This hubbub over Hillary’s emails brings to mind an old friend. He was our ambassador to some dangerous countries. He was on the list to maybe become Secretary of State. He had a steely personal discipline. And he boiled complicated issues down to simple terms.

When Bill Clinton was impeached the air turned blue with a zillion opinions. And a zillion excuses for his behavior. But this, but that. But, but, buts. Consider this and that. How about so and so? It was only about sex. Ad nauseum.

My friend cut through the bull. He stood a sign atop his TV. “HE LIED UNDER OATH.” To him that was the only issue.

If he was alive today I am certain he would see the email mess the same way.

People at and around the State Department seriously mishandled secret material of the U.S.

Running for the presidency? Not important. Running for dog catcher? Ditto. Past positions, future plans? Not important.

Family involvement? Technical matters? Forget them.

People involved are black, white, green? They are straight, gay, ac/dc, transgender? They are Christian, Muslim, atheist, Jewish?

They lie? They are truthful? They are old, young? They are Republican or Democrat? Or socialist or independent?

They are well-connected? Disconnected? Victims of far right conspiracies? They had this upbringing? They went to these schools?

They are feminist? She is the only electable candidate in her party?

People involved are top dogs? Underdogs? Mere ciphers in government? Garbage collectors at the State Department?

She is your favorite person in all the world? Your enemy? Your mom? Your savior? You dream of her in the White House?

FUGGETABOUTIT!!!!! That would be the old ambassador’s reaction. None of those things matter. None. All that matters is you. Yes, you. And those you love.

The people involved at State were your employees. They held your safety in their hands. Messages get marked top secret for your sake. To keep enemies from snooping. And from stealing your nation’s most guarded information. Because some of them want to kill you and your leaders.

These enemies want to attack your embassies, your naval ships. They want to blow up your planes. And knock down your buildings. Some of the top secret messages dealt with satellite data of North Koreans. Remember them? They test nuclear bombs. And rockets to deliver them to your cities. They may be prepping killer satellites.

Meanwhile our top people at State tossed top secret stuff around like Monopoly money. Your safety meant nothing to them. They began with a home brew server in a closet of the boss’s home. Amateur hour. Your nephew could hack it before breakfast. And may have.

Your Secretary of State and your President wrote to each other on an amateur system. It was as secure as tin cans and string between you and your gossipy neighbor.

Our air is blue over this with but, but, buts. With excuses. With spin and parsing of words. With bulltweedie by the megaton.

The old ambassador would have said none of it matters. He would have said the people who did this – from the Secretary on down - endangered your life. And the lives of all Americans. Including our President and ambassadors. Including our spies.

There is no excuse. Their negligence was indefensible. It was reprehensible. It was utterly irresponsible. It was reckless. It was thoughtless, selfish, callous, stupid.

If you had made excuses for her and her staff he would have cut you off at the pass. With something like “She and her staff treated our national secrets – and your interests – like garbage.”

From Tom...as in Morgan.