I don't know that she's actually shady. I don't think she's done anything that most other politicians don't do, it's just that she's become really defensive and closed-off from decades of attacks against her, which makes it difficult for her to really connect with people.
But that was her biggest issue and what made the whole thing shady. If she had been up front with people and not been so deflective, perhaps people would have been a bit more receptive to her. Instead, we had to suffer through investigation upon investigation because she she had denied that she was hiding anything and denied that she had been apart of any emails...even as the evidence was amassing wildly stating the obvious.If Hillary had done all that after all the attacks she's been through over the years, she probably wouldn't be human. Let's face it, in her position you or I would probably turn out the same way, and while we can rightly fault her as a candidate for so reclusive and defensive, I can't really fault her as a person. And in all honesty, if the emails hadn't ever been a thing, we would've just heard more about Benghazi or some alt-right conspiracy theory like Pizzagate. These narratives didn't take hold because of anything Hillary had done per say, they took hold because a lot of people just don't like her, period.
If she had taken ownership of it, there wouldn't have been investigations. Trump wouldn't have had to make it part of his "crooked Hilary" campaign, outlets like SNL wouldn't have had to make it a running joke, and there would have been no out-of-nowhere last minute announcement by the FBI in the first place. People would have known already, and yes she'd probably still be a bit under fire, but it wouldn't have been the thing that essentially crucified her in the polls.
Rather than actually trusting the voters, she chose mainly to deflect, deny, and blame everyone else for her own problems, and this book reflects that. I don't care if it was out of defensiveness because of being ganged up on for past actions (which, you know, some of those she had the choice not to do as well...but politicians and all), you either own up to your mistakes of past and present...or you sink.
And Hilary chose to let herself and her campaign sink as Trump happily coasted along and took the presidency. Because as much as people hated Trump and his unusual and vulgar behavior...it was clear that people hated Hilary and her deflective defensive personality more.
But that was her biggest issue and what made the whole thing shady. If she had been up front with people and not been so deflective, perhaps people would have been a bit more receptive to her. Instead, we had to suffer through investigation upon investigation because she she had denied that she was hiding anything and denied that she had been apart of any emails...even as the evidence was amassing wildly stating the obvious.If Hillary had done all that after all the attacks she's been through over the years, she probably wouldn't be human. Let's face it, in her position you or I would probably turn out the same way, and while we can rightly fault her as a candidate for so reclusive and defensive, I can't really fault her as a person. And in all honesty, if the emails hadn't ever been a thing, we would've just heard more about Benghazi or some alt-right conspiracy theory like Pizzagate. These narratives didn't take hold because of anything Hillary had done per say, they took hold because a lot of people just don't like her, period.
If she had taken ownership of it, there wouldn't have been investigations. Trump wouldn't have had to make it part of his "crooked Hilary" campaign, outlets like SNL wouldn't have had to make it a running joke, and there would have been no out-of-nowhere last minute announcement by the FBI in the first place. People would have known already, and yes she'd probably still be a bit under fire, but it wouldn't have been the thing that essentially crucified her in the polls.
Rather than actually trusting the voters, she chose mainly to deflect, deny, and blame everyone else for her own problems, and this book reflects that. I don't care if it was out of defensiveness because of being ganged up on for past actions (which, you know, some of those she had the choice not to do as well...but politicians and all), you either own up to your mistakes of past and present...or you sink.
And Hilary chose to let herself and her campaign sink as Trump happily coasted along and took the presidency. Because as much as people hated Trump and his unusual and vulgar behavior...it was clear that people hated Hilary and her deflective defensive personality more.
Speaking of not being liked, I read an article a few days back about how Hillary's approval rating is only 30%...still lower than Trump's. Half the nation wants to lock her up, the other half wants her to disappear...could she be one of the most loathed people in the country?
