Twitter Political Question of the Week: How Much Emphasis Should Voters Place on a Politician's Moral Compass?

Interesting political question this week from @CLSteadley and @esBzly.

How much emphasis should voters place on a politician's moral compass?

My answer... it does depend on the situation...

Example 1: Let's say we have someone like Newt Gingrich (R-GA), who for years has preached morality among politicians and leaders in public life. Yet, he had an affair while he was impeaching Bill Clinton. He found a creative way to explain his multiple divorces. Lots of skeletons with old Newt. But, you know, when you preach morality, you better live up to it... and so any voter should indeed hold Newt to a high moral standard... which he clearly has not lived up to... and doesn't really deserve anyone's vote if he runs for political office ever again.

Example 2: History will always have ethical debates on the morality of Harry Truman's bomb of Hiroshima (via Henry Stimson, his Defense Secretary) in Japan during World War II. Some say that Japan was ready to surrender, but maybe only on a conditional basis. Allied commanders wanted an unconditional surrender. This, however, was not acceptable to the Japanese. A nuclear bomb can cause a hell of a lot of damage... we all know this... and the United States eventually dropped two... one on Hiroshima on August 7, 1945 and one on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 (70,000 and 80,000 Japanese lives were lost in both cases). Japan surrendered about a week later. Truman's argument was that World War II would end more quickly and less lives would be lost... (I'm guessing a couple of million lives would have been lost if the Allied Commanders would endorsed a ground invasion in Japan). Dropping the atomic bomb in Japan was probably the most difficult decision any President has had to make in this country (the decision was painful for Truman... wasn't easy at all)... a nuclear bomb can cause massive destruction... but Truman made the right decision... You can see more on the Truman decision here (my brief synopsis in this post came from some of those documents). One could say that the Truman decision made the thought of nuclear war some unbearable that no one would want it again... so I think voters rewarded him with a second term because of his moral compass.

There are several possible examples here in other areas of political life... what's your take?

My Take on What it will take for the Virginia Tech Hokies Men's Hoops Team to Dance in the NCAA Tournament!!

Good afternoon. Tech Hoops has a great recap of the Virginia Tech - Boston College Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) men's hoops game, so I will not talk more about that... Tech Hoops unlocks the mystery to Virginia Tech men's hoops victories. In short, it's who shoots the three ball better.

On to the next men's hoops game vs. Clemson on Saturday, March 5, 2011. This may well be an NCAA tournament play-in game.

As Tech Hoops' Niemo says, Virginia Tech is still in control of its own destiny... beat Clemson on Saturday and the Hokies will have the fourth seed in the ACC men's hoops tournament. That's big for a team that has only eight scholarship players because the lack of depth could cause some problems in the ACC tournament. Lose and the Hokies fall to the sixth seed... there's a big difference in playing a potential of four nights and three nights.

Let's move onto where I stand on Virginia Tech's NCAA men's hoops tournament prospects... I'll give you several scenarios:

1.) Scenario One - Virginia Tech defeats Clemson on Saturday and finishes 10-6 in the ACC. I still firmly believe that Virginia Tech needs to win one more game in the ACC tournament (which would be the quarterfinals) in order to feel good about its chances for an invite to the NCAA tournament. The Hokies also cannot get blown out of the water in the ACC tournament semifinals.

2.) Scenario Two - Virginia Tech loses to Clemson on Saturday and finishes 9-7 in the ACC. In this case, I believe the Hokies must win two games (the opening round game and the quarterfinal). As in scenario one, the Hokies also cannot get blown out of the water in the ACC tournament semifinals.

3.) Scenario Three - Virginia Tech loses to Clemson on Saturday and finishes 9-7 in the ACC. Then, the Hokies win only the opening round game in the ACC tourney, but lose the quarter final (or lose the opening round game and do not make the quarterfinals at all). There will be no invite to the NCAA tournament.

4.) Scenario Four - Virginia Tech loses to Clemson on Saturday and finishes 9-7 in the ACC. Then, the Hokies win three ACC tournament games enroute to the finals. Virginia Tech gets an invite to the NCAA tournament.

5.) Scenario Five - If Virginia Tech wins the ACC tournament, the Hokies will be in the NCAA tournament.

Virginia Tech was a 10-6 ACC team last year, yet did not make the NCAA tournament. However, the Hokies did not have a win over #1 Duke. This year, we do. The short of it is that I think we need two more wins and it would be preferable to get achieve this goal beginning Saturday, March 5, 2011 vs. Clemson. We want that ACC tournament bye.

GO HOKIES!!!!

TEABAG PAULUS!!!!! TEABAG PAULUS!!!!!

So, by now, you've seen this video a million times... make it one million one...

GREG PAULUS PLAYING THE ROLE OF HIGH HURDLE

GO HOKIES!!! BEAT DUKE!!!

