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Is Hillary Losing It?

By Larry Johnson on February 27, 2012 at 11:11 PM in Current Affairs

As a long time fan of Hillary, I am troubled and distressed by her conduct of U.S. foreign policy on behalf of Barack Obama. This is more than a dust up over “policy” differences.

Let’s start with the abominable “apology” by Barack Obama, General Allen and others over the burning of desecrated Korans confiscated from prisoners in Afghanistan. Here’s Hillary’s take:

She is not a dumb or ignorant person, but she is dead wrong. No amount of saying, “I’m sorry” and prostrating ourselves before seething masses of radical muslims will quell the outrage swirling through Afghanistan and the rest of the muslim world. Worth noting that Sunni and Shias alike, who normally are at each others’ throats, are taking full advantage of this situation to press every complaint they can dredge up about the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.

Don’t delude yourself. Our presence and our polices are not the reason that Arabs and the Pashtun that dominate Afghanistan and Pakistan are so backwards and so bereft of culture. They are cruel, crude and beyond the reach of reason. To pretend otherwise is to believe that sand castles produce fairy godmothers.

It is laughable that men who literally wipe their asses with rocks and are illiterate should be seen as people we should try to placate with lame apologies. We can’t transform them magically into a modern, tolerant society. But we also cannot pretend that we can just walk away from Afghanistan and everything will be swell.

There was no reason or justification to apologize. As I noted in an earlier piece, why the hell did we confirm the uncorroborated, unfilmed claims that we were burning Korans. Commander-in-Chief Barky, who was so eager to take credit for taking out Bin Laden, does not get to pick and choose. Since he is in charge of the military this one is on him. Going public with this kind of ludicrous mea culpa was the equivalent of lighting a match in a tank of jet fuel. Big fire ball. Nothing good coming from this.

Now it gets worse. Hillary has a meltdown over the Russian and Chinese refusal to host a coup against Syrian leader Bashir Asad:

It would be one thing if the opposition in Syria was comprised of aspiring democrats infused with western values and eager to embrace political diversity. But it is not. Radical Sunnis we like to label as “Al Qaeda in Iraq” are fighting Assad. Why the hell is it okay for us to bomb the shit out of Fallujah to take out Al Qaeda activists but it is wrong for Bashir Assad to do the same in Hom, citing the same justification?

We have made this bed of insanity and the Russians and Chinese have a far more pragmatic understanding of power. Americans? We are deluded romantics. We get all teary-eyed (start singing, “I’M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN”) and tout our standing as a “City on a Hill,” but in truth we don’t live those ideals. Like I said, we acted just like Assad in Fallujah but justified our murder of Iraqis because they killed our guys. Well folks, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

The Russians and Chinese, not to mention the Iranians, cannot stomach our sanctimonious, self-righteous bullshit. They can’t believe we are really as stupid and short sighted as we appear. News flash–WE ARE.

Hillary’s meltdown over the Russians and Chinese footdragging in Syria is a shocking display of weakness. We don’t even have a clear idea of who we are backing in the effort to oust Assad. Russians and Chinese have a much clearer vision. They would rather use Iran (hence their support for Iran) as leverage against the Sunni Arabs, especially Saudi Arabia. Some of it is attributable to the remnants of Cold War thinking and dynamics. But some of it also is their respective desire to limit the ability of Saudi Arabia to exercise control in in the Persian Gulf.

The last few weeks have been awful for Obama and Hillary. Odds are the next few months will be worse, not only for them but, for all Americans.

What do you think?

  • Anonymous

    I am like you very disappointed in Hillary Clinton’s actions. I guess we will never know the reasons that she is allowing backtrack to use her.
    At one time I wanted my daughters and grand daughters to look up to her. Now, not so much. I will always thank her for her work on women and children’s issues. But I do not want my daughters and grand daughters to accept being used as she did.

  • Anonymous

    Just like everyone else in the administration, Hillary gets her talking points and follows them.  That she doesn’t have the dignity to resign indicates to me that she has evolved into a completely political animal who puts party before the American people.  Either that, or the Obama apparat must have blackmail material on her of the sort that she believes that she has more personal dignity taking a public bitchslapping from the White House than to have those secrets revealed.

