Apologize. Apologize. Apologize.
Not Good Enough. Not Good Enough. Not Good Enough.
Journalism in 2015. https://t.co/fRf8w9Ikw7
— John Cole (@Johngcole) September 9, 2015
I am really so over the Clinton email issue. It’s pretty clear that nothing she did rises to the level of offense that should even damage her chances at becoming President. In my mind, it was stupid to not have multiple email accounts, and it was stupid to roll out some of the excuses (I didn’t want to carry two phones, etc.), but that’s about it. I think she should have admitted it was stupid earlier, but that really doesn’t matter, because no matter what she says, it still will not be enough. My reasoning for this is that it is just easier to apologize and the n move on, but I can totally understand why after decades of this crap she and some of her supporters might be loathe to give an inch.
On a side note, I am so sick of our ridiculous classification system. We overclassify everything to ridiculous extremes, and for no good reason other than to weaponize them against people later. It’s just absurd. The only thing easier to find in DC than a self-serving politician is classified info- it’s everywhere. Everyone leaks like a sieve if it promotes their cause, and some of the worst offenders are those who have the most to lose should actual important information be leaked- looking at you Pentagon. And you find that classified info everywhere- in every newspaper and television broadcast, because someone is leaking it to help their cause. But only some people get in trouble for it, and that is not an accident, either. They’re people someone has decided they have had enough of, so suddenly classified information is sacred and NATIONAL SECURITY and HERP DERP pillory the traitor. It’s all bullshit.
But back to Hillary and the email. I’m over the email nonsense and just roll my eyes anymore when I hear someone mention it, but this kind of stuff drives me insane:
The classic “I’m sorry your feelings are hurt” response left many Clinton insiders troubled that the statement felt more like an insult than an apology — and over the weekend, a growing chorus of advisors and donors ratcheted up the pressure on Clinton and her campaign to take the apology a step further in order to put it to bed, multiple sources close to the campaign said.
Even operatives on her campaign admitted the apology on Mitchell’s show was inadequate.
“It wasn’t getting it done,” said a source inside the campaign.
And this:
In recent weeks, some advisers had privately expressed hope that Mrs. Clinton would acknowledge a mistake on her email practices in similarly clear and blunt terms.Z
Who are these people? Why can’t they just shut their fucking pieholes? The advisors and allies bit is nebulous and could be anyone with a Hillary button, but who is the asshole in the campaign flapping his/her gums to the press.
Why can these people not get their shit together, stop feeding this story, and do something useful like build the necessary grassroots campaign tyhat she is going to need to win.
God, I miss the Obama election team.
Baud
You’re assuming that those sources are actually on her campaign team.
I’m waiting for Democrats to get mad at the media, but it never seems to happen. The GOP base would never have let it get this far.
Benw
If I were a D candidate this cycle I’d pay almost any amount to hire the majority of Obama’s top campaign staff. That seems obvious.
jl
” Why can these people not get their shit together, stop feeding this story, ”
So far, there is no story there, but the media feels they can get a lot of attention with sensational BS about nothing.
So, cheap stories to write, and lots of attention, leading to a high ROI.
it is always my pleasure to help dear Mr. Cole with answers to the questions of this funny life that perplex him.
Edit: note that actually reporting what actual story there is would be hard (learn arcane rules of security classification, and reclassification, and re-reclassification bureaucracy, and attendent fussing and farting over using public sources to discuss classified matters, and such and so forth, and how what was not classified then might maybe should be classified now by some bureaucrat in a sub-basement worrying over stuff), and not get much attention because kind of boring (for ditto reason). So, low ROI.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Even Tweety was asking “Is there anything to this?”, then he brought on Kathleen Parker, who is as breath-taking as she is supremely confident in her partisan dishonesty, and the intellectually doughy Howard Fineman (who could be Jeb Bush’s longest brother in that regard) , so I didn’t watch it.
I used to think of Parker as a second-rate Peggy Noonan, based mostly on a gushy column she wrote I think in the summer of ’01 about how George W Bush was a “good man”, based on a clip of him talking to the cameras from an old pick up truck, down on his “ranch”, but except for that I haven’t seen much of that Noonan-ish treacle from her, and she doesn’t go for the Norma Desmond-y theatrics on TeeVee.
rikyrah
There is nothing to the story, except for that it points out her lack of judgment.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Benw: hasn’t she got all the big names but Axelrod? who’s more or less retired, I gather?
