The whole world created an ugly
American story out of the Olympic swimmers' supposed robbery in Rio. Is it just
me or is being extorted at the point of a gun also known as armed robbery?
Okay, while in a state of intoxication the swimmers did not act appropriately, but
still, armed robbery is armed robbery. The swimmers got a raw deal. The Matt
Lauer interview especially irritated me. It was inappropriate, wrongly slanted
and replayed way too much. Bottom line, good young men are now paying a price
far out of proportion with their misdeeds. I would cheer the endorsers that
stand by them. Had such an episode played out in an inner-city of America with
African American young men there would have been protests across the country - and rightfully so. And,
Matt Lauer would have conducted a much different interview.
The FBI said they found another
15,000 Clinton emails. This did not surprise me. The fact they are still
looking is what surprised me. I thought Director Comey said that the
investigation was over?
Maybe I was out of the loop on
this one. News reports this week informed me that the FBI is NOT investigating the
Clinton Foundation and its alleged improprieties with the Clinton State
Department. I do not know why I was under the impression that this was an
active investigation. I was disappointed to hear that the FBI wanted to start
such an investigation but was stopped by higher ups in the DOJ. Maybe that Bill
Clinton/Loretta Lynch meeting on the tarmac was productive for the Clintons. Remember
this paragraph when you read about Julian Assange later in this random
collection of thoughts and reactions.
Until yesterday’s use of “bigot,”
Donald Trump had gone a whole week without stepping in his own mess. A week is
a long time for Mr. Trump.
Another Mr. Trump item: He is
softening his stance on deporting illegal immigrant. The fact that it took so
long to get there is what turned my head. His new position sounds a lot like
all his Republican rivals that he disparaged during the primary.
The media has begun to question
Secretary Clinton’s ethics. Again, this is not a surprise. The fact that it
took so long is the surprise. Could it be the new Trump team has not only
planted the seeds but brought in the Miracle Grow? Obviously, this issue is
going to have a long shelf life. Again, hold this thought when reading about
Julian Assange.
Another Secretary Clinton item: Is
proclaiming that the Clinton Foundation will stop accepting donations from
foreign governments and corporations a marketing stroke of genius? It is the
same thing as President Obama calling for gun control immediately following
each mass shooting? What happens after such a call – a large spike in gun sales.
I can only imagine that the Clinton Foundation will be besieged with foreign donations
between now and election day. Foreigners wanting access to the newly elected
President Clinton have to pay big before the deadline. Let us follow the
donations during the reverse fire-sale.
I also learned this week that the
Obama Administration had a written Memorandum of Understanding with the Clinton
Foundation in order to assure that Foundation would have a firewall between it
and the State Department. How did Huma Abedin’s collection of simultaneous
full-time salaries from both the Clinton Foundation and the State Department
navigate that firewall? Just wondering.
Julian Assange stated that he has
“documents” from the Presidential campaign with a suggestion (but not a
confirmation) that they are from Secretary Clinton’s campaign. He also stated
that he is holding on to them to stage the perfect release in both timing,
format and venue. He did rain on the DNC staff before the Democratic Convention
and caused several DNC staff (including Debbie Wasserman Shultz) to resign. But
my gut tells me he is bluffing this time. It’s a good bluff. President Obama
and Attorney General Lynch have to be wondering what WikiLeaks might have. If
they know anything that should end the Secretary’s nomination – and they are
not acting on such information, they could look really bad if Julian Assange
lets the world know about it. BTW, I wonder who put a stop to the Clinton
Foundation investigation.
Finally, this is not a new head
turn. It’s just a pondering. Do you think Vice President Biden is prepping for
the presidential debates yet? I have to think he should be warming up for the
DNC’s call to the bullpen. If Mr. Trump is successful in damaging Secretary
Clinton too severely too soon, he will be facing Mr. Biden in November. You don’t
need a pollster to figure out the Vice President would beat Mr. Trump in a
landslide. If the damage comes late, the Democrats won’t have enough time to
rebuild the Party image and even Mr. Trump could beat Mr. Biden in such a
scenario. However, even then, Mr. Biden would have a 50/50 chance.
Isn’t presidential campaign
season fun?
