Romney campaign battles Dems, press over issue of transparency

 

There it was this morning, on the front page of the Boston Globe, a headline no campaign ever wants to read: "Before leaving office, Romney staff wiped records."

The story's first paragraph leveled an equally jarring accusation:

Just before Mitt Romney left the Massachusetts governor’s office and first ran for president, 11 of his top aides purchased their state-issued computer hard drives, and the Romney administration’s e-mails were all wiped from a server, according to interviews and records obtained by the Globe.

The Globe story went on to detail how nearly a dozen aides paid some $65 each to purchase their work computer hard drives -- proved by cancelled checks, provided to the Globe -- and that new servers were installed for the incoming Democratic administration of Deval Patrick in 2006. The result? There are no electronic records of any Romney administration emails, although boxes of paper documents do exist in state storage facilities.

The Romney campaign told the Globe that the Romney staffers, including his former chief of staff and deputy chief of staff-- who each went on to play major roles in his 2008 campaign and the current campaign -- did nothing wrong.

“In leaving office, the governor’s staff complied with the law and longtime executive branch practice,’’ Campaign spokesperson Andrea Saul told the Globe. “Some employees exercised the option to purchase computer equipment when they left. They did so openly with personal checks.’’

And this afternoon, the Romney campaign aggressively pushed back against the Patrick administration, accusing the current Massachusetts governor, a close ally of President Obama, of running a "dirty tricks shop" on behalf of the president.

That statement came in a letter to Gov.  Patrick's office, along with an accompanying Freedom of Information Act request asking the governor's office to turn over any communications between themselves and three top Obama campaign officials, going back to 2007.

"[I]t is evident that your office has become an opposition research arm of the Obama reelection campaign.  The latest example occurred yesterday when your chief legal counsel, Mark Reilly, in the absence of a legitimate public records request, supplied The Boston Globe with copies of cancelled checks from 2006 documenting the lawful purchase of computer equipment by departing members of the Romney administration," The letter from Romney campaign manager Matt Rhodes read in part.  "This action was nothing more than a weak attempt to disparage practices that you know were in complete compliance with the law."

In what was either a serendipitous coincidence or a preemptive strike, this morning, the Romney campaign issued a memo to reporters entitled "Obsessed with Secrecy," in which they accuse President Obama of having "turned his back on his campaign promises of openness and transparency." The memo cites more than a dozen examples of alleged censorship, obfuscation or shoddy record-keeping by the Obama administration.

While the battle with the president and Patrick administration over transparency may rage on, the Globe story raises this question for the Romney campaign: just how open and transparent would a Romney administration be?

For example, the Romney campaign is highly guarded about his fundraising. The campaign does not, as a general rule, comment on where or when Romney will be holding fundraising events.

Also, the campaign -- like its GOP rivals but unlike President Obama’s re-election effort -- has refused to release a list of Romney's bundlers, the high-level fundraisers who corral donations from their friends and associates on behalf of a candidate.

And Romney, a former business executive thought to be worth well north of $200 million dollars, has yet to release his tax returns, or, for that matter, his medical records.

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"Before leaving office, Romney staff wiped records."

BWHAHAHAHA!

The last & only hope for the right wing nuts sure has some splainin to do!

*flush*

Make that *double flush* Willard's ego is too big for just one!

  • 40 votes
#1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:05 PM EST


Feisty

Make that *double flush* Willard's ego is too big for just one!

More Corporate Money In Elections: Every single one of Romney’s model justices were in the majority in Citizens United. That means that every single one of them believes that wealthy corporations should have a nearly unlimited power to buy and sell American elections. Every single one of them also voted to undermine public financing laws in a way that eviscerates candidates without well-moneyed backers’ ability to compete in elections.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/11/04/361587/romney-scotus-corporations-are-people/

Maybe this picture of money coming out of Romney's ass and ears could explain his transparency

http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/romney-money-300x234.jpg

  • 28 votes
#1.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:12 PM EST

Romney staffer destroyed governor records & covered digital tracks:

"On their way out of the governor's office and onto the presidential campaign trail, aides to Mitt Romney almost completely obliterated their electronic records, deleting emails, purchasing hard drives, and replacing computers, a investigation by the Boston Globe found.

"The governor's office has found no e-mails from 2002-2006 in our possession,'' an aide to the current governor, Deval Patrick, told the Globe. Meanwhile, 11 Romney aides — many of whom went on to work on Romney's 2008 campaign — purchased their state-issued computer hard drives as they left state employment.

Like other states and the federal government, Massachusetts has a law that requires such files be preserved for the state archives. Moreover, Secretary of State William Galvin, who oversees the state Public Records Law, "said it appeared odd" that aides could purchases state property. "I don't sell things to people who work for me,'' Galvin said."

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/11/17/371048/romney-covered-digital-tracks/

This has to do with ROMNEY, ROMNEY, ROMNEY, noone else.

  • 30 votes
#1.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:26 PM EST

It seems to me that the issue is why they felt compelled to buy their hard drives, not the fact that the cancelled checks were released.

I think that we the people have a right to know about the man that wants to pretend to be the GOP savior.

  • 29 votes
#1.3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:27 PM EST
Comment author avatarSpanky-Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Why how excellent - let's start talking about transparency.

For all the candidates. You know including Obama.

I'm still waiting for the school transcripts, which would be a great start.

After all we already were treated to Perry's. So how did Obama do at Harvard? What were his law review papers on?

Oh and how about all the white House e mails on Solyndra? After all there are calls for transparency - this was to be the most transparent pres. ever, then there is the willful failure to comply with subpoenas.

This is gonna be fun, right gang?

Cause gosh darn it Tom - I think the taxpayers have a right to know what Obama thought about Solyndra, right Tom?

Oh and then there all those White House e mails on Fast and Furious.

Again, I'm all in with Tom on this one too - we have a right to know.

  • 11 votes
#1.4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:39 PM EST

Okay, that leaves Huntsman. Surely he has skeletons in his closet too!

  • 11 votes
#1.5 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:40 PM EST

Spanky

Address the topic at hand. Romney paid to wipe out records while in power is the topic.

  • 40 votes
#1.6 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:42 PM EST

It seems to me that the issue is why they felt compelled to buy their hard drives, not the fact that the cancelled checks were released.

Well, yes, but isn't the bigger question why they were allowed to buy their hard drives? In what other profession are you allowed to do that?

I've been around when a company had to let people go and one of the first things that was done was making sure the computers were still intact and that nothing had been tampered with and deleted.

Can anyone think of a valid reason to allow former employees to buy their hard drives before they leave the job? Anyone? Anyone?

Romney will win the Republican nomination, of that I have no doubt. So this is largely irrelevant. Still, this not only has the stink of corruption but it also reeks of premeditation.

  • 25 votes
#1.7 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:43 PM EST

Okay, that leaves Huntsman. Surely he has skeletons in his closet too!

I gotta go against you on this one...

