If you're a regular reader here you know that I don't spend a lot of time on political issues, and that while I am conservative I have serious problems with what strikes me as the too-frequent lunacy of the right. That said, I'm getting exercised about the emerging picture of Hilary Clinton's character.
You and I have email accounts, and they're hosted by a third party that runs an email service. We use Gmail. They (Google) have huge air conditioned rooms full of computers and cubicles full of techies to do all the behind-the-scenes stuff required to run a virtual post office. The same is true for Yahoo, Comcast, and all the rest.
CBS News reports that the AP has learned that's not the case for the private email account Hilary Clinton used for her communications while Secretary of State. She hired an unknown firm to set up a system located at the Clinton's $1.7 million dollar home and register it under a fake name, Eric Hoteham. So not only did she use a private email account for all of her State Department correspondence, she set up her own servers so those communications would have no contact with commercial providers.
Lest you think she did this for security reasons, experts say private email systems are much more vulnerable to hacking because they lack the resources - personnel and software - to construct the barriers to intrusion the big boys have at their disposal. The only motivation is to shield those emails from scrutiny.
All of this suggests Hilary sees herself as above the ethical standards that apply to the rest of us and willing to use her considerable wealth to escape those rules. This isn't just elitism, it's the kind of moral arrogance characteristic of the old European monarchies.
I had a prof in college, Purl Pickett, who was a real sleeper - a brilliant mind and wonderful heart wrapped in a humble spirit. He and his wife hosted those of us graduating with pastoral degrees for an informal dinner at their home a week or so before commencement. As the four of us and our spouses sat around their kitchen table someone (wasn't me) asked if they had any parting words of wisdom. One of his stuck with me and I've seen it play out many times over 42 years of ministry:
If, as a pastor, you have a struggle with a husband or wife you may be tempted to think, based on their relative silence, the other is benign, and maybe even sympathetic to your perspective. Don't kid yourself. They live together 24/7 and the difference will almost always be one of volume not view. You assume otherwise at your peril.
Methinks Mr. Pickett's advice applies to the character of politicians as well as the conduct of parishoners.
Pam's dog likes to lay in the morning sun coming in through the slider. I typically take his bed from its normal location and set it there because it makes my joints hurt to see him laying on the tile.
He starts by watching the rabbits outside - regular bunnies and the jackrabbits - as they frolic and forage. That, I suspect, explains the twitching and guttural noises he makes once he's fallen asleep.
I had a pastors' lunch in town this morning and an elder meeting tonight. Back in tomorrow for a coffee klatch with a guy from church who's moving (with his family) to Montana to be a chef at the university in Missoula. But Friday I'm sitting still in serene Sun City, and maybe painting some body panels. We'll see how the wind blows.
And did you notice all the alliteration in this post? Almost like it was written by a preacher.
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