Nope, I understood that the people who attended the meeting did so only
if their names were not released.

Well, that's not an option.

The U.S. government has NO right to keep secrets from U.S.
citizens, with a few noteworthy exceptions.

It is NOT legal, under the Constitution, to declare a policy
or policy meeting or policy-makers names secret, just as a
matter of personal preference.



... They requested this because they did
not want to become embroiled in political battles.


That's stupid. By being there, by being friends with Vice
President Cheney, they already WERE "embroiled in political
battles."

Frankly, the only reason to keep it a secret is so as to
keep the profits for an inner circle of Bush-Cheney campaign
contributors.

Do you think this is good for the country?


In that case, you're part of the problem, Jeff. I didn't authorize anyone
from PG&E or Ohio Edison to make regulations for this country.

True

Jeff Rigby wrote:
If you can't get the planners for our energy suppliers to come talk with you
unless their names are withheld from the press then what do you do.

Get other planners who will. Do you think there isn't a long
long list of people, some of whom are not necessarily
motivated by profit over patriotism, who would like to give
high-level advice on national energy policy?

What is NOT acceptable is to drive this country off a cliff,
energy-policy-wise, deliberately increasing dependence on
foreign oil and slashing motivation for alternatives, and
then 5 years later do a sudden about-face & pretend it's all
the liberal's fault.

Oh wait... that *is* acceptable to you and the other
Bush-Cheney Cheerleaders. Gee, I hope you like the result!



Get real. The problems is any time someone meets with Cheney or Bush it's
news....and lies and distortions are printed.

You mean the lies & distortions released by President Bush &
Vice President Cheney?


... Believe it or not, many of us are not happy that criticisms
are not answered in the strongest terms.


You mean like when questioned about his financial conflict
of interest, Vice President Cheney should say something like
"F&^& You!"

Oh wait, he did that.

I find it hard to believe that you don't think the Bush
Administration has reacted strongly enough to criticism.
What do you want them to do, shoot demonstrators & put
Democrats in concentration camps?

DSK