Three Thoughts about Hillary

I have three thoughts in the wake of the Hillary Clinton “scandal” relative to her use of her own email servers instead of then official State Department email.

First, it seems to me the Democrats had better unearth another credible candidate besides Hillary. And not Elizabeth Warren. She’s not ready to be President and we need her in the Senate.

Second, this is much ado about nothing. It turns out that Colin Powell also used a private email account while Secretary of State, and that Jeb Bush used his private e-mail account as Florida governor to discuss security and military issues such as troop deployments to the Middle East and the protection of nuclear plants. I can sympathize with not wanting to carry two devices around, as Hillary said she did not. When I was in state government I chose to put my government email on my personal cell phone, but that required adding a lot of security to my personal cell phone to make that happen.

Third, it seems likely that Hillary also used her personal email account because she wanted to keep control of her own email, given the penchant of her opponents on the other side of the aisle to come after her for something or other. She didn’t really acknowledge that, and probably didn’t want to go there for obvious reasons.

If Hillary runs — and who doubts that she will — she would be the most qualified woman who’s ever run for President. Arguably she would be the most qualified person who’s ever run for President (without being an incumbent.) Obama broke the racial barrier a few years back; I would like to see someone break the gender barrier. In general I like Hillary well enough, and think she could do the job. But like a lot of the rest of you, there is something about the Clintons that does give me a small case of the heebie-jeebies. They often don’t seem quite on the level. That could be a death knell for Hillary’s Presidential prospects if she can’t find a way to be authentic with all the rest of us.