please use your brain for just one minute. Bush continued to defey the Law as did Dick Cheney. Now when President Obama ( knows well) the Court will get the visitors list release but also those of the Bush Administration too. Look Americans let Bush completely run this country in secret with no know complaining, now with Obama useing the Bush Law this will be changed and all the secrets done by Bush for 8 years will be released. Think of it like Bear Rabbit when you trick your way into winner it all. It will be hard for Republican Judges who support Bush/Cheney to say President Obama is required by Law to do something that President Bush isn’t.
Look Americans let Bush completely run this country in secret with no know complaining, now with Obama useing the Bush Law this will be changed and all the secrets done by Bush for 8 years will be released.
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Well that’s bunk. Many, many people complained during the Bush regime—including people here—about the secrecy, including constitutional law expert and George Washington University professor Jonathan Turley. Ever heard of him? All the secrets done by Bush will be released? LOL. Dream on. Who will they be released by exactly? Bush accomplice War Criminal Obama? You really think that HE is going to release the secrets?
You and johnhkennedy are both delusional and engaging in way-out-there wishful-thinking.
This isn’t what we voted for.
Obama told us or suggested that he would be different, that he would bring Change
to the White House.
I still think he is a good man who will eventually do the right thing,
BUT it is getting harder to believe.
We must keep the pressure on Obama.
SIGN THE PETITION
To Prosecute Them For Torture
http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
Over 250,000 have signed
Join them and call yourself a Patriot
Help keep the pressure on Obama.
Obama told us or suggested that he would be different, that he would bring Change to the White House.
I still think he is a good man who will eventually do the right thing,
—————————————-
Most politicians will tell you what he/she thinks you want to hear. You’re 44 years old and you STILL haven’t learned that BASIC fact?
And you chose to believe him? Why? Did you not examine his BUSH-ACCOMPLICE voting record?
You still think he is a good man? jesus fuking christ! What does it take for some Obamabots/Dem kool-aid drinkers to come out of their denial?
Would a “good man” serve as a Bush-accomplice as a senator?
Would a “good man” continue the Cheney/Bush PNAC agenda?
Would a “good man” kill innocent people in Pakistan using drones?
Would a “good man” talk escalate wars/occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq?
Would a “good man” help Bush/Cheney shred the US Constitution?
Would a “good man” give trillions to the bankers?
Would a “good man” vote for FISA?
Would a “good man” vote for the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act which shreds the US Constitution?
I could go on and on with more shit that this guy has done that you want so desperately to defend and to believe in.
If your lord and savior Obushma had a R behind his name—which is what he really is—-would you STILL want to believe that he is a “good man.” Or is it because he has a D behind his name that makes you want to believe this nonsense that your messiah Obushma is a “good man.”
Your lord and savior Obushma is a WAR CRIMINAL. Period. You really expect one war criminal (Obushma) to seriously investigate and prosecute another WAR CRIMINALS (Bush/Cheney) that he served as accomplices to? I-don’t-think-so.
I swear, some people are so naive and gullible and want so much to believe in a savior and in their partisan “team.” Pathetic.
Wow, you are one dumb motherfucker.
look who’s talking. denial is apparently not a river in Egypt.
motorfingaz are you naive? Everything he said is spot on.. Pull your head out of the sand already and open your eyes..
The Obama Deception
Obama = Hitler
Welcome to the 4th reich
liberty, ignore motofingaz the Jeff Gannon sucker. he’s obviously a troll, if not a douchebag of unbelievable delusions.
Let us focus on those of our fellow liberal compatriots who are actually thinking. and, are utterly and rightfully dismayed at the puppet, whom they voted for in good faith with best of intentions.
Salesmen say whatever is necessary to make the Deal; once you drive it off the lot-you’re on your own.
my dear fellow liberal compatriots,
The Honeymoon has been over, BEFORE the cheap Vegas Motel suite swung open. How’s the waterbed?
This is the MOST dangerous Pres. since the last LEGITIMATE Pres.Election in US history, JFK. oBUSHma is a Trojan Horse for the Wall St. Banksters.
If you still have any doubt as to whether WH = DC Branch of Goldman-Sachs, pour yourself a new one, but drowning in poor elixir will do you little good to the reality of the fact that this man is FAR more dangerous, as he can, at least for the time being muster enough “political capital” to pass insidious bills and policies, even the last village idiot could only dream of; Bush was an arrogant prick. He wore his dickhead-ness on his sleeves. oBUSHma, on the other hand, while still a slave to the telepromptor, he’s a slicker salesman.
But their agenda remains the same. THIS is a PERFECT example of Hegelian Dialectic on full display. Has their EVER been a time to re-examine the fact that you have been duped?
Torture, rendition, illegal secret and indefinite detention, War/Occupation, illegal domestic spying, STILL GO ON.
Where is the change?