    • Anonymous

       I assure you that the explanation for her behavior is the former. The later is just a story made up by her “followers” to excuse her behavior.

      • Anonymous

        there may be a third possibility.  that she thinks if she left, things would be much worse for the country.  not sure which of the three it is.  she’s very smart, and patriotic but also very political. 

  • Anonymous

    Very powerful, Larry.  The sooner Hillary leaves, the better.  God knows the woman has had to be a lackey enough in her life.  It is time she get out from under the second president she has had to lie (to / under ?), and stand on her own.  

    Sorry, but there is still a bit of romance in me, and I can’t help but dream of Hillary running in 2016.

  • Anonymous

    When Hillary accepted SOS I said it was a mistake because Obama would take credit for any success and she would get the blame when things went south.
    I don`t care anymore whether she stays or goes. The glass ceiling she talked about just turned out to be an umbrella.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5LZSPYBO4QY2EQFQ7TC6SDMK24 Janet

    Very sad to see Hillary crashing and burning, but if you lie down with dogs you’ll get up with fleas.

  • Anonymous

    I think that Hillary lost it a while ago. First she was in it to win it. Next she suspends her campaign. Then she ignores the will of the people that voted for her and endorses Obama, a man she claimed was unprepared to be president. At least the last thing was the truth. And now her “enthusiasm for the president got a little out of hand.” No shit Sherlock.

    As someone that supported her, wrote for her, campaigned for her, went to Denver for her, marched for her, and lobbied delegates to have a floor vote for her, I think I have the right to complain. Especially since it has come out recently that after she suspended her campaign she began secret negotiations with Obama to support him. And all the while keeping her supporters and voters in the dark. In fact, her campaign sent out the message to those of us in Denver that we should keep fighting for her. What rubbish.

    I was there in the room with the other PUMA supporters as we watched her formally throw her support behind Obama. I had just met and spoken with her the day before. And I felt betrayed. I felt used and lied to. And I understood at that moment that Hillary Clinton puts partisanship before principle.

    This situation in Afghanistan is totally out of hand. And though I initially agreed that ONE apology was the right course of action I now understand what you were communicating. You are right. There is nothing an apology can solve in this situation. The radicals have just used it as another excuse to kill us. More propaganda to recruit more radials. Just what we need. Snark.

    The situation in Syria is even worse. We have no idea who these rebels are. Clinton herself admitted that recently. But beating up on Russia and China makes for good drama.

    Honestly, I don’t know what is going to happen. But if I had to make a prediction, I would have to agree with you that things will get much worse. I don’t see an end in sight. I’m not optimistic that we can accomplish anything in Afghanistan. And I don’t see how anything other than providing humanitarian aid in Syria wouldn’t lead to another quagmire, or worse, we end up arming our enemy. If Israel attacks Iran all bets are off. I really don’t want to even think about that tonight.

    Obama certainly got that 3 am call but was too busy campaigning for re-election to take it.

    • Anonymous

       Obama`s 3am phone call will go straight to voice mail.

      Press1 if you want to to party.
      Press 2 if you want to play golf
      Press 3 if you want to donate to my campaign.
      Press 4 if you want to talk with President Jarret

      ……….BEEP.

      • Anonymous

         LOL

  • Anonymous

    test

  • Anonymous

    Now now Larry,

    We were more civilized in Fallujah than Assad is. Much more. That and the Fallujah muj were pretty nasty, rotten people. In fact they were really nasty, rotten people.

    That said, I see your point. In fact I would bet that Syrian Islamists who once operated in Fallujah are fighting the regime in Syria now.

     

    • Anonymous

       ”We were more civilized in Fallujah than Assad is. Much more.”

      We are trying to be funny here..eh right?

      • Anonymous

        i’m not sure i understand whether you are saying that we weren’t or whether you are saying that we absolutely were and there is no comparison.

        • Anonymous

          There is no difference in the actions… Reasons for the actions or understandings of the situation? Big difference…. Were we justified? Was there any other way?

