A second look: Petraeus and fiscal cliff

Letters to the editor and a Facebook comment on the week's top talkers:

FBI DID RIGHT THING

It is stunning to watch members of Congress complaining about the FBI's

failure to contact them about the investigation of the e-mails of former CIA director David Petraeus. This is the Congress famous for its harmful political leaks and leaks of classified information. This is the Congress that boasts a 10% approval rating, and the Congress that thinks other agencies of government still have confidence in its ability to deal with sensitive investigations.

Our representatives should not be surprised that the American public no longer believes in their ability or that other branches of government clearly do not either. This is a stunning and worrisome development for our democracy.

Michael Murphy; Cave Creek, Ariz.

DON'T EXCUSE PETRAEUS

I was waiting for the old "only human" excuse to emerge ("Petraeus human after all," Your Say, Monday).

Petraeus did what any alley cat would do, not what a human should. President Obama should not say what great service he has rendered. Instead he should be angry that he treated his job, family and country with such disrespect. A man who cannot keep his basic marital promises cannot be trusted to keep lesser promises.

David Butler; Tuscon

TIME TO PAY UP

Why all the fuss over the fiscal cliff? Throughout the presidential campaign all we heard about was how great things were during the Clinton administration.

Well, here is our chance to return to those glory years by letting all of those tax breaks that were created by both sides expire. Yes, my taxes will go up, the military will have to be more frugal, the government will have to reduce spending and my children will not inherit as much. The American majority voted for this. Be careful what you wish for.

Jim Hayne; Hampton, Ill.

STARVING BEAST DOESN'T WORK

This fiscal crisis is due to 30 years of tax cuts. It will take us more than one year to get us out. Do a search on the Republican idea called "starve the beast." This is the real reason we are $16 trillion in debt.

Kristen Duncan