I saw Shrum on TV last week, and I was surprised how negative he was on Clinton.
Mike J
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
That should be enough to make any sane Democrat love her.
JMG
Any Democrat running for office ought to have one rule for staff. Talk to Politico, and you’re fired. Then, as you leave headquarters, I’m going to do my best to run over you with my car.
Hunter Gathers
I doubt that they even exist. It’s way, way easier to just make up some bullshit quotes, run spell check, and hand it off to your spineless editor than to, you know, write about actual news. That would impede upon the nightly kitten skullfucking, or whatever ‘journalists’ do for fun these days.
Besides praying for ‘Daddy’ to sweep into the White House, give them a shitty nickname, cut their taxes and enlist their help in our next brave adventure that kills a shit-ton of brown people who pray to a smelly brown god.
Another Holocene Human
@JMG: I like the way you think.
srv
You’re pretty much doomed. You have a candidate who can’t even pretend to be sorry. She’s been campaigning in her mind for 43 some years and she makes Spock Obama look like McCoy. Most Americans would look for empathy from a Sith Lord before going to Hillary.
And she’s beyond weird. Email server, sniper victim, USMC rejected…
Roger Moore
@Hunter Gathers:
This. If they do exist, those terms are sufficiently vague they could mean something completely different from what a normal reader would expect. A “Clinton insider” might be a disaffected former insider who’s pissed that they’ve been justly fired for incompetence, and “operatives on her campaign” could be volunteers in Bumfuck, IA. Unless there’s a name attached, it means less than nothing.
WereBear
The media is in the bag. They are tools. They do what they are told. If it’s EMAILGHAZI 24/7… well, that fat paycheck can be applied like a poultice.
Frankensteinbeck
John, remember all those insiders who told us that Obama was going to announce cuts to social security? Same people. I don’t know if they’re Republican operatives, voices in the reporters’ heads, or if the law of averages means there’s always some asshole whose job description you can fudge who’ll say something you can distort without, technically, lying. This is not new, and at this point, I treat these unsourced leaks as slightly less reliable than a Magic 8 Ball.
Splitting Image
Neither Clinton nor any of the other Democratic candidates will get a fair shake from the news media this election, and there is nothing they can do to change that.
The Republicans are going all-in on war with Iran. The gnashing of teeth over the nuclear deal, now that they realize they can’t stop it, is 100% real. Their only chance to have their precious war is to win the election next year and they are going to go balls to the wall in order to do it.
The people who promoted the Iraq War are by and large in the same positions they occupied a decade ago, and will prove to be as committed to the Republican war effort as they were last time. If Hillary Clinton stands in their way, they will try to destroy her. If the Democrats nominate anyone else, they will do the same to him.
That is what the email “scandal” is about.
schrodinger's cat
You are worried about the email non scandal? I am both worried and horrified at the absurdity of snarling Trump being the GOP front runner.
Brachiator
Politics, people. The idea was to get Clinton to release the emails so they could find something hot on Benghazi, or some lucky piece of crap that could be turned into investigative gold. Failing that, they had to fallback on hints and insinuations of doing something wrong, although nobody is sure exactly what. The stain of being deceitful when there is no concrete accusation would damage anyone except the New England Patriots’ coach.
Calouste
@Hunter Gathers: Yep. Cole is linking to Politico and the NYT, the two sources that can be most depended upon to take out a hit on Clinton this side of Breitbart. Politico has always been a rag and the NYT, well, I’d double check everything that’s in there these days, up to and including the date of publication.
MuseFood
The “News” becoming a profit center and not a public service never stops being heart-breaking. Clickbait is everything now. Destroying Democracy through profit.
But it’s the way it is. Recognize the parameters and create excellence within them. Hillary needs innovative, nimble, devastatingly smart people to whom she will listen that understand this. Hope she gets those soon.
