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As the sun rises on a new day and a new presidency, the promise President Obama uttered in his first address to the Nation—”…we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals”—that promise is coming true.

Today, and from this day forward, United States interrogators may only  use the methods outlined in the Army Field Manual. Methods that physically abuse the detainee are forbidden.  This includes waterboarding which we prosecuted Japanese soldiers for following WWII.

Today, and from this day forward, the revolving door between government and big business is closing.  Obama’s senior staff can’t be involved in projects that they’ve lobbied about in the last two years.  And, more importantly, they can’t leave government and lobby this administration until Obama is no longer President.

Today, and from this day forward, the black curtain that divides us from our government is being pulled aside so we can look through a glass window at the workings of this administration. Obama said as he repealed Bush’s 2001 executive order giving presidents the right to deny access to their papers,

“Going forward, any time the American people want to know something that I or a former president wants to withhold, we will have to consult with the attorney general and the White House counsel, whose business it is to ensure compliance with the rule of law…Information will not be withheld just because I say so. It will be… withheld because a separate authority believes my request is well grounded in the Constitution”

Today, and this day forward, President Obama directed government to err on the side of openness when dealing with the Freedom of Information Act. He declared,

“The old rules said that if there was a defensible argument for not disclosing something to the American people, then it should not be disclosed. That era is now over. Starting today, every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information, but those who seek to make it known.”

Today, and this day forward, may politicians keep their promises like this man has.

Today, and this day forward, “we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.”

AMEN

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Yes, I know, it may be a long 4 years but it is a 4 years that looks mighty bright right now.

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Thanks to Eric for keeping me informed on much of this.