We have to ask the question:

Why did Romney cover his tracks?

He covers his tracks like a cat covers up their poop in a litter box. To hide the dirt and smell.

In the wild, cats cover their feces to prevent attracting attention of predators. Burying feces reduces odors and thismight be an important factor for the survival of the weaker individual that does not want to advertise his or he presence to others.

Well, if Romney wants to be chosen for the nomination, he better let someone know where he is. Oh, weaker. Yep, hide that smell.

If there wasn't anything to hide, there wouldn't have been a need to wipe the drives. What are you hiding, Mitt?

I thought, it is a well entrenched practice by all parties to destroy documents, e-mails etc at end of one’s term in office.

As for “transparency”, Romney’s administration would be no more or no less transparent than previous administrations. However, the recent history of 21^st century governments around the world would suggest that they are less and less transparent as time goes on. One explanation of this trend would suggest that world democracies are taking on “another shape”….is that progress?!

Probably his support for the homosexual pedophiles in the MDOE. (Mass. department of education) and other such things while he was governor.

Don't believe me? Here is the Proof.....

www.massresistance.org/docs/info/kbase/horror_stories

Now don't forget to put the http:// in front and the .html on the end.

Confidential information like job resumes? Since when are resumes confidential? Maybe if you are applying for some nefarious position involving an illegal act but wouldn't these people be applying for a position in public government?

Something smells rotten here and maybe its the storytelling. What if all Presidents of the US want to buy all the hard drives from their administration?...............................Hmmm, that Western Digital stock is looking better to me now.

Didn't we just go through this in 2008? Romney wasn't nominated by the republican party, because he was not the best candidate. I see where nothing has changed since then. So why is he the front runner now. and not in 2008? If he is the best that the republican party has to offer, we are in serious trouble.

Romney platform = "....and I promise to have the least transparent administration in US history".

OBXRon,

You are right. Something stinks here. Made worse by Romney's attempts to deflect it by saying Governor Patrick (the current MA governor) is colluding with Obama to make him look bad. While I don't doubt that this all came to light because somebody wanted dirt on Romney, it would be a non-issue if the data just existed!

I'll bet Romeny wishes he could erase every record of everything he has done or said in his history. That would leave him free to adjust his position on every topic as the mood strikes him.

Pretty funny concept for a guy running for president to say, "nothing I have ever said or done should be held against me or imply in anyway that I held a belief in the past."

(Backhouse) Why did Romney cover his tracks?

* * *

BECAUSE HE CAN ! ! ! Why does a man climb Mount Everest? BECAUSE HE CAN ! ! ! Just remember, he "recorded it" before he "erased it".

Mitt "Milhous" Romney has NOTHING TO HIDE and once these computers are completely erased, you will see. You will see, NOTHING.

eric: I don't believe it is possible for Romney to accomplish that. Just like Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken have their records enshrined and not likely to be surpassed, so too is Obama's record of the the least transparent administration in history. So, you I don't think you need worry yourself sick, Obama is safe for sure.

Did Romney erase his floppy drives and his flippy drives as well.

He scuffed his tracks because he didn't want anyone else to be able to read them. Does that mean he's hiding something? Of course. He claims he's proud of what he hid. Is he? Of course not. If he was he would have left it for all to see. Will this cause him diminution? Yes.

While it may smell fishy to some (and there could be something there). I think that its more likely that he made a political move to keep the other GOP candidates from looking to closely at his "not so hard core conservative" record as governor of Massachusetts.

Of course he can't say that, that would be giving his competition ammo as well.

Not defending the guy, just saying that it looks like a strategic move, rather than a nefarious one

Mr. Jones78: In the sunshine, Romneys record as Governor pretty well speaks for itself. Of course, all can argue the particular pros and cons as these suit their ilk. What cannot be argued though, are the ways and means employed by Romney and staff to accomplish what they wanted or didn't want, especially since He/They opted to erase the tracks of the trek. You could be correct, though I doubt it. Regards

Romney epitomizes what has become of big business. We can't blame him for this for it is done as standard practice in that world. And that world? It's not the world most know. And those that know it usually don't love it or live their lives by it... but some do... like Romney.

Big corporate business "standard" practices include: Sell PC's and/or hard drives to employees with a requirement to clean the drives to rid them of proprietary information, private information, and incriminating evidence (I added that last one).

