Seeing the Round Corners

September 19, 2016

HILLARY CLINTON - QUALIFICATIONS

Can Presidential politics get any better? The Clinton campaign is now "almost" to the point of damage control via the candidates own actions and admissions with very little agitation from her Republican opponent.

Days after the diagnosis, the Clinton campaign staff acknowledged she was suffering from pneumonia after she had difficulty standing/walking before entering her SUV. Probably blown way out of proportion, Clinton emerged not long thereafter from her daughter's apartment smiling and waving at reporters and gawkers.

Conspiracy theorists should give it a rest, but second thoughts are that the incident reignited questions about Clinton's health. Clinton's lack of visibility and willingness to do among other things press conferences since the Democratic convention have done nothing to erase the image problem about her own trustworthiness, honesty, and awareness, yet she continues ranting against her Republican opponent.  

The only comment not being made by her Republican opponent is "I told you so," but it may be a safe bet he has said so and it just did not get reported by the mainstream media. The protection Clinton is being provided by her staff and campaign committee gives impetus to stop personal crucifying and get on with substantive debate about the Presidency of the United States.

Clinton is being giving a pass on the most important attribute of a President and it is what voters are recognizing, obviously now showing in the poll numbers. Voters are leery of Clinton's lack of policies to base her run for President, and the Republican candidate is driving home the fact that a Secretary of State deals with foreign policy, not domestic matters that concern the ordinary voter – the domestic economy, jobs, safety and security in their homes, domestic infrastructure, things that matter here in the homeland.

As you read this week's column, give consideration to the actions of the Clinton aides and the image being created of candidate Clinton. Coverage of Candidate Clinton includes the standard rail against her opponent with comments such as "Is this a man you want to have his fingers on the buttons to release nuclear weapons?" To this writer's knowledge, Candidate Trump has not taken the opportunity to respond with a question about Clinton not knowing that a "C" before a paragraph meant it was classified content, something she admitted to about her transition out of office. Remember, Clinton attributed many of her slip ups during that period to the concussion she suffered in a fall at her home.

This week brought former Secretary of State Collin Powell into the political arena over Clinton staff members' attempts to lay some of the e-mail server scandal on his advising Clinton. Powell showed a downright adamant attitude about not accepting any of the blame for then-Secretary of State Clinton's conduct and handling of e-mails.

Now, before going on, let's review the high points of the Clinton interview(s) with the FBI.

1. The concussion Clinton suffered in a fall at her home is the reason given (by Clinton) as to why she could not remember briefings during her transition out of office;
2. Clinton said she never gave thought as to whether e-mails she exchanged on a future U. S. drone attack should be classified;
3. Clinton said she thought the letter "C" before a paragraph referred to alphabetical order, when in fact, "C" indicated the content was classified;
4. Clinton said no one ever raised concerns to her about her use of a private e-mail server; and
5. Clinton did not recall any training on how to handle classified information.
6. Discovery that Clinton had at least 13 different Blackberries and the location of each when discarded became "unknown."

   In Management 201, if not 101, such a candidate for a job would have been ranked as gaining access to the interview by "who she knew," not "not what she knows," i.e, familiarity with the job, competence, experience, ability to make tough decisions, adaptability to the unexpected or catastrophic situations such as the threat of nuclear war. 

What those so driven by getting this specific woman (Clinton) in as the first female President of the United States is the goal in and of itself – Hillary Clinton should not be the only woman in the United States anointed to run for President. NOTE, this writer did not just say "qualified" to run for the Presidency. Yes and sure, she has excelled in trying to prepare for being President if there is such a thing, but, and it is a big one.

There are two types of people in this world – first, those who spend their adult lives preparing for one specific goal who develop a sense of entitlement to that goal.

The second type is one who has prepared their entire life for a born-to position such as Prince Charles of England whose "mum" (also known as the Queen of England) has to date refused to allow him to ascend to the thrown, and is showing no signs of doing so.

Only the first type will be further discussed.

The Clintons (Bill and Hillary) go way back in their zeal for gaining association with the wealthy and celebrity types. It is probably a safe bet such is a prerequisite for running for President or high political office. Most ordinary citizens would say it is not by rationalizing this way:  How can such a person relate to the homeless and those living in poverty? It is difficult for this segment of the population to get all warm and fuzzy for a candidate who offers no solution to staying warm and having enough to eat in a bitter winter, and rarely if ever mentions policies for betterment of the vulnerable – homeless, the poverty stricken, and yes, the older citizens of America.

Most of the attributes so extolled by and about Hillary Clinton are what a decent honorable person would do, BUT they do not make her qualified to be President. Her handling of matters dealing with this country's national security listed in items 1 thru 6 of this column is the telling difference. Handling of such matters is demonstrative of being qualified to be President, and plays a huge role in dealing with so many matters involved in the job that do not ever appear in the job manual for serving as President. President Obama made this point with great emphasis in a recent interview.

This week's revelations about additional Clinton e-mail disclosures by former Secretary of State Collin Powell and Clinton's staff efforts to tie him into her conduct, Clinton's actual health status (real or rumors about cover ups), along with a near total absence of substantive policies in a Clinton Presidency are at or near the point of no recovery for Clinton. "We have a plan for . . ." to voters fed up with     Washington is a really bad campaign philosophy, one Candidate Trump is making the most of with American voters, especially with his more Presidential demeanor. The opportunities not taken are most likely "gone for good."

The reader's comments or questions are always welcome. E-mail me at doris@dorisbeaver.com.