Omnes Omnibus
“Go fuck yourselves, the lot of you — you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men,”
MuseFood
If and when my comment exits moderation, hope someone can tell me what in the world sent it there. And we all learn how to work around that particular FYWP. Thanks.
scott (the other one)
@Hunter Gathers: That’s where I’m starting to lean myself.
Is there, in fact, actually any proof that any of these people really do exist? I mean, I don’t find it hard to believe there are that many back-stabbers who are at least theoretically Democrats, and some of whom may even have paid positions with various campaigns. But, really, what is there to stop a Politico, say, from just making it all up? Other than, you know, that whole “ethics” nonsense?
MuseFood
Oops, now I know why I went to moderation. I used an unfamiliar to BJ nym. First time user gets moderated.
Belafon
@Baud:
Maybe if it started with the people that consider themselves the Democratic base, those of us on blogs. Why aren’t the blogs filled with posts about how two Republican SoS’s had servers, and it still hasn’t been an issue? Why aren’t we writing LOEs and calling every radio show about it?
benw
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I don’t actually know. If I were her I’d wave fat stacks at Axelrod until he unretired. The Obama team got a black, intellectual, Socialist Muslim who wasn’t even born in the US elected president, twice! They are the greatest campaign team of all time.
scott (the other one)
Given that the MSM will never give the Democrats a fair shake currently, would there be any point to working them, the way the conservatives have for decades? By having people who go on CNN and MSNBC, say, refer to “the New York Times and Washington Post and other such conservative newspapers”? Is there any chance in hell that that would gain traction?
I know. I still believe in The Tooth Fairy too.
Baud
The people in this thread so far have the right attitude. Good for us. I wish it were more contagious.
Another Holocene Human
@Baud: You would say that if you were running for President.
Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader
I want to apologize for this comment. I didn’t do anything wrong but I want to apologize because I want to be President.
Jeffro
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
In non-election years, some small amount of honesty and insight appears. In the run-up to an election, especially one where her supposedly moderate faves like Bush and Rubio need all the help they can get, 2 + 2 = 5 (and with a straight face, too)
mouse tolliver
Whenever I see the term “Clinton insiders” I instantly picture the cast of Veep.
Baud
@Another Holocene Human:
Baud! 2016. Because I’ve got nothing to apologize for.
(Except, you know, my comments here. But that doesn’t count.)
FlipYrWhig
I challenge anyone who thinks the email thing is an important story to explain why. And “because of how she handled the story” isn’t an answer. “Well, see, she had a different sort of email address than the one she should have had…” Isn’t that already the most boring story you’ve ever heard? It’s like something someone would tell you about this lady she doesn’t like at work, before some story about the break room refrigerator.
WaterGirl
@Another Holocene Human: I liked it too. And it made me laugh, so that’s a twofer.
Iowa Old Lady
Preach it, Cole. As far as I can tell, no one can even say what this story is supposed to be about.
benw
@Baud:
That remains to be seen. You are running for the D nomination? Then please turn over your home and work computers, laptop, etc. and all passwords to your email accounts so that we may look through them. If you are running as a R, you can just delete everything. Thank you.
scav
You want appologies to be tired of? I’ve had it with cops’ “oh. Gee! We’ll look into that too much violence during random stops on suspicion for generally non-violent offences thingy.” There’s not a brain-stem in the blue bunch some years.
Badged toddlers will show everyone who’s boss, we’ll see.
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: You know what you did.
schrodinger's cat
@Baud: Have you decided on a running mate?
gogol's wife
@FlipYrWhig:
Exactly!
Patricia Kayden
@Benw: I thought Clinton did that. Clinton needs to rally her troops and strike back. We should be talking about how extreme the current Repub candidates are instead of emails. She needs to go after Repubs instead of apologizing when she did nothing wrong.
Mike J
@Omnes Omnibus: Lenny Bruce is not afraid.
Baud
@Patricia Kayden:
She actually is doing that. Even Trump!
@schrodinger’s cat:
Too early for that. I plan to cast a wide net to see whose willing to kiss my ass the most.
