Leahy And Cornyn: White House Trying To 'Eliminate' FOIA Office, page
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Topic started on 26-1-2008 @ 11:46 AM by Animal

Leahy And Cornyn: White House Trying To 'Eliminate' FOIA Office


thinkprogress.org
On New Years Eve, facing “congressional pushback against the Bush administration’s movement to greater secrecy,” President Bush signed the OPEN Government Act, toughening the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The legislation — unanimously passed by the House and Senate — would push agencies to respond more quickly to records requests.

But now, the White House is doing everything it can to neuter the law. Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) said yesterday that Bush’s FY2009 “funds for the Office of Government Information Services authorized under the newly enacted OPEN Government Act will be shifted to the Department of Justice” from the National Archives.
(visit the link for the full news article)


reply posted on 26-1-2008 @ 12:58 PM by Animal
reply to post by DimensionalDetective


As much as this IS about the Bush administration and epitomizes so much of what is wrong with them, it is important to remember that it does go far beyond that.

The FOIA is a means used to uncover so many truths, without it the work of many people like so many of those here on ATS would surely be hampered.

What is more, I was taught that transparency in the actions of the governmentwas essential to democracy. I really do hope that people are upset by this and become active in trying to prevent this from coming to pass.


reply posted on 26-1-2008 @ 01:07 PM by DimensionalDetective
reply to post by Animal


Agreed. FOIA encompasses ALL branches of government, including military and the alphabet soup of spy agencies. To have it demolished would only further the gap that already exists between the agencies and taxpayers who fund them's access to important knowlege that may of benefit to all of mankind.

With FOIA gone, cover-ups would go on forever, uncontested.


reply posted on 26-1-2008 @ 10:30 PM by biggie smalls
reply to post by Animal


This story is no surprise, however messed up that may be.

The Bush Administration (and cronies) have essentially told the American people that we'll do whatever the hell we want to and there's not a damn thing you can do about it.

This type of attitude eventually corrodes all support from the masses and in the end will be the cause of their downfall (among many others).

FOIA directly affects ATS as we are home to a section devoted to the 'freedom' of information.

Its ridiculous these people can get away with the destruction of the world and not many seem to give a crap about it.


reply posted on 27-1-2008 @ 11:37 AM by imdeceived
Originally posted by Animal
reply to post by DimensionalDetective


As much as this IS about the Bush administration and epitomizes so much of what is wrong with them, it is important to remember that it does go far beyond that.

The FOIA is a means used to uncover so many truths, without it the work of many people like so many of those here on ATS would surely be hampered.

What is more, I was taught that transparency in the actions of the governmentwas essential to democracy. I really do hope that people are upset by this and become active in trying to prevent this from coming to pass.


The thing is you are not living in a democracy anymore. Even though the administration wants you to beleive the opposite.


reply posted on 27-1-2008 @ 11:49 AM by Critical_Mass
reply to post by Blaine91555


I have a different opinion regarding Bush.
Not to question what you know, but if you haven't you may want to look into the role the Bush Family has played throughout history and all of the things they have done.

It's a very sickening realization.
I think we spend far too much time though, trying to figure out who is doing what and how, but there are by far not enough people ready to do something about it.

We need to to something about it, and contrary to the thinking of Bush, there are a lot of things Americans can do about it. It just has to be a movement formed by large majority.

That being the case, there would be nothing Bush could do.

I guess that is the best food for thought that I can muster in this thread.....for all it's worth.


reply posted on 27-1-2008 @ 05:04 PM by Animal
reply to post by Blaine91555


I too disagree with you, at least to a point. The way you talk about the bi-partisan conspiracy supposes an immense level of coordination.

While I do believe that there is corruption and consiracy taking place within the government, on boths sides of the aisle, I do not believe that it could be so organized adn wide spread as you portray it.

I do not believe that EVERY member of the government is in on the conspiracy, and of those that are only a small percentage is actually fully aware (if even) of what is actually going on.

When I talk of conspiracy I am referring to what I believe is the existence of a level of power above and beyond that of government, which uses government, religion, and other institutions as its tools.

I apologize I do not remember the name of the poster before me that also questioned your post, but I agree with him/her. I do believe that the Bush family is part of the wider conspiracy. I believe that Bush and several of those around him (Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc) are puppets of this "higher power".

I believe that this attack on our ability to access information through the FOIA is not supported by all members of all parties for the reasons I have listed above.
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