Comments on: McConnell Admits It Was A ‘Judgment Call’ To Selectively Declassify Intelligence To Media http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:16:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: impeachcheneythenbush http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083329 impeachcheneythenbush Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:37:26 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083329 I wonder what Rep. Scott's staff does (and we taxpayers pay their salaries)if he had to ask whether or not there is a process for declassification and some record of when materials have been declassified. This is from Executive Order 12958. Sec. 3.7. Declassification Database. (a) The Director of the Information Security Oversight Office, in conjunction with those agencies that originate classified information, shall coordinate the linkage and effective utilization of existing agency databases of records that have been declassified and publicly released. (b) Agency heads shall fully cooperate with the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office in these efforts. http://www.archives.gov/isoo/policy-documents/eo-12958-amendment.html I wonder what Rep. Scott’s staff does (and we taxpayers pay their salaries)if he had to ask whether or not there is a process for declassification and some record of when materials have been declassified. This is from Executive Order 12958.

Sec. 3.7. Declassification Database.

(a) The Director of the Information Security Oversight Office, in conjunction with those agencies that originate classified information, shall coordinate the linkage and effective utilization of existing agency databases of records that have been declassified and publicly released.

(b) Agency heads shall fully cooperate with the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office in these efforts.

http://www.archives.gov/isoo/policy-documents/eo-12958-amendment.html

]]> By: Doc Rock http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083286 Doc Rock Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:50:11 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083286 As I understand it, it is a judgement call if, as the original classification authority, he or someone with derivative classification authority from his authority, classified it in the first place. The real issue is not whether he was empowered to do so, it is, rather, an issue of his judgment in withholding such information from Congressional oversight, but then, subsequently, blabbing it to the media for political gain or personal self-aggrandizement. The incident calls his judgment and responsibility into serious question. As I understand it, it is a judgement call if, as the original classification authority, he or someone with derivative classification authority from his authority, classified it in the first place. The real issue is not whether he was empowered to do so, it is, rather, an issue of his judgment in withholding such information from Congressional oversight, but then, subsequently, blabbing it to the media for political gain or personal self-aggrandizement. The incident calls his judgment and responsibility into serious question.

]]> By: Zooey http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083177 Zooey Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:16:41 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083177 What a wanker. It wasn't a "judgment call," it was a POLITICAL CALL. What a wanker. It wasn’t a “judgment call,” it was a POLITICAL CALL.

]]> By: bilbobaggins http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083105 bilbobaggins Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:15:55 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083105 Wait a minute, where did he get the power to declassify intelligence? I thought that only the President and Dead-Eye Dick had the authority to declassify secrets. It sounds to me like McConnell committed treason by declassifying something that he did not have the authority to declassify. Wait a minute, where did he get the power to declassify intelligence? I thought that only the President and Dead-Eye Dick had the authority to declassify secrets. It sounds to me like McConnell committed treason by declassifying something that he did not have the authority to declassify.

]]> By: Candyce http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083026 Candyce Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:15:22 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083026 Mitch is a B$tch. Comment by BARTLEBEE — September 18, 2007 Sen. Mitch McConnell is the one who filibustered the DC Voting Rights Bill to an early death. Mitch is a B$tch.

Comment by BARTLEBEE — September 18, 2007

Sen. Mitch McConnell is the one who filibustered the DC Voting Rights Bill to an early death.

]]> By: Snowball http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083025 Snowball Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:13:32 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083025 Anyone trusting the motives of a Bush crony making judgment calls needs to have their heads examined. Anyone trusting the motives of a Bush crony making judgment calls needs to have their heads examined.

]]> By: Keith H. http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083023 Keith H. Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:09:05 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083023 <i>McConnell has claimed that “Americans are going to die” with continued public discussion of wiretapping</i> I've got an idea to put a stop to the deaths based on wiretapping discussion Mr. McEgg-a-muffin. Stop the illegal practice. Charge you and the rest with the appropriate crimes. End of discussion(s). McConnell has claimed that “Americans are going to die” with continued public discussion of wiretapping

I’ve got an idea to put a stop to the deaths based on wiretapping discussion Mr. McEgg-a-muffin.
Stop the illegal practice.
Charge you and the rest with the appropriate crimes.

End of discussion(s).

]]> By: MapleStreet http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083010 MapleStreet Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:58:34 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083010 Please explain to me - I fully understand that some things should remain secret for national security. I thought that to make things secret, there had to be some sort of due deliberation on the value of that information and its ability to cause harm. But this "declassification" looks like it was done on a whim, a lark. If such is the process, how do I have any confidence that even a small percentage of classified material is made so because of a sane and orderly reason (as opposed to some random process) ? Please explain to me – I fully understand that some things should remain secret for national security. I thought that to make things secret, there had to be some sort of due deliberation on the value of that information and its ability to cause harm.

But this “declassification” looks like it was done on a whim, a lark. If such is the process, how do I have any confidence that even a small percentage of classified material is made so because of a sane and orderly reason (as opposed to some random process) ?

]]> By: wiseass.org http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083002 wiseass.org Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:52:08 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083002 <blockquote>“Judgement call” is code for “we’ll do whatever the hell we want”. Comment by TripMaster Monkey — September 18, 2007 @ 8:46 pm</blockquote> Bingo!

“Judgement call” is code for “we’ll do whatever the hell we want”.

Comment by TripMaster Monkey — September 18, 2007 @ 8:46 pm

Bingo!

]]> By: wiseass.org http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4083001 wiseass.org Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:51:33 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4083001 Can McConnell be more of a admisnitration hack and toady? Can McConnell be more of a admisnitration hack and toady?

]]> By: Jen Clark http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4082999 Jen Clark Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:49:07 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4082999 I wasn't able to watch the testimony today. Does anyone happen to know if any questions were asked regarding the National Applications Office (the new DHS program that will allow local, state, and federal law enforcement to use our military spy satellites to watch Americans)? I wasn’t able to watch the testimony today. Does anyone happen to know if any questions were asked regarding the National Applications Office (the new DHS program that will allow local, state, and federal law enforcement to use our military spy satellites to watch Americans)?

]]> By: TripMaster Monkey http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4082996 TripMaster Monkey Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:46:52 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4082996 "Judgement call" is code for "we'll do whatever the hell we want". “Judgement call” is code for “we’ll do whatever the hell we want”.

]]> By: Krazny http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4082990 Krazny Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:42:52 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4082990 In other words, it was my judgment to say all this stuff, so we could continue the program. In other words, it was my judgment to say all this stuff, so we could continue the program.

]]> By: ecthompson http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/comment-page-1/#comment-4082987 ecthompson Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:37:17 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18/mcconnell-declassify/#comment-4082987 Hypocrisy reigns in the Bush administration. This is just more evidence. Hypocrisy reigns in the Bush administration. This is just more evidence.

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