JDM
Of course “it isn’t getting the job done”. NOTHING would “get the job done”. Earlier I read they wouldn’t be happy unless she doused herself in gasoline and lit a match. Well, THAT wouldn’t do it either, cause someone (probably even someone “close to her campaign” but utterly nameless) would be mad she didn’t use a lighter. If she stirred from the ground long enough to relight using a lighter, it wouldn’t be the right brand. And if it was a disposable she’d be “inauthentic” and pandering to the common folk; if it was a Zippo she’d be “elitist”.
Baud
@Omnes Omnibus:
It haunts my dreams.
I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet
O’Malley is going to be on Chris Hayes show on MSNBC very soon.
Cheers,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Whose willing to kiss your ass the most? You, sir, will have to up your game if you want ass kissing from WaterGirl.
:: tough love ::
Omnes Omnibus
Something good from the NYT: New Justice Dept. Rules Aimed at Prosecuting Corporate Executives
Baud
@WaterGirl:
I’m trying to relate to the common man with my slightly erroneous spelling and grammar.
I will not win votes eating arugula!
Baud
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet:
Good. He needs to step up his exposure.
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: @KngHnryVIII advocates beef and pudding.
Baud
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet:
He’s doing good. Too bad Hayes has 3 viewers.
Baud
@Omnes Omnibus:
Beef and pudding will play well in Iowa.
Mr Stagger Lee
I think the one advantage Hillary has now, is that more people are focused on football, and are engrossed in the Tom Brady vs Roger Goddell Deflategate/Ballghazi nonsense than Benghazi . Besides the so called cheating done by the New England Cheatriots is more tantalizing than some e-mail ho-hum. What did the Hoodie(Belichick/Belicheat) know and when did he know it?
Samuel Knight
People hate the media. The sooner that the Hillary team begins laughing at the DC media that better. And even better to just make plain that she has no regard for the DC insiders but she’ll love to talk to local reporters. That works the anti-DC angle. The national reporters hate Hillary anyway so she really has nothing go lose
Kay
Martin O’Malley was very persuasive on “more debates!” on Chris Hayes. I agree. I’m gonna get behind the O’Malley “more debates” movement :)
Morzer
@Mr Stagger Lee:
Hillary should just say she was worried about Belichick stealing her signals and that’s why she went beyond the call of duty in protecting America’s data from the Trump campaign stooge Brady. Anti-Patriot patriotism – a strategy that 99% of America can embrace!
Amir Khalid
@rikyrah:
Her lack of judgement in doing what she did with the email server, which was normal practice for her predecessors? Or her lack of judgement in dealing with an irrationally hostile press which was going to find fault with whatever she said about it?
JPL
@Morzer: I like the way you think.
Morzer
@Amir Khalid:
Has Trump announced a plan to build a yuuuge, classy, great balls of firewall around the United States and make China pay for it yet?
Kay
@Samuel Knight:
It’s hard to do though. If it ends up being a pissing match it becomes even more insular because then it’s media and campaign people bickering. It can also sound whiny. Obama’s a really talented politician but even he couldn’t consistently pull it off- he can sound like he’s scolding. I thought his administration going “on offense” with Fox news in 2009 was a waste of time that they should have spent selling the health care law.
Roger Moore
@Baud:
Only if it’s deep fried on a stick.
Baud
@Roger Moore:
Of course. I’m no barbarian.
Morzer
I am amused at the spectacle of Huckabee cockblocking Canada’s Most Unwanted from his path to Kim Davis’ “money shot”:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/huckabee-blocked-cruz-kim-davis-rally
RK
Because their candidate’s a bad politician.
Mike in NC
Clearly Hillary Clinton missed an opportunity to knee before Lady Greenspan and beg for mercy.
Mike J
@Kay: There are two old sayings that come to mind:
Never get in an argument with someone who buys ink by the barrel, This may not be as true as it used to be. The internet allows us to go around the media, but there are lots of old people who still think they matter.
The other saying is “politicians complaining about the media is like sailors complaining about the sea.” It’s inevitable. Every campaign is going to think they’re being singled out, and there’s nothing you can do to change it any way.
When campaigning, Obama didn’t kiss the media’s ass, but he didn’t let them define him. There’s no need to be mean to them (which will be counter productive any way) but make sure they know they don’t run the campaign. They can come along and watch if they want. That was an easier trick for Obama than other candidates though.
