AN EDITED VERSION OF THIS POST IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN THE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SECTION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES TOMORROW, ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016
("Emails Warrant No New Action Against Hillary Clinton, FBI Director Says")
("Emails Warrant No New Action Against Hillary Clinton, FBI Director Says")
The follow up announcement of Mr. Comey "clearing" Ms. Clinton cannot undo the damage done a week before.
How many million ballots were cast with the initial proclamation of the director ringing in their ears? How many went into the poll booth, or mailed in their vote assuming the smoking gun was hidden in the trove of emails on Mr. Werner's computer? How many races, not only for President but down ballot were seriously impacted by the reckless statement and the imagined implications of the words uttered by the director of the FBI in the very heart of the early voting process?
How many million ballots were cast with the initial proclamation of the director ringing in their ears? How many went into the poll booth, or mailed in their vote assuming the smoking gun was hidden in the trove of emails on Mr. Werner's computer? How many races, not only for President but down ballot were seriously impacted by the reckless statement and the imagined implications of the words uttered by the director of the FBI in the very heart of the early voting process?
These questions hang over this election with as much weight
as a Florida chad. While their answers are unknowable, the consequences
of one horribly wrong speculation, only now shown to be wholly
unfounded and without merit, are undeniable.
And Mr. Trump's wild accusations of a "rigged" outcome
could in fact prove prescient. Only not in the direction he would
suggest.
4 comments:
This gives me a stomach ache.
I agree with you - Comey is the hanging chad. I know what I felt when Comey made the announcement nine days before an election: like it was a "done deal, " something had to be discovered. It was hard to shake that feeling and that association to anthony weiner and huma...it took a few days to fade somewhat. There were definite consequences not in our favor.
G
He has irrevocably damaged the future of the election process by sanctioning innuendo. The stage is set for obstructionist fodder for the entirety of her administration. I get so sad thinking about the long-term implications--RE
I really like the Florida chad metaphor. PB
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