Hillary's e-mail scandal is exactly what you can expect from her presidential campaign

Then, and now, Clinton loyalists describe shortcuts taken on her behalf as inadvertent and innocent. For convenience, they say, not protection. Clinton critics, then and now, see cutthroat use of power and a trademark penchant for control and secrecy.

Her camp’s response to the email controversy so far is textbook Clinton crisis management: say — and do — as little as possible, just enough to keep inevitable controversy from ballooning into unpredictable crisis.

The White House is annoyed because the President was forced to answer questions about the issue before Secretary Clinton said anything, and several Democrats over the weekend suggesting silence was not a wise strategy.

Most loyalists expect Secretary Clinton to offer a public explanation soon, and believe this will soon pass. But these loyalists are watching closely to see if the old playbook still works. Times and technology have changed considerably in the fifteen years since the Clintons lived in the White House.

“Transparency and authenticity matter more now,” one Clinton confidante said.