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Subscribe to RSSLike sands through the hourglass, the latest in the Petraeus sex scandal… Will this reflect poorly on the military as an institution?... Obama meets with labor and progressive leaders at 11:30 am ET to talk about upcoming fiscal cliff negotiations… John Kerry as defense secretary?... Will Pelosi stick around?... And sifting through the exit polls: GOP lost on the issues, too… But there were two bright spots for the party (on role of government and health care).
*** Like sands through the hourglass…: Just when we thought the Petraeus sex scandal couldn't get any more bizarre, here are the new developments we’ve seen in JUST the last 12 hours: Last night we learned, via the Wall Street Journal, that the FBI agent who started the investigation that uncovered the affair between CIA Director David Petraeus and Paula Broadwell had apparently sent a shirtless photos to Jill Kelley. Kelley, you remember, is the woman Broadwell allegedly sent threatening emails to because she feared Kelly was a rival for Petraeus' affections. Then we learned that Gen. John Allen -- the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan who has been nominated to be head of U.S. forces in Europe and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO -- sent 20,000 to 30,000 pages of documents to Kelley (most of them emails). And then comes the news that Petraeus didn’t want to resign, at least until it became clear his affair with Broadwell would become public. Folks, you can't make this up; it sounds like "Young and the Restless," “Days of Our Lives" or an absurd episode of “Real Housewives.”
Handout / Reuters
General John R. Allen, left, incoming commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)/U.S. Forces- Afghanistan (USFOR-A) and General David H. Petraeus, commander, ISAF/USFOR-A, attend a meeting in Kabul, Afghanistan in this July 9, 2011 file photograph.
*** Will this reflect poorly on the military as an institution? The question is whether these are isolated incidents or something more systemic within the military’s culture, especially its top commanders. In our May 2012 NBC/WSJ poll, respondents rated the U.S. military as the institution they had the most confidence in -- a combined 74% said they either had a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence in it. That’s was compared with just 42% who said the same about the presidency, 33% who said that about the Supreme Court, 25% who said that about religious leaders and organizations, 17% who said that about large corporations, 16% who said that about the federal government, and 15% who said that about the news media. As we’ve said before, we’ve become a society that has lost faith in its institutions. Is the military the next to go? This scandal, if it continues to deepen, could do what the Iraq war did NOT: erode trust in the military, at least with the leadership.
*** Latest in the fiscal cliff negotiations: At 11:30 am ET, President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with labor and progressive leaders to talk about the upcoming “fiscal cliff” negotiations. A reminder: The actual talks have not yet started; everyone has to get their politics out of the way first, and that’s what today’s White House meeting is all about. The question: How much leeway is the left going to give Obama, especially when it comes to entitlements? That’s what today’s meeting is about for the president, find out what the left’s breaking point is on Social Security and Medicare, for instance. Here’s more fiscal-cliff reporting from the White House’s side: Team Obama says that its last offer in July 2011 is not even a remote starting point. Their starting point is what they outlined afterward: raising tax rates for the wealthy back to the Clinton levels. And from the GOP’s side: Their starting position is that they are open to changing tax code, but not raising rates. But what they REALLY want are changes to Social Security and Medicare. Politico’s David Rogers makes a very good point: What comes first in the negotiations -- locking down a revenue target or actual tax rates? You can’t really debate rates until a revenue target is agreed upon.
*** Kerry as defense secretary? As one of us reported on “TODAY” on Friday, defense secretary is an option for John Kerry – if the White House decides to have Susan Rice succeed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. And the Washington Post picks that up today: “President Obama is considering asking Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to serve as his next defense secretary, part of an extensive rearrangement of his national security team that will include a permanent replacement for former CIA director David H. Petraeus. Although Kerry is thought to covet the job of secretary of state, senior administration officials familiar with the transition planning said that nomination will almost certainly go to Susan E. Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.” But do note that tapping a new defense secretary might not be something we see for months, especially with the Petraeus/Allen news. The transition at State is expected a lot sooner. By the way, many Republicans, including South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, are promising a brutal confirmation fight if Rice is picked as they want to re-litigate her role in the Benghazi aftermath.
*** Will Pelosi stick around? Politico: “House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will meet with top Democrats on Tuesday night — followed by another leadership-only session early Wednesday as she prepares for a meeting with all House Democrats — but it is still unclear whether she will stay or go after nearly a decade in power. Pelosi has declined to discuss her plans since Democrats picked up as many as eight seats on Election Day. During an interview Sunday with San Francisco-based reporters on Sunday, Pelosi wasn’t giving anything away.”
