So tomorrow it begins for real

[techs]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
The same thing motivates me that motivates people who post about Bush, Israel, the US, or whatever topic they latch onto.

What motivates you to constantly protect Europe as they promote genocide and destruction completely against the interest of the United States and the worldwide community?

Show the court on this doll where the Europeans touched you.

LOL

 

[ModerateRepZero]

I could be wrong but each major presidential candidate (Obama and McCain) got intelligence briefings. Granted, they're probably not extensive or detailed as that given to POTUS, but I seem to recall that both candidates were reasonably informed about pressing foreign policy and/or national security or intelligence....

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: ModerateRepZero
I could be wrong but each major presidential candidate (Obama and McCain) got intelligence briefings. Granted, they're probably not extensive or detailed as that given to POTUS, but I seem to recall that both candidates were reasonably informed about pressing foreign policy and/or national security or intelligence....

Well they both are United States Senators, so that's a start.

 

[LumbergTech]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
His work now begins. Bush and Obama have both pledged to work together through the transition, and I believe both. Tomorrow Obama gets his first Presidential Intelligence Briefing. Access to all the top secret shit no one knows about. An eye opening sober look at whats REALLY going on, as opposed to the armchair quarterback intelligence that happens all over the media.

I wonder how it will be for him? Obviously we wont know how it went, other than maybe a quick blurb of "The transition is happening".

Anything to discuss? I think its interesting personally.

I find it quite disturbing that only a few people are allowed to know whats really going on...

how the hell can americans vote or make choices properly if they dont know whats "really" going on?

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: LumbergTech

I find it quite disturbing that only a few people are allowed to know whats really going on...

how the hell can americans vote or make choices properly if they dont know whats "really" going on?

If Obama made public our invasion plans for Russia on day #1 (and trust me, we have one) it would not be a good thing at all.

Who knows what Bush did daily in the White House, we hear about 1% of his daily stuff and have to form opinions based off of that.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: SecPro

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: SecPro

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Interesting. It's strange to me that to get to top secret intelligence you need a whack of background checks and all that, but if enough people say you're president, you can get EVERYTHING without any of that? Granted, it's part of the other side to see what your history is, but officially he would now have the top security clearance in the country, literally above anybody, and without any background check, right?

Also, is it true that the president can literally demand any information on anything? Are there cases where he'd be outside a need-to-know and unable to get information unless he truly had a good reason?

What's really funny is that if he wasn't going to be the President and actually had to apply to get a clearance he most probably wouldn't get one.

I hear this alot on these forums but never bothered to ask why people would say that? Why would you say that?

His drug abuse in college, his relationships with Ayers, Rezko and Wright would all be red flags.

:roll: That's it? What a bunch of stupid reasons. And what about the entire Republican Party's association with Pat Robertson or Hagee? What about the Annenberg family? Somehow I doubt what you're saying is true.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: LumbergTech

Originally posted by: blackangst1
His work now begins. Bush and Obama have both pledged to work together through the transition, and I believe both. Tomorrow Obama gets his first Presidential Intelligence Briefing. Access to all the top secret shit no one knows about. An eye opening sober look at whats REALLY going on, as opposed to the armchair quarterback intelligence that happens all over the media.

I wonder how it will be for him? Obviously we wont know how it went, other than maybe a quick blurb of "The transition is happening".

Anything to discuss? I think its interesting personally.

I find it quite disturbing that only a few people are allowed to know whats really going on...

how the hell can americans vote or make choices properly if they dont know whats "really" going on?

Americans arent the only ones who watch America :roll:

 

[sandorski]

Dear Mr Obama

Once VP Cheney returns through the Stargate, he'll apprise you of the situation regarding our Ant Overlords.

Sincerelistically
W

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Dear Mr Obama

Once VP Cheney returns through the Stargate, he'll apprise you of the situation regarding our Ant Overlords.

Sincerelistically
W

lol

 

[AFMatt]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: SecPro
His drug abuse in college, his relationships with Ayers, Rezko and Wright would all be red flags.

:roll: That's it? What a bunch of stupid reasons. And what about the entire Republican Party's association with Pat Robertson or Hagee? What about the Annenberg family? Somehow I doubt what you're saying is true.