I'm positive Santorum's 'cream' will be the next to rise to the top! ;o)

  • 17 votes
#1.8 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:44 PM EST

spanker doesn't read the articles, he just likes pictures. Did Romney purchase his own hard drive? Which house did he put it in?

  • 19 votes
#1.9 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:44 PM EST

Wayne-1656909

You sure know the end to this story. It's now Huntsman and Santorum.

  • 3 votes
#1.10 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:44 PM EST
Comment author avatarDMAC-1004611Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Oh, did that POS thats president slip your so called minds or is it just typical demoron leftwingnut BS??? YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! NEVER CAN SEE BOTH SIDES FOR WHAT THEY ARE CAN YOU DEMOCRAPS ITS ALWAYS THE RIGHT HUH? Life must be tough for you IDIOTS. I shouldn't feel sorry for you masses but I do. NOTTTTTT!!!! And by the way tell all of us rethugs why you know absolutely nothing about the POS in the whitehouse. Something to hide maybe? YA THINK!!!

  • 4 votes
#1.11 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:46 PM EST

Hi Feisty,

You might be right, but he's even dumber than the Texan! He does have google issues, and lots of others!

  • 12 votes
#1.12 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:46 PM EST

Whenever I have nothing to hide, I always hide it.

Hey, Sarah- is it too late?

  • 12 votes
#1.13 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:47 PM EST

Don't you know Sarah Palin is KICKING HERSELF right now! DOH, if she'd only thought of that she might still be Governor of Alaska.

Naaah, she'd rather be a Fox-caster.

MITT SAY IT AIN'T SO BUDDY!

Oh, and by the way, here in Oklahoma, the reddest of the red states, the destruction of state records would be a crime. Things must be different for the bean-state folks.

Obama/Biden 2012

  • 21 votes
#1.14 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:48 PM EST

Yow dmac, you need to come down! What are you high on?

  • 15 votes
#1.15 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:48 PM EST

Why sure PEN - it is terrible. It is all public money - the computers the files the salaries, all of it.

Every bit of it should be available to any one of us.

Including the current stuff under subpoena from the White House.

Reminds me of the SEC back in 2008. The whole system was collapsing and the lawyers there were downloading porn 8 hours a day. So much that they had to get 'extra' computers.

So PEN - do you agree that total transparency should be required? If so, why won't the White House produce all it's e mails?

No Nat'l Security regarding Solyndra, right?

  • 6 votes
#1.16 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:50 PM EST

DBO

What are you asking for? Distorted historian Sarah?

  • 2 votes
#1.17 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:54 PM EST

[No Nat'l Security regarding Solyndra, right?]

BWAAK!!! ...solyndra...

There's the famous talking point!

  • 10 votes
#1.18 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:58 PM EST

Spanky - this is different. Romney and cronies computer memories have been intentionally wiped out. Why?

  • 20 votes
#1.19 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:58 PM EST
Comment author avatarJoAnnaSmith1Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

The OWS crowd is still struggling.

" . . . . At about the same time, a contingent of protesters decided to storm City Hall, but unknowingly ran to the Department of Education building on Chambers Street. Once there, they comically chanted, “Bloomberg must go! Bloomberg must go!” "

Finally, one of the clueless demonstrators realized the mistake and told the others: “This isn’t City Hall?”

Source: : http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/roughly_people_demonstration_gathered_dqucDJs1oJYCdedLgh4rwL#ixzz1dztQQQRD

The clueless Libs around FR would fit in well with the OWS malcontents.

DBO, you'd be a great "Occupier"! You'd pick up on the chants right away like "Whose park? Our Park!" and "The whole world is watching!" and finally "Death to America". You're a shoe in Buzz-Buzz! Buzz could lead the charge against the Subways in NY. Problem is, he'd lead them to the sandwich shops instead.

  • 4 votes
#1.20 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:59 PM EST

Petunia,

How many US Presidents have provided school transcripts?

HOW MANY OF THEM WERE HARVARD GRADUATES CUM LAUDE -- A DISTINCTION THAT IS NEVER, EVER, EVER GIVEN AWAY TO ANYONE?

Do we have the Bush e-mails on Solyndra from 2 years ago?

That leaves how many critical things left? Let's see, BIRTH CERTIFICATE... I have one printed on my coffee cup.

The one and only important giant huge humungous TRANSPARENT irretrievable fact here is that:

THE GOP/KOCH-KNOWNOTHING-DONOTHING-PARTY HASN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS,

EXCEPT PUT THE BLOCK OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND KILL JOBS BILLS:

THREE EARLIER THIS YEAR,

AND NOW THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT 3 TIMES.

  • 32 votes
#1.21 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:59 PM EST

Just read Spank's contri. WOW.

Talk about wanting to go somewhere else on the page.....

  • 16 votes
#1.22 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:59 PM EST

Spanky, I think the difference here is that you can not have transparency of records that have been erased. The Obama records have not been erased just not released. If you want records I believe we still have the freedom of information act which I am sure you are aware of, so just request the information you want.

  • 19 votes
#1.23 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:03 PM EST

JoAnnaSmith1

"The OWS crowd is still struggling."

Speaking of changin' the subject.....Betty Bovine rides again!

  • 14 votes
#1.24 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:03 PM EST

Hey Mickey - happy Thursday.

Still empty without me, eh?

  • 1 vote
#1.25 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:05 PM EST

Draft Sarah Palin

Draft Sarah Palin

Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!

She can get all mavricky and go rogue and stuff.

Go Sarah Go! It's your time girl!

Go Sarah Go!

Run Sarah Run!

...and now a brief word from from our sponsors....

Obama/Biden 2012

What was it Paris Hilton said at the end of her comic campaign ad..

"See you at the polls, bitches."

Run Sarah Run!

  • 14 votes
#1.26 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:07 PM EST

I am worried about Spanky! Bad things started happening when my great grandmother couldn't hold a cogent conversation anymore!

  • 13 votes
#1.27 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:08 PM EST

JAS1: My sentiments exactly.

  • 1 vote
#1.28 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:10 PM EST

So how did Obama do at Harvard?

It's public knowledge that Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard,. That means by definition his grades were in the top 10% of his class. What's the right's obsession with this issue?

  • 20 votes
#1.29 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:12 PM EST

Worry not Wayne - the issue here is Freedom of information and transparency.

As I said, all this government stuff should be freely available.

Now Romney allowed his staff to buy their hard drives, which were replaced with new ones. I can see why they'd want them - I'd certainly want mine and always pull hard drives from old computers - there is a lot of personal info there.

The deletion of e mail is another story. But those can usually be retrieved from other sources like the servers and receipts.

And this all dove tails nicely with Obama's refusal to release all the White House e mails.

Tis - requests have been made, in fact subpoenas issued. They refuse to produce.

So Wayne how is what Romney did different from what Obama is doing? The bottom line, or end result is the information is not forthcoming.

  • 4 votes
#1.30 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:13 PM EST

Democrats should all put a bumper sticker on their cars:

"My President Was Cum Laude at Harvard Law!"

  • 3 votes
#1.31 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:15 PM EST

Just read Spank's contri. WOW.

