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Hillary Clinton: The Democratic Party's ticking time bomb (article written by a lib)
The Week ^ | 8/14/2015 | Damon Linker

Posted on 08/14/2015 9:13:15 AM PDT by Signalman

So Bernie Sanders is leading in New Hampshire. That cheers me — though not because he's my ideal candidate, and certainly not because I think he could win in the general election. I'm convinced he would almost certainly lose against all but the loopiest or scariest Republican opponent.

Then why am I — someone almost certain to vote for a Democrat, and hoping to vote for a woman, in 2016 — so pleased by Sanders' ascent? Because it helps to puncture the aura of inevitability around Hillary Clinton. Yes, she continues to lead in every national poll by a large margin, which is why few formidable opponents have shown an interest in challenging her for the Democratic nomination. That has always been foolish, given the mountain of baggage she and her husband carry around with them everywhere they go. But now it's become downright irresponsible.

The Democrats desperately need more serious, viable candidates in the race, or at least poised to jump in at a moment's notice. (And it sure would be great if they were more appealing than Al Gore.) The point wouldn't be to catch up to her in a mad dash. The point would be to serve as a strong back-up for when the nearly inevitable happens.

What's the nearly inevitable? The scandal that, sooner or later, is bound to sink Hillary Clinton's campaign.

This isn't paranoia, right-wing spin, or baseless panic. It's a sober assessment of the situation.

At the moment, the ongoing email imbroglio is the time bomb that seems to pose the greatest risk to the campaign. It's hard to know which is most alarming: the way the candidate and her team have handled the scandal since it broke in March; the latest swirl of half-truths, denials, reversals, and revelations; or what new explosive information might come to light a month, six months, or a year from now.

For the past five months, those of us old enough to have lived through the 1990s have been enduring a deeply unpleasant bout of déjà vu-inspired dread. First the news breaks, inspiring the unavoidable thought, "How could [insert member of the Clinton family here] possibly have failed to realize that this would be a problem?" Then the barrage of counter-attacks from the Clinton machine against the story, poking holes, impugning motives, kicking up just enough dust to convince fair-minded observers that maybe, just maybe, there's less to the story than it originally seemed. And finally, because journalists make mistakes and actually care about being able to stand behind the truth of what they publish, even those who ran the original story begin to backtrack, express uncertainties, and air self-doubts.

And then: Ka-Blam! The story is back and bigger than ever. Oh, that server we wouldn't give to you? You can have it now, cleaned up all nice and tidy. There certainly weren't any classified documents on there. Oh, there were? Oops, well, only those two — oh, I mean four — and don't worry about how that's just a "limited sample" of 40 emails out of tens of thousands; the inspector general of the Justice Department just got lucky. And hey, we deleted them, so who cares? (Freedom of information is for suckers.) Yes, of course, my "shadow" had access to that server and those classified emails, too. Why is that a problem? What, are you a member of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy?

Tick, tick, boom.

Maybe you think this is just one of those inside-the-Beltway scandals that only engages journalists and pundits and so will leave the candidate unscathed. But what about the multimillion-dollar slush fund run by her husband, with some of the world's richest people and most corrupt governments potentially trading massive monetary donations for access to and influence with a former president and sitting secretary of state? Did it happen? To what extent? Keeping all of those emails off of government servers and then deleting them has made answering those questions much more difficult than it otherwise would have been. But mark my word, an enterprising reporter somewhere is going to find out. Once again, it's just a matter of when.

Tick, tick, boom.

Moving further down the ladder of corruption into pure sleaze, we have, as always, Bill Clinton's insatiable sexual appetite. We haven't heard much about this in the mainstream press since the days of "bimbo eruptions" and Monica Lewinsky. And that's fair, right? Bill is out of office, his days of public service behind him. Why is it anyone's business what the ex-president does in his free time?

The only problem is that his wife is running for president, and if the effort is successful, Bill and his libido will be back in the White House. Should that be a problem? Maybe not — though it sure could be a humiliating embarrassment and distraction for the first female commander-in-chief.

But what concerns me far more is a specific story — one about Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire investor with a taste for sex with underage prostitutes. Lots of them. Perhaps as many as "34 confirmed minors." (Epstein pled guilty to state charges in 2008. He was sentenced to 18 months and released after serving 13.)

Flight logs from Epstein's private jet — nicknamed the "Lolita Express" — show at least 10 trips by Bill Clinton, including several on which he flew (according to Gawker) with "a woman who federal prosecutors believe procured underage girls to sexually service Epstein and his friends and acted as a 'potential co-conspirator' in his crimes."

Tick, boom.

