Dean feared a 'Horton' scenario

[Feanorcurufinwe]

In the course of negotiating an unprecedented 10-year period for keeping his official papers confidential, former Vermont governor Howard Dean through his legal counsel explored the possibility of making the privacy period contingent on whether he was running for president, according to newly released documents.

Discussions between the counsel and the state archivist about a potentially longer sealing period centered around the possibility that a future political opponent of Dean's might seize on a document and use it as ammunition, according to the correspondence.

State archivist Gregory Sanford noted that in the talks a primary concern was "the `Willie Horton' example," referring to the furloughed Massachusetts prisoner whose crimes surfaced as an issue in the 1988 contest between Vice President George H.W. Bush and Michael S. Dukakis.

A seal longer than 10 years would have significantly eclipsed periods sought by previous Vermont governors, who traditionally received six-year seals for their official papers.

Dean, who left the governor's office in January 2003 and is now seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, agreed in the end to a decade-long seal -- with no extension -- for nearly half of his official correspondence, meaning the documents will be available for public viewing in 2013. Shortly before he left office, Dean told Vermont Public Radio, "Well, there are future political considerations. We didn't want anything embarrassing appearing in the papers at a critical time in any future endeavor."

In an interview with the Globe in July, he said in response to a request that he waive the seal, "No, it's sealed for a reason."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/10/09/dean_feared_a_horton_scenario

[soothsayer]

1. He's afraid he'll hear a Who?

Sorry, still couldn't resist.

[wyldwolf]

2. We are here we are here we are heeeeeeere!

Had to say it. Again.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

45. Like the Whos the secrets will eventually be heard.

[helleborient]

3. Realizing how inept some of the Dukakis campaign seemed to be...

In the face of Bush, Sr., this sounds like a wise decision.

[Pez]

4. let's hear it for the straight-shootin' no bull king of transparency

"Well, there are future political considerations. We didn't want anything embarrassing appearing in the papers at a critical time in any future endeavor."

In an interview with the Globe in July, he said in response to a request that he waive the seal, "No, it's sealed for a reason."

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. The fear is palpable.

Palpable Fear!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Dean has said he is afraid, we just don't know what of

Dean told Vermont Public Radio, "Well, there are future political considerations. We didn't want anything embarrassing appearing in the papers at a critical time in any future endeavor."

In an interview with the Globe in July, he said in response to a request that he waive the seal, "No, it's sealed for a reason."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/10/09/dean_feared_a_horton_scenario

What is the embarassing information Dean doesn't want to come out? I guess we'll find out in 2013.

[blm]

7. Dean's fear? Could it have something to do with energy donors?

Deregulating electricity?

His criteria for selecting judges?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. No.

His fear is that this message won't get out.

[blm]

10. garbled page...no can read.

.

[wyldwolf]

13. Speaking of Dean Defense...

..what is Dean's position on public defenders and defendants?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

44. The same as Clarks.

[wyldwolf]

11. or Sierra Blanca? Or his move to cap malpractice settlements?

[MercutioATC]

23. Sierra Blanca! $5 for Dean! Feed the Goal, not the Troll!

explanation:

http://democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=9385

[wyldwolf]

30. Dean people playing drinking games instead of addressing the issue...

no, it hasn't been debunked, it has been spun.

And now that I know how much it will cost you, I'll be sure to mention it more...

[dsc]

9. again I ask

and I bet I will be stiffed. Where oh where can I find those Congressional records oh ye hypocritical supporters of Congressmen?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. In Washington DC. Have you been refused some records?

Or are you just pretending such records exist, so you can ask us to prove their nonexistence.

:nopity:

[dsc]

35. The fact I have to ask them for the records

makes them defacto sealed. Records which are available under FOIA are made available and given out with Courts as an enforcement tool. Don't give up the record and go to jail. Here I have to depend on the particular Congressman's good will and honesty to get the record. That is the same as sealing them. If there were a Congressional archive which I could search that would be the only unsealed records.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

36. It won't fly

:nopity:

[Mairead]

42. That's the most convoluted nonsense I've heard recently

You really need to start owning up. This is 'stinkin thinkin'.

[Cocoa]

25. are other candidates doing something similar to this?

Seriously, I actually don't know the answer, I'm willing to listen.

Bush, I think, did something like this with his records as governor, but I hadn't heard about anyone else.

[dsc]

40. what is the difference

between sealing records and merely making their availability subject to your whim? That is what every Congressional officeholder running has done. If they wish to give me the record then I can have it if they don't tough crap.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

43. what is the difference

between

hiding something before someone asks for it, and making sure it is hidden for a longer time period than anyone has ever hidden such information before,

and

not trying to hide anything


?

[diamondsoul]

28. Which records have any of the Congressional

members had sealed? None to my knowledge. If it's votes you want try www.cspan.org great vote library for years back on their site. If it's classified information, well, sorry the Congress didn't make it that way. Kucinich's letters to Cheney and others have been widely publicized, and he took a chance mentioning a security document presented to congress-members with General Clark's name on it.