Spanky's posts remind me of a guy who's bad at darts. In frustration he picks up the whole lot and flings them all at the board at once, praying that one will hit the target. They go here, there and everywhere, most missing the board altogether. But once in a while one hits very close to the bulls-eye, though I can't remember when last that happened. . . .

  • 14 votes
#1.32 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:17 PM EST

Spanky - personal info in public service? Really....

  • 7 votes
#1.33 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:18 PM EST

That would be great Wayne. Really ought to win him votes. In fact it ought to really make up for the whole Keystone pipeline witht he unions.

They really seem to love lawyers, especially from the Ivy League.

So far I have only seen Obama stickers on Pruis' and Volvos.

On a Pruis? That's a tad redundant, no?

  • 1 vote
#1.34 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:18 PM EST

Hey Spank, W was elected on the idea that "He"s the candidate I would most like to have a beer with!" Look how well that worked out, and he shouldn't have been having a beer with anybody.

  • 11 votes
#1.35 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:29 PM EST
beachbum12Deleted

The worst part of something stinky coming out today about Romney is- On Hannity on my way home, I'm going to have to listen to how the OWS folks haven't ironed their pillow cases in over a week.

  • 7 votes
#1.37 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:44 PM EST

"Mitt must have had an increase in the polls for the MSDNC crowd is out in force to create negative comments about a candidate"

Alright- which one of you MSDNC crowd found out about, and released the info on, the Romney hard drives?

C'mon, 'fess up!

  • 8 votes
#1.38 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:46 PM EST

Poor Spanky...still struggling to wash that sand out of your vagina, I see..

I know things are getting a bit irritating for you, little man, I mean with all that's happening in the world, and your "focus" is on talking points that you obviously know only as much about as the rest of us. But keep poking around in the dark, oh ignorant one...you're bound to hit something.

Keep on trying to be one of the "big boys"...eventually you'll succeed.

  • 7 votes
#1.39 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:13 PM EST

Of course he had to erase the emails. Duh? The damning evidence was "there" before "he erased it". This is just soooooooo Mitt. The only thing which could make this better is to have old fashioned FLOPPY drives, so he could flip-flop on his floppies.

BTW, Feisty, if you think Conservatives are sad. No way, we are popping the champagne corks, because Mitt is NOT OUR HOPE. Not at all ! ! !

  • 4 votes
#1.40 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:19 PM EST

Gee, speaking of transparency, why doesn't Chuck Turd and the First Read crew give the "sling the crap at the GOP" camapign a rest, and do some serious, professional pieces on Fast & Furious and the Solyndra snafu? Thanks to conservative media,these monumental administration blunders aren't going to simply disappear, so the NBC toadies may as well give us their biased slant on them, instead of nit picking the opposition candidates ad naseum.

  • 1 vote
#1.41 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:20 PM EST

This crop of republican candidates prove the pure unfair meanness of our governments treatment of "Bernie Madoff" and "Al Capone".

    #1.42 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:40 PM EST

    Spanky-.......interesting..you and all others want to always strt everything with Obama..yet..you have over 500 politicans in washington today..you have no real oversite..they do as they please...they are all in the 1% of wealthy. Not one politican who has gone inot office..congress, has comeout not a millionaire....insider trading should be a huge item..but is already going away...the media..and their wealthy owners will not allow it to go further...the real question all should be asking is why? Just who is covering for who?

    • 5 votes
    #1.43 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:47 PM EST

    BTW, Feisty, if you think Conservatives are sad. No way, we are popping the champagne corks, because Mitt is NOT OUR HOPE. Not at all ! ! !

    Greg,

    Believe it or not - I actually feel sorry for the Republicans who haven't gone to the dark side!

    The once Grand Old Party has been hijacked by religious zealots, anti-science & fear mongering.

    Before they take their country back they would be better served to take their party back! ;o)

    • 13 votes
    #1.44 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:06 PM EST

    Mickey, still so caught up in my body parts.

    Thanks for the attention Mickey. Sad you just can't seem to get a life of your own, or is it that you just are that empty?

    Oh well, I still love you Mickey. Keep on rocking.

    I know you will. :)

    • 1 vote
    #1.45 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:19 PM EST

    I am sooooo sure that a man going to such great lenghts to conceal his own records would NEVER resort to using the records of other candidates against them.

    Romney is more of the same establishment sleaze.

    • 9 votes
    #1.46 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:51 PM EST

    Wait, they cleaned up before they left and took the 4yr old, used hardware with them, leaving the new staff with new, unclogged equipment to start with? How horrible and sneaky of them. I hate it when I start a new job and don't have to shift through the previous persons crap.

    • 1 vote
    #1.47 - Fri Nov 18, 2011 2:11 AM EST

    Feisty,

    I don't agree with everything that you say, but you sure hit the nail on the head with that statement. I left the Rep. party for that very reason and am now no longer affiliated with a party.

    • 1 vote
    #1.48 - Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:01 AM EST

    According to lib logic all Problems in the US can contribute to the following items. Any dem or liberal rebuttal or attack will contain a reference to one of the following as the root of their argument.

    TEA Party

    Bush

    GOP

    Obstruction

    Fox

    Rich People

    Greed

    As where greed may be the root of evil, there is no greed greater than socialism, wealth redistribution and feeding on the success of others. Dems and libs are narrow minded, rude, arrogant, immoral, fascist, masochist, blind, sheep, being led to slaughter by the very things they hold dear.

    What percentage pays taxes? To receive benefits from something which you have not, do not and will not contribute too is theft, unless you are physically and mentally unfit for anything.

    The world does not owe you a living Grasshopper!

    Libs and Dems, the winter is coming 2013

    • 1 vote
    #1.49 - Fri Nov 18, 2011 2:11 PM EST

    You'll have to do better than that, hater! I suppose that, since your ravings contain no facts to support them, they are pointless and meaningless, like the rest of your posts. And the election of 2012 is shaping up to be an exciting replay of 2008, too! The busload of GOP crazies who are pretending to be wannabe candidates are heading for minus territory in the polls, leaving Obama with pretty much no one to run against next year. I believe the janitor at the RNC is buying new overalls in anticipation of being asked to run as the GOP's nominee because there will be no one left!

    Let's look at how the field is shaping up right now, shall we?

    Obama vs. Gingrich

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_gingrich_vs_obama-1453.html

    Obama vs. Cain

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_cain_vs_obama-2003.html

    Obama vs. Perry

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_perry_vs_obama-2701.html

    Obama vs. Romney

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html

    Obama vs. Paul

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_paul_vs_obama-1750.html

    • 3 votes
    #1.50 - Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:37 PM EST
    Reply

    Is is common practice for outgoing administration staffers to purchase their computer hard drives?

    Does seem odd. If there are paper records in storage, perhaps it's time to go through them?

    • 20 votes
    #2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:14 PM EST

    Record wiping? Hummm........Willie's scoop just a matter of days and we shall know the truth. Be sure this will stink.

