Few things damn fiduciaries more than failing to ask obvious questions.When given their statements, advisors with money at Bernie Madoff’s firm should have asked for the bona fides of Friehling & Horowitz, his CPA firm, located in New City, NY, deep in the Rockland County suburbs.
Incurious politicians suffer kinder fates, unless cash and favors become linked.
George W. Bush and his security advisers will not suffer for their failures to follow up on intelligence warnings in spring and summer 2001 of an al Qaeda attack. Their consequences, tens of millions have felt.
The Mother Jones video of Mitt Romney’s fundraiser has damning, if not damnable, comments on the electorate who may have a chance to pass on him in November. These are consistent with what conservatives have urged about ‘personal responsibility’ – as opposed to social insurance – for years. (Donate to Mother Jones here.)
The shocking part comes at the end of the segment released on Sept. 18 in which Romney gives a lengthy answer to a question on the prospects for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. In substance, Romney offers little variation from the party line.
Then according to Mother Jones, he concludes:
…I got a call from a former secretary of state. I won’t mention which one it was, but this individual said to me, you know, I think there’s a prospect for a settlement between the Palestinians and the Israelis after the Palestinian elections. I said, “Really?” And, you know, his answer was, “Yes, I think there’s some prospect.” And I didn’t delve into it.
Should he take the Presidency in January, I hope Mr. Romney’s lack of curiosity will cost fewer lives and treasure than his immediate Republican predecessor’s.
I also hope that their common alma mater, Harvard Business School, will apply its famous case method to two business people with no military or foreign policy experience who lack the wit to ask crucial questions.
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