Explain this to me like I'm a second-grader

[Dick Whitman]

If these documents weren't classified as "top secret" when they were sent, then how does that fall on her? What am I missing here?

22 Hillary Clinton emails declared 'top secret' by State Dept.

 

[jr/shotglass]

In other words, explain this to him like we usually do.

 

[cranberry]

If these documents weren't classified as "top secret" when they were sent, then how does that fall on her? What am I missing here?

22 Hillary Clinton emails declared 'top secret' by State Dept.

That there is an election going on and news organizations are frustrated this boring story that nobody cares about hasn't turned up anything of significance despite all the months of effort.

After the Benghazi! investigations failed, this was the story they thought would bring HRC down.

I suspect they'll need to go all in on the Lena Dunham thing pretty soon.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Check my response to the AP story in the Email thread.

 

[Dick Whitman]

That there is an election going on and news organizations are frustrated this boring story that nobody cares about hasn't turned up anything of significance despite all the months of effort.

After the Benghazi! investigations failed, this was the story they thought would bring HRC down.

I suspect they'll need to go all in on the Lena Dunham thing pretty soon.

That's the big one.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

In other words, explain this to him like we usually do.

So far, the main explanation that I've seen is that she's supposed to be a mind-reader and know that a document is supposed to be classified before it was even sent to her. Even if the document was, as her spokesman noted, a news article.

Barring that, I've heard a bunch of emotional explanations about trustworthiness and so-called treason and a bunch of other bull**** that has little to do with Americans that are more concerned about their jobs and healthcare.

That about sum it up?

 

[Ace]

Classified information would be like which boy Linda has a crush on, when everyone already knows it's Billy.

Top Secret would be whether Billy likes Linda.

For Poin Eyrs Only would be which teacher Billy is shagging.

 

[da man]

So far, the main explanation that I've seen is that she's supposed to be a mind-reader and know that a document is supposed to be classified before it was even sent to her. Even if the document was, as her spokesman noted, a news article.

Barring that, I've heard a bunch of emotional explanations about trustworthiness and so-called treason and a bunch of other bull**** that has little to do with Americans that are more concerned about their jobs and healthcare.

That about sum it up?

Yes, she would have had to be a mind-reader to know that, as Secretary of State, there was a good chance people might want to send her classified information. So why in the world would you want to use a secure e-mail for work purposes when you have a perfectly good unsecured server in your basement?

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Yes, she would have had to be a mind-reader to know that, as Secretary of State, there was a good chance people might want to send her classified information. So why in the world would you want to use a secure e-mail for work purposes when you have a perfectly good unsecured server in your basement?

Classified info can be written or verbal. They could just come to her office and talk with her.

 

[Starman]

OK: They have been trying to nail the old hag for 25 years, since she was a relatively young hag, and never gotten anything to stick. They think this is their lucky year.

That's the explanation for grades 2 to 92.

 

[da man]

Classified info can be written or verbal. They could just come to her office and talk with her.

Of course they could. But, you know, the Secretary of State could be anywhere in the world, receiving information from anywhere in the world. I mean, the ambassador to, say, Egypt might have a tough time walking into her office to tell her something right away. You think he might consider, you know, an e-mail?

 

[YankeeFan]

 

[Baron Scicluna]

And in the very next paragraph:

"Kirby said the State Department has not yet made a determination of whether the information was classified at the time it was sent or has become more sensitive due to subsequent events. He said that, regardless, the information was deemed too sensitive Friday for release."

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Of course they could. But, you know, the Secretary of State could be anywhere in the world, receiving information from anywhere in the world. I mean, the ambassador to, say, Egypt might have a tough time walking into her office to tell her something right away. You think he might consider, you know, an e-mail?

And yet, Colin Powell never seemed to have a problem.

 

[User 11148]

If these documents weren't classified as "top secret" when they were sent, then how does that fall on her?

Because her private server setup ensured that nothing would be classified (by anyone other than Herself) no matter what. Whether they were classified or not at the time they were sent (or received) is beside the point.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

From NBC:

Twenty-two emails from Hillary Clinton's private email server have been marked "top secret" and won't be released, the State Department said Friday.

The emails were not marked as classified at the time they were sent."

State Department Declares Some Hillary Clinton Emails 'Top Secret'

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Because her private server setup ensured that nothing would be classified (by anyone other than Herself) no matter what. Whether they were classified or not at the time they were sent (or received) is beside the point.

Except that it was legal for her to have a private server setup, just like previous Secretaries of State.

 

[YankeeFan]

Except that it was legal for her to have a private server setup, just like previous Secretaries of State.

What prior SoS had a private server?

 

[da man]

And yet, Colin Powell never seemed to have a problem.

“I had a secure State Department machine for secure material and I had a laptop that I could use for email. I would email relatives, friends, but I would also email in the department,” Powell explained on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“But it was mostly housekeeping stuff -- what’s the status of this paper, what’s going on here. So it was my own unclassified system, but I had a classified system also on my desk.”

Now, how honest he is about what was sent and received on his "unclassified" system is a matter of debate. But just having a secure system as well means he at least cared enough to think about it..

Also, let me know when you find the server in Powell's basement.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

What prior SoS had a private server?

Colin Powell sent and received private email.

Where is the law that says it was illegal for Clinton to have a private server?