Petraeus scandal--who cares?

[Simplicio]

Meh, I think its more fun then important. After all the grimness of the election, its kind of nice to have a story that’s all sex and sleeze and, at the end of the day, won’t really matter much. A couple guys in the military/CIA will be replaced by similar guys with similar resumes (but hopefully, better abilities to manage their personal lives) and the net effect on the country will be close to nil.

[Hari_Seldon]

I care and here’s why. It used to be that affairs were private business and, if you were exposed, so be it. Now any government official carrying on an affair is going to be subject to blackmail and that’s why I care.

Just an aside, I have long thought that out-of-the-closet gays were no more security risk than the average straight, because you cannot blackmail about being gay. But I’ll bet (maybe someone knows) that you still cannot get a clearance if you are openly gay. The result of this absurd policy (assuming it is still in effect) is that any gay in the security service (and don’t tell me there aren’t any) is still subject to blackmail and is still a security risk.

[TriPolar]

I’ll care if there’s more to this than just a lurid sex scandal. In the meantime, not so much.

[Inner_Stickler]

I’m just waiting for the shirtless photos to be released. My prurient side demands pictoral (pectoral?) satiation!

[FlyByNight512]

@Machine_Elf

Even if there was not TS info being released, that potential was there because he was engaged in an activity (extramarital affair) that could have exposed him to blackmail. Just like Obama’s secret service guys cavorting with prostitutes, this is a Very Bad Idea and ought to have been grounds for dismissal if he hadn’t resigned.

Yup, this. My boss is former DEA, he says that having an affair will automatically get your clearance yanked (as will credit card debt and any other possible blackmail or bribe vulnerabilities). You can’t be the head of the CIA and not have a security clearance. Plus, it’s all kinds of embarrassing. If the guy can’t keep an affair secret, do we really want him in charge of our intelligence agency?

If Petraeus had been in a different branch of government that didn’t involve lots of classified material, it’d be a big meh. As it is, it’s getting news traction more because of its resemblance to a soap opera than any real national significance.

[Enkel]

I don’t have cable TV, so this is my reality TV. Since that election show finished up, this is about the only thing on that looks like it will run for a full season.

[snowthx]

Personally, I do not care about this scandal. But I can see why it is getting attention:

1. Petraeus was supposed to testify this week in the investigation of the Benghazi affair. I am not sure he has to since he resigned. Conspiracy theorists are spooling up for this.

2. ISTM a lot of people expect their government officials to be perfect, God-like creatures with squeaky-clean morals and behavior, but it turns out they are human like the rest of us. A titilating sex scandal will attract attention.

3. I am not sure, but I think they found some classified documents at the girlfriend’s house - indicating a potential security breach, which is newsworthy.

4. So close to the recent election, perhaps Romney’s October surprize came a bit late - they can blame it on ORCA.

5. It is a great way to shift attention away from real problems like the fiscal cliff, Sandy recovery, etc. which are downers for the media. The media is drawn to these type of shiny objects.

Just idle speculation, mind you.

[Clothahump]

Well, the Obama administration and the mainstream media care. They’re probably sacrificing kittens in thanks for it happening, because now they can divert away from BenghaziGate, Fast and Furious, etc.

[Caffeine.addict]

@RTFirefly

I don’t ‘care’ so much as I find the whole thing quite amusing.

The good part is that it doesn’t really matter; nobody’s going to lose their home or their health insurance because Petraeus was getting some extracurricular nookie, or because a besotted wingnut FBI agent decided that some faintly threatening emails to the woman he had the hots for needed to be brought to the attention of the House Majority Leader because Obama and Benghazi or something.

This sums it up nicely for me. The whole story is outlandishly funny. If this were a sitcom, people would claim that it was too implausible.

[Cheesesteak]

@FlyByNight512

Plus, it’s all kinds of embarrassing. If the guy can’t keep an affair secret, do we really want him in charge of our intelligence agency?

I disagree with this meme. I mean, if you get busy with a crazy hot chick, you are by necessity going to allow her to know this fact. I would expect that he would not leave sensitive data at her house, I do not expect him to use his Jedi Mind Powers to prevent her from spilling the beans.

Sure, he could more wisely choose his mistress, but what’s the fun in having a safe mistress?

[Inner_Stickler]

I would love to sacrifice a kitten but no one has yet explained to me what the gate part of benghazigate is.

