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Bikewer
25th June 2004, 06:02 AM
Yesterday, it was announced that the Supreme Court had found in favor of the administration in it's effort to keep the information on Vice-President Cheney's meeting with energy industry types a secret.
Not throwing the case out, they did return it to the lower courts, where even if the original rulings are upheld, results will not be published till after the election.

Here's a link to an article on the crux of the matter:

http://www.sierraclub.org/planet/200404/cheney.asp


I don't know why this isn't more of a hot-button issue. The formation of an energy policy is a matter of concern to everyone in the country. It affects cost of living, pollution, the economy, and national defense. Obviously, formulation of such policies should be a transparent process. Yet the Bush administration not only met secretly with a blue-ribbon group of energy-industry executives (might one say cronies?), but they have stoutly refused to divulge any information on this meeting, either as to substance or even who was in attendance.
They have (apparently successfully...) fought this all the way to the Supreme Court, aguing on the grounds of Presidential Privilege.
I, for one, would like to know if our country's energy policy was dictated by the likes of Skilling and Lay, just for starters. This seems highly likely, considering the administrations historic ties with these individuals, and others like them.

Zep
25th June 2004, 06:08 AM
What makes you think that The Shrub & Co don't think this is how "proper business" has ALWAYS been done?

Charlie Monoxide
25th June 2004, 07:42 AM
Whenever I see Cheney, and especially if he's talking, I always wondered "would I buy a used car from this guy?"

Charlie (it's an energy effecient Hummer) Monoxide

Jocko
25th June 2004, 09:36 AM
Originally posted by Charlie Monoxide
Whenever I see Cheney, and especially if he's talking, I always wondered "would I buy a used car from this guy?"

Charlie (it's an energy effecient Hummer) Monoxide

At least he's not selling socialized federal healthcare systems. That was at least as secretive, if you recall, and it was headed by someone who wasn't even elected.

That being said, I think it's a mistake to keep the records sealed. Broad consumer issues like this should be public domain, regardless of Cheney's legal standing.

gnome
25th June 2004, 10:08 AM
Originally posted by Jocko
At least he's not selling socialized federal healthcare systems. That was at least as secretive, if you recall, and it was headed by someone who wasn't even elected.

I always thought that the way that was done was stupid, also. Even though I sympathized with the goal. But ultimately they asked America to accept a big mysterious black box to replace their healthcare system with. It's no wonder it failed.

IMO the way to have done it properly would be to make it a multi-point plan that could be implemented in stages.

That being said, I think it's a mistake to keep the records sealed. Broad consumer issues like this should be public domain, regardless of Cheney's legal standing.

What is unfortunate, is that by trying so hard to keep it secret, most people are assuming that they have something to hide, and likely that it is Enron involvement that would embarass the administration.

I don't see the point in hiding it now, except for possibly two reasons:

1. To promote the right to conduct such things in secret

or

2. To hide something even worse than what most people are assuming.

Blue Monk
25th June 2004, 10:11 AM
I should have applied for the million bucks.

I predicted Scalia’s vote months ago.

Bikewer
25th June 2004, 12:47 PM
Just because he was sitting in a duck blind with Cheney?