Gravitymaster 0 #1 December 1, 2003 http://www.msnbc.com/news/999347.asp?cp1=1 Howard Dean has blasted President Bush for excessive secrecy, but his records as governor remain locked up Politics: What’s in Howard Dean’s Secret Vermont Files? By Michael Isikoff NEWSWEEK Dec. 8 issue — As investigative reporters and “oppo” researchers flock to Vermont to dig into Howard Dean’s past, they have run into a roadblock. A large chunk of Dean’s records as governor are locked in a remote state warehouse—the result of an aggressive legal strategy designed in part to protect Dean from political attacks. DEAN—WHO HAS BLASTED the Bush administration for excessive secrecy—candidly acknowledged that politics was a major reason for locking up his own files when he left office last January. He told Vermont Public Radio he was putting a 10-year seal on many of his official papers—four years longer than previous Vermont governors—because of “future political considerations... We didn’t want anything embarrassing appearing in the papers at a critical time.” “Most of the records are open,” said Dean spokeswoman Tricia Enright, adding there is “absolutely not” a “smoking gun” in those for which Dean has claimed “executive privilege.” Still, Dean’s efforts to keep official papers secret appear unusually extensive. Late last year, NEWSWEEK has learned, Dean’s chief counsel sent a directive to all state agencies ordering them to cull their files and remove all correspondence that bore Dean’s name—and ship them to the governor’s office to be reviewed for “privilege” claims. This removed a “significant number of records” from state files, said Michael McShane, an assistant Vermont attorney general. The battle over Dean’s records began last year when three Vermont newspapers took him to court after being denied access to his official schedule. Reporters were trying to track Dean’s out-of-state political trips. State lawyers argued that release of the schedule could jeopardize his safety and that the governor’s office was not a public “agency” covered by state open-records law—two notions rejected by the Vermont Supreme Court. (The court ultimately ruled that those portions of the schedule related to his political trips had to be released, but those relating to state policy could be redacted.) Then last January, Dean’s chief counsel David Rocchio negotiated a sweeping agreement that resulted in about 140 boxes of Dean records containing several hundred thousand pages of documents being locked up for 10 years at a state archive in Middlesex, said Greg Sanford, the state archivist. The sealed papers include Dean’s correspondence with advisers on, among other matters, Vermont’s “civil unions” law and a state agency that critics charged was used to grant tax credits to Dean’s favored firms. Rocchio said the sealing agreement was driven by “legitimate” policy concerns, but also by, he later acknowledged, political factors. “All you have to do is look at what [Dean’s opponents] are doing with the existing records,” he said. “They’re distorting his record.” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #2 December 1, 2003 He's making himself un-electable by his public statements/records/remarks alone......hehehehehehehehe.Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #3 December 1, 2003 Quote He's making himself un-electable by his public statements/records/remarks alone......hehehehehehehehe. Same could be said of a great number of candidates and the incumbant.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #4 December 1, 2003 This is true. When I turn 35 I'm running a Write-In campaign as a hypocritical libertarian. TV coverage is my main objective....Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #5 December 1, 2003 QuoteThis is true. When I turn 35 I'm running a Write-In campaign as a hypocritical libertarian. TV coverage is my main objective.... Can I be your running mate? Quade, why not provide technical assistance for all coverage? So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #6 December 1, 2003 I wanna be press secretary.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #7 December 1, 2003 What's he hiding? "Several hundred thousand pages," and "anything embarrassing." Along with anything he sent to anyone. Ever. >8^Pwitty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #8 December 1, 2003 QuoteHe's making himself un-electable by his public statements/records/remarks alone......hehehehehehehehe.*** Particularly since he's been so critical of the Bush Admin. secrecy regarding the war. Yep, add hypocrit to Deans "pedigree". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #9 December 1, 2003 Hypocrite on secrecy: check Hypocrite on tax breaks to important friends: check overall willing to say whatever he thinks you want to hear: well, he is a politician....witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
