Flip Flop

Ok, so I was watching the reaction to the recent reversal by the Obama Administration on the torture photos. I really don't care that much about the photos, but my thought was about the whole idea of "flip flopping" in American politics.

It seems like a lot of pols(especially on the right) out there and most of the media seem to think that if ever a politician changes their mind it is a reflection of weak character or resolve or something...We saw this big time during the Kerry campaign. My thought is, shouldn't we want our leaders to be thoughtful and flexible instead of simple and bull-headed, as long as they don't abandon their principles? What's with this? Thoughts?

Restating the OP choop?

I have no idea about what Obama stance the OP is talking about, and I don't doubt its being blown out of proportion, but in general I'd say there's a distinct difference between changing stances in the light of significant new information and changing stances anytime something goes wrong/changes/etc. Being unable to stand by your views shows your easy to be pushed around.  By the same token, being resolutely stubborn is just as dumb, it shows you're not paying attention and live in fairy-tale land.

In most instances (minus Kerry) flip flop attack seems silly, since often times changes in stance are entirely justified, but a leader who ignores his principles and seeks popularity is a weak one.

I'll agree that stubbornly defending a position you know to be wrong or no longer believe is stupid but I can't completely forgive politicians for flip-flopping. You do have a point but it seems that most politicians are not changing their stance on certain issues because they were wrong before but rather because they're trying to make somebody happy (not necessarily the general population). They often flip their position seemingly out of nowhere and rarely give an explanation. I mean, if they came out and said, "hey, I wanted to do A but now I realize that the best thing to do is B because ...." then that would be different. However, usually they promise a bunch of stuff while campaigning in order to get votes and then they get in office and when it comes time to deliver on their promises they will flip their position with no explanation, leaving their supporters feeling deceived. Sometimes they even do it mid-campaign. The problem I have with it is that without any explanation it appears that they are just saying what people want to hear so they can get something (votes, etc.) and then they'll just do whatever they feel like doing.

I have the same pair of sandals and a pair in black.

Comparing the current situation to theKerry one is silly.  Kerry was notorious for switching his opinion on issues to tailor his response to whoever he was talking to.

I'm certainly glad he's changed his mind about the photos(abuse and the NY flyover), and military commissions to try detainees, but I obviously would have preferred it if he had anticipated the reaction and not made the bad call in the first place. Obama can politically afford to piss off some liberals, but it's in his best interest for him to avoid alienating moderates. Regardless of what his personal opinions on these matters and initial judgments were, he's ultimately making the right decisions. 

jmac3 wrote: FreeEnterprise wrote: I'm not surprised. To put those photo's out would put the lives of the men and women of our armed forces at risk. How? By giving fuel to the terrorists to use in the propaganda campaigns to raise up new terrorists. And his past history of wanting to rewrite the constitution to fit the goals of the far left makes me very nervous. ...

As much as I disagree with the Obama administration, and as glad as I am that the photos are NOT being released; It sure would be a terrible turn of events if all of a sudden soldiers in conflict areas were in danger.  Just look at all the injuries that are coming back from the land of bubble wrap and marshmellows they're dealing with right now. 

So it's about sincerity over political expedience....That's what I was thinking. I think Kerry kinda got screwed with his whole, "I voted for it before I voted against it", thing....He was saying things changed so he reconsidered, but whatever...

As far as a the photos go, I think not releasing them was probably the right call, but we can't forget the fact that the crap still went on, all the pics would have done is served as a reminder and something for the ranters to point to while they ranted.....I'm still kind of torn as to what to do about the whole torture issue as a whole though....I'm convinced that laws were broken, war crimes were committed, and we need to face them and make amends....But I believe in what the Administration is trying to do and I would hate to see some of the most productive time they have get hijacked by drama....I dunno, my opinion on this changes with my mood....Thoughts?

Ps
   No time to debate FE at the moment, lookin' forward to good times to come though....lol...