Chertoff Visit Update*

Very interesting.

Citing "a reliable source," yours truly posted the item below about a Vermont visit on Wednesday by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff shortly after 8 a.m. this morning. We also emailed and called Gov. Jim Douglas' Press Secretary Jason Gibbs.

No response from Jason.

Still.

Then just before noon, the Vermont Democratic Party Executive Director Jill Krowinski put out this:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Douglas must ask Chertoff serious questions Wednesday

Montpelier, Vt- Today Vermonters learned that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be meeting with Governor Douglas in Williston tomorrow.  This gives the Governor an opportunity to ask important questions on behalf of Vermonters, such as:

1.  There are no federal funds to pay for the enhanced driver's license program.  How much will this program cost the State of Vermont?  Will thef ederal government provide funds? Implementation of the enhanced driver's license program is scheduled for November 2008, but Secretary Chertoff has
insisted on use of passports for crossing the U.S.-Canada border by June 2008.  Since Secretary Chertoff is insisting on passports by June 2008, how will an enhanced driver's license benefit Vermonters 5 months later?

Four more of Krowinsky the Director's questions right here. 

# # #

Then we heard the location of Chertoff's 2 p.m. presser with GOP Gov. Scissorhands had been changed - from Williston to Burlington. And The Associated Press Montpeculiar bureau put out this story:

Homeland Security chief in Vermont Wednesday

MONTPELIER, Vt. --Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be in Burlington Wednesday to sign a memorandum of understanding with the state for the creation of enhanced drivers' licenses that could be used as identification to cross the Canadian border.

Prior to the public event, Chertoff will meet privately with Gov. Jim Douglas and the two will discuss border security issues important to Vermonters.

The public meeting will be at the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicle office in Burlington's North Avenue.

Many Vermonters are concerned that stricter border requirements could hurt businesses that rely on Canadians.

Vermont is working on a license that will include radio frequency ID chips and other features that can be scanned at the border. The license will cost more than a standard driver's license, but will be less expensive than a passport...

Can't wait for the Presidential visit, can you?

Didn't hear a peep about tomorrow's visit by Secretary Chertoff from Marselis Parsons or Kristin Kelly on the WCAX-TV News at Six.

The top story on WGOP, "Vermont's Own" "award-winning" TV news was a moose getting shot by wildlife officers in Burlington.

I'm not making this up....

**************************************************

IT'S OFFICIAL. This went out from Gov. Douglas' office at 7:47 p.m.:

Burlington, Vt. – Governor Jim Douglas and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff tomorrow will participate in a joint signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on Enhanced Drivers Licenses.

WHEN:  Wednesday, September 26, 2007 – 2:20 p.m.

WHERE: Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, Burlington Office 193 North Avenue

INFO:   Media setup begins at 1:45 p.m.

            Signing of the MOA will occur promptly at 2:20 pm.  It is recommended that journalists be on sight and set up by 2:00 p.m.

            Journalists may be asked to present media credentials or valid government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license or passport.

Comments

[Lisa Crean]

"Journalists may be asked to present media credentials or valid government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license or passport."

Don't forget your ID, Peter! You're certainly on Homeland Security's Journalist Watch List! Maybe while you're at the presser, one of Chertoff's minions will slap a handy "radio frequency ID chip" on you--better to keep Inside Track on you?!

[Vinny]

Lisa - I was going to write something similar.

Yes, let's make sure we'll be offering a form of ID that people will end up paying more money for in the near future when "something better" as dictated by others comes along. You know journalists (as well as most Vermonters) have SOOOO much money to spare (written quite sarcastically).

Hey - at least Douglas' office made the press release at 7:47pm...I suppose with the way our politics and our media work, we should be thankful they made a release at all, right?

~V.

[kitchen talker]

"It is recommended that journalists be on sight and set up by 2:00 p.m."

On sight, eh? Does that mean a retina scan would suffice?

[HumanResourcer]

I hear HR Comm. Linda McIntire is setting up a table at the event to discuss Douglas Administration mouthpiece career options with all members of the media. Don't believe the hype Peter!

[JPC]

What is wrong with requiring people to have proper identification to enter this country? I don't get it. No one is forcing you to get this enhanced liscence, which is ridiculous in the first place, since everyone should have just gotten a passport and gotten it over with.

As for the Dems questions, 1.) there are no federal funds for this. If you want to leave and reenter this country that is your choice and you need to buy a passport of enhanced driver liscence. 2.) This will cost the State nothing, since it is the obligation of the individual. No there are no federal funds for this, does the federal or state gov't pay for you passport so you can vacation in Aruba?

[anonymous source]

This will cost the State something. There is no way that the additional charge will cover the actual expense. On number 1 you are correct. On number 2 you are confused.

As for the Dems questions, 1.) there are no federal funds for this. If you want to leave and reenter this country that is your choice and you need to buy a passport of enhanced driver liscence. 2.) This will cost the State nothing, since it is the obligation of the individual. No there are no federal funds for this, does the federal or state gov't pay for you passport so you can vacation in Aruba?

[JPC]

Thanks Anonymous Source, you bring up a great point, this is going to cost the state money. Stop it right now and just make everybody get passports.

[anonymous]

The issue with these cards has nothing to do with cost or usefulness. The issue is that they can be abused in ways that erode our rights and freedoms as citizens of a democracy. Even if abuse is unlikely, it's still possible. Implementing such a system leaves innocent people open to abuse by unscrupulous people of any political stripe.

Nothing about giving everyone a little card that tracks our every movement will get in the way of a terrorist. We can protect ourselves by doing good old fashioned police work and by taking seriously the warnings of the intelligence services that an attack is imminent. We do not need to pave any new paths to enable the abuse of power.

Here's a little commentary from someone who grew up in WWII Germany:
It doesn’t seem to have occurred to the author (or to Tony Blair and his supporters, for that matter), that as a government becomes more and more oppressive, people have more and more reason not to want to be identified by it, indeed, to have their government know nothing whatever about them. For as a government more and more prohibits behavior that is both peaceful and advantageous to people, and more and more compels behavior that is against the interests of people, there will necessarily be more and more violations of its ever growing body of laws and regulations. In such circumstances, the easier it is for the government to identify and find the violators, the more effective is its oppression. By the same token, the less the government knows about its citizens, the greater is their freedom from it and thus the greater their ability to pursue their happiness.

Of course, today we have a problem of terrorism. And many people are prepared to accept such a thing as national identity cards in the belief that they are necessary to combat terrorism. It does not seem to have occurred to such people, that the terrorists who pose a serious problem are those supported by foreign governments and that they will soon be equipped with identity cards that are good enough forgeries to make the system worthless as a means of protection. The people who will be stopped by the system will not be terrorists but innocent citizens, seeking to evade unjust laws and regulations.

The United States and Great Britain defeated Nazi Germany in World War II. It is disgraceful that they are they now on the road toward importing this vicious feature of that regime, and that there is as yet so little opposition to it.

For a fascinating history of such identity documents see "Papers, Please" by Cowdery and Cowdery:

http://www.amazon.com/Papers-Please-Identity-Documents-Authorizations/dp/0910667365

These licenses should not be issued at all. This is not the Fatherland, it is America. We believe in freedom.

[JPC]

Of course, nobody is forcing anybody to get this card. It IS a choice.

And what ways might it be abused?

[bigbadbrad]

Just renewed my passport today. they say the processing time is back to normal levels. We'll see about that.

[Vinny]

Brad - don't hold your breath...STILL waiting for my passport renewal. "Normal processing" time, huh? Glad payment of my fees are paying for salaries of people who continue to jerk us around.

~V.