    • 6 votes
    #2.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:29 PM EST

    That's beyond odd. What other job would allow you to do such a thing?

    The very idea that you can buy your work computer's hard drive the day before leaving a job is problematic.

    • 14 votes
    #2.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:30 PM EST

    So we can all expect that the Obama administration will not wipe their hard drives clean upon leaving office, right gang?

    Sure they won't.

    Gosh they are there now, yet refuse to turn over e mails on F&F and Solyndra.

    Wiping, withholding, deleting. All very bad.

    Isn't it great we all agree? It sure is.

    • 4 votes
    #2.3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:41 PM EST

    Siggh.

    Spanky, they already released the Solyndra NON-ISSUE emails and the F&F emails. You should try to update the non-issues you try to hide your troglodyte candidates behind. Of course, that would entail paying attention, and if you did that chances are you would no longer be a wingnut. Jon Stewart is right, for people like you knowledge is like kryptonite.

    • 16 votes
    #2.4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:49 PM EST

    Amy,

    believe you me, the leftist Boston Globe has been attacking Romney for decades, literally. They have gone thru everything Romney with a fine tooth comb. Papers, emails, you name it. The Globe is an attack poodle for the Dems, like their corporate owners, the NY Times.

    Nothing there, so now they are making stuff up totally. Computers bought? Why there must be a scandal here somewhere!

    The Obama lackey Globe had a multi part series on Romney's religion, with major details on Mitt's great grandfather who practiced polygamy.... a great public service, that story!

    .The Globe is hard at work now hyping Liz Warren, their leftist heroine.

    • 4 votes
    #2.5 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:51 PM EST

    No they have not.

    Read the letter from the White House counsel - they have released only what they chose to release.

    nisl, that is no how a subpoena works. The person subpoenaed does not get to choose.

    The DOE released additional e mails, but not all. Which is why we now know about the command not to lay off workers until after the last election.

    Try to keep up nisl, k?

    But it does make your snark about what I know so much more delightful.

    • 4 votes
    #2.6 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:54 PM EST

    Typical Republican Defense: Anybody that doesn't work for Fox News or Hate Radio is a liberal. Since the Boston Globe isn't a subsidiary of Fox nothing they say can be believed.

    You see, this is epistemic closure, and it is why Republicans sound so freaking stupid all the time.

    • 20 votes
    #2.7 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:56 PM EST

    Hey Bob,

    It's good to know that the Globe is being so thorough. After all, he is running for president. I think we know after "W" that is a no no to erase emails, so they solved the problem by yanking all of the hard drives. They are in a landfill somewhere. Perhaps the Globe will find them too!

    • 12 votes
    #2.8 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:00 PM EST

    nisl,

    Last week, White House attorneys sent a letter to Congressional investigators stating they would not honor the subpoena requesting all documents and information related to the $535 million dollar loan to bankrupt solar panel manufacturer Solyndra.

    In the letter, President Obama's counsel, Kathryn Ruemmler, proclaimed the subpoena was "driven more by partisan politics than a legitimate effort to conduct a responsible investigation."

    White House counsel felt the information requested was "intrusive" and encroached on vital Executive Branch confidentiality interests.

    Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House committee conducting the investigation, maintains all requests have been reasonable and the White House has simply not been cooperative.

    The Herald-Dispatch-Mark Caserta

    • 3 votes
    #2.9 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:02 PM EST

    Spanky are you sure you want to go there, you do remember "Dick" don't you and "CIA" outing and good ol (Scooter) I wonder if he got that name from wiping his b**t on the carpet like dogs do. You really want to point a finger at Obama vs Bush on open policy and methods of operations. You are better served by staying on subject, if you want to defend Mitt then do so but be carefull about that can of worms, it could be a can of whoop a**.

    • 16 votes
    #2.10 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:15 PM EST

    Yeah, I guess nisl missed that knowledge nugget.

    • 1 vote
    #2.11 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:15 PM EST

    I really do Tis.

    See Bush is gone.

    Obama said he would be the most transparent pres EVAH!

    So come on Tis, what 'whoop a*' you got?

    Tis, say it with me - the white house should immediately and without objection produce all e mails related to F&F and Sloyndra.

    Transparency is what we want, right Tis?

    From all our politicians.

    • 3 votes
    #2.12 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:33 PM EST

    They sure didn't buy those hard drives to retain the data. They could have copied that over to a portable hard drive.

    There's only one reason that anyone would need the physical drive. It's because even an erased hard drive can have some data restored by experts using sophisticated forensics. They wanted to make sure those drives were destroyed so the data could never be retrieved. Some data may have been backed up on the server or in archives, but local data may not have ever been saved on the server.

    Even though the server was wiped, there should still be archived data from when the server was backed up to a safe location for restore purposes. If those were also "purchased" or wiped, then there's no question that there's something on them that the Romney team doesn't want to ever come out.

    Nixon's famous 18 missing eighteen minutes pales in comparison to this. This sounds like Massachusetts may have some legal recourse they can pursue against Romney and his staff.

    • 9 votes
    #2.13 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:47 PM EST

    Spanky-

    So we can all expect that the Obama administration will not wipe their hard drives clean upon leaving office, right gang?

    No, I don't believe they will. I think it would be against the law to destroy email on government computer hard drives. I don't think even Bush and Cheney did that.

    • 9 votes
    #2.14 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:51 PM EST

    Read the Boston Globe article Houston. It seems that is was not against the law.

    But then again, I would assume insider trading was against the law, but apparently if you are in congress it A-OK.

    They get a different set of laws it would seem.

    • 1 vote
    #2.15 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:09 PM EST

    Right Spanky, it wasn't illegal, it was only immoral. They were robbing the residents of Massachussetts of the truth.

    • 6 votes
    #2.16 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:14 PM EST

    This GOP primary race is so delicious I may have to wrap some of it up and put it in the freezer to bring out after the elections are over! I mean, Sour Grapes and Dead Duck garnished with a big dash of No Chance in Hell is a dish you don't often see this early in the electoral season. The Republicans are sure eating a lot of it, though, aren't they?

    • 10 votes
    #2.17 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:16 PM EST

    Spanky...it doesn't look good for your Mittens...having his ass-masaggers wipe all of their hard drives clean. I mean, they MUST be hiding SOMETHING...right "counselor"?

    Maybe, just maybe, they will all plead the fifth...I'm sure THAT little tidbit in of itself will have you frothing at the mouth, right Spanks?

    Spanky, THIS is the "conspiracy" you have been looking for! Another shiny nickel for you to chase after.

    But we all know you won't have a response to this latest development, right little man?

    How about you surprise

    • 8 votes
    #2.18 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:20 PM EST

    Ooops, sorry Spanky...I forgot to add:

    ...you can't...

    ...you won't...

