I’M ON HILLARY’S SIDE!

Hillary Clinton takes a question at her Press Conference

        I’m on Hillary’s side.
        I thought she handled herself pretty well at her recent press conference. If what she did about her emails was not illegal, and it wasn’t, what’s the big deal? If the security of the United States was not compromised, and apparently it wasn’t, I have no problem with her using a properly secured private server.
        True, there are some unanswered questions, but they don’t bother me. I don’t care why she did things the way she did. She said it was a matter of convenience, I accept that. She also admitted, given the firestorm that has arisen, that it would have been better had she used the State Department server for her official email correspondence. I agree with that. I don’t care if she erased some of her personal correspondence. She is entitled to her privacy. Did any of those emails in any way compromise the integrity of her position as Secretary of State? I seriously doubt it. Hillary Clinton is a very intelligent, experienced woman who is well aware of the protocols and the risks of violating them. There is no doubt in my mind that she has her country’s  best interests at heart, and she has demonstrated that as a public servant.
        But here is what I find really infuriating. In the midst of all this politically motivated fuss about Hillary Clinton’s email the media commentators for the most part are barely mentioning one of the most infamous and unprecedented actions ever perpetrated by a group of United States senators. Forty-seven Republican senators signed a letter (click to see) addressed to Iranian leaders that was intended to undermine President Obama’s efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Their action has led many to label the signers as traitors! They have jeopardized our nation’s negotiating position. They have misrepresented our President’s role in the negotiating process.

NYET, NYET, MR. NETANYAHU!

You were preaching to the choir.

        I listened carefully to both of your speeches, Mr. Prime Minister. Your delivery was excellent.You knew your audiences, You told them exactly what they wanted to hear. You waved the Israeli flag well. You were strong on Israeli-American relations, as well you should be.
        Your remarks were very well received by your AIPAC friends and by your hawkish Republican supporters in Congress, whose thunderous applause must have warmed your heart and massaged your ego. You were preaching to the choir! And their response was sure to play well with your friends back home in Israel. Even your opponents must have been impressed with the enthusiastic reception you received from your highly politicized audiences.
        Contentwise your speech to AIPAC was appropriate. You kept it within proper bounds. But was your address before the joint session of Congress equally appropriate? Was it the right thing to do? Nyet, nyet, Mr. Netanyahu! You knew that Speaker of the House John Boehner had violated protocul by inviting you without having consulted the President of the United States. You knew that the President did not approve of having you, as a foreign head of state, address the Congress two weeks prior to your having to face a hotly contested election in your own country.