Seems like every day I am being asked about Hillary Clinton's campaign and whether she will weather the
e-mail storm that simply will not go away. I mean, why should it go away? Benghazi has been proven to be "much to do about nothing" and now the email attacks from the Right Wing Media and candidates seems to ensure the email story "has legs." How can you say that Rubin, Hillary murdered our ambassador!? Anyone with active brain cells can discern partisan nonsense from reality (plus countless GOP investigative committees have yet to come-up with anything to support allegations against Clinton). But Hillary, no matter how competent, can't seem to navigate this email issue. This fact alone (despite her supporters reassurances), may prove her undoing. How can a future president be relied upon to handle a real crisis when they cannot seem to deal with a petty one. Petty one? Yes, petty one. None of the thousands of disclosed emails were considered "Classified" when she left office. None. And no one other than partisan hacks actually claim she did anything unlawful (see http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/04/02/396823014/fact-check-hillary-clinton-those-emails-and-the-law).
So why the big deal? Because the GOP knows they can't knock down her candidacy any other way. Yet it is becoming clear that Clinton is inept at dealing with this politically motivated "fiasco." Even Democrats are becoming queasy over this mess. But the GOP should be careful for what they wish for. Why? Because their hyper-pluralistic candidacy factor is eroding the GOP brand. Think about it carefully. After the dust settles, who will be the presidential nominee for the GOP? Carson? Fiorina? Cruz? Rubio? Bush? Your guess is as good as mine.
But if not Hillary, then who? Sanders? No chance. Malloy? Nah. Crazy Joe Biden? Hmm. How crazy is Joe Biden? Cast by the Right as "crazy" for his missteps and strange interactions, Biden runs the risk of being marginalized. Yet, if he is the nominee (and that's a big "if"), would he be a solid candidate? I believe he can win. Really? Really!
With the dysfunction in Congress (look at the GOP trying again to shut the government down and again defaulting on our nation's debts), Biden looks more polished than any other candidate. Moreover, Biden is truly an experienced operative on foreign policy (he did serve in the U.S. Senate for 36 years, the last 12 in a leadership position in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee). If Biden steps out of Obama's shadow and pledges 100% support for Israel, watch his candidacy become real (and don't think he won't). Be careful thinking Carson and Rubio would make Biden look "out of touch." Neither of those candidates come close to the experience Biden has accumulated over the past 44 years of national public service. More importantly, although it may appear to his detractors that his actions are "nutty", he comes off to most as simply being human. His life story is filled with happiness and tragedy, just like most Americans. By most standards, he is also not a rich man. He has simply served the people instead of lining his pockets. Can we say the same for any of the GOP candidates (see http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ben-carson-leading-in-book-sales/article/2567765). The GOP will be hard pressed to cover up the humanity Biden brings to the table. So let's look at it another way. Knock Clinton off the table and you get Biden. Who do the Republicans have to balance Biden? "Shut Down" Cruz? Rubio the "refugee wannabe?" "My brother kept us safe" Bush? "Mash-up video" Fiorina? "Constitutionally illiterate" Carson? "I'm rich and you're not" Trump? Be careful GOP, knocking out Clinton does not assure a GOP victory for the White House. Only a truly viable Republican candidate can win - and out of the many, none have proven to be that candidate (no matter how delusional the GOP and Fox News are). And remember folks, most Democrats sit on the side-lines in elections (if it comes down to an ideological show down, Democrats will turn out in Blue states - and you can kiss the electoral college vote goodbye).
You see, America needs new leadership. Obama is toast. But the GOP has no answer. After all, how can a party that wants to destroy the government lead it? Look at what Rubio and Cruz want to do in the Senate - shut down the government and default on our debt (even sober Republicans bristle at this notion). If Obama was listening to me (and obviously he does NOT), in the event of a Congressional attempt to default on our debt ceiling, I would have the president invoke the "Take Care Provision" under Article II and issue an Executive Order to pay our debts, regardless of Congressional inaction. What would the GOP House do? Impeach him? By the time they get around to having the Senate "investigate and try" Obama, he will be leaving office and the GOP-led House will have wasted more millions of dollars and time for purely political reasons. In the meantime, the credit of the United States of America would not be used as a political football by self-serving politicians. Why else would Boehner walk away (in tears) from the Speakership? He knows better (and so does Senate GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell). With the public glee expressed by both Cruz and Rubio over Boehner's decision, none other than Ronald Reagan would slap them around for dividing their very own party for their personal political gain.