    • 5 votes
    #2.19 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:20 PM EST

    You can tell who's doing good against the campaigner-in-chief,.....they become the target of the day......For all of the armchair quarterbacks out there; in the military,and I would think in government too,...When your "regime' moves on,you 'scrub' your computer as a matter of fact,or COMSEC,...(communications security,...)....or just smart policy.When ALL government computers are turned in or scrapped,they go to a DRMO area to be sold on pallets by the pound....They could go to anyone,or end up in ANY country.....Nothing sneaky about it....If private citizens are dumb enough to turn in thier smartphones,or old laptops to be resold,or recycled without scrubbing the hard drive,you may end up with a sad surprise when your identity has been compromised,and you get some strange charges to your credit cards..........U.S.Army Disabled Veteran

    • 2 votes
    #2.20 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:09 PM EST

    Spanky-

    Read the Boston Globe article Houston. It seems that is was not against the law.

    I read the article. I don't know how you got that malarkey from what the Massachusetts Sec. of State said. Note what follows after the "but":

    Galvin pointed out that, in 1997, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that “the governor is not explicitly included’’ in the Public Records Law. He said that means that e-mails don’t have to be released to the public, but the governor’s office still has to preserve them and turn them over to the state archivist.

    Apparently, Romney did NOT turn the emails over to the state archivist since they couldn't be found there.

    • 6 votes
    #2.21 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:10 PM EST

    Hey look Mickey is trying to say something.

    Too bad he gets tripped up on his devotion to all things Spanky.

    Gosh Mickey it's almostlike you think I care what you think.

    This might come as a surprise, but as with the case with hero worship, the hero rarely cares what the devotee thinks.

    Sorry Mickey.

    But do keep trying. It amuses me greatly.

    Houston - I guess charges will be filed anytime then, right?

    Of course they won't. Now what?

    • 1 vote
    #2.22 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:23 PM EST

    Good boy, Spanky...that's more like it. So much for having me on "ignore", right "counselor"?

    So, no answer to the questions? Just more deny, deflect, and...lessee...what was that third one?

    Oh, have you heard? Now Cain wants Secret Service protection? I'm sure you are outraged, right Spanks? Sure you are...your hard earned job-creating shekels going to a big, fancy security detail...NOW PAY UP, SUCKA!

    Poor Hermie..sucking on the "gubment teat", and he hasn't even qualified for the job yet...you must be outraged.

    • 2 votes
    #2.23 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:37 PM EST

    According to lib logic all Problems in the US can contribute to the following items. Any dem or liberal rebuttal or attack will contain a reference to one of the following as the root of their argument.

    TEA Party

    Bush

    GOP

    Obstruction

    Fox

    Rich People

    Greed

    As where greed may be the root of evil, there is no greed greater than socialism, wealth redistribution and feeding on the success of others. Dems and libs are narrow minded, rude, arrogant, immoral, fascist, masochist, blind, sheep, being led to slaughter by the very things they hold dear.

    What percentage pays taxes? To receive benefits from something which you have not, do not and will not contribute too is theft, unless you are physically and mentally unfit for anything.

    The world does not owe you a living Grasshopper!

    Libs and Dems, the winter is coming 2013

    Fiesty <- the most ignored blogger on the web

    • 2 votes
    #2.24 - Fri Nov 18, 2011 2:31 PM EST
    Reply

    “In leaving office, the governor’s staff complied with the law and longtime executive branch practice,’’ Campaign spokesperson Andrea Saul told the Globe.

    This should be easy to verify -- "longtime executive branch practice." Did Jane Swift do this? Did Paul Celluci? Did William Weld? Did Michael Dukakis? How does it help the residents of Massachusetts if each departing administration "wipes out" all its records? Does that mean that each administration has to invent the wheel all over again?

    • 15 votes
    Reply#3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:19 PM EST

    And this afternoon, the Romney campaign aggressively pushed back against the Patrick administration, accusing the current Massachusetts governor, a close ally of President Obama, of running a "dirty tricks shop" on behalf of the president.

    And how is it "dirty tricks" to say that in response to many questions about records under Gov. Romney, the current administration has no records? Gov. Romney clearly didn't want to leave any records for people to refer to.

    • 14 votes
    #3.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:33 PM EST

    Yes, it should be easy to verify--so it won't be long before we see if this is a real issue for Romney.

    • 3 votes
    #3.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:39 PM EST
    Reply

    On the one hand, I can see a certain amount of sense in Romney's actions. Since his entire career field is politics, he doesn't want to give the people who put him out of business even more help. It truly is disturbing what some computer techs can glean from "deleted" content on hard drives.

    Having said that, it also portrays the picture of someone who thinks of a governmental job as a private career and not some kind of community program. If he truly wanted to ease the transition between administrations and truly wanted to act like a "family", then he would have left the records.

    Now in modern politics, the whole "family" vibe has been replaced with "knife circling" politics. I'm not denying that. Romney is playing by the existing set of rules that all of our politicians are using. However this doesn't help Romney in the big scheme of things since he's been trying to imply that he's somehow different from the current status quo. He's clearly cut from the same cloth, which means that Romney really isn't different from any other working professional in a cut throat field of business. I'd say that this hurt the current political image that he's trying to cultivate.

    • 8 votes
    Reply#4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:21 PM EST

    Dirty Tricks ? LOL. Is there no end to the stuff that is being dug up on the Repugs ?

    • 4 votes
    Reply#5 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:31 PM EST

    fordays,

    Do some research, you will find that democrats and republicans are guilty of stuff.

    • 4 votes
    #5.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:50 PM EST

    But, it's just so easy!

    • 1 vote
    #5.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:08 PM EST

    ?

    • 1 vote
    #5.3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:21 PM EST
    Reply

    Well, here's what Romney could do-

    He could promise to have the most open, transparent administration in, well, ever- with no intention of ever doing it.

    While he's at it, he could promise that no lobbyist would ever cross the threshold of the White House- all the while sniggering to himself at just how gullible people are.

    Maybe he could promise to cut the deficit in half by his second year- then not even bother submitting a budget, or asking congress controlled by his own party to take it up for a vote.

    Or maybe, even, state that he'll use almost. Trillion dollars of taxpayer borrowed money to stimulate the economy- only to put 80% of it into his donors pockets.

    Romney probably won't, though. It's already been done.

    • 4 votes
    Reply#6 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:32 PM EST

    How classic that the head of the CBO admitted that the Stimulus will be a drag on the economy?

    A true ringing endorsment for Obama's policies.

    How odd that no one here seems to have caught that.

    So to recap stealing the future wages of workers to pay for stuff you do not need now is a bad idea.

    huh. Who could have seen that coming?

    • 3 votes
    #6.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:46 PM EST

    Obama? I thoght this one was about Mitt??

    • 11 votes
    #6.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:07 PM EST

    All the First Read negative headlines are about the Republicans.

    If it is about Obama, it is peaches and cream.

    • 4 votes
    #6.3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:17 PM EST

    Of course it about Mitt.

    Who is running for president.

    An office held by Obama.

    man Drive By, way to show the range of your big brain.

    One. Thing. At. A. Time.

    Got it big guy.

