The "elephant in the room" as we roll our eyes at "Real Housewives of Tampa" and it's not funny....

[pepperbear]

Last edited Fri Nov 16, 2012, 10:20 AM - Edit history (9)

to me at all. If I were Diane Feinstein, or even John Boehner, I'd want an answer. In my opinion, this counters every conservative talking point regarding the investigation of Patraeus.

In every story I've read about the investigation, somewhere down in the 8th paragraph there is at least one spokesperson willing to ask why the affair even came to light to begin with, given the fact that there were no federal laws broken.

I want it to go one step further.

I want to know why it was leaked to a GOP lawmaker in the days just before the election, and after the investigation was all-but-closed and had revealed no wrong-doing; leaked by a guy with a "conservative world view" who was known to be passionate about the case even though he wasn't assigned to it; passionate, in particular, about the political ramifications of its slow progress; passionate to the point that he had to be spanked for becoming inappropriately involved in the case. Did Humpheries expect them to clarify it first, or did he expect them to confront Holder and the WH? Leak it to the press? Given the lack of national security concerns, what was his endgame? I don't care if my tin foil hat is on too tight. I want to know if Humphries was single-handedly trying to tilt the election.

One could argue that it might not have had much of an effect, but I disagree. Remember, despite the outcome and Nate Silver's brilliant prognostication, , this election was labeled a photo finish horse race by the press. Close enough to steal. If the affair had come out on Halloween or Friday, 11/02, Romney and his vultures might've had time to jump on the phony Benghazi connection, and many voters might have been confused by the conflicting stories of sex and national security concerns. There's a chance that no one would have had time to process it and see the difference between "having sex" and "committing a federal crime." If you don't believe me, go back and look at how the story unraveled in the press. "Why wasn't the WH told?" went up against conflicting cries of "There's no way the WH didn't know!" all the way up until this past Wednesday.

IMAGINE THE ELECTION TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THE AFTERMATH OF SANDY AND THIS AT THE SAME TIME IN THE PRESS.

C.L.U.S.T.E.R.F.U.C.K.

You know what, John McCain? I want to know if Big Shirtless Fred was trying to rig an October Surprise by spilling the beans about a classified investigation hoping to confuse voters and the apoplectic press with a great big pseudo-scandal at the 11th hour.

[dchill]

1. I caught a whiff...

and it smelled exactly like that.

[pepperbear]

2. exactly.

I hope some one else catches on.

[AlbertCat]

3. Isn't adultery a criminal thing in the military?

Due to blackmail opportunities. I dunno.... I think I heard that somewhere. Anyone actually know?


Why is a military man running the CIA in the 1st place? How about a civilian.

[pepperbear]

4. Not quite. Patraeus wasn't in the military anymore.

in the CIA, an affair is actually OK as long as your boss knows, and it isn't with subordinate. I'm not kidding.

The investigation was about the potential for security breach. once they found out there was none, patraeus could've even kept his job. that's the whole crux about why congress and the president weren't told. the investigation was ongoing and there was no wrong doing.

Patraeus is, after all private citizen before he's head of the CIA.


So far, there is no evidence of an Affair between Kelly and Allen, which might be a problem for him, given that he is active military.

[OnlinePoker]

5. It might depend on what was in the back and forth emails

Emails in government organizations are not private. If classified info was passed, that could have been grounds and it might be the reason the FBI took her computer so quickly (without probable cause, would they have been able to get a warrant?). In the end, she did have classified documents on her computer and we don't know and probably won't know where they came from (since she worked in defense intelligence).

[Sherman A1]

7. Precisely

I think this deserves a complete investigation from top to bottom and the handling of classified documents is a center piece in that investigation.

[sarge43]

9. He's retired

A military retiree is in effect in inactive reserve status, not discharged. Legally, we can be recalled to active duty for the rest of our lives. Occasionally, some are, such as medical or language specialists - special or rare skill sets. However, most of us stand a better chance of being struck by lightening.

The key point is that in any inactive reserve status the UCMJ does not apply. For example, a military retiree can hold any public office, John McCain for example. Petraeus was retired when he appointed Director of Spooks.

Blackmail is certainly one reason for the adultery article, but not the principle one. The primal reason can be found in the second book of Samuel -- David, Uriah, Bathsheba. People are seldom rational about sex and in a rigid, hierarchal, authoritarian society this can be, shall we say, explosive and damaging to good order and discipline. I can attest from personal knowledge (I handled disciplinary actions) that careers, if not lives, can be destroyed.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

6. Well, K to the F-ing R.

[xxqqqzme]

8. Wasn't Patraeus a darling of the

right? Wasn't his name being floated as a possible presidential candidate? Is that why cantor held onto the story for 2 weeks?

[Nye Bevan]

10. "No wrong-doing"? Didn't Broadwell have classified information in her house? (nt)

[pepperbear]

11. OMG. That's exactly what I mean. her classified info was not from patraeus.

[bullwinkle428]

12. K&R, and we can all thank the PATRIOT ACT for allowing these kinds

of investigative shenanigans to take place in the first place.