Guest editorial from a local Chicoan. Leo’s background makes him imminently qualified to comment on classified information and the law. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. -Jack Lee
By Leo M.
With the political season in full swing, a number of issues have arisen that make me question the application of the judicial system to our politicians and others in the political game. I include in this group, those running for elected offices as well as the pundits and analysts that have a propensity for manipulating statistics and using rhetoric as a substitute for the truth. The dictionary definition of politicians is simple enough, but does not include the antics of deceit, and the bending of the truth and the law for political goals.
My focus today is on a current presidential candidate that, in my opinion, has managed to interpret federal laws in a manner that is deceitful, arrogant, and in violation of existing laws. Perhaps I’ve missed a loophole in the laws applicable to classified information that allows politicians to violate these laws with immunity. Is there a “Get out of jail card” for politicians that I’ve overlooked?
The last case of classified information misuse I recall was by a U S Army General that provided classified information to his biographer. That didn’t work out well for the General, as his military career came to an end, he was found guilty of breaking federal laws for dissemination of classified information, and was heavily fined. Of course he was not a career politician.
It appears there is a special set of legal requirements applicable to politicians that break a law. It seems that for politicians, a mere apology erases the damage of breaking the law, with no legal consequences. It might depend on the politician’s position of importance, the longevity of political service, popularity, or money and power. Maybe having friends in the Justice Department, or the White House is a factor.
My focus is on a candidate that has the gall and arrogance to deny any wrongdoing, then turn around and apologize for the wrongdoing, and then expect to be absolved of breaking the law. Am I missing something here? How stupid does this person think American voters are? If it wasn’t such a serious matter, it would make a good comedy.
With an investigation underway by the FBI, State Department, and the Inspector General, maybe it will be determined that a law has been broken by this politician. I’m waiting to hear some response from the Attorney General, but I’m skeptical that any legal actions will be taken based on prior action by the Department of Justice. However, I am hopeful that the law will prevail and override political arrogance, and deceitful bending of the truth and federal law. Of course this is wishful thinking based on past history. It is a sad commentary on our Justice system when laws are allowed to be bent and broken by politicians, with no consequences.
There are many different levels of classification, ranging from top secret, down to a basic need to know level. I have worked on projects in the past that have required security clearances, and have always taken security levels very serious. I’ve even worked with unclassified nuclear information for nuclear power plants, which still requires close attention to security of information. In all cases, I knew I would be held responsible for maintaining confidentiality, and was trained to know the requirements and penalties involved.
I have experienced the classified material laws in action on a project that involved classified material. This involved an employee who left a classified document on a desk, in a locked office overnight. The individual was fired as a result, and taken away by federal officers. There is no room for intent in these security laws, they are absolute, and the training required and provided on these laws is clear and complete.
Stressing the importance of secure information was highlighted when I worked on the design of a facility for a large baking company. This project had a very strict confidentiality agreement, and everyone working on the project was required to sign the agreement. This was because of the proprietary recipes involved. No national security was involved, however confidentiality of information was a top priority.
After following the current issues about confidentiality and classified documents of the former Secretary of State, and presidential candidate, and knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have trusted the candidate with a cookie recipe.
Today it seems that politics and ethics are divergent subjects, and I wonder where and when justice enters into the equation…
$hrilLIARy for Prison 2016!
Let’s add all the other private servers that were used they all did it! Particularly GW and Cheney’s! There were 22 million missing emails in that admin!
http://crooksandliars.com/2014/06/issa-blamed-ibm-software-loss-22-million
Arrest GW Bush and Dick Cheney!
As That Halliburton Troll Dick Cheney tries to throw stones to provide his cover others are finding the ethics and morals to speak out. What many Republicans hide from will have to be discussed. The world knows what Bush and Cheney are and will not trust or respect us until we admit it. Obama is just as guilty for giving them immunity.
“In 2011, Wilkerson added that preparing Powell’s UN statement was “probably the biggest mistake of my life.” Calling for Bush and Cheney to be put on trial for their crimes, he said, “I’d be willing to testify, and I’ll be willing to take any punishment I’m due.”
Four years later, Lawrence Wilkerson is still calling for Cheney to be held to account for starting a war based on falsehoods and obfuscation. Like Marine Major General Smedley D. Butler, Wilkerson is a true patriot who is not afraid to speak the truth – and in the spirit of Dwight D. Eisenhower, he is prepared to own up to his own mistakes.”
http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/09/chief-of-staff-who-prepared-powells-un-statement-in-support-of-iraq-war-says-cheney-should-be-in-jail-for-war-crimes/
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44337958/ns/us_news-security/t/ex-powell-aide-dick-cheney-fears-prosecution-war-crimes/#.VftkyJdiCos
Where did all our money Go?
9/10/2001: Rumsfeld says $2.3 TRILLION Missing from Pentagon
9/11/2001: All Pentagon Records disappear and building 7 collapses.
Lets talk about this corrupt establishment politics crap.
It crosses party lines. Let’s take care of this problem.
This is not a football game folks. Get rid of this party crap and get real.
Leo, you are echoing the sentiments of a lot of Americans. There is no question in my mind, Hillary has received some preferential treatment. I want to see this issue of possible criminal conduct resolved for the good of the country. If they have something to charge her on, then they ought to do it. It only takes a couple of mishandled secret emails to prove their case.
Thank you Leo M. I appreciate your opinion and share your concern.
