Tuesday April 12th – Open Thread

Tomb of the UnknownOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Moonbat Action Has Real Life Consequences – University of Missouri Enrollment Collapses…

mizzou(Via Washington Examiner) Following a drop in students applying for housing, the University of Missouri will not be placing students in two dorms for the fall 2016 semester.
Mizzou will be closing the Respect and Excellence halls (ironic names, given the circumstances) in order to utilize dorm space “in the most efficient manner” to keep costs down.
In March, the university announced that it saw a sharp drop in admissions for the coming school year, and will have 1,500 fewer students. This will lead to a $32 million budget shortfall for the school, prompting the need to close the dorms in order to save money.
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The Political Media, Punditry, and Financial Conflicts of Interest…

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A “conflict of interest” (COI) is a situation in which a person or organization is involved in multiple interests, financial interests, personal or other interests, one or more of which could possibly influence the motivation of the individual or organization.

A person or entity avoids a conflict of interest by:

  • a.) not engaging in activity that might be conflicted by a duality of interest, or
  • b.) disclosing the potential conflict – allowing associated parties to be aware and decide independently if the conflict is influencing behavior.

a17b2-hip-replacement-recall-briberyIn essence, when presented with a potential conflict of interest, be truthful and provide full disclosure.
If unsure, err on the side of full transparency, and do so as soon as the conflict presents – don’t wait.
This becomes the generally accepted best ethical practice to avoid potential issues that may arise as a consequence of conflicted interest; especially financial conflicts.
♦ Recently, the financial payments by political entities upon media personalities has created quite a stir.  When CTH revealed (from FEC filings) financial payments by Political Action Committees to media pundit Erick Erickson (and others), the response was to besmirch CTH for revealing the payments. (more…)

Charlie LeDuff Video Highlights the GOP Disconnect via Vichy Republicanism at National Review…

NRO cover clown princeMichigander Charlie LeDuff has produced an amazingly good boots-on-the-ground video which shows how insufferably connected the chattering class of Vichy Republicans have become.
LeDuff showcases the disconnect by highlighting a series of articles in National Review, and then actually going to the locales belittled by the NRO staff and talking to the ordinary, hard-working middle class people who live within them.
Driving to New York – LeDuff actually interviews the people that NRO is figuratively writing about, the resulting contrast speaks volumes:
“Shocked by their support of Donald Trump, some elitist conservative thinkers are calling places like Garbutt, NY pockets of misery, welfare fraud and dope addiction. They say let these towns die. Turns out Garbutt is not like that at all”.
LeDuff masterfully tells a real life short story and simultaneously contrasts the pontificating arrogance of the Charles Cooke, Kevin Williamson, Rich Lowry and Johan Goldberg types at National Review.  The resulting work is brilliant:

Monday April 11th – Open Thread

Tomb of the UnknownOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †