Bill Clinton's President status allows him to get information

[Whisp]

that would be top secret. It's a privilege of all past presidents, some take it some don't. George Sr. did, I don't think Carter did.

I'm wondering if anyone knows if Bill still gets these reports and what kind of obligation does he have to keep this information to himself. Could there be any concerns in what he may share with Hillary and how she could use or misuse this info?

[xchrom]

1. right -- the clintons will automatically misuse natioanl security info.

despicable, disgusting and trashy OP.

[Whisp]

9. I think it's a fair question -

as a situation like this has not arisen before that I know of.

Has there ever been a past president, with information from the CIA, etc., that has had a wife in the running for secretary of state?

what is so despicable about being curious of this situation? It is a legimate concern in my view, as the Clintons seem to like to bend rules and all to their advantage.

[BlueStateGirl]

13. Maybe we should retroactively impeach him and take away his presidential

status. Would that ease your mind?

Jesus , some of you Clinton Haters are paranoid.

[Whisp]

15. I don't trust the Clintons. They've said and done things to Obama

that I think is beyond regular fair campaigning,

I'm just wondering how they 'would be able to' try to undermine him in new ways.

[BlueStateGirl]

19. I'm sorry, but I think you are being ridiculous. n/t

[Maccagirl]

20. Give some examples if you're going to make a statement

like that.

[Whisp]

26. Obama has no Tuzla stories.

the Clintons do.

That is one of the reasons why I don't trust them.
I suppose I'm just being too picky.

but this post is about privileged iformation, who has access and has there been a situation similar to now and an important cabinet post for the spouse and if there should be any questions allowed to ask about it.

[emilyg]

38. Give it up.

[Captain Hilts]

49. Just not true. nt

[PresidentObama]

2. Shut up and go eat some turkey n/t

[hlthe2b]

3. For God's sakes... He was President for 8 years... She's a

US Senator. Your implication is damned ridiculous, revolting and Freeperish.

[TheDebbieDee]

17. Freeperish. Yes, that's exactly the word that best describes

some of the Clinton hate that is spewed here at DU. It's incredible.

[Captain Hilts]

32. And historically ignorant.

[Unbowed]

4. Oh just great. ALL past presidents? Shrub will be a past president soon.

I was really looking forward to being rid of the sucker come January.

Can Congress do something to change this? The last thing we need is Shrubby still nosing around top secret information.

[polichick]

5. Definitely a reason to prosecute (as if we needed another one).

[Unbowed]

45. Bush behind bars... the stuff that dreams are made of.

Sad to say, the biggest criminals usually get off scott free.

And he's leaving us with a sinking ship. A lot of urgent matters will take priority, I'm afraid.

[hlthe2b]

6. Hardly... He's too damned lazy to read his daily briefings now...

The courtesy is not extended to others in his administration--only the President...

[Unbowed]

43. True, but it's still an unsettling thought.

If he doesn't have a jail cell in his future (MY FIRST CHOICE), I hope he goes back to his ranch and we never see his creepy ass again.

[hobbit709]

7. He doesn't read it now so what's the difference.

[Whisp]

10. his Poppy has been doing that for years now.

[Unbowed]

42. That's disturbing. Unlike Jr, he can read. n/t

[murielm99]

35. I don't think you should worry too much about

* nosing around this way.

The man does not read. He has no intellectual curiosity. The daily briefings had to be condensed and practically spoon-fed to him. I don't think he cares. He has checked out of his presidentin' job already.

If he gets this top secret stuff after he leaves office, which I doubt he wants, he would not comprehend it without a great deal of help. Those kinds of documents have big words in them.

[Unbowed]

44. Big words would be problematic for him, I agree.

But I don't underestimate the pure evil of this man. He hasn't completely checked out of the presidency, but he's doing all he can to appear that he has while doing malicious deeds behind the scenes to promote the Repuke agenda long after he's gone. He's giving America a farewell Fuck You. That's why he's so happy lately.

[mountainvue]

52. He doesn't like to read. n/t

[rug]

8. Access to current top secret classified information is a "privilege" of all past presidents?

Better bsck that up before pissing in the pool.

[Whisp]

12. I believe so, it's something I read here awhile ago and

have come across that a few times in mags and tv and such.

are you saying I'm making this up?

[rug]

14. I'm saying the government will not give top secret information to anyone out of office for years.

[BlueStateGirl]

18. Past presidents are entitled to continue to recieve the President's

Daily Brief , if they choose.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President's_Daily_Brief

[rug]

21. I think this is the link you meant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President%27s_Daily_Brief

"While the name of the PDB implies exclusivity, it has historically been briefed to other high officials. The distribution list has varied over time, but has always or almost always included the Secretaries of State and Defense and the National Security Advisor. Rarely, special editions of the PDB have actually been "for the President's eyes only," with further dissemination of the information contained left to the President's discretion."