Morzer
@Baud:
Effete urbanite snob, with your filthy anti-American Prius, your Communist Birkenstocks and your disgusting Muslim pumpkin spice lattes!
Oh, sorry, forgot you were running for the Democratic nomination. I ran the “Republican desperately seeking VP slot addresses generic Iowan audience” tape instead.
Adam L Silverman
John,
This whole stuff should have been classified differently when it was originally sent is noth part of the routine process that goes on during FOIA request reviews – as I’ve pointed out several times. This time, however, it is also a warning shot across the bow from the Intelligence Community (IC) to both Secretary Clinton to put her on notice who has the real power should she become president and to the State Department to remind them that they’re not important now. Typical interagency measuring contest…
rk
@Morzer:
Next time I wish someone would punch Cruz in the face instead of just pushing him aside.
Debbie
@WaterGirl:
He talks as good as that strategery buy!
Morzer
@rk:
I’ll settle for ripping off his head and returning it 90 yards for a touchdown.
Baud/Blood Bowl 2016!
Debbie
@Debbie:
Dammit, guy.
JaneE
How about “I wasn’t so deranged enough to realize just how petty and mean and totally devoid of sense the entire Republican party is. I am really sorry I underestimated the stupidity and venality of the media. I should have realized that doing the same things as everyone else is a criminal offense for a Democrat”
Kay
@Mike J:
I thought the worst part of the 2008 Clinton campaign was them out on cable news, complaining about cable news favoring Obama. That theme was just going nowhere.
Morzer
@JaneE:
I don’t know that an extended “Youse guys all suck!” is really going to appease the slavering media hordes.
Jeffro
@Baud:
Have you see the price of arugula lately?
Morzer
@Baud:
If you promised to eat Uruguay in a huge, classy way, I think you could pick up some godly conservative votes.
Kay
Oh, no. They are in full panic mode:
They’re getting ready to bolt! Obama has to step in and corral them :)
Democrats are really and truly nervous nellies. Dear God, not John Kerry in Ohio again. I don’t think I can go thru that again – “My FRIENDS…”
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Twitter Nixon loves to harp on Hayes’ 70,000 viewers. Can that be true? Is that a demographic slice?
Beef and pudding is a platform I can get behind. I tried to make Yorkshire pudding once. I more or less succeeded, damn tasty, but IIRC it was a damn mess, and I haven’t used the big muffin pan since.
Baud
@Kay:
Note that they didn’t identify which party.
Morzer
@Kay:
The most accurate bit of that report was the “bs” in the headline.
Baud
@Morzer:
Oh, it was the Times reporting on Hillary. So like the Onion only pretentious and not funny.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Kay: I like and admire Al Gore, Joe Biden and John Kerry, but are we seriously supposed to believe that “party insiders”, people who have spent their wholes lives in politics, really think any of them can do better than Hillary Clinton? Biden failed twice and failed hard. If Jeb Bush is rusty (and I can believe people get rusty, HRC sure did) what kind of fighting shape is Gore in? I’m a politics and internet junkie and I can’t remember I saw him draw any significant attention.
ETA:I don’t think I can go thru that again – “My FRIENDS…”
there’s a part of me that always enjoyed Kerry’s efforts at being Senator Stentorian like he saw in old black and white movies when he was a kid
Morzer
@Baud:
They are the Dan Snyder of American journalism.
Baud
@Morzer:
NYT is a decent newspaper except when it comes to U.S. politics.
Dan Snyder, on the other hand, seems to have no redeeming qualities.
Morzer
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
If Biden had any sense, he’d aim to be the first four term VP in US history. He might just pull it off.
Morzer
@Baud:
I am sure there are people out there who believe that Dan Snyder is good at something. Dan Snyder, for one.
Baud
@Morzer:
I guess I’ve never regarded Dan Snyder as “people.”
J R in WV
What? wait!
Huckerby won’t let Rafael Eduardo Cruz talk at his (Hueckerbuy’s) event? Is that even legal?
What is Hucksterboy going to do if Rafael Eduardo gets the nomination? What it Hillary wins the election November a year from now?
What if I hi the Powerball jackpot here in the couple of weeks? I’m a’runnin fer President!! Git on board, or get the FFffin off the train, buster!