  • Anonymous

    I knew that once Hillary Clinton went to work for Barack Obama she was no longer someone I could support.

    I realize that pols will climb into bed with someone who has insulted them and demeaned them and smeared them. I realize it but as my standards are higher I don’t understand or accept it. That she would, could, go to work for the POS that made her and her spouse into racists told me that she was not the ethical person I had believed her to be. Subsequent actions and words made me lost further respect for her. Til now, not much left.

    Fortunately for me I don’t idolize any politician. Therefore while I am disappointed that one more pol has proved to be just one more pol, I am not devastated.

    A leopard doesnt’ change it’s spots and a politician is, after all, just a politician.

    • Anonymous

       well said Marge.

  • Anonymous

    This was a no brainer… China and Russia were not going to jump on the sanction band wagon, they rarely do and have their own national interests to worry about. Hilary in my opinion, is the Colin Powell of the Obama Administration. She is being the good soldier, but she has always been an activist as well. Lets remember Yugoslavia and the bombing of Belgrade. The Clinton administration during this bombing even blocked humanitarian aid from getting through. So I am not surprised about this babbling….

    What really surprises me is that this Administration does not see or understand the players in this civil war.  I have to bet there is conflict at the NSC level.

  • Anonymous

    Here is a interest exchange on China/Tibet/Obama and politics from the WikiLeaks/Stratfor email hacking’s…..

    http://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/391555_re-insight-china-tibet-obama-.html

  • Anonymous

    More good news…

    HYPERINFLATION 2012

    SPECIAL COMMENTARY NUMBER 414

    January 25, 2012
    http://www.shadowstats.com/article/no-414-hyperinflation-special-report-2012#_Toc315271598

     

  • http://www.facebook.com/mary.cusack Mary Cusack

    Um, you’re getting it NOW that she sold out? better late then never I suppose :/

  • Anonymous

    War..war…war! You thought this was just to project fear for the sake of elections! http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/production/Top100 

    Got to love those flags…..

  • Anonymous

    she needs to get out of the administration.  pres obama is using and abusing her.  i’m afraid history isn’t going to give her good marks on her tenure as SOS.  the arab spring has all the potential of turning out horribly and iraq doesn’t look very promising either.   

    remember the decision on the keystone pipeline. the administration made a big deal of announcing it through the state department.  admittedly the state dept had a role because it involved an international deal but you can bet that if the administration had believed it would be a win/win decision, they would have played up the president’s role. 

  • http://www.theindependentview.com Matthew J. Weaver

    I lost my respect for Hilary when she joined Obama’s campaign. Fine as Secretary of State but my opinion of her will never be the same–you do not forgive and forget the racism and misogynism that was used to defeat her.

    Now, about the apologies.  The local commander, maybe even up to the president is fine, but what we’ve got are folks seeing blood in the water and losing all sense of perspective.  At this point the Dear Leader should go to a mic and say “Enough, this wasn’t intentional, we’ve apologized, done.” and then direct no further response except at the end of a gun for anyone that endangers or injures an American.  Anything less allows this to continue, to fester, and to undermine America.

    Scary to think we’ve got until November, January actually, to see Obama removed from the White House.  Not that I’m counting down the seconds but we’ve got about 327 days, 0 hours, 53 minutes, and some odd seconds.

    • Anonymous

       This may help

      http://obamaclock.org/

    • Anonymous

      When will be hear apologies for the Americans killed by the rioters? NEVER???????

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jo-Freespirit/100000801917982 Jo Freespirit

    Those who condemn Hillary for accepting the SOS position, and who assert that her supporters who remain loyal “idolize” her, obviously have an unrealistically simple, black and white view of life and politics.  As a continued loyal supporter of Hillary, I believe that her philosophy of government and politics offers the solutions this country badly needs – solutions not offered by any other political player today.  Additionally, she is the ONLY person of influence in this country who has actively and passionately dedicated herself to the cause of women’s rights.  That fact, alone, is enough to command my continued support and respect.