No, I won't argue that attacks over the years wouldn't affect me in her position, because yes they would. But again, that's not reason to hide things. If you're being bullied, you don't back down and hide in a ball and let it continue. You take a stand and face them. Sure you might get hit a bit, but you come out a better person for it because you stood up and took a stand for what you believe in. And when you do that, others may even rally to your side because they see you taking a stand.Since when have people ever been reasonable? Our instinctive reaction to things that hurt us is to avoid them or minimize them...perhaps logically you're right, but emotions are hardly logical.
After all, it's like the saying goes: You can choose to stand together, or die alone. She had the choice to stand up, face her attackers and trust her supporters to have her back...but she chose to trust she knew best by hiding secrets from them, and so she's facing the consequences.
No, I won't argue that attacks over the years wouldn't affect me in her position, because yes they would. But again, that's not reason to hide things. If you're being bullied, you don't back down and hide in a ball and let it continue. You take a stand and face them. Sure you might get hit a bit, but you come out a better person for it because you stood up and took a stand for what you believe in. And when you do that, others may even rally to your side because they see you taking a stand.Since when have people ever been reasonable? Our instinctive reaction to things that hurt us is to avoid them or minimize them...perhaps logically you're right, but emotions are hardly logical.
After all, it's like the saying goes: You can choose to stand together, or die alone. She had the choice to stand up, face her attackers and trust her supporters to have her back...but she chose to trust she knew best by hiding secrets from them, and so she's facing the consequences.
But when you're in a position such as hers, you shouldn't be letting your emotions affect you that deeply.Easier said than done. :P Perhaps she thought she was over it, but didn't anticipate the level and severity of the attacks people would make on her character as a candidate. I guess only she knows what was really going through her mind.
I'd understand it in most positions, but not when you're fighting to be the leader of our country.
And when you have time to tout your accomplishments and boast about what you do, then you have time to work on taking that stand.
But when you're in a position such as hers, you shouldn't be letting your emotions affect you that deeply.Easier said than done. :P Perhaps she thought she was over it, but didn't anticipate the level and severity of the attacks people would make on her character as a candidate. I guess only she knows what was really going through her mind.
I'd understand it in most positions, but not when you're fighting to be the leader of our country.
And when you have time to tout your accomplishments and boast about what you do, then you have time to work on taking that stand.
If there's anyone to blame, it's possibly the Democratic Party for knowing (or they should have known) what a weak candidate she was and sticking by her anyways through the primaries. They could have been more impartial with the candidates they had, or done more to encourage a wider field of candidates.
I think she has really legitimate criticisms of Bernie and of the current fights still going on in the Democratic Party. Bernie supporters have spent the entire time since his loss criticizing Clinton and the party at large, so I find it only fair that Clinton air her own criticisms. I myself supported Bernie in the primaries, but then supported Clinton in the general. Both of their campaigns were flawed in different ways, and I think that the idea that somehow Bernie (someone who has never had to deal with the full force of the Republican Party lined up against him) would have easily won the general election is honestly ridiculous. The timing is somewhat regrettable, but if I were Hillary I don't know how long I could deal with these constant and many times completely illegitimate attacks against my character before responding in some way.I don't think she wrote this book in response to attacks...in fact I think other than Hillary herself and occasionally Trump (who still goes on about Hillary's emails), most everyone else had moved on from 2016. I think more than anything she's still reeling from a loss she herself has admitted she expected to win, and personally I don't think this was the best way for her to handle her feelings from that. Instead of attacking him, she might have taken Bernie as an example...he didn't write a book blaming Hillary, the DNC, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, or anyone else for his primary losses, he went to work on the issues he cared about and started an organization to promote candidates who support economic progressive causes (Our Revolution).
So, related, Hillary was on Today this morning (https://www.today.com/video/hillary-clinton-james-comey-should-not-have-been-fired-for-russia-1045533763507). She was asked whether she believed that she made enough mistakes by only her own doing to lose the election. Her response?And that attitude is exactly what lost her the election. She hasn't learned a thing. I mean, there's a reason the saying goes "the buck stops here." Have we totally forgotten Truman?
"Well I will say no, Matt. I don't think that will surprise you."