[Marley23]

@snowthx

1. Petraeus was supposed to testify this week in the investigation of the Benghazi affair. I am not sure he has to since he resigned.

I believe he will be called to testify anyway. I’m not sure it would have mattered other than the ramblings of Congressional Republicans (and their complaints arguably caused the government to divulge more details about what is happening here).

5. It is a great way to shift attention away from real problems like the fiscal cliff, Sandy recovery, etc. which are downers for the media. The media is drawn to these type of shiny objects.

Obama just finished a press conference maybe half an hour ago. There were two questions about Petraus (one of which was about the timing that Obama was informed) and several more about the fiscal cliff and other issues of greater substance.

@Clothahump

now they can divert away from BenghaziGate

Yes, you’ll never hear about that again except for the likely confirmation hearings for Secretary of State Rice or any time a Republican is on a talk show and gets asked about Obama’s foreign policy. Or every time any right winger gets bored or sad.

[Yllaria]

@squeegee

I care because the crazy is flying fast and furious, and you have to wonder what other crazy don’t we know yet. So far we have one general/CIA head taken down, the head of the troops in Afghanistan and (formerly) candidate to be a much bigger general batting cleanup, a fake cancer charity, a shirtless and a bit-too-involved FBI agent, Eric Cantor, and a television station broadcasting an “All Up in my snatch” fake book cover. And this is DAY TWO. What the f’ing hell is going on??

I missed the fake cancer charity. But then I’m getting all my information here, so I’m not surprised.

[Jophiel]

@Sailboat

cc:? Who copies an inappropriate love note, and whom do they cc:?

If you have multiple mistresses and keep your mash notes generic enough, it can be a real time saver.

[ladyfoxfyre]

@Hari_Seldon

Just an aside, I have long thought that out-of-the-closet gays were no more security risk than the average straight, because you cannot blackmail about being gay. But I’ll bet (maybe someone knows) that you still cannot get a clearance if you are openly gay. The result of this absurd policy (assuming it is still in effect) is that any gay in the security service (and don’t tell me there aren’t any) is still subject to blackmail and is still a security risk.

This is very not true.

[inedible_knapsack]

Yes, thank you. I said the exact same thing to my wife last night. I couldn’t care less about any of this. Petraeus screwed up and lost face, then stepped down out of shame. I don’t want to know anything else.

But, like Clothahump said, it’s a good distraction for the administration. Problem is, I’m already seeing posts on fb from Tea Party loons implying that this is all a reflection of Obama’s leadership :rolleyes:. So now I have to block more people from my news feed for gross lack of critical thought.

One of these days, one of these days, I’m going to become a hermit.

[Loach]

@FlyByNight512

Yup, this. My boss is former DEA, he says that having an affair will automatically get your clearance yanked (as will credit card debt and any other possible blackmail or bribe vulnerabilities). You can’t be the head of the CIA and not have a security clearance. Plus, it’s all kinds of embarrassing. If the guy can’t keep an affair secret, do we really want him in charge of our intelligence agency?

If Petraeus had been in a different branch of government that didn’t involve lots of classified material, it’d be a big meh. As it is, it’s getting news traction more because of its resemblance to a soap opera than any real national significance.

Credit card debt? No. Believe me, my finances were a mess with my separation and I was still able to get a Top Secret (which I no longer need or use). And to be realistic, plenty of people have affairs with security clearances. Many get caught and go through divorces. I would be very surprised if any get their clearances yanked. Being blackmailed for infidelity just isn’t a common occurrence outside of spy novels. They have lightened up on a lot of things since the 50s.

[Marley23]

@A_Nested_Thorn

But, like Clothahump said, it’s a good distraction for the administration.

Yes, the administration definitely wants to distract the public from their victory in the election last week.

[inedible_knapsack]

@Marley23

Yes, the administration definitely wants to distract the public from their victory in the election last week.

Not a distraction from their victory, a distraction to prevent or at least delay the shitstorm of post-election nonsense for a renewed ideological battle of attrition. If you can’t beat’em, just start throwing poop at them while they’re still on the winners podium.

[Marley23]

@A_Nested_Thorn

Not a distraction from their victory, a distraction to prevent or at least delay the shitstorm of post-election nonsense for a renewed ideological battle of attrition.

Then they’re going to need a new one of these every week for the next couple of months. Or else this is a one-time thing and not a planned distraction from anything else.