If a president declassifies someone's classified status...

[eleny]

Shouldn't they (Plamme) be told about that fact - fer chrissakes?

[carolinalady]

1. He is not allowed to do it by statute. He can declassify almost

anything else, but not that.

[Ilsa]

2. That's good to know, and it needs to be repeated by the

talking heads. The repukes think Bush is omnipotent and can do whatever he wants.

[eleny]

5. Thanks - but if they stick to their argument....

That he *can* decllassify, then Plamme should have been made aware for her own safety.

I'm just taking their argument to it's logical conclusion, that being that Plamme should have been told. No matter what, W's neck is in the noose for putting Plamme out there unaware.

[carolinalady]

15. I posted about this on another thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=860800&mesg_id=861495

[eleny]

19. Thanks for that and I agree with you

But my fear is that it will all be swept under the rug with the rest of the dirt. So i thought to ask the next question.

[rodeodance]

3. if the Pres.Declassifies Classified doc, then it is no long Classified.

[eleny]

7. Therefore, Plame should have been told for her own safety

But she wasn't. So, the decision to declassify was the decison of a rotten skunk.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Three words: "Abuse of Power"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2555199&mesg_id=2555199

[BOSSHOG]

6. A man of integrity would have let the chain of command

ensure the information was properly disseminated if justified at all. I hope that answers your question.

[spanone]

8. Well, we know for sure that bush* is no man of integrity whatsoever.

[eleny]

10. I guess my question was also a statement

Yes, the info should have been shared. But he's a rotten skunk, as I said in another posting here in the thread. It was a declassifcation to get her killed. All to get to Wilson.

Thanks BH!

[BOSSHOG]

13. A very poor display of executive power

If he wanted to declassify Ms Plame's status then he would have no problem telling the CIA, her and us why he did it.

[cap]

9. isnt there a process that the president must follow in order

to declassify something... He cant just say so...doesnt he have to sign something?

[atreides1]

11. Yes there is a process

Even in the executive order he signed there is a process that needs to be followed.

[eleny]

12. I'm sure there is

But they still have to answer why she was never told of a decision that could affect her life and the lives of many others.

[Sgent]

14. Basically

all method's to declassify information rely on the power of the executive office -- and don't involve either congress or the Judiciary. Remember in the US there are exactly 3 center's of power -- anything that tries to modify that is subject to serious questions of constitutionality.

The President IS the executive, so any process that requires various reviews and approvals (other than by congress itself) is controlled by Him, and He essentially has a strong constitutional authority to ignore them.

[eleny]

16. Did Plamme have the right to know when he made that decision?

Wouldn't she have any right to know so that she could contest his decison?

You see where I've gone with this. Freepers will accept their talking points and we need to ask this next logical question - Why was Plamme not informed so she could take steps to protect her life?

[Sgent]

17. Did she have the "right"

no -- and she wounldn't have the "right" regardless of how the decision was carried out.

That being said, she SHOULD have been informed -- and potentially the WH was required by law to do so. However, that isn't a "right" as in a right to free speech.

I also want to point out that this action doesn't make * any less smarmy, or less deserving of impeachment. Its just that the power to classify/declassify information is almost uniformly regarded as an executive power, and anything to the contrary is possibly (probably?) unconstitutional due to the powers given to the executive for national security.

[eleny]

20. Thanks, Sgent - I hope some talking heads will ask about this, too

[NYC]

18. Then why did he hire a criminal lawyer?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=860958&mesg_id=861438

[eleny]

21. I didn't even remember his saying it was a criminal matter!

Thanks!

I suppose it's criminal if it's someone besides the executive that leaks... erm, I mean "declassifies".

[NYC]

22. Those are rather condemning words

out of his own mouth.

Thanks to Chill Wind for posting it. I just keep spreading it around. :)

[eleny]

23. I'm glad to give you yet another opportunity!