# General Kelly may have been the NY Times leeker... Maybe? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 1, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018 "2019-01-01T00:52:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/1 "2019-01-01T00:52:18Z")
> **[John Kelly Confirms He Was Lying All Along: The White House Is in Chaos](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/john-kelly-confirms-lying-along-181041711.html?.tsrc=fauxdal&fbclid=IwAR0YmgUXbi2rI1cVZpi4ZSG5c_LT8ZacIJjMi0BUrZG7VzgwvkAdMd7W9lc)** > > In an exit interview, the outgoing chief of staff tries to protect his legacy IMHO Right or wrong … General Kelly thought he was the strong tower that was holding our nation together. He may even run for POTUS himself … in that case even more trash will spread. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/2 "2019-01-01T01:08:27Z")
ISTR that he was one of the likeliest candidates for “Lodestar” pretty much from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/3 "2019-01-01T01:18:40Z")
My internet money is on Mattis as Lodestar because he used “malign” as an adjective in his resignation letter, as Lodestar did in the infamous op-ed. It’s an uncommon usage as it is, and after the discussion around it in the wake of the op-ed, I think Mattis used it deliberately. True, he could have done it just for the lulz, buy I find it more likely that he was tipping his hand on the way out as one more parting shot. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/4 "2019-01-01T01:26:20Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > My internet money is on Mattis as Lodestar because he used “malign” as an adjective in his resignation letter, as Lodestar did in the infamous op-ed. It’s an uncommon usage as it is, and after the discussion around it in the wake of the op-ed, I think Mattis used it deliberately. True, he could have done it just for the lulz, buy I find it more likely that he was tipping his hand on the way out as one more parting shot. I thought Mattis too, but as previously pointed out on SD … Mattis wasn’t in the WH, but a Secretary of Defense and as such removed from the inner circle. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/5 "2019-01-01T01:40:09Z")
I thought Fluellen was the leeker. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/6 "2019-01-01T04:30:47Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I thought Fluellen was the leeker. If you can mock a leek, you can eat a leek! ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/7 "2019-01-01T06:22:25Z")
I always thought it was Kelly. He has the hubris and had the best opportunity. Also, I don’t think “malign” is really all that exotic. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/8 "2019-01-01T06:31:37Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I thought Fluellen was the leeker. Let’s check John Kelly’s hat on March 1, then we’ll know. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/9 "2019-01-01T13:53:29Z")
Kelly is every bit as racist and hateful as Trump, but is also more competent, making him dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/10 "2019-01-01T14:03:28Z")
What do you mean by “ **the** NY Times leaker”? NY Times never publishes a story based on a single anonymous source. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/11 "2019-01-01T14:08:32Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > What do you mean by “ **the** NY Times leaker”? NY Times never publishes a story based on a single anonymous source. The anonymous op-ed writer from within the admin. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/12 "2019-01-01T14:15:23Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > What do you mean by “ **the** NY Times leaker”? NY Times never publishes a story based on a single anonymous source. It wasn’t a story written by a reporter. It was an editorial written by one person. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/13 "2019-01-01T14:39:52Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > [https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/john-kelly-confirms-lying-along-181041711.html?.tsrc=fauxdal&fbclid=IwAR0YmgUXbi2rI1cVZpi4ZSG5c\_LT8ZacIJjMi0BUrZG7VzgwvkAdMd7W9lc](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/john-kelly-confirms-lying-along-181041711.html?.tsrc=fauxdal&fbclid=IwAR0YmgUXbi2rI1cVZpi4ZSG5c_LT8ZacIJjMi0BUrZG7VzgwvkAdMd7W9lc) > > IMHO Right or wrong … General Kelly thought he was the strong tower that was holding our nation together. > > He may even run for POTUS himself … in that case even more trash will spread. What does any of this have to do with leaking? That linked article and the rest of your OP don’t match the title. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/14 "2019-01-01T15:18:53Z")
Kelly was my first guess, but Mattis is second, FWIW. I am amazed it has remained secret for so long. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/15 "2019-01-01T16:25:07Z")
I doubt it’s either man. It is definitely not Kelly, a disgusting liar who has no principles; “Lodestar” has some principles. It might be Mattis, but there are too many other possibilities for that to be likely. I don’t think “Lodestar” is that important a person. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/16 "2019-01-01T20:11:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I doubt it’s either man. > > It is definitely not Kelly, a disgusting liar who has no principles; “Lodestar” has some principles. It might be Mattis, but there are too many other possibilities for that to be likely. I don’t think “Lodestar” is that important a person. I agree it’s neither but it’s less likely to be Mattis. Not his style at all and he didn’t work in the White House. Most likely it’s someone who worked for Kelly that the general public never heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-kelly-may-have-been-the-ny-times-leeker-maybe/827018/17 "2019-01-03T19:02:53Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I agree it’s neither but it’s less likely to be Mattis. Not his style at all and he didn’t work in the White House. Most likely it’s someone who worked for Kelly that the general public never heard of. Instead of a leaker let’s call him a tattle tell … didn’t the tattle tell say the word ‘we’ when he informed us in his article of the stabilizing influence they were having on the WH?