David French:
Last Friday, Twitter provided a near-perfect window into America’s divided, polarized soul. That afternoon, the FBI released its heavily redacted report and interview notes regarding Hillary Clinton’s e-mails, and the responses could not have been more different.
The Right side of the Twitterverse melted down. Some of the revelations were stunning. Hillary’s team wiped her server after the New York Times disclosed its existence — at the same time that Hillary herself was publicly calling for the release of her e-mails to the public. Incredibly, Hillary told investigators that she didn’t pay attention to the “level” of classification attached to e-mail communications and didn’t know what the (C) classification meant. She conveniently “forgot” numerous key facts. And — finally — though she used 13 e-mail-capable mobile devices during her tenure as secretary of state, her lawyers were unable to locate any of them. Thus, the FBI was unable to conduct a forensic examination and was unable to definitely determine if her e-mail had been hacked.
In short, what the FBI file revealed was the extent of the Clinton deception operation, complete with lurid details — such as aides smashing old Blackberries with a hammer, an IT employee declaring an “oh s***” moment as he rushed to delete files, and Cheryl Mills participating as an attorney in the proceedings even though she was a witness and possible subject in the investigation.
There are those on the Left side of the Internet who looked at the same report, read every word, and declared that it actually exonerated Clinton. Here is former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau pointing out perhaps the most influential piece by Kevin Drum:
https://twitter.com/jonfavs/status/772069843197652992
Drum is one of the more thoughtful political writers — Left or Right — and is always worth reading. So I clicked on the link confident that it would provide the most persuasive possible defense of Hillary Clinton.
It’s not persuasive. Essentially, it boils down to a decision to believe the vast majority of Clinton’s excuses and rationalizations (regardless of their credibility) without credibly dealing with the true elephant in the room, the presence of highly classified information on a private, homebrew server. Here’s Drum totally believing the explanation for wiping Hillary’s server after she received a subpoena from the Benghazi committee:
It had nothing to do with anyone around Hillary Clinton. An IT guy at PRN [Platte River Networks] realized one day that he’d forgotten about the retention order and went ahead and implemented it. The report makes clear that Cheryl Mills sent an email, which the PRN techie received, telling PRN about the preservation request from the Benghazi committee. The techie said he knew it meant he shouldn’t disturb the Clinton server, but apparently got confused and didn’t realize this meant he shouldn’t touch the old archives or the backups.
So the IT guy just got “confused.” Well, maybe, but Drum left out some rather important context. On March 25, 2015, PRN had a conference call with Clinton’s staff. We don’t know the substance of that call. Between March 25 and March 31, PRN had its now-famous “oh s***” moment and systematically deleted e-mails. On March 31, it had yet another call with Clinton’s staff, but the contents of that call were withheld through assertion of attorney-client privilege.
Do you still believe the deletion “had nothing to do with anyone around Hillary Clinton?”
Little people ”falling on their swords,” for Hillary is par for the course.
If there were any real evidence of criminal violations, charges would have been brought.
@Greg: Not in this administration. These are the people that feel this squalid economy is the “new normal”. When they fail, they accept failure as normal. When an administrator violates the law, they get to retire with full benefits rather than be held responsible to the taxpayers.
Failure and criminality IS normal… for liberals.
@Bill:
Poor Greg has forgotten about the infamous meeting on the tarmac between BJ Clinton and Loretta Lynch. There was never going to be a prosecution by the justice department for the violation of the espionage act or the quid pro quo for the CGI, aka the cash grab initiative using the office of secretary of state to funnel millions of dollars into the Clinton family crime syndicate.
Your candidate—an admitted serial adulterer who has actually bragged about the fact in print—is the chosen man of Vladimir Putin, and has recently taken on a proven sexual predator who used FOX News as his own private hunting reserve as a top campaign adviser. The guy lies constantly—so often people people don’t even seem to notice or care anymore. He tells people whatever he thinks they want to hear, reversing himself on key positions so often that nobody has a clue what his real position is on anything. I don’t believe he actually has any firm positions.
I’ll be voting for Clinton because I’m not an idiot.
@Greg: I thought you admired serial adulterers. When did that change?
I have shocking news for you; only a dim-witted idiot would consider Hillary to even be a viable candidate.
George Will: Trump Doesn’t Want to Release Tax Returns “Because He’s Deeply Involved In Dealing With Russia”
There is strong evidence that Trump’s businesses have received significant funding from Russian investors. Most notably, Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. made that very claim at a real estate conference in New York in 2008, saying “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets.” Donald Trump Jr. added, “we see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.”
