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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Community actors balance day jobs, stage life Police Reports Ashland population jumps by up to 50,000 — bees Public works staff get close encounter of the ring-tailed kind Education Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers Business Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Blazers clinch playoff spot Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Documentary about Southern Oregon University football's national championship team to screen for free Fantasy Sports: Reds’ Chapman opens list of top closers High school Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Letters to the Editor, April 1 Landgren cartoon: European travel essentials Our View: One for the books Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Editorial Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Our View: One for the books Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Letters Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Chris Honoré: Some political and social observations Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Ashland High grad performs at OSF's Hip Hop Open Mic Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' Ticket availability Ticket Availability Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Woman in Gold’ doesn’t shine Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Community actors balance day jobs, stage life Page H. Onorato: What’s on the menu for Easter? Page H. Onorato: Leftover ham and eggs make for some yummy dishes after Easter Carol Link: It’s time to get into shape for spring yard work Prudence Hilburn: Bake something different — cracker bread Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant ... Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland ... Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza ... Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant ... Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland ... Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza ... COMMENTARY Jeffrey Gillespie: The opaqueness of Hillary Clinton Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News When it comes to American politics, I am influenced by character, not by gender. It's important to mention this whenever you're writing about Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mrs. Clinton is an extraordinary person and a brilliant politician. Her tenure at the State Department was a tour de force of polished diplomacy and grueling work ethic. That being said, there have always been scandals. Many, many scandals, following her and her husband all the way back to when their political career began. We don't need to get into Whitewater or Travelgate, Marc Rich or Jeffrey Epstein again, but a certain pattern has been established. It showed up over Benghazi and, lately, over the revelations that Mrs. Clinton used a private email server while she was heading the State Department. That pattern isn't so much one of culpability as one of entitlement. When confronted with a muddy problem, she simply refuses to articulate any position that offers a clear explanation to her supporters — let alone any countervailing evidence to her detractors. For many Americans, Clinton's manner when confronted with legitimate character questions does not pass the smell test. It smacks of arrogance and a sense of grandiosity, a superciliousness that correlates with her political style. She thinks she's untouchable. That perceived untouchability also shows up every time she's a candidate, or a potential one. In the last presidential election, she held the Democratic Party hostage far longer than was necessary once it became evident to everyone but her that Barack Obama would be the nominee. In the run-up to 2016, she is doing so again. She is playing a long, coy game by refusing to announce her candidacy, which everyone now knows is inevitable. The entire crowd of potential Democratic candidates for 2016 — it's not a mistake that we don't yet know who they are — is frozen like an Iowa corn field in winter, waiting for the Anointed One to make her move. Add to this the fact that Secretary Clinton is bound to run as the underdog to any GOP candidate (she always will run as such, since that moniker appeals to the broadest base of her supporters) and you have a garbled commentary on your hands. If she wants to be seen as established, but not as a member of the elite, then why is she behaving like both a novice and an elitist? There comes a moment when waiting stops being strategic and starts looking amateurish. That moment has passed. Pundits and the public alike are unimpressed. They aren't seeing a decisive and articulate leader doing what she is supposed to do best, and it's turning them off. In the meantime, establishment Republican Jeb Bush has formed an exploratory committee, and is getting down to brass tacks. He's found time to sideline other candidates (most notably, the perennially optimistic Mitt Romney) while Hillary fiddles. Prominent GOP heavyweights including Chris Christie, Lindsay Graham, Scott Walker, George Pataki and even Rick Perry have formed teams of their own. The Republicans will have a crowded roster for Democrats to contend with. Unless there is a strong appetite among liberals for another conservative president in the Oval Office come January of 2017, let's hope Mrs. Clinton's advisers encourage her to get off her high horse and down in the mud with the rest of the professional politicos — before it's too late. Jeffrey Gillespie's writing has appeared in the Santa Fean and Art Collector magazines, the Portland Mercury and Willamette Week. He lives in Ashland. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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