Add to that a total disregard for people and their lives (the bottom line rules), a complete focus on the current quarter only and what Wall Street "thinks" of you "today", a complete disregard and an almost disincentive regarding any long term goals (we'll face it when it gets here), a complete focus on the success of you, the executive, a total disregard for truth versus what you need to say to get you through the day, and virtually no loyalty to your current company or the people you work with.

I know. I lived it.

I guess that's why Romney's a Republican?

Best of the seed, FG 2.0. I'm sure he got the flippy/floppy drives too. The more he erases, the less flippy/floppy material the press can throw out. It's too bad he can't erase everything he's said in front of a TV camera.

Besides, he initiated RomneyCare for a reason, and I'm sure it had nothing to do with making people healthy. Those drives probably have Big Insurance foot prints all over them, and if you check his cancelled checks, I bet you'd find some major league pay-to-play from the Health Care Industry there.

I find it interesting that he thought that this property was available for sale. Who decided that the state's property was his to sell to the employees? Don't state assets for sale go through some kind of government sale that everyone can participate in?

Oh God, another Nixon.

I remember about 6 months after the White Water investigation started, Congress declared 'there will be no more shredding of documents'.

All the necessary obstruction of justice had been taken care of by that time.

Politics as usual in the good ole US of A.

But, but, but, Pat, he has wanted to be the big guy for so long. It's okay to flip flop, lie and hide stuff to get what you want, right? *Sarcasm*

phinephancy, boy did Rahm Emanuel go after Willard BIG TIME tonight.

Lynn Sweet/Chicago Sun Times has a transcript of Rahm's speech tonite. It was beautiful. And it was honest. All he had to do was use Willard's own words.

President Obama will flatten him easily in their debates.

I will check it out. Really, President Obama can use Ted Kennedy's commercial when Romney was running for senate. (Is it me, or is Romney always running for something?) Have you seen the ad? Kennedy didn't have to use it, but I saw it one time on Hardball when Bob Schrumm was on.

Oh yeah, I saw the ad. And we'll be seeing more of it in the next year. Perfect timing with today's economy and the backlash against Wall Street that's happening all across the country.

You know Pat, I keep thinking about one part of Romney's answer about following the letter of the law. That is the excuse they are using at Penn State for JoePa.

Good Morning Pat!

Have I mentioned how proud I am of the job Rahm is doing as Mayor of the great city of Chicago? lol

I believe the country will be seeing a lot of him in 2016 - you heard it here first... ;o)

@Pat: Right on target--everyone knew Romney was just trying to gain the Governorship of Massachusettsas as a stepping stone. It was pretty transparent to many people. He said what he needed to say to get voted in.

Massachusetts has a recent history of voting in moderate Republican governors.Why? Massachusetts voters are pretty savvy; they recognize the need for a balance in a heavily liberal/democrat leaning state.

Romney has miscalculated though. Conservatives don't trust him because of the moderate stances he took to get elected as Governor. They tie him to Obamacare (I hate that term) as well.

He clearly is slippery. His suggestion that there may have been personal records (medical, resumes, etc.) is pretty lame.

I'm looking forward to more on this story.

Mike Huckabee destroyed his governor and staff's administration documents and hard drives prior to leaving the governor's office.

I find this extremely alarming in that these documents belong to the 'state and the citizens of the state'. They are not 'his personal' belongings. They contain the records of how the state was run, etc. If you had as issue ongoing with the State, it seems you would have to start all over again.

The flushing noise you hear in the distance is the sound of yet another Republican candidate disappearing into the GOP cesspool. It looks like they'll be running out of these losers before too long. It may get so bad the RNC will be forced to recruit potential candidates at gunpoint! Dang!

Exactly and it is no different in the private sector, computers at work are for work not personal business and they reserve the right to look at what is being done with their computers and e-mail systems.

You guys crack me up. This is all you've got?

My husband's company ENCOURAGES employees to buy their work computers every time they upgrade. Why?

Don't tell me you've never gotten personal email at work.

Yes, companies usually have a policy that enables them to look at the computers- but that is different than selling the computers on the open market, where clever thieves can pull credit card information from hard drives, making life miserable for the person who did Christmas shopping on-line from a desk during lunch hour.