*** Sifting through the exit polls: GOP lost on the issues, too: For all the talk about how Romney and the Republicans lost when it came to demographics, the turnout, and the tactics, the exit polls also show that they lost when it came to a slew of issues. For years, the GOP has branded itself as the party that supports low taxes (especially for the wealthy) and opposes abortion and gay marriage. But according to the exit polls from last week’s presidential election, a combined 60% said that tax rates should increase either for everyone or for those making more than $250,000. Just 35% said the tax rates shouldn’t increase for anyone. What’s more, 59% said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. And by a 49%-to-46% margin, voters said that their states should legally recognize same-sex marriage.
*** But two bright spots for the GOP: Even on comprehensive immigration reform -- a subject that some Republicans (like George W. Bush) once supported, but most no longer do -- 65% said most illegal immigrants should be offered a chance to apply for legal status. (And since the election, GOP senators like Lindsey Graham and John McCain are now signaling renewed support of comprehensive immigration reform.) But there were two bright spots for Republicans on the issues: A majority of voters -- 51% -- indicated that the government is doing too many things better left to businesses and the individuals. By comparison, 43% said government should do more to solve problems. That’s a reversal from 2008, when 51% said the government should do more and 43% said it is doing too much. And a plurality of voters -- 49% -- said all or some of the health-care law should be repealed, versus 44% who said it should be expanded or left alone. So even with this pro-Obama electorate, the president cannot claim a mandate on health care or role of government.
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A huge problem with the conservatives is that they have been preaching doom and groom for the past 2000 years and they have been wrong for the last 2000 years. Time itself is aganist conservatives. How many years have they been preaching the destruction of this country and as it turns out one of the great disasters to the country was George W. who was a conservative.
prog.1, George W. Um, George Washington? George Wallace? You really like to keep people guessing don't you?
Sorry prog.1, American Conservtives have not been around for 2000 years, you dumba$$
mmypost, Everybody knows that George W refers to Bush 43. You show your ignorance when you shoot your mouth off.
ah hahahaha, I guess your right sonmanvb. It hasn't been 2000 years. It only seems like it... The GOP obstruction process may continue to some extent until the teaparty is gone in 2014. After that the GOP will live their worst nightmare. Recovery under a Democratic President... AGAIN. This will ensure that the GOP at best will be looking in through the White House windows for another 8-12 years.. I suppose we should be thanking the GOP for their backward archaic thought process and their mindless obstruction. It will keep their candidates away from office
Did the General really think this young woman wanted him for his hot body? Michael Moore's description of General Betrayus may yet prove to be the case.
My question exactly. What has a wrinkled old man of 60 got (20 years her senior) that she could want? Unless he is quite well endowed, I don't get it. I hope her husband and his wife take them for everthing they have.
Why so much hostility? (btw, that question was answered a long time ago)
Why is the media spending this much time and effort about nothing, so he had an affair, so did clinton. Why are they not demanding information about the death of our ambassador and the other brave men in Benghazi. Why are they not pressing odumbo for the information as to why we did not send in re-enforcement that could have been there in under an hour. The people want that information not about a general that had an affair.
If the 435 members of the House and 100 members of the Senate are representative of America's population, 40% of them have had affairs outside of marriage. Let's get on with the financial issues facing us and leave the tawdry details to the publications most often seen at the check out counter.
...why buy '50 shades of gray' when i can look at almost any media outlet and get the latest installment of the petraeus/kelly/allen/fbi agent saga? smashing good entertainment! i wonder who did the security clearances?
I must say this is fascinating. The more people talk, the more i read here. General seems to have no side effects showing to me. Human beings are vunerable to emotions at any time.What kind of fondation did you build. If you can look at important paper work in front of you and the stars on your shouder and say" thank you young lady that will be all "
There has always been sex scandals in the military, they're just being taken seriously now. Cover-ups don't exist in the Internet age. If you're a top military strategist and head of the CIA you keep secrets but forget that everyone doesn't.
I suppose it's sad someone who gave so much fell so hard but then again how the hell didn't he know it would happen? Years ago I got great advice - never do anything you don't want to see on the front page of the New York Times.
And who in this day and age emails embarrassing photos? Unless your goal is to be an adult film star or a Kardashian it's not a good idea.
I know you good People and Christians can forgive this MAN!!
After all "LET YOU WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE"!!!!! MORMONS ALSO!!
