Obama’s Signing Statement Disappears Whistleblowers

[kpete]

Obama’s Signing Statement Disappears Whistleblowers
By: emptywheel Thursday March 12, 2009 6:55 am

......................

The provision I'm most worried about, however, is one on whistleblowers. You see, the President who has promised transparency, apparently doesn't want transparency to Congress when an executive agency fucks up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/us/politics/12signing.html?_r=2&ref=washington

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Wednesday issued his first signing statement, reserving a right to bypass dozens of provisions in a $410 billion government spending bill even as he signed it into law.

..............

He also raised concerns about a section that establishes whistle-blower protections for federal employees who give information to Congress.

“I do not interpret this provision,” he wrote, “to detract from my authority to direct the heads of executive departments to supervise, control and correct employees’ communications with the Congress in cases where such communications would be unlawful or would reveal information that is properly privileged or otherwise confidential.”

This strikes at the heart of efforts to fix some of our intelligence failures and abuses by making it possible for Congress to learn about them before it's too late.

I guess all that transparency Obama talked about was only for the things he wanted us to learn about.

more at:
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/12/obamas-signing-statement-disappears-whistleblowers/

[Joanne98]

1. Dammit

[burythehatchet]

2. Sasha and Melia are soooo cute. And have you seen Barack's bodysurfing picture

what a man.

Oh, and he's playing chess.

And it's only been 50 days.

[JoseGaspar]

15. They are so cute...

...and he is so smart and good looking that our job description has changed. We can all be full time unpaid flacks for the government now. Five million new unemployed and when they start getting hungry, we get to say:

"It's only 50 days. How can you be hungry? Be patient. He is working hard on many important things."

or

"You would have been even hungrier if the other guy had won."

[earth mom]

21. You forgot to mention the cute swing set the kids just got or the magazine cover of Michelle.

The denial around here is mind boggling. :crazy:

:argh:

[leftchick]

29. and he drinks beer while watching bball

what a man. :puke:

[geek tragedy]

32. And the usual Chicken Littles post some nonsense without

actually understanding what it was he said.


OH noeZ!!! He said the bill didn't change the Constitution! We're DOOMZXED!!!!

[burythehatchet]

47. arf!

[truebrit71]

3. dammit is right....

...this is NOT what I expected when I supported CHANGE...

[Robbien]

4. So Progressives finally get a win in the fight with BlueDogs and GOPers

only to have the rug pulled out from under them by a presidential signing statement.

[burythehatchet]

6. heart sinking yet?

Mine drowned several weeks ago.

[leftchick]

31. seriously

are you surprised by this? Since the day he chose Rahm and ostracized Dr. Dean I knew real change was moot.

[BlueJac]

5. Some things never change......

no wonder there has been no one held accountable yet.

[flyarm]

11. some things do change ..but drinking Kool aide and

being un-educated and thinking you have all the answers in hopium..never change.

[leveymg]

12. Presidents rarely curtail executive power. Those who've tried - Carter - are overthrown in coups.

That seems to be the lesson Obama is applying. Still, it's hard to trust anyone's absolute power.

[geek tragedy]

40. As opposed to the people who wallow in OUTRAGE!!!!!!

without bothering to actually think.

[Echo In Light]

7. It's amazing how many still don't realize that politicians are liars

[mmonk]

25. Yep. They (people) get too involved in the star gazing.

[geek tragedy]

34. It's amazing how many people don't even bother

to read what he actually said.

[smiley_glad_hands]

8. Actually, it doesnt sound unreasonable to me.

Don't forget about the bush moles people.

[redqueen]

9. Pardon me for not rending my garments just yet...

but I guess I didn't share the expectations that some here seem to have had. I expected him to be the best out of the crop that ran. I don't feel disappointed or dismayed.

[flyarm]

10. Oh and don't forget Obama's man Kissinger!!!!!!!!!

You know..the Kissinger Obama sent to Russia to represent his administration!!

And as some here at DU had the nerve to say..he isn't such a bad guy!!!!!!!!

Cry me a river!!!!!!!

Does any of this surprise me...No..in fact Hell no!

I would laugh at the naive here..if it wasn't so dangerous and so pitiful for our nation!..But it is both.