I’ve noticed not all politicians, or their underlings, are exempt from prosecution or being fired. It happened several times during the Bush administration. (Examples: Scooter Libby and Alberto Gonzales) In the last seven years evidence piles up and overflows and politicians get away with ignoring subpoenas, obfuscation, and taking the fifth…we can’t even get a special prosecutor to look into it these matters. Illegal behavior bleeds from the top to department heads as well. The IRS targeting scandal is one example.
There was a time when certain politicians, and those who protect them, could get away with bad behavior without much public scrutiny. This was due to the biased, limited media. Thankfully we have alternate sources now and it isn’t as easy to fool the public. Let’s hope as the people become more informed pressure will be brought to bear. We must demand better of those we elect. We must be vigilant if we’re to hold on to the rule of law.
Dewey your portrayal of what happened is typical of those who use terms like “right-wing echo chamber” and “flying monkeys.”
From the article you linked to:
Since the Democrats apparently didn’t pursue the matter further, I doubt anything close to what Hillary and her underlings have done, or Lois Lerner for that matter, actually went on. You are a victim of the spin to discredit Bush/Cheney.Did you see the Michael Moore film, “Farenheit” by chance? Salons take:
This describes perfectly the campaign to get Bush/Cheney!
In contrast with the cooperative attitude of the Bush administration I give you Sharyl Attkisson. Attkisson provides a timeline that shows the level of Hillary’s cooperation which includes:
If you can produce a similar timeline that shows the Bush administration purposely and defiantly avoided and lied about the loss of emails I’d be happy to read it.
““In 2011, Wilkerson added that preparing Powell’s UN statement was “probably the biggest mistake of my life.” Calling for Bush and Cheney to be put on trial for their crimes, he said, “I’d be willing to testify, and I’ll be willing to take any punishment I’m due.”
Sounds like a person that’s been threatened or bribed to me!
“for starting a war based on falsehoods and obfuscation. ”
the press willingly went along with this tripe which can easily be proven as false. Wikipedia:
Wikipedia:
“9/10/2001: Rumsfeld says $2.3 TRILLION Missing from Pentagon”
That was the result of an audit…ask the Clinton administration. (Also, you can’t possibly be surprised that a government bureaucracy couldn’t account for huge piles of cash?!!!)
“9/11/2001: All Pentagon Records disappear and building 7 collapses.”
Dude, a big jet flew into the Pentagon…you expect there would be nothing missing?
“Get rid of this party crap and get real.”
I agree there’s lots of “crap” going on in Washington but how would you replace the two party system?
We are a republic and I am four square in favor of keeping it so be careful. (All emphasis mine)
Dewey…bldg. 7 has been explained and explained and explained…you just can’t accept the truth.
My apologies to Leo M and the rest of you for the length of the comment above and for veering off subject. The ignorance at times is too much to bear without a fight!
Tina , please no apology needed, one of the reasons I read this blog is the content and corrective information of both you Tina and Jack, and the contributions from many of your more traditional thinking posters, especially when dealing with crafted counter points that lean more toward larger government and less toward self reliance.
The youth of today are being force fed a diluted version of information that only creates a mindset of Government dependence, specifically that leaning completely toward Liberal orientated goals, completely ignoring it’s many pitfalls and failures in the past while they are enticed with tax dollars along this path of social remodeling, and eventual dependence of large government.
Gone it seems are the times when the American dream was what you could achieve on your own, through your own efforts. Both GOP and DNC are at fault for this, as both parties struggle and battle each other for controlling power, and their only concern for voters is using us as pawns in that game. once elected, gone are the campaign promises of working for our betterment, and replaced with their own needs of re-election.
Thirty second political sound bites, name recognition and staged photo ops are what currently guides Americas voting, and I fear it will only get worst, with more entitlement handouts used to entice voters toward socialism.
Todays youth, along with a large portion of middle aged and I’ll wager a large portion of todays Liberal manufactured government dependent voters want to appear educated in the political process, but in actuality their ignoring, or not being taught how the Socialistic pitfalls and failures of past events are being replicated to create todays increasing socially dependent governed. Instead they are guided blindly with entitlements (most could not even tell you where those monies come from)that built a increasing collective society of government dependency.
If one uses common sense, it is clearly and easily available for any half intelligent human being to identify the “in your face” corruption being used by the Democratic Party and President O’Liar today.
This corruption reality, and the ability to control and get away with using it; this is what the Democrats are really fighting to retain in this 2016 election. Since the Office of the Presidency directs and controls all Federal agencies under his/her purview, only a deaf, dumb, and blind man or woman could conclude that Obama had (behind the scenes) ordered the Justice Department to stall investigations on such obvious illegal violations, ie. the IRS, Lois Learner not brought to justice; Benghazi, the video was a front to protect Obama’s assertions that Al Qaeda was defeated in order to get himself re-elected, Fast and Furious gun running from Mexico, costing two men their lives, Benghazi costing four men their lives, and then there’s that idiot Congressman from Georgia who marched with Martin Luther King claiming “there’s no there there”!! President O’Liar has brought upon this country and allowed us and our children all; to view the worst example of how to be the “Worlds Most Powerful Human Being” and through political, not honest, assertions, became the dumbest example of being a Harvard graduate who spent 98% of his time in the Men’s Room during class.
His decision to choose promoting his legacy and image over that of a completely stupidly negotiated Iranian Deal, he in fact chose a path of betraying his Constitutional obligation to protect all US citizens and their security within the United States of America; over that of his stupid worthless ego he calls a legacy. 71% of America disagrees with this Harvard educated piece of defecation. But as I have said, Progressive Liberals, “they know what’s best for you”! If Hitler had enlisted them, we would all be speaking German.
Love it when a simple comment can generate steam outta Dewey’s ears!!!