Screw the rules!

 

 

"Rule are silly things for the little people. The high flyers - well, they don't require nor follow rules..."

This morning I would like to bring you another chapter in the book called People behaving poorly. Or, another name this book goes by is Screw the rules! It comes as no surprise that this episode is staring a very familiar face, Hillary Clinton. However, it is with great sadness that I report it also stars a man who really should have known better - General David Petraeus.

Now before I get into the Clinton mess, a few words about the General. As some know, in my 21 years in the United States Navy and Naval Reserve, I held a very high clearance. It was an honor and privilege to be granted that clearance. Before it was awarded to me, my background had to be scrubbed and scrubbed again. Once I passed muster, I had to sign some papers, an agreement, and then an oath. To violate the terms of that agreement and oath, to leak classified information to people who were not cleared, would have resulted in a lengthy jail sentence and a hefty fine. 

What General Petraeus did while serving as the Director of the CIA was way beyond the pale. First off, he was having an affair. Back in my day, that would be a game changer. You would have lost your clearance immediately. Then he disclosed, AND STORED classified information on his mistress' laptop. Here is a man, who had a security clearance most of his service life, breaking a cornerstone rule. It was almost like the rules no longer applied to him. After a long and distinguished career, he will soon exit in disgrace.

And where in the world do I start with Hillary? The Rose Law Firm? The billing records? "Bimbo" gate? Benghazi? Foreign dollars coming into the Clinton Foundation? Or the recent e-mail disclosure. I guess I will focus on the most recent. The rules on what type of e-mail should be used when conducting State Department business are crystal clear. And there are reasons for those rules. Cyber security, custodial responsibility, and accountability.

Hillary did not seem to care about that. Those were rules for the little people. She had her own e-mail account set up. Her own domain. Now that e-mails are being sought when she was Secretary of State, the answer is "Sorry - I only kept some of them. The others are gone". Oh no! Not missing e-mails again! I thought we just played that tune with Lois Lerner! Remember the IRS mess? Ms. Lerner also thought rules were for little people. 

Now where do we go from here? First the General. He will probably get a slap on the wrist. A fine and maybe some community service. If he was a low level enlisted person, there would be a cozy cell in Leavenworth Kansas waiting. As for Secretary Clinton, she is done - finished. Even the loyal minions in the Democratic machine have had enough. Severe Clinton fatigue is spreading quickly. But if she can escape from this one and secure the nomination, it will be a magic trick worth of Harry Houdini.

Well back to work. I need to go pick up my grandson this morning. On the drive to get him, I will adhere to the traffic laws. Unlike the high flyers, I believe the rules are there for all of us to follow.