Hillary, Bubba and a time for Accountability

I have sat silently over the past few months since the mid-term elections, watching things unfold. Setting aside our abysmal record in Iraq, and hoping only that we can last the remaining two years until the current fiefdom is finally sent packing, I must turn my attention toward the coming Presidential elections.

The maneuvering has started. McCain is finally showing that he can once again distance himself from the current administration on Iraq, and is not afraid to call the truth as he sees it.

However, the real battle of the century is lining up between Obama and Clinton as the two most likely contenders for a Democratic nomination. It is early in the process, but I for one am not afraid to make it clear that not only do I feel that Hillary is ultimately unelectable, but to state my reasons why I will campaign against her.

The press, and the standard political wonks want to focus on her reputation for being cold, shrill, overly ambitious, while being ineffective due to her tendency to over-analyze issues and then come up with complex, unworkable solutions (her health care program in the 90s comes to mind). The may or may not be legitimate concerns. However I feel that there is a more important reason to keep her from her ultimate goal of being "leader of the free world," and it is damning beyond redemption in my book.

Hillary Clinton, was a culpable party in the complete and utter destruction of our country's future welfare and safety.

If you don't believe me, then take a look at the chain of events in simple, clear, honest terms.

Bill Clinton, the brilliant Rhodes scholar who represented one of the greatest opportunities for permanent social and geopolitical reform, lost all of his power and momentum due to actions that were not only predicable, but preventable. After what was one of the most prolific and fruitful first terms in policy and economic reform since the days of FDR, Clinton reverted to his long-standing "Bubba Trailer Trash" ways, and compromised his presidency as well as his administration's entire agenda, for some casual sex in the back halls of White House.

Bill Clinton had a long, and well-documented history of philandering, cheating, and lying about his actions. In countless accounts, Bubba Bill used his power, charm and determination to go outside of his marriage for recreational sex, ignoring consequence and propriety, while casting aside the respect for the politic offices to which he was elected.

Once the Whitewater investigation blew up into an investigation of sexual impropriety and lying under oath about his actions, Clinton was forced to capitulate and cede power to Newt Gingrich and the soon-to-be-elected purveyors and architects of the Iraqi Liberation Act of 1998.

After years of hearing the gruesome details of Bill and Monica played out across the media, even some of the most liberal voters in the country were ready for a new breath of moral leadership. Cuckolded by his association with Clinton, being damned if he distanced himself from the Clintons and damned if he embraced them, Gore was doomed, the election was as much handed away as it was stolen, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Not however, until under duress from the newly empowered Republicans, Clinton signed a wealth (if you were rich) of trade and deregulation bills that set up our current international woes, allowed the stock market to run amuck, and for entities like Enron and Global Crossing and others to pick the pockets clean of employees and shareholders alike.

During the subsequent years, the results of this power shift were devastating by any measure, and in my estimation, could all have been averted by Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton knowingly allowed her husband, a known philanderer, to continue flaunting common sense, his marriage vows and the respect of his office, not holding him accountable, or giving him the kind of ultimatums that may have kept him line long enough to complete his public service and elected duties to the people of this country. The results were both predicable and preventable.

Looking at other similar relationships, both common and extreme, when a person knowingly looks away, not holding the offending party responsible for his or her actions, they become culpable in the "crime." In most cases, a woman in an abusive relationship (and multiple cases of adultery is abusive) who stays in that relationship has self-serving motives. Many do not want to risk financial security. Others may feel threatened by personal harm. In Hillary's case, I believe that both situations are in order. Divorcing Bill in the midst of his Presidency would certainly have a significant effect on her financial future, but could have and would have devastating results on her own political ambitions.

In an extreme case, say in the case of a felon or a child molester, if a spouse sits back knowingly, waiting for the next crime to be committed, knowing full well that the likelihood of repeat offenses is prevalent, that person is culpable for the results and damages that are incurred. Hillary knew. Hillary chose her own ambition and political future over the health and well being of the country. Hillary knew that Bill was a loaded gun, waiting to harm the country through an act of "negligent homicide of ethics and moral conduct." Where was she when he was spending countless nights, cruising the corridors and hallways of the oval office with Monica, getting ready to "pull the trigger" on our country's future.

Compare this relationship to that of Barack and Michelle Obama. In both of his books, Obama writes of his wife's ability to center him, chide him when he is off compass, and to keep him grounded. While she begrudgingly allowed her husband to run for President, knowing that the country's needs for a change from the political status-quo would be a great sacrifice to their young family, still mandated that Barack give up smoking if he was going to run. A small act, but one that shows that she is conscious of the image that the leader of the free world must convey. A strong, intelligent, intuitive and confident woman who is the Vice President for Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals (sounds like she could actually help formulate heath care reform), it is obvious that she and Barack share an equal, mutually respectful and close partnership. I can only imagine what her reaction would be to cheating and lying. I am sure that more than just cigarettes would be cut off in the case of such an event, and a repeat offense would be doubtful.

Again, many would argue that what goes on between consenting married adults is between them. However, I would argue that while Hillary believes that it "takes an entire village to raise a child," it takes just one Philandering Bubba and his consenting wife to destroy the future of that village.

Ignore a crime once, and you may be forgiven. But, to allow a repeat offender to continue a life of crimes against the nation, and you are not only consenting to that action, but a willing participant.

Sorry, Hillary. You had your chance, and our country will be paying for the damages that your husband's actions and lies brought about for decades to come. I will not vote for someone with such blind, shameless ambition and obvious lack of moral judgment. I will do everything in my power to make sure that this is as far as she goes in the political arena. This "village" needs new leadership---leadership that is not sullied by past, compromised by poor judgment, and shackled to person a person with such blatant moral disregard for the office of the Presidency.