Heracleum Persicum wrote:.
The Clinton delusion
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1. There is no interest and never has been in investigating how she missed the infiltration of jihadis into Benghazi, Libya. No curiosity simmers about how she could have been unaware of the dire security situation that her ambassador faced. Accountability? Confession? No two-hour bearing-of-the-soul press conferences are needed. Benghazi was not at her level. No responsibility, no culture of cover-up. None.
2. The unseemly stew of gargantuan wealth, foreign money, industry titans and access doesn’t seem to interest the mainstream media. Former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell (R) was indicted for arranging access for his patron, so why have the Clintons — in the White House and not — suffered no similar scrutiny? The Clinton Foundation resembles more a slush fund for the care and feeding of the Clintons than a buttoned-up foundation whose largess goes to the poor. Hillary Clinton’s speeches bring in the cash, but don’t they also imply favors are to be returned?
3. Critics complain that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is all about me-me-me (as if all pols aren’t). They want profuse apologies for the bridge episode but no “I.” (We are sorry?) From Whitewater to Bill’s escapades to Hillary’s self-regard as feminist icon to “Hillaryworld” (which ensures the Queen Bee remains the only one who matters in the Democratic hive), Hillary Clinton has always been about Hillary and Bill’s survival. They are Tom and Daisy Buchanan, liberal columnists used to remind us, careless with others’ lives. That is fine, as long as the same pass is extended to others who turn politics into self-aggrandizement.
4. Judgment in friends and allies? Umm, the string of convicted donors, the document-pilfering Sandy Berger, and the crew of incompetents (in Hillary’s telling) that couldn’t be bothered with pleas for help from Benghazi don’t exactly speak well of the Clintons’ personnel choices.
5. Bullies? Anyone familiar with the smears of Bill Clinton’s accusers and the wrath of Hillary Clinton ally and attack dog Sidney Blumenthal must regard Christie as a puppy dog. Her campaign against Barack Obama, including racial innuendos from her husband, was nothing if not vicious.
The mainstream media, especially those pundits reverentially following Hillary Clinton for more than 20 years, have created an icon who bears no resemblance to the reality. The aura of competence is thin; the claim to the moral high ground is ridiculous. Yet they and the rest of the Democrats have apparently locked themselves into Hillary Clinton as the Democrats’ 2016 standard bearer. Republicans, on the other hand, have the benefit of actual vetting in advance of 2016. No inevitable candidate means an opportunity to pick the best of the lot (or, in fairness, to pick a lousy one). Republicans can at least be honest about their candidates’ foibles.
Democrats’ self-delusion about Hillary Clinton does neither the party nor her any favors. The party cynically is banking that the old baggage won’t weigh her down, and she’s expecting a free ride to the White House. In the face of a minimally competent GOP opponent, neither expectation is likely to pan out.
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have to admit, quite acurate observation
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Reasons 1-5 all explain why Democratic voters, which I was still a Democrat back then, turned against Mme. Clinton. Don't forget the so-called superdelegates, members of Congress who had personal knowledge of both BO and HC, withheld their endorsements until June in case BO needed a push over the top at the last minute. That fact should tell you something about how Mme C. is regarded by those who have worked with her.
Rating the Obama presidency, thus far:
Head of State and ceremonial duties: A+ This is the first president since at least Carter who has not been a public embarrassment to his fellow Americans. He has adroitly maneuvered around such pitfalls as stumbling when exiting AF 1, vomiting at state dinners, forgetting the names of foreign countries, and inappropriate touching of other heads of state. Whatever the vagaries of his private life, he seems, so far, to have enough self discipline to not indulge while in office. (I always liked the gay sex in a taxicab story, but Republicans couldn't publicise that one, because Barney Frank was prepared to out GOPers who were also enjoying amorous taxi encounters).
Domestic policy: C Not good, not as bad as it might have been. He at least knows how to manage a hurricane, although the BP tragedy went on far longer than it should have. OTOH, fracking is an ecological disaster which ruins drinking water and good farmland for no long term benefit, and the pipeline from Alberta is a. not necessary, and b. won't pay for itself.
Foreign policy: B- Against the opening to Iran and the general soothing of foreign nations and leaders insulted by Baby Bush, we must set the (clandestine) involvement in Libya, the flat inability to engage in any kind of meaningful negotiations with China, and does he even know where South America is?
Defense policy: B+ Much better than I expected. We are out of Iraq, or nearly so, and on our way out of Afghanistan. There have been no more military interventions overseas, he gets some credit for avoiding war in Syria and for participating in the Geneva conference which has just convened. OTOH, he seems to be altogether unable to control the CIA, NSA, and other clandestine organizations.
Trade policy: F
TPP must not be allowed to pass. Never mind the details, the mere fact that it was negotiated in secret is reason enough.
Appointments: C+ A mixed bag here. He infuriated his Hispanic supporters by not giving State to Bill Richardson, a seasoned negotiator and a man who knows how to behave in public. Whatever one might think of BR, he could have hardly been worse than the Mme. Hill show. Then there were his treasury and economic advisor appts., foxes guarding the henhouse. OTOH, in my opinion, and I know no one here will agree, Eric Holder is the best Atty. Gen. we have had in decades. Just what kind of settlement do you think Ms. Reno might have gotten from BP?
Farm policy: F- USDA remains a wholely owned subsidiary of Monsatan Corp.; this admin has presided over swat team raids on peaceful Amish farmers; the so-called food safety bill is a direct assault on local, small and medium scale farmers and food producers; and this admin is content to let agribiz and Wall Street write the farm bill.
About the 2012 election: Obama was vulnerable and the Republicans blew it. All by themselves. The coup de grace was the "legitimate rape" theme, and Obama badly mishandled that one. He might have got in front of that theme, given a speech, man to men, on the theme of hey guys, you want the benefits of family life, "having sex", however defined, is not the ticket. Get off your butts and work, fellas. No jobs, work from home. Take care of yards WITHOUT stealing the fruit off the trees or killing rare plants, fix peoples equipment, sharpen garden tools and kitchen knives, repair furniture. All those being things for which I, and I think others, would be glad to pay generously to a craftsman who would not insult us and not steal from us.
On the whole, I think BO is not venal or incompetent and would like to do the right thing, but he lacks vision. He seems to me to be working earnestly to solve yesterday's problems.
