If I asked you to search your memory for politicians the past 30yrs who fit this description, who might they be? Spiro Agnew? Nah, that was 40yrs+. Charlie Rangell? Still sits in congress, so must not be a criminal. Christopher Dodd? Whatever he did, he retired out gracefully with full benefits, so I guess not him. Maxine Watters? She just helped her hus- band with a little “get me sum at the trough”, so no big deal. Harry Reid or Diane Feinstein with their crony capitalism & insider-trading? Didn’t give them a problem. Are you getting the picture?
Bill Clinton? Now we’re getting warmer. Recall, he was accused of sexual assault by half dozen women, but nothing stuck. One of the women, Juanita Broaddrick, charged rape, but nobody cared. Professional, ambitious women bringing charges, all with lots to lose. Do you think they hoped “where there’s smoke, there’s fire”? Usually is, but not in Bill’s chimney, especially with Hillary tending the fire . . .
He went on to be accused of many things including suborning a witness, perjury, obstruction of justice, contempt of congress, etc., and was finally impeached; passed the house, failed the senate. Other than a mark on his legacy, he walked away. Could we say his attitudes/behaviors proved he had little regard for the law? Operated outside the law? That his conduct, though unpunished, was illegal? Criminal?
Let’s examine crime, as defined in Webster’s 9th New Collegiate: crime, an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law, that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law; a gross violation of law; a grave offense, esp. against morality; something reprehensible, foolish or distasteful
Notice, nothing in this definition requires that an individual be convicted of his/her misdeed in a court of law. It’s sufficient just to know a misdeed was done, making it a crime, and making the individual ipso-facto an outside-the-law practitioner, i.e. an outlaw.
We need to be clear on this, for we live in a time when many of our political class (this is a small sampling) obviously indulge themselves in these behaviors, some less some more, but hardly ever are brought up on charges or held accountable, even as to the duties of their public office. When they are, they manage to shrug it off, ending up with barely a spot on their reputation. No big deal. Sexual battery, rape, millions/billions in favors, abuse of authority, criminal negligence, dereliction of duty, perhaps even voluntary/involuntary manslaughter. In the murky unfocused glare of today’s politicized legal spotlight, it doesn’t matter. Only who you are and which side of the aisle you’re on, matters. That’s it. End of story.
In another time all may have been convicted and sent to prison, ending careers, abuses and privilege. Clinton might have been impeached AND convicted of multiple sexual assaults and rapes, in which case he’d be cooling his heels right now in some Club Fed for the duration, never to bother us again. But no, he’s still with us, doing his tricks, enjoying his popularity and fame, pulling his shenanigans.
As defined here many, perhaps most, of our political class are outlaws: criminals, scoundrels, shirkers, embezzlers, whatever. They lead privileged lives getting away with virtually everything, while we common folk remain accountable. We could never walk about in the light of day as they do and get away with it. Not even by half.
Our political class (elite?) is a rogue, unbridled outlaw class answerable to no one, except we the people. Only when we’ve had enough does something get done. But then, that breaks down too, since a goodly percentage of us love our politicians and what they do for us. We’d never try to reign them in and break their spirit, nor their bad habits.
I’m trying to explain/prove the idea that, because everything today is driven by partisanship, the party in power pretty much calls the shots, including who to nail and who to leave alone. For fifteen of the past twenty three years the politics have been left-of-center progressive, so every democrat from here to Timbuktu (many republicans too!) have been getting a pass: from media, academia, Hollywood, the judiciary, political peers, even we the people. A republican-controlled House & Senate have been of no consequence in the face of this onslaught.
Moreover, not only does crime pay, so do ignorance, cronyism, greed, incompetency, negligence, dysfunctionality, arrogance, lack of skill, naked pretense, you name it. Anything and everything that is ignoble in this world, at this moment, somehow manages to shine with splendor and have its way. I’m talking of course, of Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is the focus of this article.
She is first and foremost, an outlaw of the kind we speak. An unindicted co-conspirator in so many misadventures. An incompetent in her duties as Secretary of State, possibly a criminally negligent agent of mayhem and death. Obama’s feckless, political appointee who arrogantly broke with standing protocol regarding communications and secrecy, electing to use her own, private emails for control, easy unsupervised usage and dictatorial privacy regardless of risk to national security.
There are virtually countless examples of her public histrionics, deceits, distractions, dissemblings and lies. She has been right there beside her man from the beginning, aiding and abetting his deceits and crimes, doing everything she could to defend against his enemies (us!) and that damnable, illusory vast right wing conspiracy thing she loves to scape-goat.
