ASK ME ABOUT FOIA REQUESTS

[defrog]

You’ve heard by now that Obama 44’s first major act in Operation Clean Up Bush’s Stupid Mess was to order the closure of the Gitmo detention camp, ban the CIA from renditioning suspects to secret prisons, and ban the use of torture techniques disguised as “spirited Q&A”.

Here’s a lesser publicized accomplishment: he also issued an executive order that all departments comply with Freedom Of Information Act requests as expeditiously as possible – and whenever possible to not even wait for an FOIA request before making information public.

It’s essentially a repudiation of General John Ashcroft’s instructions to the DOJ on handling FOIA requests: ignore them until a judge orders you to comply, and use as many excuses and stall tactics as it takes. Which was pretty much how the Bush/Cheney Connection preferred things. After all, what’s the point of spying on all Americans, including journalists, if everyone knows what yr up to?

It’s such a contrast of styles and philosophies that, for no apparent reason (probably the Gitmo connection), I found myself thinking of Col. Nathan R. Jessup’s Big Truth Speech in A Few Good Men. Specifically, this line:

“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.”

I’m sure I’m not the first person to think of this, but that rant is a 90-second master class in Bush/Cheney Leadership Philosophy (and far better expressed than Bush himself could ever have managed – Cheney could do that speech, but more quietly).

Clearly, Obama will be having none of that. At least on paper. The practice will probably be complex and imperfect. But hey, he’s only been on the job less than 72 hours. And all the White House computers apparently all still run on Windows 95. So, you know, he can only do so much.

Maybe that’ll be his next executive order: “Effective immediately, all WH computers must be upgraded to MacBooks by this weekend. Take the cost out of my first year’s salary. Love, Barry.”

Cleaning house,

This is dF

Comments

[lorilori.livejournal.com]

“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.”

That statement wouldn't have half the impact if Jack delivered it looking like this -- with moobs.

[def-fr0g-42.livejournal.com]

I didn't really need to see that right before calling my mom. But then I'm in no position to be critical of Jack's moobs.