(04-09-2019 10:45 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(04-09-2019 10:35 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  So, if Hamas'representative and Israel's representative are both staying at the hotel, which one will he favor? The one in the most expensive room? The one with longest stay? The one who runs up the biggest room service bill?

The answer, of course, is that he will favor the one he would have favored anyway, regardless of those petty considerations.

Anybody think otherwise? If so, what do you think he will base his actions on? Total bill? Repeat business. Good tippers?

The point is not that someone staying at the hotel immediately creates a conflict of interest.

It's that people using the hotel COULD create a conflict of interest.

The whole point of the term conflict of interest is pointing out that it could be present and could affect someone's judgement. You don't turn down a client that could be a conflict of interest because you know it will affect your judgement, but because it COULD affect your judgement. You don't sell your peanut farm because you'll make policy decisions that will affect peanut prices, but because you COULD do so. You don't put your stocks in a blind trust because you are making policy decisions to favor your assets, but because you COULD do so.

Sheesh.

If I put my assets in a blind trust, i still know what they are and if certain legislation or actions would benefit them. You think Carter didn't know that putting tariffs on imported peanuts(or reducing them) would affect his family's assets in the trust? Did Carter forget he had a peanut farm?

You seem stuck on the thought that the tiniest of considerations would move Trump. Name one time this has happened. If that is all it takes, I am mailing him a $5 bill.

And once more, how is looking at his tax return going to resolve this question?

Your kind (the Democratic base) are predisposed to see any action or nonaction by Trump as proof of influence. At least you aren't busy "proving" he is a Putin puppet anymore. For a while.

Sheesh yourself.