2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumThe Clintonian Problem
Hillary is facing a problem, and I'm not sure she recognizes it.
Back in the 90s, we had a national debate. "We don't know what the meaning of 'is' is."
That one line really summed up Bill Clinton's relationship with honesty. It's now a national punchline. It was legalese. And so here we are again. Hillary Clinton is trying to parse a situation legally. And I get it. She's attempting to stay well clear of an indictment. But it doesn't work so well politically anymore. We caught on. She's giving legal answers to situations where common sense is just plain going to prevail.
And I get it. If you're partisan to her, you're going to engage in the same legalese to attempt to prove why she did nothing wrong. You're invested in that. Ok. But, the other side of that is.
You're asking voters not to believe their lying eyes.
She set up a private server. She did so because she didn't want scrutiny. She didn't want us to see what she was doing. She apparently didn't even want President Obama to see what she was doing. (I still wonder how he feels about the giant middle finger that is Sydney Blumenthal).
But she's asking voters to pretend there was no ulterior motive whatsoever.
No. No one believes her. I don't even think her partisans believe her. But we have to engage in this fantasy for reasons.
This is going to be a problem. Her honesty and trustworthiness numbers are in the toilet, and shit like this is why. The longer she lies and the more this drips, the worse it is for her.
Do you want a President Trump? Because this stupidity is how you get a Trump.
Someone, somewhere, grab Bill and Hillary, shake them, and explain, "STOP. FUCKING. LYING." We caught on to this bullshit from you two 20 years ago. Enough. Doesn't work.
She may win the general, but does anyone anywhere not believe her presidency isn't going to be a scandalicious clusterfuck?
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morningfog
(18,115 posts)It's really hard for her.
Ferd Berfel
(3,687 posts)She'll try not to lie, but will, if she deems it necessary.
The only remaining question is, how often will THAT happen?
Response to morningfog (Reply #1)
artislife This message was self-deleted by its author.
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)It's a real black eye, imho, that she declined to be interviewed by the State Dept Inspector General. The State Dept that she used to run, that is still being run by her #1 Ally, President Obama, and SOS John Kerry. She's earning her poor trustworthiness ratings.
It's tough for me to imagine 51% of the people voting to go from No Drama Obama to All Drama All The Time Clinton. Of course, Trump would be as bad, so there's that.
Yes, I believe a Hillary presidency will be as full of scandals and investigations as the first Clinton era.
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Do you ever contribute to a conversation? Ever? Seriously. I'm actually willing to bet $20 here. Where, in the past year, say, has JoePhilly discussed policy?
Every time I see your name, it's just one line snark in favor of whoever's in power. You did this through the LGBT debates too. (But, hooray, we proved you wrong. Sucks, right?)
Armstead
(47,803 posts)The GOP did everything possible to block Obama, and threw everything but the kitchen sink.
But they were notably unsuccessful at their efforts to gin up "scandals" against him.
Why? Because that's not the way Obama rolls. He doesn't give them fodder for the GOP Scandal Machine.
Unfortunately, that IS how Clinton rolls. And I don't think, at this point in life, that's going to change.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)If by some twist of fate Hillary Clinton is elected, I'd be shocked if she made it 6 months without impeachment proceedings for the same two reasons Bill was impeached.
Trenzalore
(2,331 posts)BTW all the men that led that charge have had varying degrees of worse sex scandals.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Prism
(5,815 posts)And god knows, Republicans were looking. That's one of my plus factors for the guy. He did not give them any bullshit.
Hillary, should she win, will be like a GOP carnival.
I'm tired of defending these people. I won't do it again.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)is that when he does make a misstep, he doesn't make it again in the future.
He learns from his mistakes.
Response to Prism (Reply #8)
artislife This message was self-deleted by its author.
cali
(114,904 posts)
Waiting For Everyman
(9,385 posts)that don't need to exist, where we already have enough. The focus is constantly on them, and the stupid things they do, instead of on moving forward with the public's agenda.
The trouble they bring with them is not worth the upside (whatever that might be).
That's in addition to their policy negatives, the neocon and neoliberal stuff.
They screw up more than they fix. We can't afford that anymore.
Betty Karlson
(7,231 posts)