What he is saying is true, to an extent. Here's how a clearance investigation goes:
You fill out a form that asks stuff about where you lived, where you worked, what countries you have gone to, financial problems (Bankruptcy etc), legal problems, drugs, etc etc. In the form, where you say where you lived and worked, you also have to list people that knew you at those times.
People get interviewed, more people that you know come up. More interviews.
Basically, everything that has to do with you being trustworthy, financially responsible, a criminal, having sound judgment, and your ties to other people will be looked at.

Now, when red flags such as drugs and questionable associates come up, the investigation goes deeper. If they determine your drug use and/or ties to those people could potential impact your ability to have sound judgment when it comes to being trustworthy with classified information, you will be denied. If they determine it will not, you will get a clearance, but obviously it takes a lot longer due to the investigations.

I once had a coworker/friend whos TS clearance took forever to get approved because he said he didn't do drugs, but an individual they interviewed, that was mentioned as a possible friend of his by one of his listed known people, said he remembered smoking weed with im once. The guy was mistaken, but regardless of that the investigation went deeper and they found more and more people that knew him so they could get a clear picture of his character and trustworthiness.

 

[counterstrikedude]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Are there any sites that are listing his choices for cabinet positions?

The most trusted (read: non-blog/message board) source that I have found so far:

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/10212

P.S. Yeah, I know it's technically a "blog" also, but it is the Foreign Policy editors who were doing the blogging.

You can find each of the editors' picks by going here:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/s.../cms.php?story_id=4507

Well according to Fox News, he chose some jewish congressman for his chief of staff. forgot the name...

 

[counterstrikedude]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Ocguy31

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Interesting. It's strange to me that to get to top secret intelligence you need a whack of background checks and all that, but if enough people say you're president, you can get EVERYTHING without any of that? Granted, it's part of the other side to see what your history is, but officially he would now have the top security clearance in the country, literally above anybody, and without any background check, right?

Also, is it true that the president can literally demand any information on anything? Are there cases where he'd be outside a need-to-know and unable to get information unless he truly had a good reason?

Not really. The REAL secrets are held by the DoD, NSA, CIA. Obama will not be getting a full briefing of Groom Lake aircraft or other "Black Budget" expenditures, just as I am sure he doesnt really care.

He can if he fucking wanted to. Fuck, who in those agencies can tell the President "No"? He'll just fire them and appoint someone who will say "Yes".

Under our current governmental process, the President can't just fire someone out of disagreement. At least, not yet.

 

[chess9]

The President has a need to know everything the government is doing, so I can't imagine anything within the Executive Branch being lawfully withheld from him.

How did Bush know about all those WMD without having access to the FULL National Intelligence Estimate, including all the appendices, notes, and attachments? (Don't let the irony weigh you down.)

Without full access for our President, our country might be in danger. Someone must lead.

-Robert

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: counterstrikedude

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Are there any sites that are listing his choices for cabinet positions?

The most trusted (read: non-blog/message board) source that I have found so far:

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/10212

P.S. Yeah, I know it's technically a "blog" also, but it is the Foreign Policy editors who were doing the blogging.

You can find each of the editors' picks by going here:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/s.../cms.php?story_id=4507

Well according to Fox News, he chose some jewish congressman for his chief of staff. forgot the name...

Rahm Emanuel. He is one seriously smart guy, and he's funny as hell.

Rahm rocks.

 

[schneiderguy]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
I think that you'll actually see a major difference. Much of the security threats to the US comes from within Europe and having a president with less ties to Europe will be an advantage. I'm hoping to see him make the European governments crumble through the economic crisis. A Europe full of Icelands would promote world peace.

What the hell are you smoking? The last time the European economy crumbled we got WWII

 

[SecPro]

n/m

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: chess9
The President has a need to know everything the government is doing, so I can't imagine anything within the Executive Branch being lawfully withheld from him.

How did Bush know about all those WMD without having access to the FULL National Intelligence Estimate, including all the appendices, notes, and attachments? (Don't let the irony weigh you down.)

Without full access for our President, our country might be in danger. Someone must lead.

-Robert

No he doesn't need to know everything. That is what he has a staff for. They break down the information into parts that he can understand and make informed decisions about. I mean really do you want Obama making choices about things like how we research nuclear waste disposal or would it be better for his science advisor to just let him know how the progress is going and spare him the details which he isn't going to understand anyway ?