The only question is when one of these time bombs explode: before the primaries or after the primaries, before the convention or after the convention, before the debates or after the debates, before Election Day or after Election Day.

The Democrats need a viable Plan B now.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 2016election; arkansas; berniesanders; corrupt; criminals; damonlinker; demagogicparty; election2016; hillary; hillaryclinton; hitlery; indict; memebuilding; newhampshire; newyork; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; timebomb; vermont

1 posted on 08/14/2015 9:13:16 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: Signalman

Jeff kuhner is reading parts of this article on the air right now.


2 posted on 08/14/2015 9:15:02 AM PDT by Boardwalk
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To: Signalman

I hope the ticking time bomb explodes in early October, 2016


3 posted on 08/14/2015 9:17:16 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (Isn't it funny that Socialists never want to share their own money?)
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To: Boardwalk

The author mentions what Kuhner calls the elephant in the room...bill Clinton’s insatiable libido back in the white house. Author concerned about Jeffrey epstein...who pled guilty to having sex with minors. Flight logs from epstein private jet show 10 trips with Bill clinton!


4 posted on 08/14/2015 9:19:19 AM PDT by Boardwalk
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To: Signalman

“hoping to vote for a woman”

As long as it’s Hillary?

Where do these goofballs come from and why are they here?


5 posted on 08/14/2015 9:19:57 AM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (This space for rent.)
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To: Signalman

Nonsense. Hillary doesn’t bleed from her whatever.

TIME: Post-Menopausal Hillary Biologically Primed to Be President
April 03, 2015

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2015/04/03/time_post_menopausal_hillary_biologically_primed_to_be_president


6 posted on 08/14/2015 9:22:45 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Signalman
hoping to vote for a woman, in 2016

Typical liberal identity politics...

How about you hope to vote for THE BEST PERSON, in 2016, regardless of their gender, color, etc.?

7 posted on 08/14/2015 9:25:36 AM PDT by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
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To: Signalman
and hoping to vote for a woman, in 2016 ..

I'm hoing to vote for a candidate who can make America great again, I don't care if they are man, woman or Black or White. If this writer only cares about voting for a woman, he can vote for Fiorina.

8 posted on 08/14/2015 9:26:11 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: BenLurkin

Hillary does not bleed, and is only out at night. Any appearance by Hillary during daylight hours is a holographic image...


9 posted on 08/14/2015 9:27:37 AM PDT by BigEdLB (They need to target the 'Ministry of Virtue' which has nothing to do with virtue.)
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To: Signalman

Any candidate under FBI investigation for lapse in national security protocol should be required to suspend their campaign.
Listening to Jeff Kuhner; he’s reading and commenting on it.


10 posted on 08/14/2015 9:36:33 AM PDT by two23 (Ignore the media. It isn't propaganda if we don't listen.)
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To: All

PONDER THIS A Lebanese businessman’s company pledged $1 billion to the Clinton Global Initiative. The eco-minded Clinton awarded him a prize for “sustainable development.”

The billion dollar donor was later convicted of money-laundering and “aiding a criminal organization WRT billions of dollars stolen from Nigeria.

What would possess an individual to pledge a billion dollars to the Clintons? UNLESS....the pledger was given “something valuable” in exchange. The FBI needs to connect the dots....Hillary’ email scandals would indicate top secret and confidential info WRT US ntl security was sold to the highest bidder. Close down the frickin’ Clinton Foundation—— confiscate all of the money there....it belongs to US taxpayers.


Trump told Hannity: “When Hillary’s email scandal is added to Clinton Foundation issues, it’s a serious situation. I know the people that gave Clintons money. These are not the nicest people in the world.” “

The blockbuster “Clinton Cash” book details the buck-raking couple’s sordid circle. Clinton Foundation donors and board members’ shady dealings and criminal convictions are legendary.

•The SEC charged a Clinton Foundation trustee with misallocating $9.5M from his database company. Shareholders sued for using the company jet to fly the Clintons around and paying Bill Clinton a $3M consulting fee.

• A Clinton Foundation trustee was accused of paying Bahraini executives (roughly $52 million) to win sales contracts for US-based Alcoa which later settled with the DOJ for $384M.

• A Clinton Foundation trustee donated to Hillary’s campaigns...gave the Clintons millions in honoraria and millions more to the foundation. The trustee was arrested for allegedly defrauding a bank. He pleaded guilty in a Bklyn court to “funneling more than $180,000 in illegal contributions to three federal candidates,” Hillary among them.

• An Indian legislator sat at the head table at the Clinton Global Initiative and dined privately with the Clintons at their home. He gave between $1-5 million to the Clinton Foundation....then was arrested for bribing members of parliament WRT a US-Indian nuclear-technology agreement....he was booted from his party, ending his political career.

