Today’s op-ed section of the Los Angeles Times leads with the intriguing question: “Why doesn’t James Comey run for President?” [1]

This of course is completely impractical with exactly one week to go until the 2016 election. But there is an important sentiment worthy of exploration here.

Just like this election in which many undecided voters  – myself not least of which included – believe we have a choice between the most unfit Presidential Candidates past, present, and (hopefully) future, Comey was not only once, but twice confronted with making a choice of the lesser of evils.

Specifically, on July 5, 2016 in his prepared remarks titled: Statement by FBI Director James B. Comey on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s  Use of a Personal E-Mail System, he indicated:  

From the group of 30,000 e-mails returned to the State Department, 110 e-mails in 52 e-mail chains have been determined by the owning agency to contain classified information at the time they were sent or received. Eight of those chains contained information that was Top Secret at the time they were sent; 36 chains contained Secret information at the time; and eight contained Confidential information, which is the lowest level of classification. Separate from those, about 2,000 additional e-mails were “up-classified” to make them Confidential; the information in those had not been classified at the time the e-mails were sent. [2]

This shows either that Secretary Clinton is careless in the handling of sensitive information, had an improper disregard for the duty to safeguard sensitive information, or some combination of both. In that Secretary Clinton has been embroiled with numerous other scandals over her career – as is generally the case with any politician along the path for the highest office – it would have been worthwhile for the country to know what the emails contain right?

Wrong!

Note again that of those 30,000 e-mails, 8 contained information which was “Top Secret”; “Secret Information” ballooned to contained 36 chains of emails; and again [only] 8 e-mails (or perhaps e-mail chains) contained what would normally be considered Confidential information. Strikingly, 2,000 emails were apparently on the bubble as and were up-classified to Confidential status.

Now note that the purpose of the FBI is NOT to shape presidential elections, but rather “[t]o protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States.” [3]

So, notwithstanding the fact that Republican challenger Donald J Trump “earnestly” sought for Secretary Hillary Clinton to disclose her emails so much so that he offered during the first presidential debate to release his [faulty] tax returns if she did so … who was fooling who? [4]

Those emails are privileged and the fact that they were on a private server wouldn’t remove that status from them such that were open to review … again the initial issue is the LOCATION of the information NOT the INFORMATION itself.

This is the reason why James Comey was duty bound to stop further investigation and allow the election to proceed.

However, the feared effects of the wrongly placed LOCATION came back to haunt Secretary Clinton when it was found that her emails were on the same servers as her closest aid Huma Abedin.

Huma Abedin through marriage – which incidentally also privileges conversation – on August 29, 2016 separated from her husband Anthony Weiner. [5]

In a separate investigation of his emails and sexting miscreance, it was discovered that the INFORMATION was beyond secured bounds in that it showed up in Anthony Weiner’s continued sexting investigation. [6]

It is because of this fact, that James Comey was now duty bound to the American public and the FBI to share that information is out … while yet refraining from specifying what that information is.

Again, he can not share the information broadly. But, the investigation needs to be reopened because of the now recognized lack of security to this information. Again, this is consistent with his duty.

Interestingly, Hillary Clinton is now the one calling for the information disclosure knowing full well that James Comey can not provide it … just as Trump had originally.

So, did James Comey do the wrong thing in both cases? Maybe? But, I think not.

Comey has alerted the public to national security problems for which the experienced Secretary Clinton is believed to be most qualified … but clearly demonstrates lack of facility.

Trump has made a very frontal charge on every and all comers. We have a sense of what he is about in that way … but he is cast as inexperienced and many of the things he has said over the course of this election have been absolutely repugnant.

That said, Clinton – who doesn’t hide it well – [now] appears to have plenty of warts herself.

Who should the vote go to? Well, I thought perhaps if enough people voted for Gary Johnson American might indicate that it is sick of this polarized-political race.

The frames presented by the candidates could not be more stark.

Trump’s “Drain the Swamp” to “Make America Great Again”  v. Clinton’s “Stronger Together” while no less than maintaining democratic politics as usual.

Should an undecided voter cast a ballot for the first woman president with baggage which will continue to spill or a man self-presenting as aggressive and noted for misogyny.

The choice is that of the American people and while not all the INFORMATION is out, the fact that it exists is.

This means we can get on with making this decision with arguably a proper shadow of knowledge in front of us all … AND THEN LIVE WITH THE DECISION OF THE MAJORITY!!! [7]

Let’s not ever forget that we do have a democracy which requires people to make hard decisions which weigh both law and politics in the performance of its defense.

I suspect most believe James Comey is a little unhinged. I do not concur with this sentiment. Instead, Comey has allowed each side to see more information about the other.

The fact that each side has secrets is not his fault. He’s merely the double-hinged gate which allows appropriately limited flow through. Our democracy requires that sufficient information is allowed the governed so they may make this important hiring decision … while at the same time offering protection to the governed by not striking the proper balance. [8]

James Comey for President? We not only could but already are going to do a lot worse no matter who the nation decides. We don’t have a proper choice!

—

[1] See op-ed piece [HERE].

[2] See Comey’s full prepared remarks [HERE].

[3] See FBI Mission website page [HERE].

[4] See Fortune article which includes a debate snipit [HERE].

[5] See New York Times article indicating the Huma | Weiner separation [HERE].

[6] See NPR report titled: FBI Led Back To Clinton Email Server Case By Anthony Weiner Investigation [HERE].

[7] Note that I am not in a present position to expound on the benefits and detriments surrounding the use of the Electoral College. However, I certainly can not condone Trump’s potential unwillingness to cede to the results of the election.

[8] See Scott Adam’s blog for overall analysis which greatly informed this post on James Comey [HERE].