newsobserver.com projects - Don't bother sending an e-mail - Comments

Re: Don't bother sending an e-mail

bkrueger — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:33:05 -0400

No, that's a different Liz Riley.

Re: Don't bother sending an e-mail

Isaac136 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:30:29 -0400

Oh please. How was this entry hard on poor Franklin? And why, oh please tell me why citizens should be cutting anyone in the Easley administration slack at this point? The Governor has all but flipped his middle finger at the state when confronted with his disregard for the open meetings and public records laws that he is supposed to be upholding.

Will Franklin Freeman's integrity produce something meaningful or will we be treated to a rehash of what is already known and practiced in state government by way of storing emails? I can see it now, Franklin standing at the flip chart featuring a cartoon character looking frustrated at an inbox full of emails. Franklin will stand there with a laser pointer, all wide-eyed and making cute jokes about how to turn computers on and off. Then this committee will produce guidelines. Then the guidelines will be disseminated. More meetings. More jokes about double-deleting, no doubt. Ha. Ha. Ha.

None of it will make a bit of difference when the Governor's Office calls the agency and gives the guy at the other end of the phone to understand that Easley wants this or that document to get lost.

Franklin Freeman's reputation, deserved or not, is a prop in this case, meant to lend dignity to a cynical charade.

Re: Don't bother sending an e-mail

orr2008 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:35:31 -0400

Cut Franklin some slack. I served with him on the Supreme Court and consider him a close friend. I have total confidence in his integrity. One question however. Is Liz Riley, Easley's deputy counsel, the Liz Riley married to N&O editor Steve Riley?

Re: Don't bother sending an e-mail

jerimee — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:22:58 -0400

It is important that Franklin Freeman is on the committee because he’s a virtual proxy for the governor. Franklin also has a proven track record of being able to bring consensus building on issues.

On budget and tax issues, if Gov. Easley sends Dan Gerlach, it means he’s serious about the issue.

Similarly, if the governor sends Franklin, then it’s an issue of great concern. He is old-fashioned, but no less capable of handling this.

As far as the Civitas spam goes, I encourage Civitas, in its role as a partisan organization to fully disclose its donors and pay its taxes. Until then the GOP front has no business talking about transparency.

Re: Don't bother sending an e-mail

fdeluca — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:10:27 -0400

The "committee" Freeman chairs is not representative of the interest of the people of North Carolina - it is representative of the interests of government. Easley e-mail panel eclipses Sunshine Week

Don't bother sending an e-mail

bkrueger — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:11:55 -0400

Franklin Freeman, Gov. Mike Easley's senior assistant for government affairs, said today that people who want to speak at the public hearing before the governor's newly appointed committee on retaining e-mails as public records should not send him e-mail to reserve a slot.

"My children are besides themselves with laughter because I don't even know how to cut a computer on," Freeman said of the reaction at his home after Easley picked him to chair the committee, reports Michael Biesecker.

"I do not communicate by e-mail. I receive it. I have an e-mail address to receive it, but I'm still one of the old-fashioned folks that communicates by telephone or face to face."

The public hearing is scheduled for April 3 at 9:30 a.m. in the Administration Building on Jones Street in Raleigh

Those wanting to speak can sign up when they arrive, or register in advance by calling Freeman at 733-6184. They can also e-mail committee member Liz Riley, Easley's deputy legal counsel, at liz.riley@ncmail.net.