Paula Broadwell: Talking up Petraeus from the “The Daily Show” to “The Daily Beast” (VIDEO)

Now that Paula Broadwell has been identified by several sources as the paramour of ex-CIA director David Petraeus, it has triggered an avalanche of Broadwell-Googling, -oggling, -conspiracy-theorizing and a never-ending stream of wisecracks about the title of the biography she wrote of Petraeus called…sigh…”All In.” We’re sure to find your clever additions to this in the comments section below. Think before you write. “Embedded reporter” has been long taken.

You’ll have a hard time beating Saturday’s New York Post headline featuring a photo of Dave and Paula: “Cloak and Shag Her.” Oy.

Also to keep in mind: Broadwell lives in the SAME Charlotte, N.C. neighborhood where disgraced Dem ex-Sen. John Edwards parked his paramour/baby mommy Rielle Hunter. Yup.

And then there’s the unfortunate timing of Broadwell’s piece in The Daily Beast on Monday headlined, “General David Petraeus Rules for Living.” Really. It almost out-Onion’s The Onion.

Go ahead and crank up the Double Entendre Machine, because there is no shortage of material in Dave/Paula’s list. No 1: “Lead by example from the front of the formation.” And then there’s No 10. “Stay fit to fight. Your body is your ulti­mate weapons system. Physical fitness for your body is essential for mental fitness.”

This seems like a good time to show you the clip of Broadwell’s appearance in January on “The Daily Show” to plug her new book. While it got good reviews, Salon called it a “hagiographic.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Paula Broadwell
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

And now onto the speculation. The Gothamist wonders whether this anonymous letter to The New York Times “The Ethicist” columnist in July was from Broadwell’s husband. (Tip to other hubbies out there: Check in with a therapist first before a newspaper columnist. )

My wife is having an affair with a government executive. His role is to manage a project whose progress is seen worldwide as a demonstration of American leadership. (This might seem hyperbolic, but it is not an exaggeration.) I have met with him on several occasions, and he has been gracious. (I doubt if he is aware of my knowledge.) I have watched the affair intensify over the last year, and I have also benefited from his generosity. He is engaged in work that I am passionate about and is absolutely the right person for the job. I strongly feel that exposing the affair will create a major distraction that would adversely impact the success of an important effort. My issue: Should I acknowledge this affair and finally force closure? Should I suffer in silence for the next year or two for a project I feel must succeed? Should I be “true to my heart” and walk away from the entire miserable situation and put the episode behind me?

Sadly — beyond the cost to the general and Broadwell’s families, which we hope they can repair — is the cost to the country. Unlike politicians — who can apologize away extra-marital indisrections and wayward hikes along the Appalachian Trail and move on — affairs are career-enders for spies. No room for potential blackmail with our nation’s secrets.

Let’s close on a positive note with Dave’s Life Lesson No. 5 : “We all will make mistakes. The key is to recognize them and admit them, to learn from them, and to take off the rear­ view mirrors—drive on and avoid making them again.”

Joe Garofoli