Open and Shut
From the Fall 2002 issue of The News Media & The Law, page 48.
A collection of recent funny, fascinating, nonsensical or just notable newsworthy quotations.
“I told the president I thought his Justice Department was out of control.”
“Senator Levin detailed the plot in his charts and talked about failures, most of which related to watch listing. My first information about that came from a Newsweek article June 10, 2002, which carefully documents this material as well. I’m not sure why I learned it from Newsweek first, but at any rate, that’s where I learned it.”
“I found out about it when I read it in the newspaper, I guess on Tuesday or Wednesday. I could have had a briefing on Thursday, but because we had a Joint Intelligence Committee that ran throughout the day, it was postponed, and I had it finally on Saturday.”
“It’s silly and they ought to change their decision. The President is getting poor advice.”
“The people that are talking to the media about war plans are so far out of line and so disgracefully misbehaving. Anyone who knows anything isn’t talking and anyone with any sense isn’t talking. Therefore, the people that are talking to the media are, by definition, people who don’t know anything.”
“The Executive Branch seeks to uproot people’s lives, outside the public eye, and behind a closed door. Democracies die behind closed doors.”
“This democracy was created right around the corner, behind closed doors.”
“It is troubling to have classified information which contradicts statements made by the administration. It is maddening to have classified information which contradicts classified information leaked by the administration.”
“Today, the Government filed a motion under seal; the Court issued an order under seal; and the defendant filed two motions, which were filed under seal.”
“Powers granted to this administration must continue to be checked. Oh, I tell you, they need to be checked. The need for checks on administrative powers is not just hypothetical, it is not just constitutional; I wish more would pay attention to that aspect of it. It has been well documented by recent Executive actions.”
“In a zealous frenzy, the government has constantly relied on coerced information, put the cart before the horse, rushed to judgment in the mistaken assumption that the people will always acquiescence and that they (the government) will continue to be able to do whatever they want in the misguided assurance that they are almighty, because they carry ‘the big stick of righteousness.'”
“If your client wants confidentiality — doesn’t want to be in the public eye — maybe your client should reconsider their position.”
“This White House releases information about core decisions by the president when it’s politically convenient and withholds it when it is not . . . The president can waive this.”