NYT Editorial on WPEA

Less than a week after Scott Shane’s cheeky, but nevertheless positive reporting on “Washington Whistleblower Week,” the New York Times editorial board chimed in with an incredibly helpful editorial on the need for strengthened whistleblower protections. 

Say what you want about mainstream media, but the Times absolutely nailed it with this one. 

Summarizing the status quo during for government truth-tellers during the Bush administration, the editorial notes, “Whistle-blowers have been systematically denied, demeaned and demoted by political appointees flouting laws designed to protect workers with the courage to come forward.”  No doubt…

It concludes with a plug for quick Senate action on the landmark, bipartisan whistleblower protections, HR 985, passed by the House earlier this year: 

“The House has approved an overdue remedy that would strengthen whistle-blower protection and the penalties for retaliators. The measure is particularly important for extending protection to national security workers so they feel freer to report misconduct and gaps in antiterrorism defenses. One provision would bar a familiar tactic of retaliation — the revocation of a complaining worker’s security clearance.

“The White House, of course, is threatening a veto, claiming the measure weakens national security. Tell that to Coleen Rowley, who quit the F.B.I. after documenting the agency’s failure to follow up on field office warnings before the 9/11 attacks. In truth, it is vital for national security that the Senate vote final approval of the measure with the same veto-proof support shown by the House…” 

Let’s hope the Senate is paying attention.

-- Adam Miles 

Comments

[Axel]

Dear Readers, May 24, 2007

I think your organization, the New York Times article (I have not read), the recent posts that I have posted on the past 3 or 4 POGO.org articles should be of concern to all including forthright Wbers as it appears as business as usual as I noticed Bush and Rove where smiling and laughling in conversation as the news showed when the Air Force One airplane door opened as they arrived in los Angeles several weeks ago and as while their two apparently close collegues Libby and Abramoff have been convicted of crimes equivilent to treasonable offense. All appears well and fine with laughter, many smiles and an abundance of celebrations and promotional events within the inner circle of Bush, Cheney, Rice and Gonzales. If our legislatures will end the Illegal and fraudulent Secrecy, the frivilious, false and fraudulent signing statements and uphold our US Constitution by mandating disclosures of the abundance of information and material that is required to be disclosed if the information and/or evidence is in violation of our US Constitution and/or is a substantial violation of Law. Accountability is a must and secrecy is not allowed in violation of our US Constitution and/or in a substantial violation of Law. My suggestion would be for the Legislative Judicary Committees and the many Judges and prominent Legal Professionals and Organizations etc. who have a proper respect and regard for our US Constitution with Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for all and with the best available respect and regard for God, Man and Country and who demand accountability for the (in god we trust) US Dollars and who pay attention to the Honorable US Federal Circuit of Appeal Justice and former consideration for our US Supreme Court Judith Dent who spoke 4 or 5 years ago at the Federalist Society at Harvard Law School and mentioned in part'....The American Judicial system has been corrupted almost beyond recognition....That what is morally right is routinely sacrificed to what is politically expedient...The reasom this has come about is because legal philosophy has descended to nihilism... to demand full and complete uncoerced accountability and disclosure and the end to unjustified, fraudulent and illegal secrecy.

My suggestion would be to please have your voice heard on this website//article to give support to the above as it appears that it will also take a unified and forthright effort by our US Judicial System to achieve the intent of this, and again, legislation to have a viable venue as intended by our never-ending forthright efforts of our US Legislatures. Where your concern, integrity and bravery and where the Law allows your disclosure, please blog by name and/or anonymously and voice from your vote and/or concern and/or I imagine from a much deserved and due, always needed and appreciated show of support for the efforts of this fine, excellent and superb Organization and this excellent format that provides this venue for a I assume a hopefully forthright and worthwhile expression of thought and/or ideas and/or our endeavors for improving and/or maintaining our proud heritage and tradition with the proper aspirations for our US Constitution with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all and with the best available respect and regard for god, man
and country.

As your readers may know from my recent POGO.org comment blog responses within their past 3 or 4 POGO Articles, I mentioned directly and/or inferred in response that if they have another solution other than to have impeachment proceedings and as suggested in part in a bill in our US Congress from US Congressman Dennis Kucinich of our US Executive Branch of Government Member(s). I mentioned..."HOW CAN YOU HAVE A HEALING PROCESS AND DEMOCRACY IF THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM AND FACTS ARE CORRUPTED, DISTORTED AND UNAVAILABLE TO BE HEARD???? THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUS!!!! Prior and/or after that written outburst I mentioned my sadness to note that our US Congressional Legislatures reportedly praising their support and efforts as they resolved to continue to fund this illegal and initially Unconstitutional War, Patriot Act, Torture, Illegal Wiretaps, Illegal fraudulent and frivilious signing statements, Unconstitutional Secrecy and half of the Trillion Dollars that goes directly to the US Department of Defense to be mandated to be spent and held unaccountable and the continued funding of the heinous Blackwater and similar groups (of which there must be a lot of suffering that we have not heard and have had disclosed) of which all are all US Executive Branch of Government Member(s) US Constitutional empeachment offenses, that I implied and suggested POGO readers would like to hear and/or have mentioned any other reasonable and forthright resolves endeavors. My impression that all that responded and that contributed to the writing of the forementioned POGO.org Article agreed that there must be Responsibility, Accountability and an immediate end to unwarranted, unlawful, unconstitutional and/or frivilious secrecy in our US Government.

A final and an additional thought is my suggestion that our US Proud and world leading News media of CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX coordinate with Ms. Amy Goodman daily Radio broadcast at DemocracyNow.org and the tremendous superb and excellent archive library that this superb and excellent DemocracyNow.org has compilied through many years of I imagine brave, courageous, painstaking, diligent, hardwork with the highest of dignity and integrity and has continually and consistantly offered free to all media. In my opinion, it is your precious privilage and choice CBS,NBC,ABC,FOX and all of us to take advantage of this tremenduous daily broadcast and especially as so many have suffered and the many have offered to make this broadcast available to the listners and I imagine in the hopes and support of our forthright interpretation and endeavors of our US Democracy and US Constitution that endeavors to imply and mandate Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for all and with the best available respect and regard for God, Man and Country.

If you have read through this impromptu lenghty writing, I would then assume we are all hoping for a some enlighting and affirmative acknowledgements and/or responses.

Thank you and all for your time and consideration.

Good luck and Best Wishes,
Sincerely,
Axel