Drop the holier than thou attitudes.

I'll tell you- if this is the best you can do, give up right now. You cannot defend Obama, so you will inflate "nothing" into "something", and hope that works.

Change is coming.

no joe: First, this article was not about President Obama; there is nothing in the article about President Obama to defend. Secondly, no, I have never received, nor have I sent, personal email. As I stated, as a teacher, any files that I stored on my hard drive or emails that I received or sent were in the public domain, so I did not want any of my personal information readily available for public view. Additionally, I possess a strong work ethic and do not attend to personal activities while at work.

Why does your husband's company encourage employees to buy their work computers every time they upgrade? I don't know. That certainly is not a practice of which I'm aware.

"Inflate "nothing" into "something" you state. Maybe it is nothing. However, for all employees to "buy" their hard drives certainly gives pause.

no joe,

Romney is blaming Obama for colluding with Governor Patrick (his successor as governor of MA) in an effort to try and smear him. Romney needs to man up and take responsibility for his actions as governor. He is accountable for the destruction of those records, whether he gave the order or not.

As for encouraging employees to buy their own computers, it sounds more like the company is trying to save a buck. Which is totally fine in a small business. But large organizations (including government) have a department devoted to computers and managing the information on them. Not only do these larger organizations get volume discounts on computers, the system administrators save themselves a lot of effort by having a single type of computer that can be universally swapped like for like with another. So if you get a broken computer, just bring a new one to the employee's desk and have them up and running in minutes like it never happened.

I have to wonder why the Romney administration tried so hard to avoid using the IT service it was paying about $2 million per year for. A government IT service knows how to deal with confidential information. And I know I don't buy cell phone contracts, immediately throw the cell phone in a drawer, never use it, and still pay the bill that comes every month.

One question for all the liberals that are making a big deal out of nothing. Did Romney break any laws, has the State Attorney General investigated Romney for any violations of Mass laws? If not it would appear that this is just another witch hunt by the left. Those posting above won't vote for Romney even if he wins the Republican Primary so just throwing up smoke screens to try and make themselves feel knowledgeable.

Yes, he and his merry band of crooks and cheats no doubt broke laws on the PROPER procedure for disposing of GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. A number of other MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES have said that it IS ILLEGAL to sell GOVERNMENT PROPERTY outside normal channels of disposal. Those drives were GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, something even that slimy wall street crook mittens admits is a FACT. And, he has admitted allowing his bunch of thugs and crooks and pedophiles to "buy" said drives OUTSIDE the LEGAL disposal channels of the requirement of Massachusetts' state law. Therefore, the slimy mittens and his merry band of thugs has admitted themselves to be GUILTY of misappropiating state property, or theft of said property.

It's hard to see how this is a witch hunt from the left or anywhere else. The current administration has been getting requests (from lots of people, presumably) for documents from Gov. Romney's time. And they have said (and no one disputes) that they have no records -- that the Romney administration bought hard drives and wiped out all electronic records. Some people find that alarming, some don't. Where do you see witch hunt?

You can try to defend it Sarge and NJ and call it a smokescreen or witch-hunt or whatever but it is far from SOP for the handling of state government documents or property, there is no disputing that. He has opened the door for criticism by his own actions, and his explanation is mighty weak. But you are right about one thing, I would never vote for him in any case, because he is not a real republican, as he is not a Christian, he is just fake about everything.

Forrest,

How are you today? I am not defending Romney I am just pointing out that it seems only the left is complaining about this. He hasn't been governor for some years and I don't remember this being a big issue 4 years ago when he ran in the primary.

Thanks for asking Sarge, not so great maybe, I had a large tumor removed, and it seems I most likely have cancer, I'll know more about just what I am up against when the pathology reports come back early next week, but it don't look good. I do feel better than I did a week ago, in fact I am feeling better by the hour. Yeah this is the first I heard of it as well, but this is the season, and with the constant bashing of the president for three years I don't see democrats as having any reason to pull any punches they may throw at republican candidates. It may not be a big deal and I guess nobody will ever really know what info may have been destroyed, but it sure seems outside the normal procedure for handling government documents, even the most mundane government documents always seem to be protected and preserved. I know you are a football fan I hope your team wins today.

I am so sorry to hear about your health issues Forrest!