    • 2 votes
    #6.4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:21 PM EST

    DBO you know better than that, expecting Spanky to stay on subject is like expecting truth from Michelle, Newt, Cain, Palin, some slimmy thing called santorium or something and Mitt.

    • 4 votes
    #6.5 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:21 PM EST

    Too tough to connect the old dots, eh Tis?

    • 2 votes
    #6.6 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:35 PM EST

    "DBO you know better than that, expecting Spanky to stay on subject...."

    But the little bugger sure can reach, can't he?

    "Of course it about Mitt.

    Who is running for president.

    An office held by Obama."

    Yeah, lil guy- it's aobut Obama. Who's in Washington. Which was named after George Was........OH! this story is about our 1st president!! Who knew??

    See the logic, lil fella?

    • 7 votes
    #6.7 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:36 PM EST

    Sure do Drive By - which is why I feel no need to limit myself. or our conversations.

    It's all interrelated, as you point out.

    Good job Drive By.

    • 2 votes
    #6.8 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:40 PM EST

    no joe, no bo, nj

    Well, here's what Romney could do-

    He could promise to have the most open, transparent administration in, well, ever- with no intention of ever doing it.

    Obama DID do it according to this article. Can't you read or are you so blinded by your hatred for President Obama you just can't see you computer monitor?

    It's hard to judge relative "transparency," but the Obama administration is certainly more transparent than Bush, with Karl Rove conducting business on his private email account to keep his crimes off the public record and Dick Cheney with his "man-sized" safe.

    Here's the transparency that Obama has provided and Romney won't.

    Also, the campaign -- like its GOP rivals but unlike President Obama’s re-election effort -- has refused to release a list of Romney's bundlers, the high-level fundraisers who corral donations from their friends and associates on behalf of a candidate.

    • 4 votes
    #6.9 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:59 PM EST
    Reply

    Willard demands transparency from the Obama Administration and the Obama Campaign? That's a joke! If transparency is so important why did his "Super-Pac" Restore Our Future hid the identity of Ed Conard and W Spann's donation?

    • 9 votes
    Reply#7 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:34 PM EST

    Hey Noid - you brought up an interesting point earlier re: GM's bailout.

    You were concerned about the GM pensions.

    So what are your thoughts on the Delphi pensions?

    Why the disperate treatment?

    • 4 votes
    #7.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:43 PM EST

    Spanky come on back to the subject, we may have to shorten your leash, now stop licking your b@#l's , sit and behave.

    • 7 votes
    #7.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:23 PM EST

    So Tis, perhaps you can tell us why you are concerned with my balls?

    This one, as noted in my comment, is between Noid and I, from earlier.

    Or is minding you own business just that difficult to you?

    So tis who is the 'we?' surely not you.

    • 2 votes
    #7.3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:38 PM EST

    [Or is minding you own business just that difficult to you?]

    It is for you, now isn't it...di

    OH LOOK! Shiny nickel over there! ------------------>

    Good "counselor"...atta boy...sit...staaaaay....(pats Spanky on the head) here's a treat for you...

    • 3 votes
    #7.4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:26 PM EST

    Spanky if you want a private conversation maybe you need a different venue. Besides your starting to sound a little testy today, people being a little tough on you. You might try barking at the wind it seems to keep most dogs entertained.

    Just for fun I went to the story on Solyndra and did not see one post by you how come.

    • 2 votes
    #7.5 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:58 PM EST

    [Just for fun I went to the story on Solyndra and did not see one post by you how come.]

    He probably can't find it.

    • 1 vote
    #7.6 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:09 PM EST

    Tis- So this is your forum, eh? huh. Testy? Nope, things are going very well.

    Chu to resign in 30 days or less. Or do you think Solyndra gets better?

    As for posts - just back from HH.

    Mickey - you are the best one trick pony around. Speaking of desperation - I love the references to my 'vagina.'

    Smacks of insecurity, but what else in new. eh?

    • 1 vote
    #7.7 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:27 PM EST

    Good boy, Spanks...here's your treat...now sit...roll over...

    "counselor", this is right up your "alley".

    I know you are but what am I?

    There...now back to your regularly scheduled talking points:

    ...Chu...

    ...Solyndra...

    ...F & F...

    • 1 vote
    #7.8 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:32 PM EST
    Reply

    Bu bu but, Newtie hasn't had his whole 15 minutes in the slimelight yet.

    • 7 votes
    Reply#8 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:36 PM EST

    Upon leaving Perry's problem will be how to erase crayon.

    • 4 votes
    Reply#9 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:38 PM EST

    They are all pretenders, it won't be long before the real Republican candidate steps to the fore....

    Ron Paul....

    Read this.....

    The last Bloomberg Poll (2 days ago) on the Iowa Caucus says this....

    "There’s good news in the poll for Paul, 76, a Texas congressman who has attracted ardent supporters. Among likely caucus-goers who say their minds are made up, Paul leads with 32 percent, followed by Romney at 25 percent and Gingrich, a former House speaker, at 17 percent.

    Among Paul supporters who backed him in the 2008 caucuses, 69 percent are still with him now.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#10 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:48 PM EST

    Ron Paul would definitely get my vote in that bunch,but his party is making him unelectable...

    • 4 votes
    #10.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:22 PM EST

    Actually no they are not, they are definitely, most definitely distancing themselves from him. This allows him to stay on message as the rest torpedo themselves.

    The other republicans are making it easy for Ron Paul. They are taking themselves out early and often.

    • 1 vote
    #10.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:06 PM EST

    A good man, a good candidate. He's 76, though. I hope it's possible he could get the nomination, but vote in general election would have to wait choice of running mate.

      #10.3 - Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:39 AM EST
      Reply

      That was funny John! Romney is just another front man for the K brothers!!

      • 4 votes
      Reply#11 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:49 PM EST

      My respect for Romney's intelligence went up after hearing about this. After all, if you can't just ignore a subpoena because you are working for the Anointed One or are the self proclaimed arbiter of how others ought to live, this may be the best second choice alternative.

        Reply#12 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:58 PM EST

        You can be sure mittflip will run a clean and transparent admin just like in MA....lmao

        • 4 votes
        Reply#13 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:03 PM EST

        I met Mitt many years ago at his high schools football game. It was a beautiful fall day,I looked out onto the field and there he was!! Mitt was at the 20!! the 30!! the 40!! His BATON twirling in the sun....

        • 4 votes
        Reply#14 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:15 PM EST

        There once was a man named Mitty

        who's family was always on top

        but that darned little Mitty,His politics $hitty

        he always would flip,and then flop

        • 5 votes
        Reply#15 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:17 PM EST

        Whats more transparent than plastic !!!

        • 1 vote
        Reply#16 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:18 PM EST

        How many laws did Romney break? You libs are always jumping on some frivolous non-news piece of information to distract from the outrageous inconsistencies of the current administration.

        No harm has come to Massachusetts, but I fear plenty of harm will come to America once the eagle from the WH has landed.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#17 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:19 PM EST

        Actually,I heard that Mitt does have a scandal brewing.... it appears one time at band camp....

