Paul Ryan clearly didn't get a law degree

Unlike many career politicians, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan got his Bachelor's (from Ohio's Miami University) in economics & political science.  

He sure didn't get it in law, because he doesn't grasp the difference between criminal activities & ones that dishonest & even downright shifty.  It's possible to be dishonest & flagrantly mislead people without breaking laws.   (If it was otherwise, I can think of at least two former leaders who'd been in prison right now.)

Speaker Ryan is in full cry following the FBI's decision to not file charges against Hillary Clinton for her reckless use of a private e-mail server while serving as Secretary of State.  Predictably, he yelps about a decision he says, "defies explanation."

Actually, FBI Director (and lifelong Republican) James Comey was up front about his reasoning.  There isn't enough incriminating evidence to warrant official indictment; any prosecutor bringing charges against HRC would be humiliated in court.  

Seems the Speaker - with no experience in law enforcement, no legal training - knows better.  As he laid out, while he respects the folks over at the J. Edgar Hoover Building, "No one should be above the law... Declining to prosecute Secretary Clinton for recklessly mishandling and transmitting national security information will set a terrible precedent."
  

 

I quite agree.  And when it becomes illegal for politicians to act recklessly, I will be the first to advocate bringing the guilty to trial.  Sadly for all of us, the folks serving from Capitol Hill to Foggy Bottom, from seats of power up & down Pennsylvania Avenue & across the river can be flagrantly reckless without breaking any laws.  And frequently do. 

But the choicest quote from Paul Ryan is, "The findings of this investigation also make clear that Secretary Clinton mislead the American people when she was confronted with her criminal actions.  While we need more information about how the Bureau came to this recommendation, the American people will reject this troubling pattern of dishonesty & poor judgment."

Sheez Louise!  I know the Speaker lacks any legal experience, but to equate dishonesty & poor judgment with CRIMINAL actions is pretty wild, even for..  you know... a career politician.  He apparently never watched Hunt for Red October, where Richard Jordan's character lays out for Alec Baldwin's Jack Ryan what Americans expect from career politicians like HRC & anyone powerful enough to become Speaker of the House.   

Although, now that I think of it, probably the clip that most resonates with the Speaker's response - and his shock at her less than worthy ways - comes from a far older flick.