I’m with xenalyte and TheThirdRuffian, there is no limit to the ways something can go wrong on a platform or rig, without any nefarious activity.
However, regarding your question:
“The 64 trillionth dollar question is...will Obama use this to pass his agenda politically?”
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
I'd say it's a dead-cert he'll try, but the odds of this happening are slim to none until the lame-duck session. Even then, it would be dicey. The man thought he could just waltz through and schmooze the muddled middle, knowing the alert right couldn't matter enough. But he went and made his real objectives too clear and now everybody is watching. Can't be very subtle or subversive when you're on camera 24/7.
Just my .02.