I will keep a candle burning for you...

Know you are in my thoughts & please keep us posted...

Well thank you very much Fiesty my friend, I was not going to say anything, and after I posted I kind of wished I hadn't, but it is a hard thing to put out of your mind, and it kind of just popped out. I tried to keep Mrs. Grump in the dark until I had all the details and prognosis but that became impossible, she just knew something was wrong even before I had to schedule surgery, and started playing twenty questions, until I fessed up. How in the hell do you women do that? I swear she could have been a police interrogator. I could not sneak out of Central Park if I was a blade of grass. I at least got her to promise not to tell any of our Grumpsters until I know exactly what the deal is going to be, they will be pissed, but tough sh!t, I don't want them to have to be upset until I know more. I'll be ok because I got just the Grumpy, pissy attitude it takes to run this crap off, cancer will not have much fun at my expense, I promise.

Forrest,

I'm glad you decided to share the news with us, after all of our years here on FR, we have been through the up's & down's in the game called 'Life'!

Waiting for the results is by far the worst part, but in my heart Forrest,I am confident that if anyone can beat it, it would be YOU!

You're plain too ornery to let it get the best of ya! ;o)

Plus, you have that fabulous lady by your side known as Mrs. Grump!

Keep your chin up & know we are here for support...

*hugs my friend*

Forrest: Let me join Feisty in adding my best wishes and prayers for a good outcome. You are an absolute treasure, and an important part of First Read. We all look forward to reading what you have to say.

Will be thinking of you, my friend.

Thank you Fiesty, and you are correct I would be lost without "Lotta Grump" the love of my life.

Forrest----will keep you and all the Grumps in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you all, for your thoughtful concern, you have managed to embarrass me, and that's not easy, thank you.

Forrest don't generally chime in on the weekends much but couldn't help myself. You and "Lotta" hang tough. In the meantime the Hill folk will keep a candle burning for you. If there's anything we can do besides hopes and prayers for a good outcome you have but to ask and we'll do our best to make it happen for you.

Hey there Forrest...yes, please keep us posted. While it is unnerving to find out ANYTHING may be wrong healthwise, there still is the possibility that it may be benign, correct?

eep the great posts coming, and give 'em hell, Sir...give 'em hell.

Dang, Gump! I am so sorry to read of your illness. I genuinely hope you can beat it and recover fully! Hang in there and know there are many people who are keeping you in their thoughts!

Forrest, you have my thoughts and prayers in this difficult situation. Best of luck and we'll be thinking of you.

Thank You all, I'll be here, I'm not bailing out on anybody, and besides I have some good news as well. I have been invited to go to Washington DC and do some work directly for the International organization of my Local union early next year, it is one of the greatest honors and privileges of my career, to be able to serve the membership in that scope and capacity. While everything just all happened at once with the good news and the bad news, I am not going to miss out on that, no way, no matter what. With modern technology I can travel back and forth as necessary and do most of my work at home or wherever. I have a chance to make a positive impact on a national basis for a lot of young members and that is exactly what I intend to do. Soon I won't be blogging so much because I am going to be as busy as a one eyed dog in a sausage shop.

Thank You All Again For Your Thoughtful Concern, I Have Many Blessings.

Fraternally Yours

Forrest Grump

Looks like the Man Upstairs may have shut a door and opened up a window for you Forrest. First time I've heard that Dog thing. Would that be kin to a one-armed Paper-Hanger with the Hives maybe.

[I have been invited to go to Washington DC and do some work directly for the International organization of my Local union early next year...]

Sounds like a great opportunity, Forrest...Good luck!

Union Strong, brother...Union Strong

Forrest, Sorry to hear about your illness and my prayers are with you. Keep the faith and everything will come out on the bright side.

BTW, my football teams came out the way I wanted them. Thanks

Forrest, let me know if you need anything. You are in my prayers. I will say a rosary for you!

Wow I have so many wonderful people pulling for me I can't miss, I won't miss. I never expected anything like this, until now I only told my wife, my brother, and his daughter who is an MD, I did not want to make all my family and friends face what I was maybe not ready to fully face. I'm good to go now, thank you for your prayers, I promise I will work hard to be worthy of your friendship and kindness.