    I strongly objected to her acceptance of the position of SOS under the Great Apologist, Obama.  However, I recognized that, in spite of the dirty deal Hillary received from the Democratic Party in 2008, if she wanted to continue to work on behalf of this country, which I believed was a primary motivator for her, she would probably have to do so as part of the Democratic Party.  If that meant being SOS to the SOB, she had the strength and intestinal fortitude to take the job.

    And, regardless of what may be missteps or mistakes she has made – as in the videos featured in this article – I strongly believe that she has done more good in the SOS position than anyone else could have done. Additionally, if she harbored any aspirations to be POTUS in the future (which I find unlikely – but would love to see), her only option was to remain a loyal Democrat.  As much as I have come to loathe the party with which I was affiliated for many years – until the 2008 Obamarama brought to us by the DNC and MSM -  I understand that Hillary did not have the luxury of saying kiss my a$$ to the party to which she has devoted many years of loyalty and service.  It would be childish to think otherwise.

    So, to those of you who would crucify her because she did the difficult thing (after the manner in which she was treated), put on her big girl panties, and went to work for the sexist in chief, I say – who the hell are you to assume such a hateful, shallow position.  I’m damn glad, now, that Hillary has been on duty for the past three years.  I appreciate her service.  And, that’s not idolatry – it’s good common sense. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jo-Freespirit/100000801917982 Jo Freespirit

    Those who condemn Hillary for accepting the SOS position, and who assert that her supporters who remain loyal “idolize” her, obviously have an unrealistically simple, black and white view of life and politics.  As a continued loyal supporter of Hillary, I believe that her philosophy of government and politics offers the solutions this country badly needs – solutions not offered by any other political player today.  Additionally, she is the ONLY person of influence in this country who has actively and passionately dedicated herself to the cause of women’s rights.  That fact, alone, is enough to command my continued support and respect.

    I strongly objected to her acceptance of the position of SOS under the Great Apologist, Obama.  However, I recognized that, in spite of the dirty deal Hillary received from the Democratic Party in 2008, if she wanted to continue to work on behalf of this country, which I believed was a primary motivator for her, she would probably have to do so as part of the Democratic Party.  If that meant being SOS to the SOB, she had the strength and intestinal fortitude to take the job.

    And, regardless of what may be missteps or mistakes she has made – as in the videos featured in this article – I strongly believe that she has done more good in the SOS position than anyone else could have done. Additionally, if she harbored any aspirations to be POTUS in the future (which I find unlikely – but would love to see), her only option was to remain a loyal Democrat.  As much as I have come to loathe the party with which I was affiliated for many years – until the 2008 Obamarama brought to us by the DNC and MSM -  I understand that Hillary did not have the luxury of saying kiss my a$$ to the party to which she has devoted many years of loyalty and service.  It would be childish to think otherwise.

    So, to those of you who would crucify her because she did the difficult thing (after the manner in which she was treated), put on her big girl panties, and went to work for the sexist in chief, I say – who the hell are you to assume such a hateful, shallow position.  I’m damn glad, now, that Hillary has been on duty for the past three years.  I appreciate her service.  And, that’s not idolatry – it’s good common sense. 

    • Anonymous

      Good for you that you still support Hillary. Your right.

      But just because others don’t have the same opinion is no reason for you to call them hateful and shallow. If you are looking for hateful and shallow perhaps you should look in a mirror.

      In the meantime, we’ll just have to agree to disagree.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jo-Freespirit/100000801917982 Jo Freespirit

        Well, Marge, it’s all well and good to agree to disagree, but if that was your interest, you would have left out the “mirror” comment. 

        I still believe it is hateful and shallow to say that those  who continue to support Hillary – “idolize her”.   It’s also hateful and shallow to accuse her of being a  to sell out. 

        Disagree all you want with that, but it’s a tad hypocritical for you to make such a strong comment about my choice of words – given your own.

    • Anonymous

      I’d like to know what good she’s done as SOS.  It’s been reported that Hillary was one of the main supporters of NATO’s invasion of Libya…which has reportedly left 50,000 Libya civilians dead..and the country which once had the highest standard of living of country in Africa..is now in ruins.  The murder of Black Libyans continues…no word from Obama or Hillary. The new government has announced Sharia law. 

