On yet another Hillary-News-Blackout day and the end of a long Hillary-News-Blackout week, this breaking story just came through from Yahoo: APNewsBreak: NJ mayor in court to keep Gadhafi out. And here I sit smack in the middle of all the controversy a stone’s throw from both Englewood and the Court House.
Aside from the Mayor of Englewood, Michael Wildes, other main players are Rep. Steve Rothman, Senators Lautenberg and Menendez, and Governor Jon Corzine (up for re-election and reportedly not doing all that well in the polls, if you are to believe polls). We hear this from Rothman at the end of the article:
U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, whose district includes Englewood, has promised there will be “hell to pay” if the U.S. State Department lets Gadhafi stay in Englewood.
*SIGH*
In an AP article dated Tuesday, August 25, US working with Libya on Gadhafi visit to UN,
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said U.S. officials will keep in mind the “very raw sensibilities” of the families as it works to find a residence for Gadhafi, who is set to address the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23.
Those of us who follow Homegirl Hillary are familiar with Ian Kelly, and we are also, of course, familiar with Hillary and her reactions to things. Kelly’s words are very surely hers. And, while she may not be in D.C., she once again is working while not having “public appointments” which was supposed to mean that she was on vacation this week.
Every news article I find refers to a statute within the U.S.-U.N. Host-Nation Agreement that places a travel restriction of a 25-mile radius from U.N. Headquarters upon visiting officials and heads-of-state. This restriction sometimes is not invoked, but can be. The problem for Englewood is that it is only 12 miles from Headquarters (one of its attractions – many missions/foreign governments own land in that neighborhood). I sympathize with the families, of course, but Englewood needs to examine its own methods and madness as well. When Englewood land is sold to Libya, and taxes are collected for a pretty penny (since the mission is a mansion), you HAVE let the camel into the tent. Legally, he can pitch his tent there unless there is a local ordinance against that, which I doubt since it is the land of tented parties when the weather is mild.
Personally, I hope that right now Hillary is soaking in her hot tub in Chappaqua, maybe even drinking an early afternoon cocktail, and not worrying too much about this. She has met with Libya’s Foreign Minister (son of Gadhafi), and I am certain this can be worked out.
I am a little more concerned about Rothman’s tone and the anger of fellow Democrats at this Secretary of State’s Department. (Stay in the hot tub, Hillary. I’ll take care of this). This is nothing but blowhard posturing – they need to appear angry because sooner or later everyone is up for reelection, but guys! Pick your targets more astutely. Why attack your own State Department when the real villain is the guy who threw the party for Al Megrahi? Hillary and State have consistently condemned the release and the reception. As Dick Cheney famously demonstrated, shooting the gun is never the problem. It’s all in the aim.
(I’ve added a picture of Hillary just because we’re all lonesome for her this week. I can’t get enough of that green jacket.)