Guess now Obama is giving the big F-U to all our brave Whistleblowers..no one is safe..

Did i tell you my phones are clicking overtime again since the Chosen one has taken office?????????

[solara]

14. Why are you even here on DU? just askin'

It doesn't bother me when there are legitimate questions for this administration - we are obviously in treacherous waters, but your comments seem so.. so.. gloating and hateful. Do you really believe we would be better off to have elected McCain and La Palin? You actually call President Obama "The Chosen One" and it seems so snarky, what's up with that?


Geez



:patriot:

[WilliamPitt]

16. Hillary lost

;)

[solara]

20. Ohhhhhhh right... yeah, she did....

Thanks for reminding me



:patriot:

[leftchick]

35. you are expressing the Thelma and Louise Theory

a cliff is ahead and Obama has slowed us to 45 mph vs Mc/P speeding up to 90 mph. Clue, it is still a cliff.

:eyes:

[geek tragedy]

38. No, some people just decide Obama is Teh Evil One before

bothering to actually understand what he's doing or saying.

It's the knee-jerk malcontent outrage junkies.

[leftchick]

41. whatever you want to think makes you happy

clarity to his corporate ties will set you free.

[geek tragedy]

43. As usual, you provide content-free whining. n/t

[leftchick]

44. oooooooooooooo

I provide a lot here. You deniers can not handle the fact that our government has Corporations first in line before us. Let me know if you want some links.

[burythehatchet]

45. he's like a little yappy undersized mutt. Nothing to do but keep trying to jump up and bite ankles

to try and stir up some attention. SHOO!

[Bonobo]

37. "The Chosen One". Funny but that is EXACTLY what Freeper idiots say!

I would never suggest that YOU are a stupid, ignorant freeptard who can only spew pathetic, regurgitated rhetoric the likes of which can only be seen on the very lowest and seediest of websites, but the resemblance to numbskulls of that variety is uncanny.

[flyarm]

42. hmmm

http://www.answers.com/topic/timothy-f-geithner

Timothy Geithner
Career
After completing his studies, Geithner worked for Kissinger and Associates in Washington, D.C., for three years and then joined the International Affairs division of the U.S. Treasury Department in 1988. He was deputy assistant secretary for international monetary and financial policy (1995–1996), senior deputy assistant secretary for international affairs (1996-1997), assistant secretary for international affairs (1997–1998).<

He was Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs (1998–2001) under Treasury Secretaries Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers.<5> Summers was his mentor,<1> but other sources call him a Rubin protégé.<9><10><11>



Treasury Secretary designee Geithner meets Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus November 25, 2008
In 2002 he left the Treasury to join the Council on Foreign Relations as a Senior Fellow in the International Economics department.<7> At the International Monetary Fund he was director of the Policy Development and Review Department (2001-2003).<5>

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

who can make this crap up???????????



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4530042/Cold-warrior-Henry-Kissinger-woos-Russia-for-Barack-Obama.html

Cold warrior Henry Kissinger woos Russia for Barack Obama

Henry Kissinger, the pioneer of Cold War detente during the Nixon era, has made a return to frontline politics after President Barack Obama reportedly sent him to Moscow to win backing from Vladimir Putin's government for a nuclear disarmament initiative.

By Adrian Blomfield, Moscow Correspondent
Last Updated: 2:14AM GMT 06 Feb 2009


Despite his pariah status with many Left-wingers in Mr Obama's Democratic Party, the president forged relations with Mr Kissinger during his campaign.

The compliment was returned when the 85-year-old veteran of the Nixon and Ford administrations said last month that the young president was in a position to create a "new world order" by shifting US foreign policy away from the hostile stance of the Bush administration.

He publicly supported Mr Obama's notion of unconditional talks with Iran, though not at the presidential level.

Further demonstrating his willingness to work with his opponents on foreign policy issues, Mr Obama turned to two veteran Republicans steeped in Cold War experience to press home his plans.

Shortly after Mr Kissinger's trip, Richard Lugar, a Republican senator from Indiana who has worked on nuclear disarmament issues for 30 years, also visited Moscow. George Schultz, another former secretary of state, has also played a vital role.

[cascadiance]

13. The next time a Sibel Edmonds wants to step forward, they'll probably step back instead!

Knowing that NEITHER party is supportive of their efforts to provide accountability in the system, and that only THEY will suffer if they come forward, and the American people will suffer either way!

