Hard-drive wipeout sounds like a new surf move after a rogue wave hits an unsuspecting surfer.
That would be if it weren’t something high-ranking officials in our government perform to try to cover their rears after they do something that would generally be considered not on the “up and up.”
I continually find myself scratching my head and asking, “Who in their right mind, does stuff like that?”
Take for instance Lois Lerner, former IRS head, who allegedly lost her hard drive after an investigation was mounted following complaints that her agency was targeting conservative entities unfairly.
Remember when, according to the WashingtonTimes.com, “The IRS’s inspector general confirmed Thursday it is conducting a criminal investigation into how Lois G. Lerner’s emails disappeared, saying it took only two weeks for investigators to find hundreds of tapes the agency’s chief had told Congress were irretrievably destroyed.
“Investigators have already scoured 744 backup tapes and gleaned 32,774 unique emails, but just two weeks ago they found an additional 424 tapes that could contain even more Lerner emails, Deputy Inspector General Timothy P. Camus told the House Oversight Committee in a rare late-night hearing meant to look into the status of the investigation.
“‘There is potential criminal activity,’ Mr. Camus said.”
Potential criminal activity? You think? What am I missing here? Who in their right mind thinks they can delete information from a hard drive and call it the “whoops” factor?
Apparently Lerner needed more Computer 101 classes before she tried to delete hundreds of allegedly incriminating emails linking her to alleged illegal activity against conservatives.
Next, take the Hillary email deletion/hard-drive wipeout scandal.
Remember Benghazi?
I’ll refresh your memory. This account from Wikipedia which reads, “On the evening of September 11, 2012, Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, killing U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith. Stevens was the first U.S. Ambassador killed in the line of duty since 1979.
“Several hours later, a second assault targeted a different compound about one mile away, killing two CIA contractors, Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty. Ten others were also injured in the attacks.
“Initially, it was reported by the media the Benghazi attack was a spontaneous protest triggered by an anti-Muslim video, ‘Innocence of Muslims.’ Subsequent investigations determined that there was no such protest and that the attacks were premeditated, though captured suspect Ahmed Abu Khattala stated that the assault was in retaliation for the video.”
Ask Hillary for her hard drive with emails pertaining to Benghazi and she’ll give it to you – at least the one at the White House, the one she should have been using for official email and wasn’t. The real hard drive, at home in New York, was suddenly cleaned, wiped and scrubbed of all emails dealing with Benghazi – all except the ones she saw fit to share with investigators.
After all, who would want to see emails dealing with her daughter’s wedding?
Come on, people, and Hillary is the front-runner Democratic contender for presidential candidate? Ugh.
Maybe lying to investigators about emails isn’t a big deal in your book, but in mine, it is an indicator of character, or lack thereof, and a foretaste of murky waters the citizens of our country could be in if she were to be elected president.
Again, who in their right mind – that might be the whole dilemma right there – dumps a hard drive and lies to investigators about it? Further, who in their right mind would then contemplate voting for a person capable of lying to Congress and blowing it off to the United States voters as a big oops?
Golly, Wally. This plot thickens at every turn.
OBITUARIES
Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025

Linn County News Published July 23, 2025 Jean Driskell, age 82, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, July 18, 2025. Memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation... [More]
Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Burton Clyde Brownback, age 72, Tri-Ko resident in Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born on May 21, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Clyde and Shirley Drake Brownback. He graduated from Prairie View... [More]
Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Ruth Ann Antrim, formerly Hueston, passed away July 7, 2025, after bravely battling cancer for many years. Ruth Ann was 74 years old. She lived and worked in the Mound City and Fort Scott, Kan., areas her... [More]
More Obituaries
- Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025
- Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025
- Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025
- Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025
- Jackie Junior “Jack” Hewitt ~ 07-17-1935 to 06-18-2025
- Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025
- Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025
- Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025
NEWS
Special: Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in Linn County

A Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) resurfacing project on U.S. 69 in Linn County will begin the week of July 28. The project will resurface U.S. 69 with ultrathin bonded asphalt for just over 7 miles from Pleasanton to just north of... [More]
Pleasanton FD again at center of heated discussion

The majority of heated discussion came at the end of the Pleasanton City Council meeting Monday night during council discussion when Council people Bill Skipper and Angelina Randall squared off concerning the recent ISO inspection that occurred at the fire department. Skipper... [More]
La Cygne city to be below revenue neutral

Ad valorem revenue will decrease by almost $16,600, levy by over 7.6 mills The city of La Cygne will not only be revenue neutral but actually below neutral on its 2026 municipal budget. That was the report from Jodi Wade, city clerk, at last Wednesday’s regular... [More]
More News
- USD 362 files revenue-neutral exceedances
- Commissioners discuss airport future, request more information
- SPECIAL: Resurfacing on U.S. 59 in Anderson County to begin in August 4
- Commissioners vote to exceed revenue neutral
- Mulberry Limestone CUP approved by P & Z
- SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees
- Commissioners discuss various budgets
- City learns of fire gear condition
SPORTS
Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship

Eight members of the Pleasanton Trapshooting Team traveled to Mason, Mich., last week to compete in the USA Clay Target League National Championship. Five members participated in the team event, and all eight competed individually. The team was among 264 qualified teams competing... [More]
Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest

The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team 1 places second at the TRL girls’ coach pitch tournament at Colony. The tournament took place from July 7 to July 9.
More Sports
- Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament
- Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship
- Gratton at Nationals
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
• Must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning in order to appear in that week's edition.
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• Full obituaries submitted by individuals are required to be paid in advance.
• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