Your “blue collar billionaire” probably owes his shirt to the Russians. That one simple fact would explain a lot.
I thought the right claimed to be good at connecting the dots.
@Greg: I wonder why Hillary’s trustworthiness is now at 35% and Trump’s is now at 50%?
Hillary “lost” a State Department laptop, 11 other devices and destroyed three more. This is the person that said she could only handle one device at a time. Hillary is a liar and she doesn’t even bother trying to be a good liar, because she knows the people she is lying to are so goddamn stupid.
I have no doubt the Russians have invested in Trump’s businesses. Why not? They are certain successes. However, there is a better reason why Hillary might be the target of Russian hackers (if it is the Russians).
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/why-putin-hates-hillary-clinton-n617236
Putin may be trying to do to Hillary what she tried to do to him. So, Hillary’s incompetence at being Secretary of State may come back to bite her in her great, big flabby ass after all. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
I don’t know how anyone could consider someone whose positions shift around from one moment to the next to be trustworthy. What is there to trust in when you can’t get a reliable statement on anything to begin with?
@Bill, #8:
I wouldn’t invest any money without first seeing his tax returns. He might be on the verge of bankruptcy.
@Greg: If that person was running against the PROVEN most corrupt, dishonest and incompetent person to ever run for President, Hillary Clinton, it is a very easy decision.
@Greg: So then, why would you believe the Russians have invested heavily in Trump’s businesses? Your argument makes absolutely no sense.
@Bill, #11:
It makes a great deal of sense. Why assume their point in investing would be to make money? Maybe that wasn’t the point at all. The purpose of their investments could be to acquire something else.
Vladimir Putin is a highly skilled player. He has a stable full of surrogate oligarchs at his command to use as playing pieces. He’s playing a higher order game than Trump is accustomed to. It’s not all about money. That puts many possible motives and maneuvers completely outside of Trump’s understanding.
There’s a reason Putin wants Trump in the White House. There’s a reason he doesn’t want Clinton.
@Greg:
You are, of course, talking about yourself, right Greg?
Working as a propagandist doesn’t usually pay off…
And multiple terrorist groups wanted Obama in office, to easily defeat your Putin/Trump non-connection.
More than Trump’s Tax statements, I’d really like you to release your W-2’s to see who’s paying you to lie so blatantly, and parrot so diligently.
@Greg: There’s a reason Putin wants Trump in the White House. There’s a reason he doesn’t want Clinton
@kitt #14:
I seem to recall Hillary Clinton running rings around a hostile tag team of 7 republican investigators during an 11-hour marathon Benghazi grilling session, and their lead clown was the only one finally breaking out in a sweat. Perhaps you’ve forgotten all about that?
I look forward to the Presidential debates. They may refresh your memory concerning how well Clinton functions under pressure, and enlighten you concerning what happens when she goes into full attack mode—assuming Trump doesn’t find some lame excuse to avoid a showdown. I suspect he might cancel, and claim it’s because the debates have been rigged against him.
@Greg: First, all we have indicating this is the Russians is an administration that lies about everything saying so. There are plenty of self-serving reasons for them to be pointing blame (their primary function) at Putin.
Be suspicious. Be very suspicious.
Probably not for Trump; he doesn’t need it and is probably immune to bribes. However, Hillary is ALL ABOUT the money.
The SS Hillary is sinking, Greg. Don’t expect the captain to go down with the ship and don’t be the last one to try to get off.
@Greg:
So that’s what you want to see in a leader? Someone that lies and stonewalls effectively? Well Hillary should satisfy your expectations. He lies not only cost 4 Americans their lives but has also cost millions of dollars finding the truth about how she bungled Benghazi and tried to lie her way out of it.
We now know she fed questions to Menendez so she would be able to give the answers she wanted to have out. Gee, that doesn’t sound like someone with nothing to hide.
Hillary better win in November because if she doesn’t have the federal government to cover her ass anymore, she’s going to be indicted.
@Greg: seem to recall Hillary Clinton running rings around a hostile tag team of 7 republican investigators during an 11-hour marathon Benghazi grilling session, Yes we have the truth of that, dont we, Greg who gave the stand down order, who couldnt decide how they should be dressed? Why did they lie to us? I am sure There is much more that is being recovered. She should along with her aides be in jail for destruction of government property.
