(08-13-2022, 07:15 AM)The Real Marty Wrote:

(08-13-2022, 07:05 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote: He doesn't have to claim anything, the President can and does declassify by action alone. There's no ceremony, no incantation, no journal entry...nothing. The Executive has that right and authority and Biden should be fighting this not instigating it.

But does he have to provide evidence that he actually did it, other than just claiming he did it?  Because if he can just claim he did it, then he can take any classified document, without telling anyone.  Is that okay with you?  What if it was a list of all our spies in China?  Should he be able to take that with him when he leaves office, and store it in a box at home, never having told anyone he was going to do that?  

Shouldn't he follow the normal procedure, which involves bringing in the heads of the agencies affected and going through a logical process, including discussion, and marking the document "declassified?"  Apparently he didn't do any of that.  He just decided to take stuff home, including at least one document of the highest classification level.   

What if he said, "Gee, this is a really cool weapon system.  I think I'll that this one with me."  Is that okay with you?  Just take any classified document and if he's found out, claim he declassified them?

You're questioning now because of Trump what has always been the case for the President. As the Chief Executive he had the power to do what he did and now it's being exploited for political gain by his opponents. That exploitation should bother you but it doesn't because of how you feel about Trump. You might want to change the powers granted the President but that wasn't until Trump did it. This whole thing is Political Theater, nothing more.

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