[MD] Bill's Intellectual Level

[Platt Holden]

> [Plattman]
> How about lying to a judge in court of law? Is that your idea of honor?
> 
> [The Jarloker]
> Let's face reality here. Clinton committed adultery. When evidence of
> this surfaced, it should have been brought to the attention of his wife,
> first giving Clinton himself an opportunity to tell her himself. Then
> the matter should have been left to the family. Instead, politicos used
> this family tragedy to embarrass Clinton by making him answer a question
> in public court that had nothing whatsoever to do with any criminal
> investigation, and whose only purpose was to bring ridicule, hurt and
> humiliation. That is as shameful, and dishonorable, as what Clinton did
> in having an affair... if not moreso.
> 
> And, yes, personally Platt, I feel that protecting the reputation of
> those who would otherwise be hurt by pointless and
> politically-manuevered personal questions to be more 'honorable" than
> not. The tragedy is not just the affair, its how others have used (and
> still use) the situation to ridicule, hurt and publicly humiliate others
> just to advance a political agenda.

Talk about rationalization for an accused rapist and a liar, this takes 
the cake.
 
> [The Jarloker previously]
> Ah, what the hell. Two more. So, why do we not condemn Rush (for one
> example) for lying about being addicted to drugs over and over on his
> radio show? Why is that "evidence of dishonesty" not also enough to make
> you despise him? Or is lying only "bad" when democrats do it?
> 
> [Plattman]
> You compare Rush to a President of the U.S.? Your comparison holds out
> hope for you after all.
> 
> [The Jarloker]
> I compare a man to a man. I compare a lie to a lie. Deceit to deceit.
> Why one is unforgivable, while the other is dismissed is for you a
> matter only of which Party they belong to. Nice duck and run, though.

Clinton lied to judge. Rush didn't. Clinton lied to the country. To  my 
knowledge Rush didn't. If he did, prove it. Also compare the treatment 
by the liberal press of Rush compared to Patrick Kennedy. One gets 
pilloried, the other gets a pass. Please explain. 
 
> And speaking of duck and runs... in another thread I had written...
> 
> [The Jarloker asked]
> But, let me ask you this. If I, as a scientist, discover a means 
> of  producing a catastrophic biological weapon by using water and olive
> oil, and publish that on the Internet, does this make me a "man of
> honor"? Do I possess "integrity"? I've been "honest", to be sure. I
> haven't "faked"  anything. I've told nothing but the "truth". So, do I
> possess honor and  integrity?
> 
> [Plattman]
> Is a scientist obligated to publish his discoveries on the Internet? Of
> course not. Is a scientist obligated not to fake his data if he
> publishes his discoveries on the Internet? Of course.
> 
> [The Jarloker]
> Why does the venue where I publish have anything to do with the decision
> making me someone with honor and intergrity? You align these two things
> with "truth" and honesty, so I ask again, if I do this, I've told no
> lie, faked no data, and been nothing but honest. Do I possess honor?
> Integrity?

Is a scientist or anybody else obligated to publish anything? No. You 
brought up the Internet venue. I didn't.

> I propose this. "Honor" is really "duty towards others". The flipside of
> "virtue", which is "duty towards self". Other than the use of "honor" to
> refer to an award, every time we speak of someone doing something
> "honorable", or "acting with honor", we tie that to a selfless act that
> benefits others, often at risk to oneself. When a marine runs back onto
> the field to retrieve an injured friend, he is acting with honor. When
> the protagonist of The Long Black Veil takes a murder rap rather than
> besmirch the honor of his friend's wife, he has acted with honor. But,
> I'm willing to listen if you can think of examples of "honor" where the
> act/person is not taking self-risk to help an other.

>From Merriam-Webster who you cited as an authority: "synonym see in 
addition HONESTY."

Platt