Free Republic

In the ongoing political dance with ethical issues, performed to the tune of Tennessee Waltz, Republicans have at this point displayed a somewhat better sense of rhythm than Democrats. Granted, the Republicans had a head start of sorts. Insofar as indicted legislators go, the Democrats had three, the Republicans just one when the FBI stung those allegedly willing to take bribes. Not to mention a former Democratic senator plus the other two indicted fellows - "bagmen," to use the language of the indictment - who are also easily tagged as Democrat in orientation. So you might say that the Democrats...

EVERY now and then, we get to see public officials wrestling with moral conundrums. This is one of those times, and it is a reminder of how political ethics can amount sometimes to an oxymoron. (Some would say the same of journalistic ethics, but let them get their own column.) Over the last few days, leading New York politicians have renounced contributions that they took — eagerly took, one might add — from businesses executives now caught up in corporate scandals. These political figures hoped to show high-mindedness. But if anything, their ethical parsing is a puzzlement. Consider a couple...