Two Great Videos - Malcolm Delaney and Seth Greenberg

ESPN Home Court of College Hoops Commercial - What Makes a House a Home

Malcolm Delaney looking like a million dollars here at the 22 second mark... hope to see that big smile and win vs. Duke on Saturday, February 26, 2011!!



ESPN Dancing Coaches Commercial - College Basketball (It's Not Crazy, It's Sports) Nice appearance by Seth Greenberg :)



GO HOKIES!!! BEAT DUKE!!!

Virginia Tech vs. Duke - College GameDay Fan Advisory

So, here's some info from The Virginia Tech Athletics Director of Marketing and promotions on the ESPN College Gameday event coming to Blacksburg on Saturday, February 26, 2011... Duke at Virginia Tech (GO HOKIES!!):

College GameDay Fan Advisory
1 message

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	Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 8:34 AM
ESPN College Game Day Fan Advisory Virginia Tech will host Duke on Feb. 26, 2011, in Cassell Coliseum and the crew from ESPN College GameDay, Driven by State Farm will be on hand for a full day of college basketball excitement. Admission is free to attend the ESPN College GameDay broadcast. All seating will be general admission and doors on the North and West sides of Cassell Coliseum will open at 8:30 a.m. The live national broadcast begins airing at 10 a.m. Below is pertinent information for all fans planning to attend College GameDay: Parking: Season Ticket holders with valid parking passes for the men’s basketball season will be allowed to park in their designated lot. All other fans should park in the Chicken Hill Lot. A free shuttle will be available to service fans to and from Cassell Coliseum beginning at 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. On-campus students are encouraged to walk to Cassell to avoid parking issues. Concessions: A limited number of concession stands will be open for College GameDay Banners and Signs: Fans will be allowed to bring banners, signs and flags to the College GameDay broadcast but all items will be screened prior to entering Cassell Coliseum. Due to athletics department policy, these items will not be permitted for the actual game later that evening. The Athletics Department will be holding a Poster-Making Party on Friday from 5-7 p.m. in the lobby of Cassell Coliseum. Free pizza will be provided and Coach Greenberg will make an appearance. The event is open and free for all fans. Posters and markers will be provided and fans are also encouraged to bring their own supplies. ADA Accomodations: The same ADA policy for home basketball games will be in effect for patrons needing special assisted seating options. Fans should enter through the Merryman Athletic Center and follow the signs leading to the floor of Cassell Coliseum to be seated. Below is a list of all events taking place Feb. 26 on campus. Admission is free to all events except the basketball game where tickets are sold out. For a full list of promotions scheduled for each event, visit the promotions page at www.hokiesports.com/promotions. ESPN College GameDay – doors open at 8:30 a.m., broadcast airs from 10 a.m. to Noon Men’s Tennis vs. Boston College @ 10:30 a.m., Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center Baseball vs. Niagara (DH) @ 1 p.m., English Field Lacrosse vs. George Mason @ 1 p.m., Thompson Field ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Rector Field House Men’s Basketball vs. Duke @ 9 p.m., Cassell Coliseum, MAROON MONSOON Please advised due to the large amount of traffic expected on campus, fans should plan to arrive early and use patience. We look forward to seeing you on campus this Saturday!

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Virginia Tech Men's Basketball Roundball Club Social Tomorrow (Penn State Game)

Social is on after the Virginia Tech men's basketball game!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ann Cassell
Date: Sat, Dec 11, 2010 at 8:32 PM
Subject: Reminder: Roundball Club Social tomorrow!
To: roundballclub@gmail.com

Hi everyone,

Just a reminder that we'll be having a Roundball Club social tomorrow following the Penn State game. We'll have PK's pizza and the players and coaches will join us in the Bowman Room as soon as their media responsibilities are over. We're also keeping a close eye on the weather in the event the storm that is forecast for tomorrow takes a turn for the worse. If there are any changes to our plans, an announcement will be sent by email and also announced at the game, but for now, it looks like everything will be fine to have the social as planned.

So, join us tomorrow to celebrate after the game! Maybe we can even convince the team to take all of us to Atlantis with them...I think a Roundball Club social in the Bahamas might be just what we all need!

At any rate, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon...and remember...

It's a GREAT day to be a HOKIE!

Ann Cassell

Roundball Club President

http://www.roundball.org.vt.edu/

Virginia Tech vs. Virginia - ACC Men's Basketball - STUDENTS FREE!!!

Dear Virginia Tech Students:

My prayers were answered today... Virginia Tech takes on Virginia today in the first Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball game today... AND GUESS WHAT... YOU GET IN FREE!!!

Here's the quote from his latest tweet on Twitter:

Students ALL IN! All students in for free for 6 pm game vs the HOOs. We need your support! Rock the Cassell!

Get to the stadium please!!!! Retweet this blog post on twitter, e-mail or text it to people, talk to people in the coffee shops, bars, and at lunch, knock on doors... do whatever you can!! GAME TIME IS 6 PM TONIGHT... DOORS OPEN AT 4:30 PM. Pack the Cassell!!