No entitlement there.

[BlueStateGirl]

22. If you keep reading you find this...

Former Presidents are entitled to receive the PDB, if they so desire, only after the sitting President actually receives his daily briefing.


Yes.... that is the link I meant to post... thanks

[rug]

27. I didn't see that. That's very curious.

[Hippo_Tron]

23. Past Presidents are entitled to see the President's daily intelligence briefing

And appointed officials do not lose their security clearance after they leave their job. The key is that most information at the top levels is distributed on a "need-to-know" basis. Just because you have a Top Secret security clearance doesn't mean that you have access to Top Secret information. You must be working on a specific project where it is determined that you need to know that information.

Thus former officials and former Presidents aren't going to have access to the most sensitive information unless they are called on by the current administration to assist. But again the one exception is that former Presidents are entitled to receive the daily intelligence briefing.

[rug]

28. I'll have to find the statutory authority for that entitlement.

It really doesn't make sense for a former President to have that information just because he's a former President with no actual or constitutional authority.

[Hippo_Tron]

33. Yea I know it's in the law somewhere

I think the reasoning is that it's simply a privilege given to former Presidents. It doesn't make a hell of a lot of practical sense but who knows.

Regardless it doesn't make this thread any less absurd. Presidents aren't even allowed to share sensitive information with their spouses and thus Former Presidents aren't allowed to either. And as Secretary of State Hillary would likely have more access to information that Bill does.

[Captain Hilts]

48. Prez's often talk to their predecessors about policy. nt

[BlueStateGirl]

11. Lousy implication, but if it makes you feel any better, as far as I have

ever heard, only George H. W. Bush has choosen to retain that privilege.

[Shiver]

16. True

They have the option of continuing to receive daily briefings. It isn't automatic, and I think the reason George H. W. Bush does is because he used to be director of the CIA. Most presidents have declined to receive them.

[xchrom]

24. ...

:crazy:

[Skink]

25. Page one 2 egg Mcmuffins for 2 dollars top secret.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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

[Captain Hilts]

30. I don't believe he gets them because reading them would require travel restrictions and a larger

security detail.

Pretty sure about that.

[Captain Hilts]

31. First ladies generally are considered to have access to just about everything.

SOP.

Be paranoid about something else.

[babylonsister]

37. Huh? Link?? nt

[Captain Hilts]

47. Long term practice. They go through no clearance process and neither does the prez...

it is assumed that he can discuss anything and everything with her.

Just as he can his chief of staff, though the chief of staff goes through a clearance procedure.

Some first ladies distance themselves from the nuts and bolts of what is going on - Pat Nixon, Laura Bush while others are more engaged. The extra security required for knowing more is a deterrent to many to wanting to know more.

It's up to the discretion of the first family.

[Hippo_Tron]

34. As Secretary of State, Hillary would have access to far more information than Bill does

Top Secret Information is disclosed on a "need-to-know" basis. Since Bill isn't currently in the government he doesn't need to know anything. The one exception is that former Presidents are entitled to the President's Daily Intelligence Briefing or the PDB. This briefing is also given to top government officials like the Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, etc.

As Secretary of State, the President's top foreign policy advisor, Hillary would have access to nearly all if not all of the information that the President does.

[MyNameGoesHere]

36. Oh goody CLinton has had this access for years and now you

are going to accuse him of leaking it? For shame, come right the fuck out and just say you hate him and quit dialing it in.

[w4rma]

39. The Clintons are *not* misusing any confidential information. (nt)

[JVS]

40. Wow. Ignored really seems to hate you!

[lojasmo]

41. All that information would be given to SoS as well.

It is crazy to assume that information would not be.

[Honeycombe8]

46. Not true. See this discussion....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7933778

Bill Clinton does not automatically receive classified information. It's disseminated on a "need to know" basis. Former Presidents and Vice Presidents and former SOSs and other cabinet officials may receive waivers and get the classified info, but it's not automatic.

I'm sure Carter and Clinton and Papa Bush get SOME information via reports, like Congress does. But Bill Clinton and Papa Bush have both said they don't get all the information that the sitting President gets.

[mountainvue]

50. I can't remeber where I read or heard this

but GHW Bush is the only former president that still receives them.

[ShortnFiery]

51. I could care less. Bill Clinton is no longer part of OUR government system.

:eyes: