VIA TOBY ZIEGLER <\/p>\n
We ran a big report today on the latest implosion associated with the administration of U.S. president Donald Trump. It involved Trumps new White House communications directorAnthony Scaramuccibasically losing his mind while speaking with a reporter. <\/p>\n
Scaramucci was upset over leaks emanating from the White House, which reminded us of one of our favorite scenes (above) from The West Wingstarring Richard Schiff as White House communications director Toby Ziegler. <\/p>\n
We know what youre probably thinking <\/p>\n
This is the real world. Syrupy mellifluousness creating momentary feel-good vibes isnt a realistic long-term strategy for addressing systemic breakdowns in intelligence security. <\/p>\n
And youd be correct <\/p>\n
Obviously anyone caught maliciously leaking information from within the White House should be prepared to lose their jobs. Of course that reminds of us another favorite West Wing scene involving a leaker <\/p>\n
(Click to view) <\/p>\n
(Via: YouTube) <\/p>\n
Again, we know things are vastly different in Hollywoods fantasy White House than they are in real life. But still, there is something to be said for an approach like this. <\/p>\n
Seriously, leaks happen. From Teapot Dome to Watergate to Monica Lewinsky to Edward Snowden to the present day. The challenge is weighing their significance and (assuming the leaker is identified) dealing with them properly based on the content and intention of the information that was disseminated without authorization. <\/p>\n
Not all leakers are the same, either. Some like Snowden are heroes. Others like many senior staffers in the Trump White House, it would appear are purely self-interested. <\/p>\n
Politics is a game of addition. As is life. Subtraction is often necessary and justified but in many cases there is far greater power to be found in measured consideration than reflexive condemnation (i.e. the currency of those who go all in). <\/p>\n
Politics and life are also examples of the long game, something were still learning after more than a decade of covering it here in our rough-and-tumble home state of South Carolina. <\/p>\n
Anyway were not foolish enough to belief the leak responses encapsulated in these clips are necessarily applicable to modern-day Washington, D.C., but we certainly wouldnt commend Scaramuccis approach, either. <\/p>\n
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