Basically the president gets cliff notes of things. It isn't that they are really being withheld, its just that it isn't relevant to him making a decision.

Just because we might have a weapon in development doesn't mean the president needs to know all the specifics, just that there is one.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
I think that you'll actually see a major difference. Much of the security threats to the US comes from within Europe and having a president with less ties to Europe will be an advantage. I'm hoping to see him make the European governments crumble through the economic crisis. A Europe full of Icelands would promote world peace.

What the hell are you smoking? The last time the European economy crumbled we got WWII

The world is different now.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Interesting. It's strange to me that to get to top secret intelligence you need a whack of background checks and all that, but if enough people say you're president, you can get EVERYTHING without any of that? Granted, it's part of the other side to see what your history is, but officially he would now have the top security clearance in the country, literally above anybody, and without any background check, right?

Also, is it true that the president can literally demand any information on anything? Are there cases where he'd be outside a need-to-know and unable to get information unless he truly had a good reason?

I bet you $10 that Obama couldn't pass even the simplest "SECRET" security clearance review.

 

[AliasX]

I doubt he will really know what to do... I mean, he doesn't actually have any experience with any of this. I "hope" he makes it... not.

 

[Zorba]

Originally posted by: SecPro

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: SecPro

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Interesting. It's strange to me that to get to top secret intelligence you need a whack of background checks and all that, but if enough people say you're president, you can get EVERYTHING without any of that? Granted, it's part of the other side to see what your history is, but officially he would now have the top security clearance in the country, literally above anybody, and without any background check, right?

Also, is it true that the president can literally demand any information on anything? Are there cases where he'd be outside a need-to-know and unable to get information unless he truly had a good reason?

What's really funny is that if he wasn't going to be the President and actually had to apply to get a clearance he most probably wouldn't get one.

I hear this alot on these forums but never bothered to ask why people would say that? Why would you say that?

His drug abuse in college, his relationships with Ayers, Rezko and Wright would all be red flags.

His father not being a US citizen would also hurt, although since it isn't a very strong relationship it might not matter.

Question #18 US Standard Form 86 Forms Direct Link to SF86 PDF

Ayers, Rezko and Wright would never come up on the form. Question #29 is the "Association Record" question and Obama could answer NO to all parts.

 

[Zorba]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Interesting. It's strange to me that to get to top secret intelligence you need a whack of background checks and all that, but if enough people say you're president, you can get EVERYTHING without any of that? Granted, it's part of the other side to see what your history is, but officially he would now have the top security clearance in the country, literally above anybody, and without any background check, right?

Also, is it true that the president can literally demand any information on anything? Are there cases where he'd be outside a need-to-know and unable to get information unless he truly had a good reason?

I bet you $10 that Obama couldn't pass even the simplest "SECRET" security clearance review.

Confidential is the lowest security clearance...

 

[Zorba]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: SecPro

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: SecPro

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Interesting. It's strange to me that to get to top secret intelligence you need a whack of background checks and all that, but if enough people say you're president, you can get EVERYTHING without any of that? Granted, it's part of the other side to see what your history is, but officially he would now have the top security clearance in the country, literally above anybody, and without any background check, right?

Also, is it true that the president can literally demand any information on anything? Are there cases where he'd be outside a need-to-know and unable to get information unless he truly had a good reason?

What's really funny is that if he wasn't going to be the President and actually had to apply to get a clearance he most probably wouldn't get one.

I hear this alot on these forums but never bothered to ask why people would say that? Why would you say that?

His drug abuse in college, his relationships with Ayers, Rezko and Wright would all be red flags.

:roll: That's it? What a bunch of stupid reasons. And what about the entire Republican Party's association with Pat Robertson or Hagee? What about the Annenberg family? Somehow I doubt what you're saying is true.

The associations wouldn't hurt him, the drug usage might. I've known a handful of people that have had their clearances rejected over previous drug usage.

 

[dmcowen674]

Obviously he will be told there is WMD in Iraq

 

[Mani]

After 8 years of feeling like every intel briefing was like giving a sharp object to a child, it's nice to know that we have someone who might actually use these to make good decisions.