As President Ronald Reagan once wrote; "No mother would ever willingly sacrifice her sons for territorial gain, for economic advantage, for ideology." Let's not sacrifice our great nation because someone's "principles" are more ideological than another's. We should demand that our government serve the interest of all Americans, not just those who share an ideology, Democrat or Republican. So folks, strap in, it's going to be an interesting ride to November 2016. As an aside, many thanks to Sue Bardolf for her continued support - she has been following my blogs religiously since they began. Many thanks Sue! Have a great week!
e-mail storm that simply will not go away. I mean, why should it go away? Benghazi has been proven to be "much to do about nothing" and now the email attacks from the Right Wing Media and candidates seems to ensure the email story "has legs." How can you say that Rubin, Hillary murdered our ambassador!? Anyone with active brain cells can discern partisan nonsense from reality (plus countless GOP investigative committees have yet to come-up with anything to support allegations against Clinton). But Hillary, no matter how competent, can't seem to navigate this email issue. This fact alone (despite her supporters reassurances), may prove her undoing. How can a future president be relied upon to handle a real crisis when they cannot seem to deal with a petty one. Petty one? Yes, petty one. None of the thousands of disclosed emails were considered "Classified" when she left office. None. And no one other than partisan hacks actually claim she did anything unlawful (see http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/04/02/396823014/fact-check-hillary-clinton-those-emails-and-the-law).
So why the big deal? Because the GOP knows they can't knock down her candidacy any other way. Yet it is becoming clear that Clinton is inept at dealing with this politically motivated "fiasco." Even Democrats are becoming queasy over this mess. But the GOP should be careful for what they wish for. Why? Because their hyper-pluralistic candidacy factor is eroding the GOP brand. Think about it carefully. After the dust settles, who will be the presidential nominee for the GOP? Carson? Fiorina? Cruz? Rubio? Bush? Your guess is as good as mine.
But if not Hillary, then who? Sanders? No chance. Malloy? Nah. Crazy Joe Biden? Hmm. How crazy is Joe Biden? Cast by the Right as "crazy" for his missteps and strange interactions, Biden runs the risk of being marginalized. Yet, if he is the nominee (and that's a big "if"), would he be a solid candidate? I believe he can win. Really? Really!
With the dysfunction in Congress (look at the GOP trying again to shut the government down and again defaulting on our nation's debts), Biden looks more polished than any other candidate. Moreover, Biden is truly an experienced operative on foreign policy (he did serve in the U.S. Senate for 36 years, the last 12 in a leadership position in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee). If Biden steps out of Obama's shadow and pledges 100% support for Israel, watch his candidacy become real (and don't think he won't). Be careful thinking Carson and Rubio would make Biden look "out of touch." Neither of those candidates come close to the experience Biden has accumulated over the past 44 years of national public service. More importantly, although it may appear to his detractors that his actions are "nutty", he comes off to most as simply being human. His life story is filled with happiness and tragedy, just like most Americans. By most standards, he is also not a rich man. He has simply served the people instead of lining his pockets. Can we say the same for any of the GOP candidates (see http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ben-carson-leading-in-book-sales/article/2567765). The GOP will be hard pressed to cover up the humanity Biden brings to the table. So let's look at it another way. Knock Clinton off the table and you get Biden. Who do the Republicans have to balance Biden? "Shut Down" Cruz? Rubio the "refugee wannabe?" "My brother kept us safe" Bush? "Mash-up video" Fiorina? "Constitutionally illiterate" Carson? "I'm rich and you're not" Trump? Be careful GOP, knocking out Clinton does not assure a GOP victory for the White House. Only a truly viable Republican candidate can win - and out of the many, none have proven to be that candidate (no matter how delusional the GOP and Fox News are). And remember folks, most Democrats sit on the side-lines in elections (if it comes down to an ideological show down, Democrats will turn out in Blue states - and you can kiss the electoral college vote goodbye).
You see, America needs new leadership. Obama is toast. But the GOP has no answer. After all, how can a party that wants to destroy the government lead it? Look at what Rubio and Cruz want to do in the Senate - shut down the government and default on our debt (even sober Republicans bristle at this notion). If Obama was listening to me (and obviously he does NOT), in the event of a Congressional attempt to default on our debt ceiling, I would have the president invoke the "Take Care Provision" under Article II and issue an Executive Order to pay our debts, regardless of Congressional inaction. What would the GOP House do? Impeach him? By the time they get around to having the Senate "investigate and try" Obama, he will be leaving office and the GOP-led House will have wasted more millions of dollars and time for purely political reasons. In the meantime, the credit of the United States of America would not be used as a political football by self-serving politicians. Why else would Boehner walk away (in tears) from the Speakership? He knows better (and so does Senate GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell). With the public glee expressed by both Cruz and Rubio over Boehner's decision, none other than Ronald Reagan would slap them around for dividing their very own party for their personal political gain.
As President Ronald Reagan once wrote; "No mother would ever willingly sacrifice her sons for territorial gain, for economic advantage, for ideology." Let's not sacrifice our great nation because someone's "principles" are more ideological than another's. We should demand that our government serve the interest of all Americans, not just those who share an ideology, Democrat or Republican. So folks, strap in, it's going to be an interesting ride to November 2016. As an aside, many thanks to Sue Bardolf for her continued support - she has been following my blogs religiously since they began. Many thanks Sue! Have a great week!
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