Recent Integrity Commentaries

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James Comey, Part 3
With last month’s release of former FBI Director James Comey’s book, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, much has been parsed, dissected and run through the echo chamber of cable news. The question partisan critics continue to rail on: how many lies does Comey tell in his book? The answer: none. Throughout the 277 pages that cover Comey’s life...
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May 10, 2018
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James Comey, Part 2
Continuing my look at the interviews of James Comey on the release of his book, Higher Loyalty, Truth, Lies and Leadership. By far, the most interesting Q&A came between the former FBI director and students from William and Mary College in a Town Hall format broadcast by CNN. This exchange offers more discussion covering the legality of the release of...
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May 8, 2018
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James Comey, Part 1
How we, as a country, ever reached a point where we would have to choose between the credibility of a man who was a former U.S. Attorney, U.S. Deputy Attorney General, and Director of the FBI, and the credibility of a sitting U.S. president marks a sad chapter in American history. At the end of the last part of this...
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May 7, 2018
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Clear and Unambiguous
The last several weeks have seen a steady drumbeat of wild allegations by a news organization and some Republican politicians that threaten the integrity of Special Counsel Robert Mueller III and his investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. In a speech, Donald Trump, Jr. appears to be part of a coordinated effort by suggesting a conspiracy in a...
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December 22, 2017
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“Paris Has Been Liberated!”
Two months after the D-Day invasion by Allied forces, with the wind at their backs against German forces, CBS radio correspondent Charles Collingwood wrote an extraordinary story for radio broadcast: “The French Second Armored Division entered Paris today after the Parisians had risen as one man to beat down the German troops who had garrisoned the city. It was the...
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December 11, 2017
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Memo to: Alabama Voters
One week from tomorrow, December 12, Alabama voters go to the polls to vote for a replacement for Senator Jeff Sessions who was appointed U.S. attorney general. According to a CBS News poll, Republican Roy Moore is leading Democrat Doug Jones by 6 percentage points — 49 percent to Jones’s 43 among likely voters.  In the same poll, 71 percent...
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December 4, 2017
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The Menendez Fallacy
What should be done about men who do not directly and blatantly sell the favors of their offices for money and so place themselves within the penalties of the law? How do we deal with those who, under the guise of friendship, accept favors which offend the spirit of the law but do not violate its letter? – Senator J....
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November 20, 2017
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Salud Carbajal, One of the Problem Solvers, Conclusion
In the final part of my conversation with Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) from July 29, we discuss principles, money in politics and avoiding partisan traps. Lichtman: Here’s one thing that frustrates many voters, me included: political decision-making appears to be calculated toward getting re-elected where appealing to the base of supporters becomes the overriding priority. How do stay true to...
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September 22, 2017
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What is Essential is Invisible
During the month of August, comfortably ensconced in my “cone of silence,” I spent most of the time reading a variety of books. While all of them speak to various ethical values, many of the authors were simply good storytellers. After listening to an interview of former Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill, I became interested in reading his account of how...
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September 11, 2017
Integrity
Before my August recess, I thought I’d leave readers with something more than another commentary on the day’s events. I want to leave you with something to think about, revisit and think again. I’ve been collecting quotes on integrity for some time and these are some of my favorites. So, enjoy and… think. I’ll be back after Labor Day. “Be...
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July 31, 2017