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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Duckman30
Published Letters: 21 Editor's Choice: 2
This is not a defense of the WH staff, but it is possible to delete an e-mail and not have a copy of it hanging around. If the WH uses a client/server e-mail system (such as Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Server), a user who connects to their mailbox on the e-mail server with their client does have control over their own mailbox on the e-mail database on the server. If they send or receive an e-mail, delete it permanently before the e-mail database on the server is backed up to a another location or medium, and do not move a copy of it to their local PC or network share then there is not a copy of the e-mail just sitting around on the server. Of course, everyone who has a copy of the e-mail would have to do the same thing for it to be completly gone.
Now, if the WH is using an automatic e-mail archiving system which would move a copy of every e-mail sent and received in the system to another location, the previously described scenario does not apply. The copy of the e-mail would also have to be deleted from the archiving location for it to truly be "gone".
Also, if the written policy (if strictly followed) of the WH to delete all e-mail after 30 days falls within the stated period of the laws that cover their electronic communications, they have not done anything legally wrong by setting 30 days as the time period for retention.
Bad form, Salon.
This seems to be a reoccurring point in many posts (not only in reply to this article), but I'd point out that by law the National Guard and the various State Guards are militias.
If you're adamant that guns need to be taken out of the hands of American citizens, step up and do something about it on one level where you might make a difference. If you work in an office building that is patrolled by armed guards (not the police), demand that they be disarmed. If your child attends a school that has armed guards patrolling the area (once again, not the police), demand that they stop using guns as they go about their duties. If you're wealthy and utilize the services of armed bodyguards, demand that they stop carrying firearms (of course this includes any celebrities). If you're a politician at the local, state or national level and you support gun control initiatives that would severely limit the ability of the average, law-abiding citizen to legally acquire and possess firearms, step up and demand that your security patrol service no longer includes guns on it's inventory of tools. If it's good enough for some of us, it's good enough for all of us.
"If you are against the war, why did you vote for a bill that authorized the spending to continue it without limits or a timeline?"
"Well, I uh, ah, (insert nuances that don't matter to the average voter here)..."
It's really easy when the Dems do all the hard work for them.
If they play it right a White House wedding ceremony should kill several months worth of real news cycles and help President Bush run out the string.
"Enough about Iraq, will your daughter's gown be classic white or off-white?"
DEMS:
A Real Patriot Act: Vote Democrat '08
GOP, The True WMD
It's Democracy, Stupid! Democrats '08
GOP:
GOP 2008: No Surrender!
God, Guns, Guts and the GOP '08
Finish the Job: GOP '08
DEMS:
You're the Decider! Vote Democrat '08
Back to the Future: Democrat '08 (or) Hillary '08
(It's scorched earth and grist for the neocon tricksters, but a Clinton campaign will have to focus on how good things were because they know that other side will be hammering on it in either case.)
DEMS:
Threat Level: Red - Vote Democrat '08
No Freedom Left Behind - Vote DEM '08
GOP:
One Country, Under God, Indivisible - GOP '08
Straight to Tehran.
This whole exercise, the carefully ghostwritten reports, the fawning questions, the indignant statements by the wannabes from the loyal opposition, does not matter. It does... not... matter.
To the administration, the war in Iraq is a success, and to prosecute it an any way other than with the current "strategy" makes no sense. In fact, Iraq is yesterday's news, a mop-up operation, something for the eggheads and the career wonks and the armed forces to worry about. The full force of the mighty neocon brain trust is now focused on Iran, the next phase, the next step in the global war on who knows what. Iran is the piece of the puzzle that will transform the Middle East into Nebraska East, a place where Starbucks and Home Depot and Best Buy may build strip centers and florish in peace and prosperity. Then, and only then, will we all be safe. Oh, we may not be able to voice it for ourselves, but the administration knows that deep down in our souls we realize this. After all, we reelected them, right? To finish the job?
God help us all.
"Where everybody knows your name..."
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Salon headlines in your mailbox