Sucks!!!

[Abq_Sarah]

18. Okay...

I can see why a President wouldn't want a whistleblower with sensitive information to blab it to Joe Congressman but both the House and Senate have intelligence committees and there is absolutely NO reason why they couldn't receive information. If it were just a disgruntled employee trying to harm the President, they could be weeded out there.

[bvar22]

17. K&R

What do you expect from a "Centrist"....a self proclaimed "New Dem"?

Centrism...for those who are proud to be Half Republican.

[bertman]

19. That is the PERFECT definition of a centrist. Thank you, bvar22.

[geek tragedy]

33. Better than being a half-wit. n/t

[burythehatchet]

46. yip! yip!

[SpartanDem]

22. The Obama hit squad strikes again

The spending bill lays out rules that say salaries are not to be used for those who interfere with whistleblowers. The President's statement merely says that these new rules don't change(.ie does not detract from my authority) any of his existing powers to restrict information. In other words, nothing has changed. It in no way expands his power over or attempts to suppress whistleblowers only those with poor reading skills, with an agenda or both would try to interpet it as such.

[tomp]

27. if the law says it changes his powers, it changes his powers.

if he doesn't like the law he should veto it.

[geek tragedy]

28. Not if the law is unconstitutional.

Congress can't take away his power as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, or his ability to grant pardons, for instance.

[tomp]

48. why would obama, the constitutional scholar,...

...sign a bill that was unconstitutional and attempt to undermine its provisions via signing statement? if he doesn't like the provisions of the bill he should veto it.

[quiet.american]

23. I look at this from the perspective of a voter whose trust Obama has gained.

Alright -- what does Obama get out of this? One possible scenario -- the loyal Bushies burrowed into the system start leaking classified/confidential/privileged information to the likes of Sessions, Bunning, Boehner et al. using the cover of doing so as a "whistle-blower." Obama reserves the right to put a stop to that kind of nonsense.

He is not revoking whistle-blower protections with his statement.

It's so disappointing, but I guess, very real, to see that after all Obama is accomplishing and working toward during his first days in office, he is still viewed with so much suspicion and distrust here.

[dansolo]

24. This is my take on it as well

How many Bush appointees are still in the government agencies? These people would probably love to undermine the Obama administration by leaking classified information to Republican Congressmen.

[The Doctor.]

26. So.... what....

No one can read the part about 'unlawful or would reveal information that is properly privileged or otherwise confidential'?

Last I recall, it was wrong to reveal classified info. If someone steps up with information that is 'privileged' merely because it would incriminate someone, then it's hard to defend punitive action against them.

So what am I missing?

[geek tragedy]

30. The knee-jerk panic crowd strikes again.

1. Raising concerns has no legal effect.

2. His signing statement was a clarification regarding Executive Privilege. The Whistleblower Statute does not and indeed cannot do away with Executive Privilege, which is based in the Constitution.

[Belial]

36. Thank You for the clarification

[geek tragedy]

39. I think a lot of people were so traumatized by Bush

that their brains fell out, and now they see anything a President does as inherently evil.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

49. Things That Are Not In the U.S. Constitution - Executive privilege

http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html#execpriv

Executive privilege is a right to withhold information from the legislative and judicial branches by the President or by one of the executive departments. There is question of whether the right exists at all, a question that has lingered since the very first President, George Washington, asserted executive privilege in his very first term. Most times, executive privilege is asserted for purported national security reasons. Washington, however, asserted the privilege when the House requested details of the Jay Treaty - his rationale was that the House has no role in treaty-making and hence no right to request the documents. In modern times, Bill Clinton refused to simply comply with an order to appear before a grand jury, and instead negotiated terms under which he would appear. Richard Nixon's is the most infamous use of executive privilege, and while the Supreme Court, in U.S. v Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974), recognized that there exists a need for some secrecy in the executive branch, but that the secrecy cannot be absolute. The Court ordered Nixon to turn over tapes and documents that a special prosecutor had subpoenaed. More recently, the minutes and records of Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force were requested and denied based on executive privilege. This case made its way to the Supreme Court, where the Court deflected the case and sent it back to a lower court for further adjudication.