Most Americans once believed “a public office was a public trust”. Perhaps they still do.
Now, a “trust me” style of so-called leadership such as that was demonstrated recently by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, seems to be The message. The same Mrs. Clinton, who has waited years to be President of the United States. Just “trust me” should not be the primary component of the philosophy and message of a potential leader of the United States. Winning the Democratic primary, for President of the United States is not, nor should it be, a coronation. Especially, a possible Hillary Clinton coronation.
Clinton fatigue may have set in earlier. However, it is now front and center of political debate. Once again, the former Secretary of State has brought to the forefront the long-standing habit of “Clinton privilege”. They play by the rules they set, not the rules by which all Americans are expected to abide. This is not a good trait for a potential President of the United States. Can Americans trust someone who will essentially treat Americas as stupid, as did a Harvard professor regarding Obama care? This appears to be a mantra for the elites in this country today.
The Clintons have been exceedingly controversial since arriving on the American political in the twenty century. Perhaps, Clinton fatigue is even affecting Mrs. Clinton. After having been in controversial and demanding public life for so many years, perhaps the potential, presumed nominee of the Democratic s, is herself, feeling that another race for the brass ring is not the best use of her future. This could be a reality as Hillary looks
This could be a reality as Hillary looks back at the past few years of lucrative speaking engagements, book deals, and international travel. The demands of the American presidency are much more grueling.
Perhaps, of more importance are the questions of how would Mrs. Clinton govern? Whatever her ideological drive, she has not yet enunciated any new major policy directions for 2016 and beyond. Only, “just trust me”. This nation is a different place than when she ran for the United States Senate. The only elective office she ever held before becoming the Secretary of State. The continuing spread, danger and viciousness of Islamic terrorism, the potential nuclear threat from Iran and the deteriorating situations in Iraq and
Afghanistan will require new solutions and directions than those propounded previously by Mrs. Clinton. And, let us not forget, she was involved in many of the decisions, made on these issues, in the recent past. 2016 could well be an election where new faces, new ideas, and fresh approaches are the best options to offer the American electorate.
Could we be seeing the beginning of the end of another Clinton campaign? Perhaps not, but the prelaunch pad has not been smooth, and the controversy lingers on.
Then, there is the press. Perhaps their rapture with the Clintons has diminished. Perhaps they will now begin to report the news rather than cover up, sandbag and continue the free passes issued to the Clintons in the past.
Many factors have certainly changed in American politics. It has often been said that a few weeks or months is a lifetime in politics. So they still are, especially in the twenty-first century.
Now, for the current issue of the Clinton emails, the server and the redacted documents, should you believe those stories, call me; I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.
You can donate your profits to the Clinton Foundation.
Stephan Sonn says
The Clinton saga is the most enduring engram in post-WWII American politics and culture.
Maybe it is not Camelot, but neither at its heart is it as dark and bleak as painted here in such a self-serving manner by a master of spin. Fletcher you are up against too much basic human truth and pathos for the sins of email mania to impress anybody.
We have been through versions of this before. Never before were the links so well documented and passed on, even by false or unfriendly media. The dots connect.
Monica Lewinsky was at least vintage camp with her silent movie eye-fluttering, vamping and her Linda Trippe clumsy-butt ugly spotted dress spying. The Clintons were, and are still hunted, as are we in our likely fluke, middle-class trappings.
James Nick says
What is it? Not even six months after the last election and the rinse-repeat cycle of misinformation, innuendo, divisiveness, faux outrage, and hyperbole is starting up all over again. Give me break… literally!
The Republican Party has been dragged, and continues to be dragged, so far to the right by its insane ideologues is there anyone left anymore who is persuadable? Either you’ve drunk the right wing Kool-Ade by now or you never will. Is it really possible that there is a sizable number of people on the bubble that a dust up over an arcane, inside-the-beltway issue like where e-mails are stored is enough to move them from Team Blue to Team Red? I seriously doubt it.
For example, results of a CNN/ORC poll (https://www.cnn.com/2015/03/18/politics/2016-election-poll-clinton-bush/) released just five days ago shows that “… none of the top candidates in this [Republican] field gets within 10 points of Hillary Clinton in a series of hypothetical general election matchups….” But I guess it has now become a necessary rite of passage that should Mrs Clinton go on to prevail in 2016 she must enter office as maximally bruised and hated by the opposition as possible so as to ensure perpetual gridlock.
Let the games begin.