        • 1 vote
        #17.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:25 PM EST

        imnotlost, are you sure beyond a doubt no law was broken or even bent. I think the jury is still out on this one.

        • 3 votes
        #17.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:25 PM EST

        Uh, Tis...... those aren't HIS....

        • 1 vote
        #17.3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:38 PM EST

        This is a stupid attack that makes perfect sense. This has to be done every few years when people get new equipment. This has had to come from someone trying to attack. I did not believe much in attacks. But this is definitely a desperate move from someone.

        • 2 votes
        #17.4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:53 PM EST

        Tis the Season: The one thing I'm positive of, with the length of time Romney has been out of office if a crime or crimes have been committed we wouldn't be having this discussion. Indictments and trials would have long been over.

        • 1 vote
        #17.5 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:38 PM EST

        DBO Oh my now I understand his being testy. OOPS!

          #17.6 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:02 PM EST
          Reply

          Seriously though NOTLOST,maybe you hit on it for me,he may not have any convictions but he definitely has no conviction...on anything !!!

          • 2 votes
          Reply#18 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:27 PM EST

          When one looks at Romney's position on anything it is totally transparent as like invisible. There is no is.

          Romney: I have a question for you and big oil;

          Why is it that every-time the economy shows a little perk up, Oil prices jump ($100 + again today) and gasoline goes back up (predicting $4 gallon by election) ?

          Is this show of strength by big oil on the economy to elect the see-through man?

          • 3 votes
          Reply#19 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:31 PM EST

          Romney 2012!! This happens in many places. When computers are needed to be replaced (OLD COMPUTERS) the information needs to be erased before they can be up for sale. This is an stupid attack to put a doubt in people that has no true meaning. People in the IT will understand perfectly.

          • 2 votes
          Reply#20 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:50 PM EST

          Ask your IT person when it is appropriate to wipe out all of an elected official's emails from the server and get back to us. The answer will be pretty interesting.

          • 3 votes
          #20.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:04 PM EST

          Jari A Valladares

          Romney 2012!! This happens in many places. When computers are needed to be replaced (OLD COMPUTERS) the information needs to be erased before they can be up for sale

          Emails stored on government computer hard drives are official documents. Destroying official documents is against the law, at least at the federal level.

          • 6 votes
          #20.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:05 PM EST

          I am a network admin and web developer and more things. Anyways, I know what I am talking about. The legal issues I don't know but the actions are what has to be done before you sell the servers and everything else. The stuff had to be backed up. So this article does not say "Its was backed up" but of course it needs to be backed up. They are just plain and simple avoiding giving you all the information. The network needed to be backed up so it may be rebuilt.

          • 3 votes
          #20.3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:14 PM EST

          ja-- a-- vall

          Please name your school.

          Students should get their monies worth.

          u should check to see if u can get ure money back ( If the school still exists)

          please explain what u think a hard drive is (no sexual definition will do)!

          • 2 votes
          #20.4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:23 PM EST

          rogerbeard ... You surely don't think that someone says. " Hey sell me the hard drive, not the whole computer, just the hard drive". They have to have bought the whole computer. $65 bucks its to much money for a Hard Drive alone.

          • 1 vote
          #20.5 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:31 PM EST

          The point is that 11 staffers bought their hard drives. In my experience that is unusual. Clearing the server of an elected official's emails, however, is highly questionable and possibly illegal.

          Romney stepped out of bounds and the ref is calling a foul!

          • 6 votes
          #20.6 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:39 PM EST

          You don't keep network, database or web app backups infinitely. You overwrite them or delete them to make room for another batch of backups. Usually rotate, every place has different rules for it.

          You replace hardware, on average, every 5 years. This includes servers, routers, etc.

          65$ for a full computer is a deal. 65$ for a hard-drive? That's suspicious activity unless the HD was a good sized piece or had some information you'd rather not lose on it.

          11 staffers all buying their HD? Suspicious activity.

          • 2 votes
          #20.7 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:02 PM EST
          Reply

          We here in Massachusetts know all about mitt the two-faced phony. He was elected governor as a moderate, supporting abortion rights, civil unions and some gun control measures. Within a short tome he was running for president and disavowed his moderate stance. Mitt began to pander to the red state no-nothings, folks he wouldn't be seen with socially, trolling for votes. If Mitt is the GOP nominee, I guarantee he'll lose Mass by twenty points. This guy is a fraud and we know it first hand.

          • 1 vote
          Reply#21 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:50 PM EST

          I hereby dub thee...Ricochet Romney...........

          • 1 vote
          #21.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:55 PM EST

          Sorry you feel that way. It looks like many do like him, so I don't know if I should believe you. We will see when the votes are cast. To give you facts. Romney won in 2008 by 51% from all the other candidates.

          Mitt Romney
          255,892 Votes
          51.3%
          22
          delegates

          Looks at facts before you write.

          • 1 vote
          #21.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:01 PM EST

          Don't be sorry Jari, I messed up again !!! My response to you is actually #24. My Bad.

          • 1 vote
          #21.3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:11 PM EST

          Jari, Romney got 51.3 % of the votes in a Republican primary. Republicans are a small minority in Mass. In order for a Republican to win in a general election, he or she must be perceived as a moderate, especially on social issues. My point is that Romney has offended the moderates in Mass and they'll reject his bid in 2012 if he gets the nomination. Trust me on this.

            #21.4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:20 PM EST

            I sure hope he does win though. I do not see anyone capable of fixing the United States. I do not he is a good man and if you are a leader there is no way you can ever please everyone. Its impossible.

            • 1 vote
            #21.5 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:27 PM EST

            No, jari, you can't please everyone, but at least you can take a position on an issue and stick with it. Romney will be on every side of an issue, based on his audience. This is why the GOP base doesn't trust him.

            • 1 vote
            #21.6 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:46 PM EST

            um...

            any republican will lose Mass by 20 points. That state is as blue as they come, it's solidly dem with no chances whatsoever of changing.

            I doubt you'll see either Obama OR the republican nominee spend much (if any) time in Massachussets. It's a foregone conclusion and thus not worthy of worry about.

              #21.7 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:04 PM EST

              I believe you're right but don't forget we did elect Romney to be governor. If he stuck to his moderate positions, he would be competitive in Mass, might even win. Massachusetts is liberal/moderate on social issues, but we are more conservative on fiscal matters.

                #21.8 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:16 PM EST
                Reply

                "Just before Mitt Romney left the Massachusetts governor's office and first ran for president, 11 of his top aides purchased their state-issued computer hard drives, and the Romney administration's e-mails were all wiped from a server..."

                Can someone pass the popcorn, please? This is going to get very interesting before it's over. And who does the GOP have left to throw into the meat grinder before the election in 2012? I suspect they will be reduced to nominating the janitor at the RNC before the primaries are over...

                • 5 votes
                Reply#22 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:06 PM EST

                Looks like Mitt will last out all the others so-called Presidential material.

                Problem is anyone that lacks the intelligence or the ability to reason regarding the formation of a cult such as Mormonism or Scientology need not think about becoming the President of the United States.

