To ensure that all signing statements previously issued are followed only when consistent with these principles, executive branch departments and agencies are directed to seek the advice of the Attorney General before relying on signing statements issued prior to the date of this memorandum as the basis for disregarding, or otherwise refusing to comply with, any provision of a statute.

Story on NYTimes

The Obama administration threw open the curtain on years of Bush-era secrets Monday, revealing anti-terror memos that claimed exceptional search-and-seizure powers and divulging that the CIA destroyed nearly 100 videotapes of interrogations and other treatment of terror suspects.

The Justice Department released nine legal opinions showing that, following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Bush administration determined that certain constitutional rights would not apply during the coming fight. Within two weeks, government lawyers were already discussing ways to wiretap U.S. conversations without warrants.

Story by Huffingtonpost.com

• Obama To Launch Website For Tracking Tax Expenditures

internationalflights tips news that Barack Obama, in his first weekly address as President, has mentioned plans to set up a website for tracking “how and where we spend taxpayer dollars.” Details about the website, Recovery.gov, are available within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (PDF). The website “shall provide data on relevant economic, financial, grant, and contract information in user-friendly visual presentations to enhance public awareness of the use funds made available in this Act,” and will also “provide a means for the public to give feedback on the performance of contracts awarded for purposes of carrying out this Act.” The site itself currently contains a placeholder until the passage of the Act.
- Story on Slashdot

• Obama breaks from Bush, avoids divisivenes.

Barack Obama opened his presidency by breaking sharply from George W. Bush’s unpopular administration, but he mostly avoided divisive partisan and ideological stands. He focused instead on fixing the economy, repairing a battered world image and cleaning up government.
- Story on MSNBC

Link to the order on whitehouse.gov

Short summary: after Richard Nixon’s unpleasant presidency, Congress took steps to open up the office of the President a little bit. Records were to be withheld for 12 years and then generally disclosed to the public, subject to all the usual FOIA limitations for stuff that has some real reason to remain secret.

Shrub, upon taking office, was supposed to disclose the records of Ronald Reagan’s presidency (and then, the records of his father’s Presidency). Since these records will undoubtedly reflect poorly on Ronald “I cannot recall a damn thing about the Iran Contra affair” Reagan, Shrub declined to do so.

Obama is restoring the status quo ante, the state of affairs that predated Bush. We can presume that Reagan’s and Bush Sr.’s records will now finally become available; various political reporters will be sending in their FOIA requests tomorrow.

Thanks ‘jellicle’ from reddit