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http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37364189
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has reportedly called Republican nominee Donald Trump a "national disgrace," according to leaked emails. The Republican retired four-star general's comments were revealed in a hack on his personal emails. The emails were posted on DCLeaks.com, which has reportedly been tied to other recent high-profile hacks. Mr. Powell, who has been quiet during the election, said he had "no further comment" but was "not denying it".
[...] Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who crossed party lines in 2008 to endorse Democratic [candidate] Barack Obama, has tried to float above this year's tendentious presidential election. So much for that. First the government released his note to Democrat Hillary Clinton advising her on how to use personal email for back-channel communications while secretary of state. Now - in an ironic twist - his personal email has been hacked, revealing sweeping denunciations of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and some sharp criticisms of Democrat Hillary Clinton.
[...] "Yup, the whole birther movement was racist," the email read. "That's what the 99% believe. When Trump couldn't keep that up he said he also wanted to see if the certificate noted that he was a Muslim." But the leaked emails also revealed Mr Powell's frustrations with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her handling of her use of private email while at the State Department. "Sad thing... HRC could have killed this two years ago by merely telling everyone honestly what she had done and not tie me into it," the email read, referring to Mrs Clinton. "I told her staff three times not to try that gambit. I had to throw a mini tantrum at a Hampton's party to get their attention."
(Score: 2) by Hyperturtle on Saturday September 17 2016, @01:49PM
This place has a tough crowd!
Remind me not to go into politics.
The real value of that hack, I think, is that it has driven home to many politicians that yes, even they, are hackable snoopable exploitable and easily embarassed. By an entity other than their political opponents. How powerless it must feel, to discover that some other entity has shared your thoughts to the world. Career limiting thoughts that you carelessly sent in gmail.
It's OK when the NSA does it, but when it happens to one of their own, holy cow. If you have not read up on the recent political commentary about the reaction to the *hack* and simply just ignore the actual politics about what Mr. Powell had stated, you will see that a cluestick has finally beaten people up. But, once the brusing heals, they will likely find they cannot resist the conveniences and this will recur again and again. When Sarah Palin's personal email was released, it didn't change behaviors for long. They tried to make an example out of whoever it was that released the emails, but it didn't change anything. Besides. No super elite hacker thinks he is getting caught, especially if they are behind seven proxies, right?
As to your nuanced interpretation, he at least wasn't trying to please everyone; and just like the internet, politics suck.
Gossip is fun reading, but I'd rather things be secured. What Mr. Powell thinks about other people is just a distraction, and likely why it was released.
(Score: 2) by art guerrilla on Thursday September 22 2016, @11:01AM
oh, i don't disagree with his catty backbiting, but i am saying he is beside the point: he IS one of 'The They', thus his backbiting will be private and never (until now, heh heh) divulged to anyone but other insiders he is conspiring with... THE OVERRIDING concern of players is to keep the game going: NO INSIDER will stand up for the 99% and reveal their perfidy, hypocrisy, and basket of deplorable behaviors... then you won't be a 'kool kid' who can plunder the planet with impunity...
THE WHOLE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE is dependent upon two things: keeping the stupid sheeple distracted with hot button issues, bread, and circuses, and making sure insiders don't turn on you... (EXACTLY why The They LIKE to have corrupted players with some disturbing skeletons in the closet: makes them controllable...)