Obama Whiffs on Transparency

So remember Obama's promise to post bills to the Internet, and wait five days for public review before signing them?

So far, he's one for 11.

And the one is questionable.

Comments

[Warren]

...
And the men who spurred us on,
sit in judgment of all wrong.
They decide and the shotgun sings the song!

[Xeones]

Yo, Obama sucks.

[Warty]

Obama is worse than I could have possibly imagined, and it's hilarious.

[P Brooks]

"There's no time to think!"

[Telly]

You mean Obama lied?? He's full of shit??!!

Omg, I can't believe it.

[Alan Vanneman]

Well, one out of eleven, no, wait, that sucks. Let's change the subject.

[P Brooks]

Those other ten really didn't have a material effect on anything. So they don't count.

[cm]

"I believe it is not in our character, American character, to follow -- but to lead. And it is time for us to lead once again. I am here today to set this goal: we will devote more than 3 percent of our GDP to research and development," Obama said.

Jeeeeeeeeez. Obama's a douche.

[EJ]

I can't believe it's not change!

[sixstring]

Wow! He can't even get past the Mendoza Line.

[crimethink]

At this point, Obama breaking a campaign promise is like another 100 people dying in a Baghdad suicide bombing was two years ago. ie, something that really should make one outraged but the relevant nerve endings have been fried by overstimulation.

[not the real jb]

You guys all just misunderstand Him.

He's just shifting from "campaigning mode" to "governance mode."

That's change we can all believe in!

[Medic]

Still no holding my breath. He's nothing but a Douche bag.

[Invisible Finger]

Post no bills

[J sub D]

Damn you Warren!

I dunno, but I expect there has been a spike in Who's Next sales since Mr. Hope and Change got elected.

[H]

Query: did candidate Obama promise to wait until 5 days after final bill language becomes publicly available, after it's posted on the White House website, after Congressional passage, or after formal presentment? For example, the final stimulus bill language was put online on Feb. 12, & the bill passed on Feb. 13, but it was formally presented only on Feb. 16. So did the President sign the bill (on Feb. 17) after 5 days, 4 days, or 1 day? Campaign promises aside, it may make a difference from the point of view of transparency.

(I take it no one accepts the charge made by House Republicans in connection with the stimulus bill that Obama had already broken his promise by Feb. 11, before Congress passed it, because the language agreed to in the conference committee wasn't already posted at that point on the White House website.)

[Anonymous]

Transparently an idiot.

Promises? Delivered!

[R C Dean]

Well, H, according to CATO:

"As president," his campaign website said, "Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days."

I would say that means he's supposed to wait for five days after its posted on the White House website.

Finally, of course, note the Parsin' President's escape hatch (there's always an escape hatch): this promise applies only to "non-emergency bills."

[PR]

overpromise. underdeliver

[Vogon]

I would say that means he's supposed to wait for five days after its posted on the White House website.

The plans have been on display in your local planning office in Alpha Centauri for 50 of your Earth years, so you've had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaints, and it's far too late to start making a fuss about it now!

[Silentz]

H,
If you have have to give him an 'out' on a technicality, then his transparency promise, like many of his other 'promises', is essentially worthless.

[jtuf]

lol, Vogon. How true.

[No Name Guy]

Obama is a politican.

Politicians are habitual liars.

Ergo Obama is a lying sack.

What's so hard to understand?

[crimethink]

This is terrible, but to be expected. Obama's gone back on hundreds of campaign promises already, yet the electoral herd continues to support him.

To expect him to keep any promises at this point is like expecting your dog to wait to go outside when you've been giving him doggie treats after he poops on the living room carpet.

[engineer]

"So remember Obama's promise to post bills to the Internet, and wait five days for public review before signing them?"

It's a stupid idea anyway, and a sign of weak-willed pansy with no principles. You either sign the bill, because it is morally and practically right, or you veto the sucker and tell Congress that you're not going to apply your signature to a steaming pile of cow turds. None of this "rule by polls" crap.

[engineer]

God knows only hardcore political junkies have time to sort threw the mound of crud that Congress piles into each bill.

[P Brooks]

None of this "rule by polls" crap.

You're not from around here, are you?