@Greg:
“Running rings?” More like spinning in guilt. Everyone knows she’s guilty, it’s jut inconvenient for Dems to admit they don’t have a serious candidate this cycle that can win. The only way to deal with it is to keep repeating things everyone knows are lies, hoping the young and uneducated will be indoctrinated.
And debates are always rigged against the right, but yes, I can’t wait to see Trump “run rings” around Clinton’s slow intellect…and her coughing fits.
I’d stop pretending, junior. It was over long ago, and Clinton’s on her way to the being the biggest loser in political history.
@Nathan Blue: #19 From your lips to Gods ears, the election vote counting is rigged, the machines them selves are a Soros connected company, and rechecking the results has become nearly illegal. The Debte will be interesting if it happens I was sooo hoping it would be Cruz she would have been so toast, I am hoping there is some coaching going on what Trump did in the Republican Debates wont fly.
He did not win any debate unless you listened to the Media and completely missed watching the debates.
“I don’t think anything inappropriate was done,” she said. “And so I have to let them decide how to resolve their security inquiry, but I’m not at all worried about it.” This quote from the infamous pseudo candidate shows her lack of ability to grasp reality,or that she has so much dirt on higher ups that there is no need to worry. Her on AF1 a day after the decision that no charges would be recommended by the FIB is quite telling in itself that a fix was in.
@kitt: Respectfully, I think debates are useless anyway. People will say that they’re candidate won, no matter what is said.
Romney destroyed Obama in Denver in 2012. Didn’t matter. If you were a leftist, Obama won. If you were Rep, Romney won.
If you liked Cruz, then Trump didn’t do well.
I just feel that Trump will be able to play with Clinton, so easily, that it won’t be a debate as much as a gunslinger match. But I also agree: he’s got to tune up his approach.
Most people I know on the street could out-wit, out-talk, and out-think Clinton, so it’s not a read achievement.
@Bill, #17:
I want someone who understands geopolitics is a complex game of chess and not a game of Tiddlywinks.
Vladimir Putin passionately hopes America will be led for the next four years by a Tiddlywinks player. Were that to happen, all of the stars and planets on Putin’s chart would come into perfect alignment. With the European Union preoccupied and in disarray, Trump would be his golden opportunity.
I don’t wish for him to have it.
@Nathan Blue: #21 Do you think the liberal media is going to let that happen? Reeeeallly? No it will be Hillary what color will the drapes in the eastwing be. Trump Name the top 15 terrorists and the groups they are affiliated with currently that need to be taken out.
@Greg: What is the pre-occupation with Russia? The Hillary re-set, Obama having all that buddy buddy chat about his second term when caught on hot mic? Do you think that Donald will give him more than Obama already has?? They are the only ride to the space station thanks to this admin.
Speaking of criminal violations: CBS’ John Dickerson Is Only Sunday Host To Cover Trump Foundation’s Proven Lawbreaking
The $25,000 payment—which was erroneously accounted for in a way that just happened to hide its nature from the IRS—looks very much like what is commonly known as a bribe. Unlike Clinton Foundation contributions, all of the elements comprising a quid pro quo transaction seem obvious and very specific.
Maybe Bondi will have herself investigated.
@Greg: That’s ridiculous conjecture, and not a serious statement about a serious matter.
Obama’s allowed for Putin’s growth, exponentially, and Clinton will give us “more of the same”.
The majority of Americans don’t want her to have it.
Any luck finding those W-2s? As I’m sure you want Trumps Tax returns, you understand if no one here can take you seriously if we think your just a paid propagandist meant to disrupt free discussion if it doesn’t conform to your organizations goals.
@Greg: Bondi should be investigated…right after Loretta Lynch…
Bribing the Florida AG isn’t as bad as bribing the Federal AG, so it seems Trumps beats Hillary again.
But it’s all a witch hunt, and when you control the media, you can distort the truth to get what you want out of the electorate. Trump has more experience handling and growing wealth. Most American’s respect that.
Get it yet? You may be out of the job soon.
@Nathan Blue, #25:
On the contrary, it’s the simplest explanation that fully accounts for Putin’s actions.
Do you truly believe Vladimir Putin prefers a President Trump to a President Clinton because he wants the strongest and most effective of the two in the White House?
If so, I would very much enjoy hearing the reasons why someone might think such a thing.
@Greg: We saw clearly, in Suria, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Iraq, and with Benghazi, that Hillary and not one thin clue what to do in foreign policy except make herself wealthy selling US assets. Period. Un-debatable.
Why would anyone think she will fail any less with more responsibility?