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cslPrRLaQDI&feature=related

  • http://twitter.com/Juliezzz Juliezzz

    I think I romanticized the IDEA of Hillary but I’m not sure she ever actually embodied how I imagined her.  I voted for her 4 years ago in the primary and had high hopes for her, but her actions from that day to this shows her to be NOTHING like who I thought she was.  I kept excusing her saying “well, she wants to be secretary of the state to protect the US from Obama’s ignorance”  or She is “going to run against Obama in 4 years so she’s biding her time”  etc. etc. She keeps coming down on issues that I find reprehensible.   I’ve come to realize, just like John McCain, she isn’t a sell out per say.  Rather, she never was who I thought she was.  John McCain was responsible for bringing us the NDAA bill of indefinite detention of American citizens without a trial.  This is a clear violation of the constitution.  When I look at the choices we had in 08 McCain, Obama and Hillary……it wasn’t a good choice at all.

    That being said.  I still have a soft spot for her that isn’t backed up by logic.  I think I still wish her to be who I want her to be

  • Anonymous

    Do I think Hillary is losing it?  It’s all relative.  In comparison to those who are currently talking about the correct height of trees, the immorality of contraception,  how a JFK speech on religion from the 60′s is puke-inducing, and how having aspirations for an education beyond high school is snobbery?  Gee I don’t know – Hillary’s reasoned approach is refreshing.   I might not agree with her, or Obama for that matter, but no, I’d have to say that I do not think she is losing it.   I admire her intellect, her reasoned approach, and her resume.   that’s good enough for me.  After 2008 I never thought I would think the Democrats could ever again look good, but that line of thinking is most certainly undergoing a change.   I’m currently questioning whether I could vote for any of the GOP candidates.  It isn’t looking good I tell you.   

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/6VXVB7TC7NNZSBO53KW2IJHBAM Graywolf

    Maybe your faith has been misplaced.
    Just another 70′s radical leftist turned into political opportunist.

  • Anonymous

    This is probably going to piss some people off but I’m going to say it anyway. The people that make excuses for Clinton because of all the bad things that have been said and done to her annoy me. Was she abused? Hell yeah, but that wasn’t why I supported her. Was she abused by her husband while he was a Governor? Yep. More than a few times. Was she then abused by her husband while he was the president. Damned straight. And was she abused during the 2008 primary by men AND women? That would be in the affirmative.

    So what we have here is a woman that has endured obvious abuse when any other “battered” woman would have been counseled to leave her man (or party for that manner.) Since we agree that she is intelligent then there has to be some political calculation for putting up with the abuse. The only conclusion logical to me is that she has refined the “abused woman” victim meme for her personal political and financial gain.

    The way I see it, if a woman is abused by a man and comes to me for advice (which has happened several times in my life) I would counsel her to leave him. If she decides that she wants to stay, that’s fine with me. It’s her decision. If it happens again and she asks my advice it will be the same. Leave him. If she then ignores my advice that’s fine too because it is her life. Once it happens again and she comes looking for a shoulder to cry on I then ignore her, because it is obvious that she either enjoys abuse or is incapable of taking the steps necessary to change it. In Hillary Clinton’s case she certainly had/has the wherefore all to leave her husband or party and live quite a nice life. One free from abuse. She has made a conscious decision not to do that. Perhaps her ego is so big that she doesn’t think anyone could do her job better. Some of her supporters appear to think so. My support for her ended in 2008. The victim card ain’t gonna work again.

  • Anonymous

    Don’t delude yourself. Our presence and our polices are not the reason
    that Arabs and the Pashtun that dominate Afghanistan and Pakistan are so
    backwards and so bereft of culture. They are cruel, crude and beyond
    the reach of reason. To pretend otherwise is to believe that sand
    castles produce fairy godmothers.

