Marcy Wheeler: "Let The Sunshine In" (Exec Priv Claims Reason for Impeachment)

[Hissyspit]

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/07/let-the-sunshin.html

Let the Sunshine In
by emptywheel

I'm with David Kurtz. In addition to offering good reason to begin impeachment procedures, Bush's dangerous claims to executive and deliberative privilege really ought to invite us to reconsider the notion that Presidents need to hide their deliberations.

As long as we're going to be discussing the parameters of executive privilege in the weeks and months ahead, can we start by revisiting the now commonly accepted notion that the President can only get free and unfettered advice if those giving the advice know it will remain confidential?

- snip -

Let's consider the kinds of things--or advisors--that Bush and Cheney have been hiding with their invocation of privilege:

- The degree to which Republican operatives can dial up the firing of a US Attorney they don't like
- The degree to which the oil companies own our energy policy (and therefore our security)
- The degree to which Bush helped Enron by postponing a sane response to the California Energy crisis
- The centrality of AEI hacks and other Neocons in building the case for the last war--and the next one
- The open access Bandar Bush bin Sultan had to the President and Vice President's office
- The degree to which big donors dictate our policies

Explain again why we, as citizens, aren't demanding these details?

MORE

[Hissyspit]

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[Hissyspit]

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[jimshoes]

3. When it appears that the only

advice this "president" is seeking is new ways to circumvent the laws of the USA, it's no wonder he doesn't want the great unwashed to know what he's up to. Al Capone similarly didn't like his private business known, and Al Capone was a piker compared to bush and company. There is oversight written into our form of government for a reason. For this very reason. The founders knew there would eventually be unscrupulous types that would subvert the system for their own personal gain and use that same system to cover their own misdeeds. We are seeing history, and the United States of America unfold and be torn apart right before our eyes.

[druidity33]

4. Marcy always nails it. K&R nt

[druidity33]

5. read the comments to the article... insightful stuff. nt

[pacalo]

6. Excellent.

[TheBaldyMan]

7. Hooray for Marcy k&r