The sooner you accept the betrayal and move on to solution based measures, the better.
There is a reason why Kucinich signed on to Ron Paul’s HR1207, Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, in which the ENTIRE operation of the private Federal Reserve would be AUDITED by the Comptroller General of the GAO. Why do you suppose that the Fed.Res. for the first time in history, since its 1913 founding that it hired lobbyists to propagandize a PR blitz? Most incriminating of which, it hired the PR firm for ENRON. Which speaks volumes. Worse, why is oBUSHma pushing for MORE powers for the Fed, when HR1207 has 232 sponsors?
Whose side do you suppose oBOMBa is on? US, we the PEOPLE, or his Bankster masters? His actions since the inauguration has been one betrayal after another. The list is endless from lack of transparency, to continuation of ALL of bush and neoCON secrecy, torture, and all other manner of unCONSTITUTIONAL activities. When would be the ripe time to set aside the EXCUSE of “only 4months on the job?” In less than a week, he’s GIVEN AWAY 12.8 TRILLION dollars to his bankster masters, with NO accountability.
When, would be the time to hold him accountable to the same standard of scrutiny as Bush? Frankly after seeing 8yrs of Bush propaganda and illegality and warcrimes, we can afford no such luxury. I’m already ready to call for impeachment.
Where are you guys at? When will you hold him to account that the “Buck stops with the Pres.?”
Time is running out… NWO is racing ahead. Where are you at…
Right-on!
In any other job, excuses, apologies and defenses are not made for a person’s pathetic performance. They are shown the door.
If most people had voted for Nader or McKinney things would most assuredly be different in a positive direction by now.
But…until the people abandon the D and R rut and abandon their “team” mentality (Dem “team” versus the Repug “team” nonsense) and abandon this mentality that a third party or independent candidate cannot win, NOTHING is going to change. Of course a third party or independent candidate cannot win if most people refuse to vote for them. Duh. But if most people voted for one of them and if the election were legitimate, either Nader or McKinney would have won.
As for impeachment of War Criminal and Bush-accomplice Obushma, I don’t see that happening because War Criminal Pelosi will take impeachment “off the table” just as she did for War Criminals Bush/Cheney. They are all complicit and accomplices, except for the one true Democrat: Kucinich.
You asked “where are you at” on this. I was just watching Univisión’s Primer Impacto and they were showing the Lakers’ party in Los Angeles. It looked like hundreds of thousands in the streets. Some of them were paying $60 for parking. That’s where MOST people are. They are looking at people who play with balls, or watching American Idol.
You have to work on the idea that it lost twice in the “courts”. The only organization that is working on the “court” problems is the ACLU-for instance TORTURE. Donate to them and head them in that direction.
I would like nothing better to see who “came” and went during the last 8 years. Gannon got his dome polished many times by turd blossom.
Though Democrats will still get my vote may I make one thing perfectly clear? YOU BASTARDS WILL NOT GET ONE MORE FUCKING CENT FROM ME EVER, and if this means we get the Repukes back in power fuck them too and the whoresays they rode in on.
Though Democrats will still get my vote
———————————————
And there lies the problem I spoke about earlier.
What do the “Democrats” have to do, to get you to stop voting for them? Anything? They abandoned you years ago and have spit in your face, have helped shred the US Constitution and essentially told you and me, “fuk you, we don’t care what you think.” Yet YOU will STILL vote for them. Incredible.
I could have sworn I donated to Kucinich’s coffers in 2007
________________________________________________.
Though my crystal ball is fogged in I can barely see three political parties contesting for the 2012 elections, the first letter of each competing party…….D, R , and I
________________________________________________
Fuck it…………….I just dropped out AMF
Transparency, investigation, prosecution. Or America will not trust the economy. The con games and fraud, of all kinds, have to come to an end–or the society we think we have will begin to collapse. Love of money used to be the root of all evil, but love of power seems to have replaced it.
I’m going with the Repukes on this fucking asshole Obama—Impeach his dumb ass and then try him as a WAR CRIMINAL!
Cheney-Bush would make MUCH BETTER WAR CRIMINALS!
Cheney-Bush SECRECY and the “disappeared” millions of emails plus
chronic obfuscation, dodging, lying, spinning and overall phony baloney
are something not seen in America ever before!
Hey dennycrane
re: “The only organization that is working on the “court” problems is the ACLU-for instance
TORTURE.”
“only” ?
Actually on our website we support anti-torture petitions from over 30 progressive organizations including ACLUs.
The ACLU for seven years actually resisted impeachment with all its might, but is currently in the process of rehabilitating itself with some very important work on torture prosecution. They are doing good things now.
Support them.
And Keep the pressure on Obama to prosecute.
SIGN THE PETITION
To Prosecute Them For Torture
http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
Over 250,000 have signed
Join them and call yourself a Patriot
Will Obama stand for Justice or get in the way of it?
.