Trump at least has the tools to make a leader. It is unknown if he will, but he CAN. Hillary has proven she CANNOT, and is corrupt to boot.
Trump is totally clueless concerning the intricacies of diplomacy and geopolitical strategy. Putin would run circles around him. He would not run circles around Clinton, and he damn well knows it. That’s why Russia is interfering with the U.S. election process in an entirely one-sided fashion. We haven’t actually seen their big move yet.
@Nathan Blue, #26:
A lot of people seem to avoid seeing obvious contradictions with great ease. For example, if the left truly controls the media, why hasn’t the Trump organization’s illegal $25,000 Pam Bondi contribution been big news?
It would interesting to see what would happen if Trump’s supporters ever started paying attention to obvious contradictions. The Emperor would stand before us unclothed—a truly disturbing metaphor.
Hillary has a 30-year track record of failure and questionable Behavior. She has no business anywhere near the office of President of the United States. Electing Hillary would be tantamount to National Suicide
@Greg: Whats worse a bribe or ransom to a terrorist country it was against the law to pay the ransom in cash, it must be paid by ETF or check. Is there any law this administration wont break? Too bad its too late to impeach that SOB.
The EVIL demoNcrats are holding zika funding hostage cause they want money for murdering the unborn. It was blocked by democrats AGAIN for their pet pork projects much like the dem senator that blocked hardening our grid cause her pet pork was not included in the bill..Hardening the grid is not on the dem radar at all, the elites will be hundreds of feet below ground during the worst of 90% of the populations death well over a billion spent on protecting their hole from CMP and EMP. For about 3 billion we could all thumb our noses at Korea and Iran.
Trump calls for higher defense spending after months of isolationist talk
But that was then, and this is now. Check back later—say, in an hour or so—because someone might have asked me by then how my proposed tax cuts, already projected to add $10 trillion to the national debt, will work out with an enormous surge in defense spending that wasn’t even figured into the calculations.
To borrow a phrase commonly heard during my childhood, This guy has more loose screws than a Studebaker. All of the things he says, taken together, add up to total nonsense.
Tax rate cuts do not add to the national debt. Typical liberal talking point.
@Greg: Perhaps like most of us he doesnt realize that auto payments in the budget are things that may or may not be redirected but I ask you again the first question I ever asked you in this blog, how many agencies and depts are there comprising the US government. the BLM could be ended it no longer serves the purpose it was formed, the US government isn’t giving land away for settlement, along with many departments, you have that number yet?
@July 4th American, #34:
Of course they do. The belief that they do not results from an irrational extension of Laffer Curve logic, which wasn’t all that logical to begin with. In fact, past the peak on the curve where decreased tax rates have maximized revenue, every additional rate cut decreases revenue until both the tax rate and revenue collected equal zero. Long before that point of reductio ad absurdum is reached, deficits and debt will skyrocket until you cease to have a currency, an economy, or a country.
Tax cuts must be paid for, or debt increases. Program expansions of any sort must be paid for, or debt increases. Things are seriously out of balance already. Adding to the imbalance does not magically make the problem disappear. If you’re going to cut taxes while greatly expanding defense spending, the results are entirely predictable.
Trump is an idiot. Or he thinks his supporters are idiots. Take your pick.
@kitt, #35:
I honestly don’t know the extent of unnecessary government departments and programs. A methodical review and orderly elimination of those serving no useful purpose or duplicating the function of other programs and departments would be a logical approach. The first obstacle encountered would be Congress. Congress created the problem to begin with.
@Greg: I pick slashing government hack away til the slashing causes a shift in the unemployment figures.
@Greg: Deflection, and not a well played.
Liberal new bias is more a product of the demographics of who works for the media. The “control” merely means an amplification of one group, to forward there views fallaciously, rather than a collusion of nefarious forces.
What’s always struck me is that you simply can’t get a liberal to simply admit that about 80% of the media is liberally biased. This shows much immaturity.
And the $25,000 is front page, big news…your blind bias is fooling you into saying it’s not.
Wow. You’re arguments are getting pretty thin…even for you.
W-2s? I hope it puts bread on your table.
The contradictions you speak of are liberal interpretations, feed so you can have talking points. You’re merely a small-pox infected blanket and you don’t even know it.
@Greg:
Yeah, the typical liberal system to distort the opposition. Label them a:
racist…homophobe…sexist…rich fat cat…blah blah…
It’s all the same, and only an idiot wouldn’t take stock and do some real analysis.
You’re own party revealed they would not respect the democratic process, but did it in secret. Sanders was the real candidate, that libs wanted, but that’s not part of the rich white people running your party.