                I have done considerable research regarding the founders of both cults, and it does not take a rocket scientist to determine their motives (Money/power).

                Joseph Smith was a thief and con artist and was literally kicked out of towns before coming up with his idea to form a religion. Same goes for Hubbard, he was a want to be science fiction writer who in the beginning said that if you want to gain fame and fortune the best way is to form a religion.

                  Reply#23 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:06 PM EST

                  Ed, please tell us all how informed you are about Mitt's religion again. Joseph Smith didn't start a religion. If you knew the correct history you would realize that God the Father and His son Jesus Christ appeared to the 14 year old boy in 1820 to restore the Church back to the earth. He just happened to be kneeling in humble prayer asking which Church he should join himself with. He was told by Jesus Christ to join none of them.There goes the belief in the Godhead all being one person appearing in a different form theory. (Niceen Creed) 325 AD. Why did Joseph Smith just say I saw God or I saw Jesus Christ? He said he saw and spoke with both of them. "Joseph, this is my beloved Son, Hear Him" The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized in 1830. It has grown world wide to over 14 million members. Please go to mormon.org to get your facts straight. Looking for fame and fortune- Hardly. He was shot to death in Carthage, Ill. by a mob. I bet if I got you in a room with a few fellow members like, Steve Young, Gladys Knight,Johnny Miller,Harry Reid, Senator Hatch, Lavell Edwards, and many other well know business and government leaders you would be more respectful and hopefully more up to speed what the LDS beliefs actually are. If you repeated your post to these folks you would be quickly corrected with kindness. Otherwise you would end up sounding like Gov. Perry. " I think there are 3 things I know about the LDS Church" I think my minister told me them so I wouldn't leave his church and stop giving him my money. I just can't remember them all, but I have done considerable research about it" Come on Ed, I know eight year olds that could read your post and correct you just as fast. Please spend some time talking to some members and go ahead and spend a few minutes getting your story right. You of course don't have to believe it, but please at least get the beliefs down correct and stop the "I, Ed have done considerable research garbage"

                  • 1 vote
                  #23.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:21 PM EST

                  Julie:

                  This is a free country and you can believe anything you want. Hopefully intelligent people research facts not fiction.

                  First I have relatives that personally knew Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Ever hear or read in the Mormon history of individuals named Nelson.

                  Although I had been converted from Mormonism before attending college, I am an alumni of Brigham Young and have many friends that are Mormon. My only problem with Mormonism is it does not follow the gospel.

                  MY suggestion is to do some in-depth research before you commit your soul to a false belief.

                  BY the way I personally played golf with Johnny Miller and Billy Casper many years ago at Riverside G&CC and Hobbel Creek GC, and have met Lavell Edwards on may occasions. By the way when we lived in Orem my wife actually attended meetings of the Daughters of the Pioneers in that like me has relatives that date back to the formation of Mormonism.

                    #23.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:48 PM EST

                    Thats great and I bet you didn't mention your items in the post you made to those people you mentioned you met, did you? What Gospel do you follow now? Full time mission doesn't seem to have been something you took part in. Usually Ed, it really comes down to which commandments were you not able to obey. Just the major 10 seem to trip up quite a few. Elder Nelson of the 12 is a great man. I doubt you are from that line however. Curious if your wife followed you or went a different direction spiritually.

                      #23.3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:15 PM EST

                      In fact I had many in-depth discussions with individuals of the Mormon faith, including some that were 70's. Some were actually converted, not by me but by some in-dept research.

                      I did not do any missionary work in that I was converted before graduating high school same as my wife. Actually if you ever visited the temple in Salt Lake at one time there was a theater across the street that provided a film and research info that denounced Mormonism.

                      And by the way you do not have to be a Mormon to join the Daughters of the Pioneer's, you simply have to have relatives that were.

                      Both my wife and I are Luthern and yse we live by the 10 commandments

                        #23.4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:22 PM EST

                        Thanks Ed. Go ahead and name the 70's that you say were converted. Nice lame try. A bold comment made with no names mentioned. My total point is that you made disbarging comments about the LDS Church in your original post. Is that what followers of the Martin Luthern Church who profess to be Christians are taught to do? I never said one had to be LDS to join the Daughters of the Pioneer's. Where do you come up with that? In fact, I am a member of the DOP going back 7 generations. If you were ever a real converted member at a young age and left the Church for what ever reason, I always find it interesting that any that do can't seem to leave the Church alone. Why is that Ed? I don't see LDS people going out ripping on the Lutherns or any other religions? Is this something you are just doing on your own, or is it coming from your leadership in your Luthern faith? The anti-LDS Tanner family you mentioned is doing real well these days, right? The Church continues to move forward and grow world-wide as Jesus Christ said it would. I invite you to actually read the Book of Mormon and explain to us all how you could personally sit down and write a similiar testament of Jesus Christ in less than 60 days. I'll look for your version at my local Barnes and Noble, but I won't hold my breath. I will also look for further posts from you ripping on the Catholics, Baptist, and Methodist as the Luthern Church has different beliefs than each of them. Except for maybe the belief in the Trinity going back to 325 AD. Where God and Christ and the Holy Ghost is belived to be just one entity, but can appear in three different forms like water,steam and ice. Please re-read the Book of John in the Bible- Christ baptism. Heard a voice from Heaven- Talking to himself Ed? No. The Father speaking to his Son. Kind of hard to be in two places at one time one would think. I have friends who are German and Luthern. I ask them if they believe in the ressurection of Christ. They say they do and that Christ rose from the dead 3 days after he was cruxified. I agree with them 100%. I also ask them if they believe he received a ressurected body. They tell me yes, of course he did. I then ask, but you believe that Christ is just a spirit as in the Niceen Creed doctrine of 325 AD that the Catholic's and Luthern's and many other prodestant faiths still adhere to today. What ever happened to his ressurected body, I ask? I get no reply or a big I don't know. Maybe Ed you can enlighten me in this topic to make sure I am not mis-quoting any Luthern beliefs. Thank you.

                          #23.5 - Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:23 AM EST
                          Reply

                          I don't think you need to convince anyone except the republican powers that be. They truly dislike Mitt. His ceiling is about 27% at best on the average,THAT'S amongst republicans. I mean obviously the dems don't like the "well lubricated weather-vane" that is Mitt Romney,but that quote came from a fellow republican,not a dem. Ronald Reagan's commandment about republicans not attacking each other was pretty much buried with the Gipper apparently.

                          • 3 votes
                          Reply#24 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:09 PM EST

                          If eight candidates were not dividing the pie right now what would Romney's number be? 82 % and 9 and 9. Funny how the press will just barely mention Romney at 40% in NH. Why is that?

                            #24.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:51 PM EST
                            Reply

                            No, the Romney campaign battles against believability, because he's a member of a cult: Wall Street!

                            • 2 votes
                            Reply#25 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:14 PM EST

                            A gold star for frag....

                            • 2 votes
                            #25.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:16 PM EST
                            Reply
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