    I know someone who was a medic in Afghanistan early in the war when the US wasn’t having very many casualties to our forces. The Army forces were treating almost exclusively Afghan citizens at that time. Some of the stories he told me would curl the toes of most Americans. Like mothers abandoning their injured or sick children to die along the roadside because they were just another mouth to feed and if they couldn’t contribute to the family they were expendable. It is important to realize that I am not talking about Muslims here just Afghans and their lack of any value for human life. Most people in the US can not fathom the cruel conditions under which these people live  where the poorest of our poor live like kings compared to the average Afghan. Unfortunately Larry the quote from your article I site above is absolutely correct.

  • Anonymous

    ” prostrating ourselves before seething masses of radical muslims..”

    I think the people who have been protesting in Afghanistan are not “radical muslims”. They seem to be just people frustrated to how America has treated them in their own country. This has more to do than just burning korans. It is about not only an endless occupation and years of violence, but about a pattern of disrespect toward their religion: pissing on bodies, burning korans, displaying bodies as trophies, etc. and now protestors being shot by the Afghan police.

    “…just imagine what would happen if a Muslim army invaded the U.S., violently occupied the country for more than a decade, in the process continuously killing American children and innocent adults, and then, outside of a prison camp it maintained where thousands of Americans were detained for years without charges and tortured, that Muslim army burned American flags — or a stack of bibles — in a garbage dump. Might we see some extremely angry protests breaking out from Americans against them? Would American pundits be denouncing those protesters as blinkered, primitive fanatics?”

    Your statement:

    ” Our presence and our polices are not the reason that Arabs and the Pashtun that dominate Afghanistan and Pakistan are so backwards and so bereft of culture. They are cruel, crude and beyond the reach of reason.”

    …is pretty nasty and ignorant. You think there is no culture in Afghanistan. Really? A worldly guy like you would really make these statements. You really need to get out more. Why don’t you at least read the book “The Kite Runner”? 

    What would you expect with 30 years of constant war that was really the fault of the major global powers. First Russia, then the U.S. backed mujahideen and now a U.S. war on their land against the Taliban and throw in international demand for heroin. Not a pretty picture. Not a country that has been treated well by outside powers.

  • Anonymous

    spot on Larry!!!!

  • Dan – Marysville, WA

    The empty vessel has been exposed.  She never accomplished anything on her own.  She just rode the coat tails of her husband playing the role of Tammy Wynette singing “Stand by your man.”  I never got the meme of Hillary being some sort of brilliant person.. 

  • Anonymous

    I thought I would never be disappointed in her, but–alas….

  • Anonymous

    I think Afghan men just gave new meaning to “passing stones”.

    On the Geo-political chess board, BO doesn’t even know how to push the button on the game clock, never mind thinking a dozen moves ahead.

    What I can’t figure out when it comes to the SOS, is why is she attempting to put BO, aka humpty-dumpty, back together all the time?

    After the Honduras fiasco, where Hillary found out second hand that BO was intent on screwing with the opinion of their supreme court, I knew it was bad.

    It doesn’t take a genius to see that Russia and China will act according to their own financial/political interests anywhere on the planet. They were content dealing with dictators and understood the value of a stable, if not brutal, government, in Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Libya, eastern Europe…(pick one).

    LJ I just hope the Chinese state run company that is bulding the Bay Bridge doesn’t build a bridge to no where like Barry is with Hillary as a mouth piece. Who knows? Maybe she enjoys the set up…she has to know how much of an idiot BO is…

    What moral high ground?

  • Anonymous

    I voted for her, campaigned months for her, donated what little I could afford to her campaign.
    She’s just another shill for Barry Soetoero. As soon as she went to work for this marxist loser considering everything that was said about her & against her supporters/the racist charges the sexist charges, it showed me just how power hungry she is, not an ounce of shame, just a lot of groveling, she seems be getting to be an expert groveling for Barry Soetero.
    Will never support her again. She’s just another two faced politician. There are still many fans of her who will worship her no matter what, fortunately many other of her ex-fans have seen past that and will not be swayed by any politican anymore, including her.  

  • Anonymous

    The only thing that stopped me from giving the max in contributions to Hilliary’s campaign..was that $600 check from George Bush came 2 days too late.   It came 2 days after she ended her campaign and came out in support of Obama…I tried to still respect her..but I just couldn’t.

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