Idiot?
Let’s call it what it is: drawing identity from politicians. You’re doing it (or getting paid). Either way, it’s an illness on a healthy republic.
Yep. He’s an idiot. Or he believes that his supporters are. Trump, yesterday, September 7: Putin Has ‘Been a Leader Far More Than Our President Has’
Uh, yes Mr. Trump, that most definitely IS all known to be entirely factual. Have you watched the news over the past couple of years? Some of it comes under the heading of Very Recent History, and some of it comes under the heading of Current Events.
I strongly suspect that would be the case, too—and therein lies great danger.
@Greg: When Bush cut taxes (for everyone), it provided a huge boost to the economy and resulted in an INCREASE in tax revenues of $785 billion. Your view of tax cuts emphasizes liberal thinking on the economy, which is that there is only one means to acquire revenue… by TAKING. Liberals cannot imagine ways to grow the economy but can only picture ways to TAKE more.
When the economy grows, there is a wider base from which to draw revenue. Liberal (socialist) policies of strangling the economy with government control while raising taxes higher and higher is a death sentence.
Thus, Obama has a sadly pitiful economic record and Hillary plans more of the same, wetting her beak as usual to continue to enrich herself.
@Greg:
Use algores, peace be upon him, amazing internet and google Federal revenue to the treasury
post Tax rate reductions. Debt is created by spending beyond the receipts to the Treasury. It is econ 101. Tell me Greg, does the printing of money vis a vie quantitative easing add to the national debt?
@Greg: Putin HAS been a leader while Obama has been a golfer. Just because Trump acknowledges Putin has shown leadership towards his own ends does not mean he is PRAISING him. Trump is merely stating an obvious fact.
Obama has been a spectator while Putin has taken over the role of leader in the world. If you don’t like that kind of leader, why would you continue to support a non-leader like Obama or a proven incompetent like Hillary?
@Greg:
How about this one Greg…
Business That Paid Bill Clinton $17M+ Linked to Nonprofit Funded by Hillary’s State Department
Laureate International Universities, the world’s largest for-profit college conglomerate with several ties to the Clinton Foundation, named Bill Clinton its “honorary chancellor” and paid him nearly $18 million while its affiliated nonprofit received millions in grants from Hillary Clinton’s State Department.
After Bill Clinton was placed on Laureate’s payroll in 2010 — the former president was paid $17.6 million over five years, according to the Washington Post — then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “made Laureate part of her State Department Global Partnership,”
The State Department subsequently funneled tens of millions of dollars to the International Youth Foundation (IYF), a nonprofit chaired by Laureate founder and CEO Douglas Becker.
NY Attorney General Let Clinton Charities Fail to Identify Foreign Donors
“Clinton Foundation Is Charity Fraud Of Epic Proportions”, Analyst Charges In Stunning Takedown
@Greg: The question was much more simple Greg just how many dept and agencies are there.
Just want an accurate number, hint even the government doesn’t know, but they autofund them anyway.
@Greg: The first obstacle encountered would be Congress. Congress created the problem to begin with. Yes the first step would be forcing them to take back all the responsibility they gave away. An amendment to the constitution for term limits, COS would be the only way to do that as they would not vote themselves out of a job.
You are a very intelligent person there are days I feel very sorry for you, so assimilated to the liberal way that begs to have every aspect of their lives ruled over, controlled. Terrified of self rule, freedom but even more afraid to let others have that choice.
@Greg: 5
Ok, let’s say that’s true. Is that better or worse than Hillary defaming all the the women that her hubby raped and assaulted. Is that better or worse than Hillary having Vince shot? That’s some of the good things about her. You need a list of bad things?
@Greg:7
Is it illegal to trade with Russia? Has Clinton gotten some of her money from Russians? Is it illegal to deal with Cuba? note: it was when Obozo violated the law and ‘executed’ making it legal.
Does Hillary travel with Bill on his private flights on planes loaded with teen age girls and King sized beds?
We’ve connected that dot. Was Hillary involved in the illegal money laundering with Iran, ‘we’ve connected that dot.”. Does George Soros(Hillary’s major backer) deal with Russia? We’ve connected that dot.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/05/13/flight-logs-show-bill-clinton-flew-on-sex-offenders-jet-much-more-than-previously-known.html
@Greg: 12
and you’re implying ‘within Hillay’s understanding” Lol. Do you think Hillary understands why Bill is flying around the world on a private plane loaded with teenage girls?