Morzer
@Baud:
Well, that’s certainly a view with many data points in its favor.
HRA
No one can at least give any insiders names here? It’s not the volunteers working for her. It’s one of the old bunch like Davis, Podesta, Carville, Blumenthal, etc. Most of them can get quick notice from the press and not have their names divulged.
Do I think Hilary could do better public wise in her statements, demeanor and everything else? Yes, if she breaks away from whoever is giving her bad advice now.
I do agree about Benghazi. There is nothing there IMO except a waste of time by the committee. I do have an opinion that I will keep to myself.
In re: to the email -it’s not over till the investigation by the FBI and the Inspector General cross each t and dot each i.
As I stated in another thread, I have not made up my mind on who to support in the presidential election. I do not intend to support any one of the crazy clowns.
benw
@HRA:
that’s okay. you’ve got a few days.
Heliopause
Maybe Hillary should adopt the Trump strategy. “Mr. Trump, you said/did horrible thing X.” “Fuck you, next question.” I know, Hillary’s a female and is held to a higher standard, but Margaret Thatcher pulled it off.
Thoughtful Today
Charles Pierce “begins to wonder what exactly the New York Times is so worked up about.”
“Mudslinging” would be my guess.
RK
Trump/Sheen 2016: Winning!
redshirt
@Samuel Knight: It’s been, what, 20 years at least of this posionous media environment, and yet, besides Obama, I know of no Democrat that can work the media, use the media for their benefit. Republicans use the media like a constituent, and it’s rare for a Democrat to even get the time of day.
Why?
Why do Democrats play this game? When they (at one time) controlled all of Government? Why can’t Democrats co-ordinate responses and get ahead of issues and set the tone, etc? Yeah yeah (insert Will Rogers quote) . But that was long ago, in more genial times.
This is fucking war, does the Democratic party still not get that? Or do we need more Sunday morning news panels to make this clear?
Omnes Omnibus
@redshirt: Who owns and runs the media companies? What policies do they want?
seaboogie
@Baud: Baud! and Pillowy Lips 2016!1!1
redshirt
@Omnes Omnibus: Understood. At what point do the media companies realize the Republicans are bad for their business? It’s not like Democrats today are going to do anything than nibble at their profits via tax and regulation, and heck! A well run country might actually generate increased profits!
Also, that still doesn’t explain why Democrats can’t forge a cohesive policy for dealing with the media.
What if Democrats really did refuse to deal with FoxNews?
Marc McKenzie
@Belafon:
Why aren’t the blogs filled with posts about how two Republican SoS’s had servers, and it still hasn’t been an issue? Why aren’t we writing LOEs and calling every radio show about it?
Because we’re too busy complaining about how Obama is just like Bush and how Hillary sucks and is an untrustworthy c**t and that Bernie Sanders is the Savior of the Universe.
That’s just my 2-cents.
SmallAxe
Lifelong liberal, been on this site for years and have commented a few times. I say that because I expect to be flamed. I’ve worked in federal communications for over a decade. For a sitting Sec of State to even contemplate conducting public business on a private server in their personal home is ludicrous. Absolutely horrible judgement at a minimum. It’s disqualifying in my book. But hey what the hell do I know.
SmallAxe
The other guys did it too is an excellent defense especially with respect to national security right?
redshirt
@SmallAxe:
Concerns me as well. What’s the reasoning? How is there justification, by law? Why, Hillary, why? I’m actually now concerned after this apology, which means of course she’s acknowledged she’s done something wrong, and like Good Christians it’s now our Holy Duty to completely destroy her. Whatever means possible.
SmallAxe
Hyperbole, I get it. I take it you thought I was using it?
SmallAxe
I’m up late and have always loved this group so in the interest of exposing what appears to some of you to be a liberal unicorn. I don’t work on the Clinton campaign nor would I ever talk to the press but I do think what she did here is wrong and because I care about my country more than I care about my party ultimately had I been in a position of technology for the Clinton team I could see myself telling someone in the media what was up because I thought was a serious potential security breach. So I can totally see someone doing this. Although I would have voiced my opposition to the whole server idea when it was initially introduced as well.