You won't have to work hard at all, big guy: you are more than worthy of our respect and friendship already! You just need to take it easy and concentrate on the things that are the most important to you and your family right now, okay?

Best wishes and hopes that they will be able to fight this thing with the help of your moxie Forrest.

Don't be afraid to go abroad if you feel our doctors here don't give you the answers you like to hear.

Somewhere there is a solution.

The Gerson's Diet may be one of them.

You are a unique person, and I am too hooked on your humor and introspection to give it up now. I'm confident I'll be reading you for years to come.

Please be well. Write us. Share with us. Keep us engaged with you, and know our best wishes are with you now.

Your partner in the fight.

GOPis

Forrest, let me join my friends in wish you a good diagnosis and a wonderful outcome.

We are all pulling for you! Hugs from the Midwest!

Forrest: A big congratulations on the job. I know you will do an outstanding job for them, and you deserve their trust.

It always seems funny to me, how important people on First Read become. You are someone I greatly admire, I love your sense of humor. But most of all, I love how you love your family. Your voice of experience with the union perspective is vital just now.

Don't be afraid to vent to us if you need to. As well as tell us about your adventures in your job!

Peace and strength.

Hey Forrest, Best wishes and prayers from the other side of the aisle....

Stay well and safe...

Thank you Egilman, I greatly appreciate that, you are very kind. Ha I was affraid the whole other side of the aisle had little Forrest Grump voodoo dolls they were kicking in the ass and sticking with pins! Thanks again Egilman.

Forrest, I have always admired your style. Best wishes and hope for a speedy recovery!

Thank you Cynthia's Point!

Well at least Cain knows the difference between right and wrong. If he does or says it.............its right. If anyone else questions what he says or does...........that's wrong!

There you are, maybe Romney has a lot of that same philosophy also, you think?

Yeah damnit let's see the records. While were at it let's see Obama's transcripts and his passport from his visit to Pakistan in the early 80's.

DEMAND THE RECORDS ALL OF THEM

Power to the people

I have emails from 1996. Retaining records isn't hard unless you don't want them to be found. Romney was my former governor. Everybody, and I mean everybody, knew he was just checking off the box "governor of a state" on his way to running for president. That's why he appealed to MA voters with a moderate stance, and has since slid as far right as he could to appeal to Republican voters nationwide. Pandering at its finest. I hope people aren't that stupid.

I hope people aren't that stupid.

Pragmatic.

People ARE that stupid.

yep people are that stupid, not only did they vote for bush, they bought that whole hope and change thingy also.....

People are repeatably stupid....

rainman,

The Obama administration has been very transparent. Example: Obama's FCC chairwoman approved the Comcast/NBC merger. Not 6 weeks later, she takes a high level, high paying position at Comcast. Even a 5 year old could connect those dots.

Seems like a lot of that same practice of DO NOT GET CAUGHT is going around in banks, financial firms, universities, the military, and who knows where else it will show up again next (and when you do quote "Letter of the law" or "I can't recall" ) .

"Do not get caught" is how you become successful. If you're a law abiding, up-right, moral citizen, you cannot be successful.

How do you know that Gov. Romney did nothing wrong or illegal? How do you know that Gov. Perry or Gov. Huntsman or Rep. Gingrich has done nothing wrong or illegal? Or President Obama or President George W. Bush? One relies upon documentation and sound reporting in order to verify "official" information. If Governor Romney has had documentation of his time in office destroyed, we only have his word that he did nothing wrong or illegal. That is what happens in a dictatorship, not in a representative democracy.

Chuck,

Being legal does not mean being right. If Romney wants my vote, he has to demonstrate he's a good leader. Good leaders don't destroy records and blame the new guy for making them look bad, as Romney has done. I didn't vote for him in '02, I didn't vote for him in '08, and I'm certainly not going to vote for him in '12. In '02 I knew he just wanted to be "governor of a state" to run for president. By '08 I knew what kind of leader he was, a guy who will say or do anything to get elected.

What he and his pack of personal thugs did WAS illegal - they STOLE government property, to whit the harddrives in question. That they "donated" $65 is beside the point, State government employees have already come out and said that proper methods for the disposal of government property were NOT followed, which means thse drives were STOLEN.

Charge them all with theft of government property.

You are so right, just once it would be nice to hear an explanation instead of deny and divert from the issues.