Paul Craig Roberts served in Reagan Treasury Dept, and also worked as editor at the Wall Street Journal. He knows about what he speaks. He described the horrendous economic situation for the US Economy. He puts blame on Wall Street and US Corporate executives who use Asian labor in outsourcing, rendering the US nation of workers poor.
America’s problems started August 1971!!
These are things Republicans don't want you to remember!!
With inflation unresolved by August 1971, and an election year looming, Nixon convened a summit of his economic advisers at Camp David. Nixon then announced temporary wage and price controls, allowed the dollar to float against other currencies, and ended the convertibility of the dollar into gold.
The first signs of impending trouble are the exploding budget deficits themselves. They began, of course, under the parlous economic stewardship of Ronald Reagan. Reagan cut the marginal tax rate on the wealthiest of Americans from 70% to 38%. He promised it would spur an orgy of investment and rocket the economy to new levels of production and prosperity. Instead, his supply side economics did the exact opposite. It produced the deepest recession since the Great Depression.
Bush blew through Clinton's surplus in his first year. The 2004 deficit reached $415 billion, a record. Still, its real size is masked by the fact that Bush has shifted $150 billion from the Social Security trust fund in order to make the shortfall look smaller. It's like pretending you're richer when you move money from one pocket to another. Both sums have to be repaid, so the real amount borrowed is the $415 billion nominal deficit plus the $150 billion from Social Security or $565 billion. This is why Bush lost his Presidency!!
The Congress owes SOCIAL SECURITY $565,000,000,000
Nothing to see, time to move on and investigate more, the motives of a possible coverup. Sounds like Progressive politics is still alive and doing well. Keep distracting from the real issues of Benghazi.
And here is an interesting bit brought to you by unions and healthy eating Michelle Obama:
Hostess Brands Inc.
Hostess Brands Inc. is permanently closing three bakeries following a nationwide strike by its bakers union.
The maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread said Monday that the strike has prevented it from producing and delivering products, and it is closing bakeries in Seattle, St. Louis and Cincinnati. The facilities employ 627 workers.
Hostess, based in Irving, Texas, operates 36 bakeries nationwide and has about 18,300 employees. It warned earlier this month that the strike, by about 30 percent of its workforce, could lead to bakery closures.
"We deeply regret this decision, but we have repeatedly explained that we will close facilities that are no longer able to produce and deliver products because of a work stoppage — and that we will close the entire company if widespread strikes cripple our business," Hostess Brands CEO Gregory F. Rayburn said.
Hostess said customers will not be affected by the closures.
A representative for the union could not be reached immediately for comment Monday.
Thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike Nov. 9 to protest cuts to wages and benefits under a new contract offer, which the union rejected in September. Union officials say the company stopped contributing to workers' pensions last year.
Hostess has argued that workers must make concessions as it tries to improve its financial position. The privately-held food maker filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, its second trip through bankruptcy court in less than a decade. Hostess cited increasing pension and medical costs for employees as one of the drivers behind its latest filing.
The company, founded in 1930, is fighting battles beyond labor costs, however. Competition is increasing in the snack space and Americans are increasingly conscious about healthy eating.
Read more: #ixzz2C8lgYEui
Progressives and their stupidity of wealth redistribution will be the downfall of America......Liberals always want to redistribute the wealth...just as long AS IT'S NOT THEIR WEALTH.
Pelosi, Reid, Obama, Kerry Rockefeller...and the list is endless of MULTI MILLIONAIRES in the Liberal party....who only want to redistribute the wealth of others.
Sooner or later they will run out of other peoples money. Then what?
If this is true, Julie Brown, then why is it that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and the middle class is getting poorer??? I guess its God given?
Downtown- of course you are aware that the concept of a progressive tax goes all the way back to ancient Greece- the rich paid more and they were proud to do it as a civic duty.
Every war in american history has had a tax increase- how did you think the rates got to 91% in the 1950's- it paid off the debt from WWII.
Its only been your generation of "CONSERVATIVES" who are unwilling to pay down the WAR DEBT
But then your side is always the more patriotic and exchibiting the american exceptionalism your side loves to give speeches about.
Hypocrits is all your side is. Its all about MEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
And look where Greece is today.....duh
America is well on her way to being just like Greece and the sooner you greedy left wing liberals realize that..the better off all of America will be
Why NOT create an environment where every can get a job...Obama has done the opposite. He'd rather see you low life scums on the moocher vouchers...than getting a job and fending for yourselves.
I frankly am sick to death of you lazy bums..taking the American working populations money...GET A JOB..THEN BUY YOURSELVES A MUCH NEEDED CLUE.
