Move along, nothing to see here

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

So this is what it was all about?

Clinton sought secret info on EU bailout plans as son-in-law's doomed hedge fund gambled on Greece

Germany was obviously the country that would pay the greatest amount to bail out Greece, so insight into Germany's plans could pay off big for holders of government bonds bought at fire sale prices. This inevitably leads to a perception of a conflict of interest for Hillary Clinton, even if she never breathed a word to her son-in-law. But she might not even have had to.

Can we say "culture of corruption"? (Because we're going to talk about money and ethics in politics). The fact that Mezvinsky chose a field of investing directly affected by the diplomacy of the United States while his mother-in-law was in charge of that is rather damning. In a way, it is too bad that Mezvinsky lost his investors' money, because at least that way there is no smoking gun for Hillary's corrupt influence. But the bad taste from it all remains nevertheless. And the whole debacle with those emails isn't helping much in that respect, either.

Worst thing here is, this is providing ammo to Trump, who's been trailing rather far behind Hillary as of late. This election is definitely going to be unpredictable.

Comments

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Well, Trump may be having an array of problems of his own (https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/06/03/the-media-have-reached-a-turning-point-in-covering-donald-trump-he-may-not-survive-it/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_2_na) regarding corruption, right now.

[oportet.livejournal.com]

Trump hasn't had to play from behind until now - He seems to think the gap between him and Clinton can be closed with tweets (or, he doubts there is a gap at all). The only thing that can stand up to/bring down a billion dollar campaign with powerful connections is another one.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

I would have thought that even a half-competent hedge-fund manager with intimate family connections with the Secretary of State and access to the right information would not have bet the house on Greece's recovery.

Just maybe she didn't give him the information he required to save his ass or other four-footed equine. But that might be too much like "stands to reason".

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

This web of influence behind these big financial stakes is so complicated... I just need a couple of talking points yelled down at me from the pulpit at a Trump rally, and I'll quickly fall in line, kthx.

[garote]

Wait... So... The scandal is that he could have profited from insider information, if he'd acted on it?

Clinton has made plenty of statements about changing tax law for big corporations repatriating money, and as secretary of state she's had to have plenty of dialogue with China. Does this mean that her son-in-law would be acting on alleged insider information if he bought Apple stock, a staple of hedge funds for a decade at least? (...And the price fell?)

I wonder what a portfolio would have to look like, to be completely un-inflienced by United States diplomacy...

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Perhaps one that's not directly related to Hillary Clinton's work as a Secretary of State, particularly regarding sensitive (and potentially highly profitable) volatile situations like the Greek bail-out. That would be a good start.

Sweeping this under the rug or hand-waving it won't make it go away. She'll have to address this openly at some point, unless she wants it to keep coming back at her. The longer she waits, the more it'll damage her.

[garote]

Yeah but my point is, there's nothing here to sweep under the rug.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm sure you think that way. Never mind that the fact that he failed to properly use the insider information he was provided to his advantage, does not mean insider information had not been provided. But sure, if the result is nill, that makes the whole incident go away.

Anyway. I hope you guys enjoy your next president, whoever she may be. ;-)

[garote]

You are using logic so twisted that the word "pretzel" just wrote a letter of complaint to your editor. :D

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Well thank you so much, you're very kind.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

And despite all the opaqueness surrounding this case, you seem to have already made a leap of faith so large that you should apply for the summer Olympics.

[garote]

There is as much "evidence" for this "crime" as there is that the moon landings were faked. Who is the one making the leap of faith here?

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

The one pretending not to give a shit about a potential future US president using their position of power to create conditions for a relative of theirs to take benefit from sensitive information.

[garote]

Never said that. I care about the general case, but this specifically, is not a case.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

I see.

[dreamville-bg.livejournal.com]

Sure. Like the OP says, nothing to see here, move along folks.