SmallAxe
So next part, Flip asked way above if someone could explain what exactly she did wrong or what the problem was. Let me give that a go and you tell me where I’m off.
Using a private email to conduct any government business.
Legal yes, incredibly stupid and unnecessarily exposing a potential gap to exploit. What makes it particularly bad in this case is that it’s the Sec of State. We’re talking diplomacy here do I have to spell it out? Does it make any sense at all to conduct any of that over Gmail? Really? This is without even bringing up the class/nonclass issue.
bjacques
Somebody could have raised the issue to Hillary at the beginning, and voiced their *concern* early on in her tenure as Secretary of State, even before BENGHAZI!1! Or if they intended sabotage, that would have turned into her damaged goods and shortened her time in the job–a missed opportunity.
Anyone doing now is just sabotaging her campaign and needs to be fired if they are actual staff.
SmallAxe
I agree with that, I would have voiced my opposition to using it long ago that’s true. Indeed I said so much above.
Eolirin
Gmail? The fuck? You just got done saying it was a private home server, so you know nothing was done ‘over Gmail’.
And given the *massive* hacks to several government systems that have just recently happened, a disconnected, independently secured, system was probably *less* of a security risk, just from the reduced surface area for attacks. Hell, even in the context of the wikileaks info dump during her tenure the idea that there was anything particularly secure about being inside government run IT was pretty laughable. This was not some reckless disregard for national security.
SmallAxe
I was a little loose with the “gmail” true. It was a private “Clinton email” alias. Wasn’t technically Gmail but it was nonetheless a communication system outside of the federal one. Again, legal yes, but really dumb at a minimum.
SmallAxe
The four letter networks on which our most secure comms are done have not been compromised to my knowledge. The civilian ones have as you have described (to include the recent OEM breech).
Paul in KY
@Mike J: makes me feel better about her. Shrum is a loser.
Paul in KY
@Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader: Why not ‘Supreme Fuckhead’? You can aspire to bigger things than President, you know.
Paul in KY
@Morzer: Any day now….
Paul in KY
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Kerry’s problem was that people thought he talked like that all the time (to his wife, friends, kids, etc.).
Brian H
@JDM:
“Her shrieks of agony seemed insincere and calculated. What an elitist!”
Sondra
Oh brother do I agree. Over the weekend I wrote to as many decision makers in the upper ranks of my Florida Democratic party as I could to make this same statement of need.
We down here at the grassroots level: you know the ones who do all of the work? Cannot be expected to deliver big voter turnout for a campaign that is this lackluster. We certainly cannot be expected to help her win an election by phone banking or organizing a better campaign than she is running for herself.
On top of that, we need to fall in love with her if we are going to be inspired to help her win in 2016 and so far we are just ho-hum.
Worse for everyone is that we are all exhausted from defending Obama so constantly while we are trying to turn our attention to our candidates :because we can’t do one without the other. Do you get what I mean?
Am I the only one who is tired before we even begin?
Sondra
p.s. and the next big slap in the face for us who helped get him elected will be the”establishment” advice that everyone should run away from Obama as fast as they can because…woo…derp…received “wisdom”…and people who are just batshit crazy to distance themselves for a winner.
SmallAxe
Starting to get right there with you Sondra. Wondering when the rest of BJ will wake up.
D58826
There is can artivle on the intertubes that a Russian research station in the arctic is besieged by a group of hungry polar bears. If The Clinton campaign feed Hillary to the polar bears it would not be a sufficient apology to satisfy the pundits and the Hillary haters./
A guy
She committed a crime. If petraeus did, she did too. And hers is worse
D58826
@Sondra:
Maybe the prospect of a Trump/Cruz presidency or Jindal/Rubio will light your fire. There is an old saying that politics is the art of the possible. I would rather a lackluster Hillary than an high voltage Trump ((or any of the other goopers for that matter). Unenthused democrats who stayed home in 2010 and 2014 did not turn out well for the progressive side.
Ridnik Chrome
@A guy: This is what is known as argument by assertion.
Myiq2xu
Watching John Cole go thru mental and emotional contortions in order to support Hillary is comedy gold. He’s hated her for over 20 years.