On Debate Transparency

In an affront to transparency, both presidential campaigns, and the Commission on Presidential Debates, have declined to publicly release the 31-page memo dictating the terms of the four debates this season, as outlined by this San Francisco Chronicle article.

This is the memo that specifies the agreement both sides hammered out regarding debate rules such as rebuttal time, direct-response line of questioning, moderator rules, etc. And there’s no reason it shouldn’t be public knowledge. From the article:

There is historical precedent for releasing the memorandum. In 2004, the Bush and Kerry campaigns consented to the memorandum's release before the debates. No cataclysm resulted. Rather, there was a healthy discussion of the agreement between the campaigns, and voters were able to understand the restrictions the candidates had placed on themselves.

In related news, this New York Times article touches on the Commission on Presidential Debates, delving into the corporate sponsorship of the events, and what that really means.

-- Dylan Blaylock

Comments

[Jim Dickinson]

I read both newspaper reports and could see no evil in corporate sponsorship of the debates, but a lot of evil in the nondisclosure of the debate rules.

"Transparency" in government has become a meaningless term. Nobody observes it. If you complain about its lack, the best you'll get is a form letter in response. This example of government secrecy at the heart of our most important electoral process is a perfect example of the arrogance of power with which we are increasingly afflicted. Obviously, neither McCain nor Obama are the least been concerned about it -- therefore, it can only continue and expand, like a cancer.

Andrew Bacevich in his excellent book The Limits of Power, says it well: America is now a democracy in name only. It has become a empire of consumption (with a President-Emperor) that is engaged in willful self-destruction because it feels so good! Don't ask any of its citizens to get outraged by a lack of transparency -- they have more immediate gratifications to attend to.

[Jim Dickinson]

"Transparency" in government has become a meaningless term. Nobody observes it. If you complain about its lack, the best you'll get is a form letter in response. This example of government secrecy at the heart of our most important electoral process is a perfect example of the arrogance of power with which we are increasingly afflicted. Obviously, neither McCain nor Obama are the least bit concerned about it -- therefore, it can only continue and expand, like a cancer. Andrew Bacevich in his excellent book The Limits of Power, says it well: America is now a democracy in name only. It has become a empire of consumption (with a President-Emperor) that is engaged in willful self-destruction because it feels so good! Don't ask any of its citizens to get outraged by a lack of transparency -- they have more immediate gratifications to attend to.

[Axel]

Dear Readers, 10/14/2008

As long as this a Transparency Article and the New York Times is mentioned and as I have a reply to a GAP, May 24, 2007 'NYT Editorial on WPEA' Whistleblower Protection Act and that I am and remain an Advocate of the Veterans Administartion and the WLA VA Flagship VA that I mention the following.

This morning I was apparently denied a colonoscopy from my recent or decades of internal bleeding(VA says I cancelled) because I followed all never ending and ever changing instructions completely and I was unable for weeks and decades to have a reply to the potential and/or expected costs of the colonoscopy costs to me. Please note that at this time I have provided Mr. Devine and others with some of my written correcpondences with the VA which I assume would suggest or alledge substaintial and continuing fraud, waste and abuse from recent decades to seemingly include corrupt Business Practices, complete denial of any and all US Constitutional, Bill of Rights towards Veterans including access to all Federal Courts and Jury Trials, Hedge Fund Activities and/or GTC medical with direct by illegal corrupt legal law Application to include Fidicuary duty to Shareholder/Stakeholder over a Veteran Patient life and/or well being, seemingly proved viciously deadly Mental Health treatment, corrupt billing practices, fraudulent and complicity to the attempted murder of a veterandirectly from Congressman Henry Waxman WLA VA Congressional VA Liason Office which is in direct charge and control over the Business and Billing Offices, Patient Advocate Offices, American Legion, DAV et all offices, ectera which allegedly is a clear conflict of interest and/or highly criminal and/or highly corrupt activities, ecetra.

In closing, hopefully and again all the above transparency and again disclosures will be for the best results and will best assist to confirm my representation and/or ongoing GAP and Mr. Tom Devine, NWC, POGO and all.

Thank you and all for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Axel
Axel V. Sabersky

[Ziggy]

Hi There,
I am pretty much new to these things and I don't where to start, so here it goes:

I am elected member of a neighborhood council in Los Angeles since 2005. We just recently had an election and I was re-elected to the board. The former chairperson didn't run and ultimately the board seated a new chair.

She is now trying to run the NC as her personal company, which it is not!

All members of the board are volunteers of the community. In any case this new chairperson made an ill decision when she had a brand new 2008 I-MAC Computer that was purchased with government funds exchanged for a 2004 SONY VAIO pc.

I pointed out to her that this was wrong and that that it should be reversed. She pointed out that she was advised by the department of neighborhood empowerment to be within her rights to do so and that ultimately it is her decision since she is the chairperson of the board!

Being a sceptic and of an ethical person I called the department and found out that this was not at all the case. - They had no records of her inquiry in regard to the exchange and even if they did they would have advised her against such an exchange.

However, since my first innitial "whistleblowing" call (which was never made public) she is now in the retaliating mood and nothing I say or do is ever right. She leashes down on me to other board members and blames me for everything bad that is happening to either the NC or even the department of neighborhood empowerment.

I am at a point where I want to contact an attorney, but I am not sure that this is the right way to go. I really like all the other board members and I don't think they deserve to be pulled into this. However, being blamed for everything and being verbally as well as emotionally abused and harrest by her has got to stop. Though I really don't know how!

Do you have any suggestions? I would truly appreciate anything at this point.

Sincerely,
Ziggy