From a conversation between New York Times columnists Gail Collins and Bret Stephens headlined “Just a Few Top Secrets Among Friends”:

Bret Stephens: Bob Kerrey, the former Nebraska governor and senator, emailed me a letter he was considering putting in the mail. He gave me permission to share it with our readers:

Dear Federal Government,

When a 21-year-old National Guardsman gets access to top secret briefings, my first conclusion is: You guys left the keys in the car and that’s why it was “stolen.” And when journalists find out who committed the crime before you do, my conclusion is that you folks are overpaid.