We Need Fewer Secrets (JIMMY CARTER)

The Washington Post ^ | 7/3/06 | Jimmy Carter

[paulat]

We Need Fewer Secrets

By Jimmy Carter Monday, July 3, 2006; A21

The U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) turns 40 tomorrow, the day we celebrate our independence. But this anniversary will not be a day of celebration for the right to information in our country. Our government leaders have become increasingly obsessed with secrecy. Obstructionist policies and deficient practices have ensured that many important public documents and official actions remain hidden from our view.

The events in our nation today -- war, civil rights violations, spiraling energy costs, campaign finance and lobbyist scandals -- dictate the growing need and citizens' desire for access to public documents. A poll conducted last year found that 70 percent of Americans are either somewhat or very concerned about government secrecy. This is understandable when the U.S. government uses at least 50 designations to restrict unclassified information and created 81 percent more "secrets" in 2005 than in 2000, according to the watchdog coalition OpenTheGovernment.org.

[snip]

[conservativecorner]

Mr. Chicken shite' strikes again. If he had acted as the Constitution directed during the Iranian Hostage Crisis, much of this nonsense could have been avoided. You have a real legacy Mr. Peanut Head.

[.cnI redruM]

I think the Lord looked down, saw the original Jimmy Carter, and sent that mold to the foundry to be melted down.

[.cnI redruM]

I'll give Goofy-Tooth credit. We sure came together as a nation on election day 1980!

[period end of story]

Jimmy's big problem is that he's never gotten over his defeat to Reagan.

He has no legacy, but one of a 'loser'.

You hear libs like Martin Sheen say he was the smartest Prez ever. Maybe he was in I.Q. but it didn't help him during his term as Prez.

Ever since then he's been trying to erase that bad memory with 'good works', writing bad books (i have his first one, Gawd), and constantly stabbing America in the back by supporting Chavez, Castro, ....

He's bitter, and it shows.

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>In the United States, we must seek amendments to FOIA to be more in line with emerging international standards


Which was exactly what Congressman Jefferson was doing when he stashed the bribe money in his freezer. He was bringing US governance more in line with international standards.

[.cnI redruM]

Yeah, back when he was a nukaler engineeer, the world just teetered on the brink.

[Vision]

Worst President Ever

[period end of story]

Yep.

But he must love all the anti-Bush talk; even contributing to it himself, hoping that someone will be thought of less than he was.

[sauropod]

Never thought i'd say this. Mr. Peanut is worse than His Slickness.

GAAACK!

[chilepepper]

more mush from the wimp...

[crazyhorse46]

Hey Jimmy why didn't you list your two pals Castro and Hugo?

I'm sure there willing to share their secrets and open up their governments to scrutiny as well...NOT!

[AmericanMade1776]

[reagan_fanatic]

[oyez]

Carter admires Bill Clinton who tried to give all our secrets away.

The Carter presidency was four of the most depressing years I've ever had and I wasn't interested in politics at the time.

[AmericanMade1776]

[AmericanMade1776]

[madison10]

Can't we do something with him? Lock him in Leavenworth? Commit him to an insane asylum? (if we still have them) Ship him to Somalia? ANYthing?

[SoFloFreeper]

Jimmy Carter's presidency was a massive joke on America. He had a single spectacular accomplishment (Camp David Accords) and he's been trying to ride a wave of statesmanship on that one event for nearly thirty years.

He's like the

Billy Ray Cyrus of politicians...one hit wonder, trying to ride that one freakin' hit for the rest of his career.

[SoFloFreeper]

Could Jimmy Carter look any pastier in that pic?

[vox_freedom]

He was NOT the worst president of the last 100 years-he was the worst president in the last 230 years.

Good point. I only used the century # because my memory doesn't go back any further than that.