The president earns 4 Pinocchios; Thank you, Michael Bloomberg; Incognito no longer and a Pope for the ages! Obama’s Drama – The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler is persnickety about facts. His weekly column, The Fact Checker checks the reality behind the spin of most politicians. President Obama gained notoriety recently (Oct. 30) by receiving a full, 4 Pinocchios for this oft repeated promise from June...

Drug maker Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $2.2 billion and plead guilty to a misdemeanor in marketing the antipsychotic drug Risperdal and other drugs. “The agreement,” The New York Times writes (Nov. 4), “is the third-largest pharmaceutical settlement in United States history and the largest in a string of recent cases involving the marketing of antipsychotic and anti-seizure drugs to older...

At the height of the government shutdown last month, during all the fuss and furry, three Republican Senators – Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Kelly Ayotte brokered a deal that returned common sense, civility and bipartisanship to Washington. Along with 17 other female Democrat and Republican colleagues, Ayotte, Murkowski and Collins put service ahead of agenda to reopen the government....

On Wednesday I asked if it was ethical to force-feed prisoners at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, who, by their own volition, refused to take any nourishment. The question was featured in a Room for Debate forum on The New York Times website. I was looking for responses based solely on the ethics of such an action. I pointed out that both the American...

At a White House news conference last month, President Obama said, “It’s not sustainable. The notion that we’re going to keep 100 individuals in no man’s land in perpetuity. All of us should reflect on why exactly are we doing this? Why are we doing this?” Obama was talking about the on-going imprisonment of, as of August, 164 individuals at...

James J. Corbett was an American boxer dubbed “Gentleman Jim” because of his good looks, and quiet, self-effacing personality – a stark contrast to the typical mug-like fighters of his day. Among the qualities of a true gentleman are courtesy, respect, good work habits, self-restraint, as well as a sense of caring about how their actions affect others. Every day,...

Just short of this Friday’s deadline, set by Judge Jeffrey Oing, the suit brought against J.C. Penney and Martha Stewart by Macy’s has settled. Macy’s charged that both had breached an exclusivity agreement that Macy’s had with Stewart that covered a variety of bed, bath and kitchen products. See if you can tell which way the settlement went based on...

Every month, I offer up a few of the ethical hits and misses during the last 30 days. Texas Vacation – Nothing says “I love you,” better than bringing the whole family to the Alamo Gun Rally in San Antonio, Texas. “Angela L. Pena brought her family to the Alamo on Saturday,”The New York Times reported, (Oct. 20). “She also brought...

Every couple of years, The Gallup organization takes a poll on the honesty and ethics of professions. It’s not surprising that nurses typically come out on top. In the latest poll, from 2012, nurses were given an 85 percent rating of high or very high. I met First Lieutenant (ret.) Jean Mitchell-Baldwin when she and her husband, John, paid a visit...

Last Friday, October 11, a full-page ad appeared in most national papers. Printed on a graphic of a paper coffee cup were these words: Sign the Come Together Petition  To our leaders in Washington, D.C. now’s the time to come together to: 1. Reopen our government to serve the people 2. Pay our debts on time to avoid another financial crisis....