• Claudio Osorio fundraised for Hillary and supported the Clinton Global Initiative. He falsified federal applications and bilked US taxpayers to score a loan of $10M tax dollars to build homes in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Osorio was convicted of financial fraud, using federal “humanitarian assistance for personal benefit,” and got 12 years in federal prison.

• He was on the federal terrorist no-fly list yet a Lebanese-British businessman donated $460,000 to Miami Democrats for voter-registration and attended the Clintons’ WH Christmas party. He was later convicted of money-laundering and “aiding a criminal organization WRT billions of dollars stolen from Nigeria.

The Lebanese businessman’s company pledged $1 billion to the Clinton Global Initiative. The eco-minded Clinton awarded him a prize for “sustainable development.”

L/E investigating Clinton donor, Jeffrey Epstein’s pedophile case, found Bill Clinton listed w/ 21 phone nos and email addresses-—multiple phone nos and emails are connected to money laundering and tax fraud.

Wall Street financial analyst, Charles Ortel, claims he has new evidence that the Clinton Foundation mismanaged, “perhaps intentionally,” financial and regulatory reporting required by US federal and state governments for charities under tax-exempt status.


11 posted on 08/14/2015 9:38:07 AM PDT by Liz
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To: All

IS SHE THAT STUPID? Hillary doesn’t even know the calendar and travel schedule of the Secy of State is considered classified information?

All of this is of paramount importance b/c it impinges on
US ntl security....... and the safety and security of Americans.

Now under FBI scrutiny, Colorado’s Platte River Networks handled the Clintons’ email accounts. It’s been confirmed by (1) the US inte community, and, (2) the office of the State Dept IG, that classified information was transmitted through Hillary’s private email account...and that Hillary deleted 1000’s of emails prior to turning some over to the State Dept for record-keeping (as US law requires).

(A) It is possible that Platte River Networks may have copies of Hillary’s deleted emails.....but presumably the outfit does not have ntl security clearance. (B) Hillary’s lawyer is said to be in possession of a thumb drive of her govt emails.....but Kendall does not have national security clearance.

AMERICANS NEED TO KNOW ASAP who was allowed to see the data in Platte River Network and Kendall’s possession?


POINTS TO PONDER: a cabinet-level government employee using their own server and personal e-mail exclusively is unheard of. It is considered a crime for ex-govt employees to have ntl security emails. All ntl security material belongs to the American people and is to be turned over upon termination of employment.


Criminal implications of Hillary’s emails.

<><> a high government official (particularly the Secy of State) to utilize day to day a non-government computer for communications in the performance of their job is in violation of security laws in dozens of ways.

<><> whether marked as such, all emails emanating from Hillary’s private server are classified ntl security data.

<><> the US govt tech system is really fussy——particularly about emails from the US State Dept.

<><> a govt official (particularly the Secy of State) cannot simply buy a brand new computer with licenses and programs and expect to have it certified.

<><> US govt officials are required to have a government-purchased computer, set up by the govt, utilizing a CACC card cleared technician.


12 posted on 08/14/2015 9:41:16 AM PDT by Liz
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To: Signalman

So he’s not mad she sold and mishandled our national secrets, he’s just mad that she’s hurting the Democrat chances in 2016?

And you wonder why these people are pissing in your faces?


13 posted on 08/14/2015 9:44:29 AM PDT by Tzimisce
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To: All
Circa 2010--Ex-Pres Clinton in Moscow having a laugh w/ Putin.

Hahahahahahah--US National security--hahahahahahah---you gotta be kidding.

14 posted on 08/14/2015 10:45:25 AM PDT by Liz
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To: Signalman
journalists . . . actually care about being able to stand behind the truth of what they publish

The writer is a loon or a liar.

15 posted on 08/14/2015 10:49:05 AM PDT by T Ruth (Mohammedanism shall be defeated.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
Damon Linker: [snip] why am I -- someone almost certain to vote for a Democrat, and hoping to vote for a woman, in 2016 -- so pleased by Sanders' ascent? Because it helps to puncture the aura of inevitability around Hillary Clinton... The Democrats desperately need more serious, viable candidates in the race, or at least poised to jump in at a moment's notice. (And it sure would be great if they were more appealing than Al Gore.)... What's the nearly inevitable? The scandal that, sooner or later, is bound to sink Hillary Clinton's campaign. This isn't paranoia, right-wing spin, or baseless panic. It's a sober assessment of the situation. [/snip]
Ultimately, Damon Linker would happily vote for Hillary Clinton, and if she sails to the nomination, once that becomes clear he'll be just another media cheerleader for her.
16 posted on 08/14/2015 12:05:43 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
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