I suppose I am being glib, but... This is not a vice reserved for the powerful. Politicians and whatnot certainly do nakedly make a principled argument one and

I suppose I am being glib, but... This is not a vice reserved for the powerful. Politicians and whatnot certainly do nakedly make a principled argument one and the opposite the next. So does almost everyone. We do it especially when something is at stake, but we'll also do it to win an argument. It's an irony of human nature. OOH, we're seekers of patterns, principles and consistency. OTOH, we're also highly adept at using these tendencies selectively and disingenuously. ..whether or not we prioritize power.