Now then, want to tell us which Congress-member(s) you were accusing of hiding records?

[Mairead]

41. You find them by asking the Congressmen for them

1. You don't even know whether there ARE any records, though you've never once been adult enough to own up to that.

2. You have NO IDEA whether you can get records, if they exist, from any particular office, yet you're willing to handwave accusations.

You are being dishonest. You've tried to dissemble your way out of that, but it's not going to work. Dean did do something that casts suspicions on his motives and honesty. Why can't you simply own up?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. *

*




edited for funniness. Ergo the *'s.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

38. ?

Please explain the humor; it seems to be going over my head.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

39. I edited the post because it wasn't funny.

It went over my head, too. :(


edit- Even though I know you wanted to kick this post, I answered anyway. I ain't skeered.

[polpilot]

15. The right move by the next president of the U.S. The Dean camp is

focused on Nov. '04 and won't be sidetracked by non-issues.

Dean '04...The New Democratic Leader of The NEW Democratic Party

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. Since he's got something to hide, it's the right move.

Dean told Vermont Public Radio, "Well, there are future political considerations. We didn't want anything embarrassing appearing in the papers at a critical time in any future endeavor."

In an interview with the Globe in July, he said in response to a request that he waive the seal, "No, it's sealed for a reason."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/10/09/dean_feared_a_horton_scenario

Question is, will Dean really be able to keep the potentially embarassing info secret ?

[Pez]

17. embarassing info will not be secret if...

...he's the nominee. rove will have his records "accidentally" leaked.

and don't count on finding out who the leak is. know'm say'n.

[polpilot]

18. ALWAYS the right move in politics. ALWAYS. Doesn't MATTER what's

in there. Politics 101. Simple. Smart.

Dean '04...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. As long as he can keep it secret, it won't matter

[polpilot]

20. Do you think it advantageous in politics to reveal everything one has

said, written, or proposed or might that be problematic to a campaign.

The question always is: Does this get us closer or farther away from winning. Closer? Farther away?

ALWAYS seal the records. Always. No exceptions.

Dean '04...The Healer/The Sealer

[Feanorcurufinwe]

21. Not if you're Dean. Gotta keep those secrets.

After all - Dean said it's sealed for a reason

[piece sine]

22. major media is busy right now

they'll get Dean's sealed records sooner or later. They haven't even started in Deabn yet compared to what's coming. This is the calm before the feeding frenzy. I'm for Dean but I'm realistic.

[polpilot]

26. Hope they've cropped the pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dean '04

[w4rma]

29. When is *your* candidate going to open up his records?

None of them have opened up their records. And Bush is obviously the worst perpetrator.

[diamondsoul]

31. WHAT "records" do you people want?!

Geemoneychristmas, I've asked this question upthread to the original accusation and nobody seems to want to answer it. WHAT records are the congressional members hiding from you?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

32. And

as I said upthread, they want you to prove their nonexistance.

Maybe the Senators and Congressmen are also hiding WMD's -- we should make them prove they aren't :eyes:

[diamondsoul]

33. Paranoid. Suspicious. Chicken-sh*t.

Please! If you haven't done anything "unpleasant" there's no reason to seal anything away is there?

*on edit*-Challenge applies to ONE Dean supporter. Find anything you want to see from Kucinich, write the House office and ask for it. And don't get stupid and ask for classified material or letters to his daughter, eh? Be realistic about it and make it a reasonable request. I'll stake $50 to your candidate you'll get it. I win, Kucinich gets $50 from you.

[polpilot]

34. Take a very deep breath and read this slowly...twice. Everything, every

comment, every promoted bill, every person you've had lunch with, every letter you've written is used against you in a campaign.

One nevers provides the ammunition for the enemy. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DID. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW 'GOOD' ONE IS OR HOW 'NOBLE' YOU'VE EXERCISED YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN OFFICE. IT IS USED AGAINST YOU BY INTERPRETATION TO DEFEAT YOUR CAMPAIGN. SMART PEOPLE DON'T PROVIDE AMMO TO THE OPPONENT.

Now for the comments you'll hear concerning 'why doen't Dean open his records:

(1) If there's nothing 'bad' in there then why won't he do it? What's he hiding?

Not 1 intelligent political consultant would advise a candidate in Dean's position to provide all of the records. It's not helpful.

I don't believe you comprehend this and thus your rather crude posting. Perhaps some who didn't understand Dean's position are more receptive to the inherent political consequences of actions suggested by naive parties.

Dean '04...The New Democratic Leader of The NEW Democratic Party.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

37. So you are saying if Dean has something to hide, it's OK cuz you trust him

:wtf:

[DrFunkenstein]

24. Democracies Die Behind Closed Doors

<>

[genius]

27. I want an honest candidate like Dennis

NOt one who hides his background.