Indeed, thanks for the many candid answers. There are still a lot of stories to be told. If you’re still checking in, was the consultant (and former business partner) you mentioned Jim Dyke? He seems like someone who’s in your former line of work. I could also guess Jason Torchinsky or Ken Vogel but I think they would have been involved regardless because they either work with or are married to Jill. Still, I wonder why she ran for state senate in Virginia — the $$ from the GOP must be drying up!

Hope to talk with you again… Doing C-SPAN during your book tour?

It has to do with you perpetuating a mentality that in politics, whatever is legal is moral and that whatever is not illegal is ethical.

That’s what bothers me. And yes, I’m pretty certain in my opposition to such a viewpoint.

Thanks for coming to chat, and for coming back to reply.

To your point, the “contract” between my company and my client was not drawn to allow for illegal conduct. The illegal conduct was the result, followed by a prosecution. Again, I conducted my business most ethically; one mistake does not mean I am unethical or immoral (or anybody else who makes a mistake).

I’ve made amends to the court and paid the price demanded of me and don’t need to answer any more for the infraction. To insist I do is unforgiving, particualtly from a pastor.

As to the receptiopn here (bmaz) it was very good other than one or two exceptions. I did come back this morning as a courtesy to see if there were any other questions or comments that also requested a response.

As to a system that favors the rich and powerful, I agree that is the worst enemy. I felt I did more over ten years by feeding the homeless as a volunteer and as a trustee of a charitable foundation helpng low income families in Brooklyn, NY than I did working in politics. Perhaps that is instructive as to where real impact can be had.

Two works that I have found very instructive on this topic and refer to often are Common Sense and the Federalist Papers. Both address all the reasons that make me as apprehensive about another Clinton presidency as I was about a second Bush presidency (much less the potential of a third four years from now).

As a former sky diver & rock climber, I understand the adrendalin-junkie phenomenon.

The customer is happy, the client is happy, and the employees are happy.

Oh, wait a minute . . . it was illegal.

But that’s all right — as long as the contract was fulfilled, it was ethical and peachy-keen. Right? Never mind what that pesky judge said.

Allen, I’m a pastor, and in my professional opinion, you need to do some serious thinking about the difference between legal, ethical, and moral.

Here at FDL we are interested in how the unpowerful (majorities, like labor, or minorities like gays) can exercise their rights. We are not enthused about a legal system that supports the power of the rich & famous.

That is perhaps the greatest gulf between your argument that “legal is ethical” and what we consider to be fair.