2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: So why did SoS Clinton have a system set up outside [View all]karynnj
(59,498 posts)Many have said she wanted a blackberry because that was what she was used to -- and specifically she did not want a laptop or a desk computer. Reasonable, IF IT WERE APPROVED. As SoS, there were likely hundreds of things she needed to get up to speed on. Spending time on technology might not have been a good use of her time.
However, as soon as she was given a definitive "NO", she should have worked with the NSA and tech people. Using a laptop or desk top in her office would not have been difficult. She did not have to set it up herself and she had a tech staff if things did not work. However, if seems as though she refused to take that "no" as an answer.
Why? That is where I get to "because she could". Nominating HRC as SoS, gave Obama a SoS that he could send to allied countries and it would be almost a Presidential visit given her own status as a former First Lady and her popularity and name recognition. He also got a person who has always been described as smart, organized and focused. He also tied the Clintons to him - making his interests compatible with theirs - meaning that the most likely center of Democratic opposition was stilled.
But, the cost was that he absolutely could not ask her to step down over anything. He likely did not know the full extent of the system she was using. Considering everything the President has to worry about, whether the SoS has set up her own computer network and was using it for State Department business, was likely not high on the list. Even if the issue was pushed up to him, ie in 2010, what could he do without imperiling his own Presidency and his reelection?
To me, this action and using Blumenthal, when she was told she couldn't, bespeak a level of arrogance that makes me worry that if elected, we can expect 4 years of completely avoidable investigations.