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Jeb Bush Publishes Thousands of Citizens' Email Addresses

Posted by timothy on from the public-records-now dept.

blottsie writes Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush hasn't even yet formally declared his desire to run for president in 2016, but he's already started what appears to be a major privacy blunder. His new project, the Jeb Emails, a massive, open database of correspondence to and from his jeb@jeb.org email address, publishes the full names, messages, and email addresses of his constituents who emailed him during his eight years in office.

34 of 255 comments (clear)

  1. Oops! by riverat1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not a good start.

    1. Re:Oops! by lgw · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Jeb is very much the GOP "establishment" candidate, loved by those already in power and almost no one else (though I though he was great as governor of Florida, especially in the 4-hurricaine year, I think he's completely the wrong guy for president). The conservative base isn't rooting for Jeb, to be sure.

      At the national level, few on the right really care that much about social issues right now, unless you want to consider "immigration" a social issue. Foreign policy, economic growth, and government spending are the focus, and Jeb brings nothing to that except "same old same old" (which of course is why the existing GOP power structure loves him).

      Scot Walker is the current guy the right is rooting for, or "Mr Scott" as the NYT recently called him (they don't even know his name, but they're against him!), though we've yet to hear much from him on foreign policy and it's early yet.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    2. Re:Oops! by jriding · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I am not a fan of the current republicans but I don't see how this is a bad thing. He is in public office. Any communication involving his position should be available by FOIA. So how is this bad again?

      At least we can see when he says "hey shut down that bridge in NJ" or "I will let you write the law and I will say I wrote it if you pay me $25,000"

      --
      love the taste, hate the texture
    3. Re:Oops! by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 2

      The level of transparency is certainly commendable, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum.

      The error, apparently, was in failing to properly review for and redact personally identifiable information (such as SSNs) from the emails.

    4. Re:Oops! by jordanjay29 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm not sure that the email addresses, SSN, and other personal information of his constituent citizens should be publicized. Names, fine, cities of residence, okay, but that's about it. Yes, you can still identify the person (and that should be the point from a FOIA standpoint) but it won't easily translate into harassment, identity theft, or other nasty things that people can do from halfway around the world.

    5. Re:Oops! by lgw · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Ah, but I'm guessing you're a Democrat anyhow?

      The conservative base has grown quite tired of "establishment candidates" that are inoffensive to the Democratic base, or the mainstream media (but I repeat myself). This is primary season, and for once I have a bit of hope that we'll get a conservative candidate who's fiscally conservative, instead of someone who pleases the current crop DC lobbyists and pork-senders. Walker has proven that he's willing to ignore 100% negative media coverage and do what he sees as right, when it comes to cutting spending. A shocking idea for a national candidate, I know, but the right-wing base understands that any possible GOP candidate will get 100% negative media coverage, regardless of actual views, so it's about time we get someone who isn't trying to please the press, and is instead trying to govern effectively.

      Obviously, if you favor government spending and increased federal power, you'll hate Walker, but it's about damn time we as a nation had a chance to vote on that basis, rather than choose between the 2 big spenders who differ only on social issues.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    6. Re:Oops! by lgw · · Score: 2, Insightful

      LOL, Walker doesn't know anything about foreign policy so he'll have to make up some positions quick!

      Every governor will have this problem. Senators can bring some foreign policy experience, but typically have no experience as an executive, and tend to not be good at getting things done (plus good luck finding one who's credible as a fiscal conservative without "Paul" in his name).

      I think a GOP candidate can do fine as long as he has some clear positions he can explain on foreign policy issues, even if he stumbles on ambush questions about east Elbonia. There's don't seem to be any Dem candidates on deck who will be credible on foreign policy anyhow, but then of course it's still early in primary season, and we likely haven't seen all the contenders yet on ether side.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    7. Re:Oops! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Show me a Republican who doesn't spend, spend, spend and I'll show you a unicorn. Oh you mean *this* time they really mean it? GOP voters have Stockholm syndrome. Not only does the GOP spend, the reasoning they give for cutting spending is all wrong. You don't run a business like a household and you certainly don't run a nation like one. That's a line for fools.

      Spending actually boosts the economy, not that the GOP voters would know any better. Spend when depressed, raise taxes during the boom. If you are business and your sales are down, you spend on advertising, R&D or whatever it takes to get income up. You certainly don't spend less. I mean you could, but you won't be around for long.

      Besides, why do you think China is such a powerhouse? The government subsidizes it's industry, among other things. It's certainly not because they're laissez faire.

      Where do I stand? Until things get better, I'm voting out the incumbent in every seat, in every election.

    8. Re:Oops! by Nethead · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So the assumed front runner for the Democrats isn't credible when speaking about foreign policy? Not saying she's the best for the job, and you may not agree with her policy ideas, but her being a First Lady, a Senator, and a Secretary of State, you have to give her some foreign policy chops. Much more than any state governor may have.

