I forgot to mention in my earlier rant about something I found odd during my polygraph.  The polygrapher would release the pressure cuff, get up, walk over to me and would play with the cuff on my arm.  He would rubb it, move it around...everytime.  I was wondering if he did this because I was unresponsive?  The first time he did it it startled me a little.   I was like "what the...."

Cesium, you are oh so right!  I totally talked myself into a corner!  My foot lives in my mouth.     Next time I'm sticking to yes or no answers with very little elaboration, and putting my war face on!

Barbs, I am so very sorry that you got into that mess.  Next time, or any time, remember that you can't be misinterpreted if you don't talk yourself into a corner or start signing this and that. 

Folks, an object lesson in what TLBTLD says about not signing things, getting all into detail about when you did this and that, etc... 

Well, today I received the dreaded thin letter...just so happens the last step I completed was the polygraph.  Go figure!  I gave the polygrapher a little attitude towards the beginning...he didn't seem to appreciate that I knew about the polygraph and that I knew the polygraph is not admissible in federal courts via the FRE 702.  As a forensic scientist, I also know that the science behind the polygraph is far less than accurate.  But the big problem came when I stated that I had done marijuana approximately six times on my application, then stated during my poly that six times was an approximate minimum.  Six times was how many times I specifically remember smoking marijuana, but that there was a possibility it was more.  This is an issue I discussed with my recruiting agent during my initial interview.  As the post-polygraph went on, I found myself manipulated into signing statements that I had smoked marijuana more times than I actually can remember.  This was after much debate over selecting a number of times I actually used.  Having been that my drug use was more than eight years ago, it was difficult for me to remember specific times.  Also, the polygrapher redefined what is considered a drug use as per the Secret Service criteria.  This left me even more unsure of any guesstimate I could possibly think of. I suggested between 6-20 times, but the polygrapher said he would only permit me a leeway of five.  So, as a compromise, I settled on 11-16.  I was not happy with this, it made me feel uneasy.  I had been manipulated to compromise what I knew to be true, I now see that.  It was then that I was hooked up to the polygraph, asked several questions over and over again regarding if I lied on my application.  I felt confident in my answers.  I was released for a break, came back, at which time that the polygrapher told me that he suspected that this problem would arise from my drug use question.  This is when I signed my second statement which stated that I had used marijuana 15-20 times.  I figured I would feel more comfortable with 20 as the maximum, because I knew I had definitely not smoked marijuana more than 20 times.  I didn’t really take into consideration the 15 minimum, because it was already preordained.  I was not hooked back up to the polygraph again, and now here I am...an excellent applicant down the drain.