She did her novice, ace-attorney best to bring down Nixon, getting herself fired in the process for misbehavior and/or unethical conduct. She tried unconstitutionally to commandeer our entire health care system while 1st Lady, costing taxpayers millions. She brutishly fired a seasoned & experienced White House travel office staff in favor of her own minions and cronies. She made a quick fortune in cattle futures, not knowing what they were. She lied & tried to cover up her involvement in the White Water scandal, and couldn’t remember/find her billing records from her days at the Rose Law Firm.
She went ruthlessly after the bimbos that so enamored her husband, doing everything possible to impugn their integrity and discredit their character. She struggled mightily to cast off any notion Bill was a philanderer, let alone the alpha predator in these adulteries.
For almost thirty years the press has given her a free ride, allowing her to “bask” in the afterglow of her husband’s charisma and celebrity. They said she was the brains behind the charm, the enforcer behind the Slick Willie persona. The heir apparent of his legacy and our presidency.
If you like Hillary I know you’re unhappy hearing these things. Why you like her I can never understand, but if there’s the chance liking her and knowing her are two different things, I’ve got to take my best shot to open your eyes to her faults and flaws. Yes, I’m coloring things to suit, but I am not lying or deliberately trying to mislead. She has been and continues to be all the things I claim. She’s by definition a dissembler, a procrastinator, a user, a deceiver and an outlaw. She’s the personification and paradigm of the politically decriminalized outlaw.
Do we want or need such person as our president? Do we want Bill Clinton back in the White House? Have we considered what he might try to pull as 1st Husband? The Clintons are like a modern day, white collar Bonnie & Clyde. In their careers thus far, just like that infamous duo, the law hasn’t touched them. They’ve ridden roughshod over the political landscape grabbing booty, taking names, grasping rewards, securing offices, accepting accolades and indulging whatever desires or urges came along, feathering their nest along the way. Power, heed-lessness, lawlessness have been their creed.
They hawk their bleeding hearts, their concern for the poor, the elderly, the homeless, non-wasp/non-traditionals, the hapless female gelding (I hesitate using eunuch to describe Hillary’s erstwhile rights-deprived woman who actually is a smart, healthy, perfectly capable female only being made to feel inferior) and of course, the children, always the children. And our pain, yes! They feel our pain! Does anyone think Bonnie or Clyde gave a good goddam for the children, or the pain of the ones they robbed? They were Outlaws! All they cared was where next and what’s the score! That’s what outlaws do: plan the next heist!
Leave Bill out of it. Hillary can’t recall, doesn’t remember, thinks maybe not, would like more time to review, admits she might have misspoke, thinks she actually dodged real bullets, thinks she actually slid seamlessly, believably into southern black vernacular, made cookies somewhere along the way, wonders why it (Benghazi) matters and, really, haven’t we been all over it before? No, Hillary, we haven’t!
Hillary is a usurper of our trust, a shrewd exploiter of position & power, a pretender to nobility, an interloper on our political scene who has no purpose other than her own. She is an empty package of worthless promises, besotted by her ambition to be POTUS.
Supporters take care backing this woman. She is, among other things, a true socialist who wants bigger government, to tax the rich and to redistribute their wealth. Does that include her wealth? She and Bill are worth more than $150Mil by some reckonings, and growing by the minute. What did they do to amass such a fortune? Speeches? Favors? Shakedown well-heeled supporters? More cattle futures?
Truth is, they’ve done nothing other than throw their weight around and misuse their public offices. It’s hypocritical for them to demonize Mitt Romney, who actually worked hard for his money, when they just kicked back using their power and influence to fleece friend and foe, based on the unsavory reality of their ill-gotten power and largesse.
Hillary Clinton is unfit to be president. Benghazi alone should have proven that. Like Lady MacBeth she has blood on her hands, but unlike that Lady she’s made little effort to prove her non-culpability, trying instead to hide the telltale stain. Emails likewise. Her arrogance is beyond belief. It’s nauseating. She has no sense of propriety or of the grandeur of her office. She’s been a functionary climbing a ladder, nothing more. She is not to be trusted, cares only for herself, and will bring shame and ruin to our great country.
America is ready for a woman president, I agree. Just not this woman!
I hope many of you will listen, before it’s too late . . .
You’ve been reading Shaneview
I’m Al Shane
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