      I will give Jeb some chops just for hanging with dad and W, but not much.

      --
      -- I have a private email server in my basement.
    9. Re:Oops! by lgw · · Score: 2

      US foreign policy has been an unmitigated disaster for the past few years. It's hard to think of a time when we've done so poorly on the world stage, though Carter maybe ties. I don't see how Hillary can put enough distance between her and the administration she was a part of, even with the mainstream news being 100% in the bag for her. Experience? Definitely. But credibility requires successful experience.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    10. Re:Oops! by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      Mr. Walker is so out of touch with his own state, I can't imagine how he could effectively lead a nation.

      So far he has won three statewide elections (including the recall), so I don't think he is too "out of touch".

    11. Re:Oops! by jordanjay29 · · Score: 3, Funny

      The ability to win elections is not an indication of whether a candidate is a good fit for her/his constituents. See also: Michelle Bachmann.

    12. Re:Oops! by cavreader · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The problem is that the people with the skill set needed to be a good President never run or get anywhere near politics. Being a US President is a nightmare of a job. Non-stop 24/7 scrutiny and shrill demands from both foes and friends. Unrealistic expectations and never ending criticism over every decision or statement made. The most critical part of being a good President is choosing the right inner circle policy advisers. These advisers are selected with very little or no legislative review process and they are the ones the President relies on to provide the information need to make wise decisions. These advisers have an enormous amount of influence on the President. Obama has been poorly served by his advisers. He ended up with to many relatively inexperienced idealists who have made the President look hesitant and indecisive on just about every major decision made.

    13. Re:Oops! by Optali · · Score: 2, Funny

      And in the EU we will celebrate!

      It's already high time that you get your GOP back into office, the Dollar is way to high, you are creating way too much jobs and Mr O'Bahma does nto provide us with the level of comedy the world expects of an US president.

      Dubya set the stakes very high, IMHO the only thing that could match his performance would be one of these teabaggers. I think that an ideal inauguration would be the guy openly carrying an AK-47 and a baseball hat screaming "Yeeehaaa" while emptying a magazine (into the air or into an appropriately situated choir of first-graders).

      God Save the USA!!! (I'm running for popcorn)

      --
      -- 29A the number of the Beast
    14. Re:Oops! by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

      Her problem is she has a track record. A terrible track record of incompetence.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    15. Re:Oops! by cptdondo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's called trickle down, and it has never, ever worked. Not once. If it did, we would be swimming in jobs. Heck, we'd be drowning in jobs.

      Canada has much higher taxes than the US, and they also have a wealthier middle class, much more vacation time, better benefits, public health care, a year's parental leave, all those things that are supposed to crush the economy.

      Guess what - the Canadian middle class is better off than the American middle class. But keep dreaming that you can cut and starve your way to health.

    16. Re:Oops! by Kierthos · · Score: 2

      He's not blaming current Christians. He's saying that if we're going to make the fallacy of blaming the Islam religion for all sorts of shit, we have to admit that the history of Christianity isn't exactly all warm fuzzy bunnies either.

      And let's face it, when you have idiots like Eric Bolling saying that followers of every other religion (besides Islam) have never killed anyone in the name of religion, well, yeah, apparently we need to be reminded that they have.

      --
      Mr. Hu is not a ninja.
    17. Re:Oops! by cptdondo · · Score: 2

      Seriously? Reagan drove the US into a financial crater. He wasted billions and billions on Sgt York, the 600 ship navy, Star Wars, and his recovery fas fueled by reckless deficit spending. The tax cuts were a small part of that.

      We needed someone like Reagan at the time; we needed a "feel good" president. He delivered. But like any wild party, the hangover was pretty severe.

    18. Re:Oops! by Calavar · · Score: 2

      Come on buddy, you want to lecture us about drinking the Kool Aid, but the very same link you provided to "prove" that Reaganomics worked shows that real wages fell almost 10% during the Reagan administration. So yes, the economy expanded, but none of it trickled down. It all stayed in the robber barons' pockets. And that's the problem that the US has been facing for the past thirty years: not a lack of growth, but a lack of advancement for the middle-class.

    19. Re:Oops! by Jahoda · · Score: 2

      Well first, no one attributes the economic expansion of the 1980s with trickle-down economics. Literally nobody of any importance in the field of economics.

      And, If you believe that trickle down policies were responsible for the 1980s economy, your position is equally the same to me as an anti-vaxxer or a climate change denier. You believe in fantasy.

      Second, for a current example of those same "cut taxes results in boom" ridiculous ideas in action today, you need only look as far as the state of Kansas, who now have a two billion dollar deficit directly caused by lowering the income tax. Unsurprisingly, increased revenue did not result.

  2. not to defend this but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you're sending an email to the government and expect it not to be subject to foia, maybe you should think again.

    This disclosure appears in his signature on most of the messages I looked at...

