A1: Not necessarily, because it's too perfect. All retired because of "up or out," all with line experience, all singing from the same Hymnal. The MSM has seen too many of these "perfect" stories blow up in their collective face (Rathergate, Travelgate, Swifties, Pablo Paredes, Wesley Clark, etc.) to really go full bore on this one. Besides, the MSM and the left never, ever, truly trust anyone who has ever worn the uniform with any kind of distinction - they just can't get too close to the khaki. It gives them hives, you see.

A2: See #1 above. Said military leaders only receive legitimacy to the point that they can be used to advance their meme of the day. After that, they must be shunted aside or hushed up, to prevent any kind of context or in-depth examination of the motivations of the individuals involved (Shinseki, Zinni and Clark are exhibits A, B and C on that one).

A3: The left is calling for any kind of coup it can get its little grubby paws on - preferably one that doesn't involve a lot of icky guns.

A4: You don't get to a Generalship or Admiralty without having some serious amount of ego and the necessity to have others around you who will help preen that ego to a nice, buffed sheen. Part of that is the thought that "if only SecDef had listened to ME, things would be 100% better."