In 1944 the top marginal income tax rate was 94%. And how was WWII paid for? By patriotic Americans purchasing war bonds. As a certified old fart, I often wonder if any of today's 'conservatives' would have bought war bonds with their 'hard earned money'. I seriously doubt it.
Elections have consequences; so do wars.
The "INTRIGUE" grows for one reason, the NEWS MEDIA! How silly and with ALL the problems the 99% American People are being put through! Gasoline prices 3x's too high, the FISCAL CLIFF, only 23% of their country's wealth, and the looming 2013 2nd Depression! And the NEWS MEDIA wants to BULL$HIT us! Let's get on with OUR PROBLEMS not one man's problem!!!!
You are correct TR Rose, it is the "NEWS MEDIA" because they need a distraction from REAL issues like Benghazi to keep the first American king from being kicked out of office over his failures.
When the heroes in uniform become useless to the sons of neocons, down they must go?
All these investigations concluded right after the Election? People who can track down thousands of emails can also inject a few thousand more into those mailboxes. I wouldn't be surprised at more surprises to come.
neocons? This is a Progressive admin, not a republican one. What a STUPID id10t!
this Administration is no more Progressive than Bush'
I beg, to remain silent..............
I wish the generals would spend more time doing their jobs, then chasing woman. We now see why we are in all these wars with really no end in sight. I have always said "follow the money". We need to reform the military and cut the money.
Reinstitute the draft and see how anxious America is for more war!
This trivial albeit titillating story has been fun--it's almost a week old now--time for DC to get back to work dealing with real problems. That means the media needs to focus on real issues and that means us media consumers have to move on first--stop feeding this frenzy. If we had paused WW2 due to Eisenhower's mistress we may have lost the war. Today we are in dire fiscal circumstances that need to be dealt with NOW.
Well let's see what the Associated Press reported in today's newspaper, amazing how these things come out right after the election:
1. The timeline the WH gave for Benghazi was wrong, and we all know how the "investigation" wouldn't be revealed until after the election. if we ever hear about it from the WH again.
2. The General's extra ciricular activities was well known in May & June...kept quiet till after the election........go figure.
3. GE is building a plant in Mynamar and by coincidence Obama goes there? Not likely.
4. Fast & Furious, did we ever get that resolved? Not hardly, but hey dead White Americans are ok, huh? Guess they couldn't be like the son Obama never had like Martin huh?
Meanwhile people in NY/NJ are still without basic shelter, food, electricity, but it's just Obama voters, they don't matter as of Nov 6th.
I suspect much more will come out in the next few weeks, just as I suspect Obama supporters will just blindly ignore all of it.
"Generals Gone Wild" is the new boffo hit reality show! Two thumbs up!
THE MEDIA IS ALL OVER PATREUS, START COVERING BENGHAZI AND THE CORRUPT ADMIN COVERING IT UP!!! BENGHAZI, BENGHAZI, BENGHAZI, BENGHAZI, BENGHAZI, BENGHAZI, BENGHAZI........................................................................
It seems that the government, and the CIA, have formed a sort of circle jerk around obama, this is just the beginning of a huge amount of time time that will be spent on pointing fingers, at each other while obama does his usual back door deals, the gutter politics that both parties have taken for their standard is taking the United States another step closer to the third world countries that lie in their own excrement and declare who is the winner. There is no winner, just the last one standing, while we slip further an further down the ladder of Honor and believability as a world power. The Hillery's, rices, Holders, Axelrods, Wassermann's, & obama are not concerned with everyday stumbling blocks like four American's killed in Benghazi, or why the American Red Cross pulled out, the British Consul pulled out, yet the protection was reduced for the American Consulate, all that obama is concerned with. it seems is raising taxes so he can give out more free stuff. The families of the dead hero's deserve more than a cover-up, they deserve real answers and the facts, not made up stories to protect the administration.
So Broadwell allowed another man to penetrate her uterus which bore the offspring of a beloved husband, secreting his bodily fluids, desecrating the sanctity of marriage ordained under the covenant of God's law.
W h o r e is too kinder a word to describe her.
Isn't this becoming a theme of Obama's administration:
WHAT THEY KNEW AND WHEN THEY KNEW IT?
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
How often it is that a man is brought down by his inability to conduct himself properly with a woman. He can handle many different situations well, but not his own passions.
I would bet this was just an old-fashioned power grab. Allen and Kelley most likely conspired to expose Petraeus and Broadwell in an attempt to remove Petraeus from his position so Allen could step up and fill that position. Worked for a few days, but Allen won't be staying in that position now.