    Please note: Florida has a very broad public records law.
    Most written communications to or from state officials
    regarding state business are public records available to the
    public and media upon request. Your e-mail communications
    may therefore be subject to public disclosure.

    1. Re:not to defend this but... by dwywit · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Didn't the article state that it was email sent to jeb@jeb.org ?

      Doesn't look like a government domain. Admittedly, he's a very public figure, but he took the step of establishing a non-government domain for these emails. Perhaps you should look at the privacy policy of jeb.org to establish whether publishing contact details is OK or not.

      --
      They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
    2. Re:not to defend this but... by Bite+The+Pillow · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It this were FOIA, I'd defend you. But no, it's not. It's about Jeb releasing mails to Jeb.

      "Mails to Jeb released in response to FOIA" is a FUCKTON different from "Jeb releases everything for apparently no real reason."

      FOIA has a protocol to classify or hide information as appropriate. Jeb does not have such a protocol.

      Your idiotic post said that Jeb = FOIA, and you should be kicked in the gender-specific gonads or, lacking those, appropriately burned in strategic places for suggesting such.

      FOIA is a risk that people who communicate with their elected, or otherwise, official, take. Jeb deciding to repeat everything, verbatim, available to spammers and citizen vigilantes, without any relevant FOIA request, is a completely different thing. It's a completely different fucking ballpark.

      "Aint no f*ckin' ballpark neither. Now look, maybe your method of massage differs from mine, but, you know, touchin' his wife's feet and stickin your tongue in the holiest of holies aint the same f*ckin' ballpark, it ain't the same league, it ain't even the same f*ckin' sport. Look, foot massages don't mean shit."

  3. It Get's Worse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Update in the article:

    The Verge has uncovered emails that contain Social Security numbers, home addresses, and other personal information from Floridians.

  4. Re:Testing to see if slashdot is really working by Soulskill · · Score: 4, Informative

    We were in read-only mode most of the day while some server issues were fixed. Sorry for the downtime!

  5. Re:Testing to see if slashdot is really working by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    You ruined my workday. I had nothing to do but *shudder* work all day.

  6. Re:Holy shit is it over already? Isn't this ILLEGA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's Florida. All metadata is automatically considered public record, and contents are also public record if they bear on a state official's duties. Jeb was a state official (governor), so his e-mails are all automatically public record.

    It's not a mistake, and it's not illegal: in Florida, public officials have no privacy on anything that pertains to their job. Every state official's salary, from the janitors' to the governor's, is listed in a giant, public-facing database, searchable by employee name. Colleges have a separate excel sheet, with salaries listed by name. The stuff you think people would want to keep quiet: in Florida, it's public. It's called the Sunshine Law.

    Governor's e-mails? Of course that shit's public.

  7. he's just committed to transparency by cas2000 · · Score: 2

    now lets see him release audio and video recordings of every meeting and informal chat that lobbyists and corporate representatives have with him, and all correspondence to and from them too.

  8. It Get's Worse by jordanjay29 · · Score: 3, Funny

    The small blessing is that most of the senior citizens in Florida probably have already given this information to scammers in Asia.

  9. Thousands? Really? by damn_registrars · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I didn't expect there would be thousands of Floridians who were smart enough to know how to use email yet interested in contacting Jeb. Are we sure they aren't thousands of throwaway email addresses used by just a few people?

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  10. Couldn't Jeb's CTO help do this right? by ZipK · · Score: 2

    Or was Ethan Czahor too busy redacting his Twitter feed?

  11. Illegal by s.petry · · Score: 2

    Update 2:15pm ET, Feb. 10: It gets worse. The Verge has uncovered emails that contain Social Security numbers, home addresses, and other personal information from Floridians.

    Releasing PII data is a Federal crime, and there should be criminal charges filed in addition to civil charges by anyone with PII data exposed by this. I'm not saying there will be any charges or case filed, but that there should be (In other words, I know how the good'ole boy network is).

    --

    -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

  12. Re:what's the problem? by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 3, Insightful

    First off, jeb@jeb.org isn't a government domain.

    Doesn't matter if he is using it in an official capacity. Public records laws apply to all official communications.

    Second, an SSN is usually considered PII and should not be released to anyone.

    Public records laws do not automatically exempt PII; they would be rather useless if they did.

    Third, I wonder if any of those e-mails had the standard legalish boilerplate signature saying the e-mail is intended for the recipient only.

    Again, you can't circumvent public records rules by adding legalese to your letters. It too would make public records laws rather useless.

    Mind you, I think Bush acted stupidly and may have well have violated privacy laws with the release of some of the E-mails. But in general, a lot of communications you send, whether E-mail or paper, are subject to public records laws and discovery in court cases.

  13. Where do SSN's come into this? by Latent+Heat · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So I e-mail the guv of Florida. Why am I disclosing my SSN in that e-mail? Is this required? Is Jeb Bush matching people e-mailing him against a database and revealing SSN's that way?