Feinstein: No Link Between Petraeus' Fall, Benghazi

The election might be over, but the talk shows must go on and in case you hadn't heard, David Petraeus had an affair and quit his job as CIA chief, causing much gnashing of teeth and many protestations of shock—shock!—on your television dial. Without further ado, as per Politico:

• Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein: "Absolutely not" any link between Petraeus' departure and "the events in Benghazi. I think if you really think this thing out, anyone will come to that conclusion."

• Feinstein on the FBI's failure to alert the intel committee about the investigation: "We received no advanced notice. It was like a lightning bolt." She "absolutely" plans to investigate.
• Feinstein speaking personally about Petraeus: "For me, it's a heartbreak. This is a truly bright man, a credible person, a great leader. ... This is very, very hard. I do think he did the right thing."
• House Homeland Security Committee chair Pete King: "It seems this has been going on for several months, and yet now it appears that they're saying the FBI did not realize until Election Day that General Petraeus was involved, it just doesn't add up. I have real questions about this. I think the timeline has to be looked at." King wants Petraeus to testify about the Benghazi attack regardless.
• Senate Intel Committee vice chair Saxby Chambliss: "Absolutely ... we're confident David Petraeus was very straight up with us during the confirmation hearing." Further, "he and I have already had a conversation. He's trying to put his life back together right now, that's what he needs to focus on."
• And in non-Petraeus news, Bill Kristol on the 'fiscal cliff:' "I don't really understand why Republicans don't take Obama's offer to freeze taxes for everyone below $250,000, make it $500,000, make it $1 million. Really? The Republican Party is going to fall on its sword to defend a bunch of millionaires, half of whom voted Democratic and half of whom live in Hollywood?"
• Chuck Schumer on immigration reform, via CNN: "(Lyndsey) Graham and I are talking to our colleagues about this right now. I think we have a darn good chance using this blueprint to get something done this year,"
• David Axelrod on John Boehner's new revenue leaf: "I think that the speaker's comments have been encouraging, and obviously there's money to be gained by closing some of these loopholes and applying them to deficit reduction. So I think there are a lot of ways to skin this cat so long as everybody comes with a positive, constructive attitude toward the task."

(More Sunday morning talk shows stories.)