The last question asks who will be the best at “playing the political game”, but that's not necessarily the person I want in office. I think we need new faces in Washington -people who haven't seen everyone around them catering to special intrests, people who aren't used to wasteful spending. I want someone who will look at the government through the eyes of a small businessman. Someone who will vow to cut excessive perks, senseless grants, etc before raising taxes. How will each candidate fix the current situation? How will they control spending and fight beurocracy?
Clark:
Position paper: “In October 2001, President Bush signed a new Executive Order, rolling back the availability of public information under the Freedom of Information Act - a 30-year old law that protects the public's right to know. President Clark would sign an Executive Order on the first day of his Presidency reversing the Bush order, and restoring the public's right to know. In addition, Wes Clark would instruct his Attorney General to overturn Ashcroft's directive restricting responses to FOIA requests and return to a foreseeable harm standard for FOIA exemptions.”
Position paper: “Wes Clark would reverse the Executive Order signed by George Bush in March 2003 that extended the length of time that classified documents are withheld from the public. In addition, President Bush has increased the number of agencies that can classify documents. Wes Clark would replace these Bush rules with an approach that balances national security and the public's right to know in a more appropriate way.”
Position paper: “President Clark would also reverse President Bush's November 2001 interpretation of the Presidential Records Act, which allowed the President's father to maintain the secrecy of his Presidential records well beyond the 12 year period established by law. If the records of Presidents Nixon, Carter, and Reagan could be released after 12 years, why should the Bush family records be any different?”
Position paper: “No President since Richard Nixon has been more aggressive in using Executive Privilege to withhold documents from the public and the Congress. As President, Wes Clark would create a new panel of three, nonpartisan, highly distinguished, independent experts to review all proposed assertions of Executive Privilege, and report to the President. Only if this independent panel supported the assertion of would President Clark allow it to go forward.”
Position paper: “Wes Clark will disclose all meetings that corporate representatives and special interests have with public officials when preparing regulations or policy positions. A Clark Administration will commit to a policy that prohibits secret meetings with special interests.”
Position paper: “Following the recommendations of the 1997 Moynihan Commission, Clark would create an NDC that would centralize coordination of declassification across the Government, streamlining the process of releasing information.”
Position paper: “Currently lobbyists only have to file disclosure forms every six months. Wes Clark would require monthly disclosure forms - and would require greater information including who the lobbyist met with, what they were lobbying on behalf of, and how much money was spent.”
Dean:
Edwards:
Kerry:
