"Maybe the closer one gets to being repubican, the more one has ethical 'issues'?"

[Stinky The Clown]

An unproven theory for which recent empirical evidence would suggest some basis in fact.

[EFerrari]

1. And one would have to include the Republic owned media in that, right?

This afternoon, MSNC is screaming, WHAT WENT WRONG with the vetting process -- when, the process is working just fine. People with problems are dropping out. Idiots.

[mod mom]

6. but don't you think these issues should have been raised prior to announcing

the nomination? I'm not quite sure but I would think the "vetting process" doesn't just leave the looking for indiscretions to the nominee.

That said, I believe the fact that Daschle stepped aside is a victory for the netroots, who jointly said "What about "change"?

:hi:

[EFerrari]

7. Maybe so but isn't the bigger picture, the process works?

The vetting process doesn't really stop until the guy is confirmed, does it?

:hi:

[mod mom]

13. Traditionally I would think that the vetting process was an inside job, but now

with the advent of the internet and the ability to mobilize and spread information quickly, I'd say you are correct, Ms Ferrari, that the vetting process continues until the person is confirmed. It's part of the new bottom up governing. The process is working because of folks paying attention and getting involved.

[TahitiNut]

2. Any resemblance between the "everyday reality" that some see and that which ...

... the ordinary American sees is purely trivial and coincidental ... if it exists at all.

[Coyote_Bandit]

3. Unless

failure to pay taxes is an ethical issue.

Just sayin'.

[EFerrari]

4. On a scale of one to ten of horrible unethical behavior

it's on the scale but nowhere near invading a country and strip mining our treasury and their resources to line your pockets.

[Coyote_Bandit]

8. Unethical behavior

is behavior that does not conform to accepted standards of right and wrong social or professional actions. It is corrupt, dishonest, and dishonorable.

Behavior that is unethical may have fewer negative consequesnces than other behavior. That does not make the ethical violation less egregious. Wrong is wrong even if no one is harmed.

As long as we excuse some behaviors and by implication accept the conduct it will continue. I'm sure the next crop of elected tax cheats are busy avoidng their tax obligations now. And why shouldn't they?

[EFerrari]

9. It's not a matter of excusing anything. Ethics is the greatest good for the greatest number.

Some unethical behavior is more widely harmful and one doesn't have to pile on adjectives to understand that.

[Coyote_Bandit]

10. No

It is wrong to deeive another even if nobody gets hurt because the folks who heard the lie happened to know that the person who told it was full of shit. Bernie Madoff was wrong in every attempt he made to defraud a potential investor - even if those folks never gave him a dime.

True, some unethical behavior has more severe consequences than other unethical behavior. But the fact that the consequences of some unethical behavior is less severe does not excuse the offense. It is the conduct that offends and is wrong - even in the absence of hurtful consequences. Ends do not justify or excuse means.

Judging whether behavior is acceptable by whether or not it serves the majority exploits and does violence to minorities and their interests. And it is potentially a great justification for all sorts of attrocities.

[EFerrari]

11. I guess I don't understand where you're getting the "excuse it" idea. n/t

[Coyote_Bandit]

12. I'm not excusing any of the wrongdoers

and that includes the tax cheats.

There is no scale of one to ten of horrible unethical behavior. Tax cheats are strip mining our treasury and using our resources to line their pockets. Is it more acceptable to steal from one's own country than it is to steal from another country? No. Both are equally wrong. The methods may differ and the consequences to others may differ but both violations are wrong. The conduct is wrong not because of the consequences but because of the nature of the behavior itself.

[corruptmewithpower]

5. If I was a politician, I'd be sorely tempted to have ethical issues.

Divide two or three trillion or so dollars by 100 senators and you get a lot of spending power for each one every year.