Hillary Clinton’s testimony before Congress

As you may know, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was finally “cornered” into giving official testimony before Congress yesterday.

She is a smart woman, so I don’t think cornered is the correct word to use. Why?

She made sure that she stood up to the inquisitors, and showed emotion at the right time. The only thing that will be remembered are the TV broadcast clips of her choking up. That emotion will be very useful if she runs for president in four years. It will show brains and a heart. Bravo.

She accepted responsibility for the Benghazi disaster. What a leader! What wasn’t asked is a central question… what exactly does “taking responsibility” mean?

Did she accept responsibility for her foreign policy culminating in the Arab Spring that started in December 2010 and has killed nearly 100,000 people? This is the Arab Spring that we helped begin, and for the most part have abandoned, after finding that the despots we wanted to replace has new despots taking their places. It reminds me of the 1961 Bay of Pigs incident.

Does it mean that she will resign her position and relinquish her pension? Hardly. She delayed the inquisition for months until moments before she leaves office, so being fired is not a real option, as being fired with just days left in office will reflect badly on the president.

So what does taking responsibility actually mean? In truth, nothing. It’s a glib phrase to use, and then forgotten. Politicians use it all of the time. It works. The public feels satisfied that xxx has “taken responsibility,” but it’s a meaningless phrase. If elected, I hope never to have to use it.

So overall, I think she did a good job, worthy of an Academy Award or a Golden Globe.

Bravo.