Words from a friend.....

Long time friend, Army officer I'm proud to serve with and fellow bourbon drinker Mike Ford put up another post. And again, he hits it out the park on the issues with the corruption that is coming from the Democratic nominee. Enjoy....

Corruption Most Foul

There is a foul odor emanating from Northeastern United States. Its epicenter is Chappaqua, NY. However, other locales such as New York City, Washington DC, Charleston, SC, and wherever else the Hillary for President campaign happens to be traveling, do their fair share in polluting the atmosphere. That odor is now also emanating from the Hoover Building, the Washington DC Headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That odor is the fetid, smell of in-your-face, arrogant, public corruption.

Public corruption (protection, bribery, bid rigging and the like) is ubiquitous throughout the entire civilized world. Different languages even have their own little colloquialisms for it...Baksheesh (Persian & Arabic), Na Lyeva (Russian), Mordida (Spanish), Under the Table & Kickbacks to name two common American ones.

At its lowest level and while still criminal, some minor amount is tolerated in many places. There is a Sicilian saying, "fari vagnari u pizzu," let someone wet their beak (as in a very small bird), implying such a small amount as to be invisible, kind of like Secretary Kerry's "unbelievably small" airstrikes in Syria. What is tolerated (or possibly not even really considered corrupt) and how much, depends on where you live, the culture there and sometimes even the specific circumstances.

In the United States at one end of the spectrum, we might see a local civil servant expediting an inspection or permit for a friend. While at the other, we see legions of lobbyists using dinners, playoff tickets and campaign donations to gain access to and influence the decisions of politicians.

This can also be seen in post public careers which can be pretty lucrative, often setting the stage for succeeding terms of public service, and at a higher level. This revolving door, in and out of public service is well documented, with long-term Senators going on to well paid lobbying positions, while waiting for the turn of political fortunes to result in their being named to cabinet positions.

Despite the above, adult thinkers understand that for a post Representative, Senate or a Presidential career there is some sort of expectation of modest remuneration. Most of us can understand and support a position that public officials should not have to live in penury.

Then comes the Clinton family, who by no stretch will ever have to worry about missing a meal. Many of us can remember fairly recently when Mrs Clinton recalled being "dead broke" immediately upon departing the White House. This apparently didn't stop her and the former President from purchasing a house in upscale Chappaqua, NY for 1.7 million that same year.

Post presidency, the Clinton family, Bill, Hillary and Chelsea have traded on the Clinton name in the form of a multimillion dollar foundation and six figure speaking fees, that supported an opulent lifestyle, sheltered income from the IRS and until recently, funded the positioning of Mrs Clinton as a non declared Presidential candidate without involving the Federal Election Commission. Since departing her duties as First Lady, then serving 4 years as President Obama's Secretary of State, and as of 2014, Mrs Clinton has reported a net worth of over 32 million dollars and an annual income of 30.5 million. Does anyone really believe she has legally and ethically provided over 32 million dollars worth of value added to the companies who paid her?

This arrogance isn't limited to financial matters. It also leaches over to official business in the form of the "mishandling" of classified material. In a previous article, I explained in detail, the mechanics of how Top Secret-SCI material likely ended up on Secretary Clinton's server. The Clinton's obviously believe the rules don't apply to them, even with our nation's most closely guarded secrets. In one of her emails being investigated by the FBI, she responded to a complaint that staffers were having trouble sending a secure fax by writing:
“If they can’t, turn into nonpaper w no identifying heading and send nonsecure.”

This isn't mere "mishandling." This is a deliberate, arrogant attempt to actively subvert the procedures in place to protect classified information.

The level of arrogance and corruption in the Clinton family operations has gone from "acceptable," blown right through "somewhat unseemly," and arrived well in the middle of, "snout down in the trough up to the ears." What's the saddest part of this? Along the way to achieving their ill gotten gains, the Clintons have also managed to subvert the Department of Justice and possibly, the FBI, who has recommended no charges be filed regarding Secretary Clinton's open, notorious and criminal handling of highly classified information.

Sadly, there is still a sizable plurality of my beloved republic, this uniquely awesome thing we call, "these United States of America," who in November, would still flip the lever for this lying crone, regardless of her blatant and arrogant corruption. I weep for my country and I fear for my fellow warriors who are still at the pointy end of the spear, and whose lives would be put at risk by her unwillingness to follow simple security rules, should she ever become Commander In Chief.

Mike Ford is a retired Infantry Colonel. He has served in Europe, Central America and in Southwest Asia, commanding at the Detachment, Company, Battalion and Brigade Levels.