Comments on: Schwarzenegger: Flip-flopping Is Great http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/schwarzenegger-flip-flopping-is-great/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:46:37 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: kranky kritter http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/schwarzenegger-flip-flopping-is-great/comment-page-1/#comment-411759 kranky kritter Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:10:50 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6311#comment-411759 I am all for people having the courage to change their mind in response to an ongoing assessment of the facts. But changing your mind once on a given issue is simply one flip. Many flips on multiple issues indicates a flip-flopper. Ultimately, its a question of whether you feel a given pol has changed his or her mind • as a matter of expediency _or_ • as a result of a genuine change of heart or flash of genuine insight. The term "flip-flopper" is a pejorative, and I am persuaded by the notion that the usage inherently implies that a given pol is prone to frequent changes of position primarily as a matter of political expediency. And that such a pol will given the frequent appearance of trying to have it both ways. Exhibit A in my mind is probably John "I was for it before I was against it" Kerry. The current state of the art for inveterate flip-floppers is demonstrated by Schwarzenegger...who conflates flip-flopping with the genuine change of heart. But as we can all easily see, there is a vast difference between an occasional change of heart and perpetually weasel-like positioning. I am all for people having the courage to change their mind in response to an ongoing assessment of the facts. But changing your mind once on a given issue is simply one flip. Many flips on multiple issues indicates a flip-flopper.

Ultimately, its a question of whether you feel a given pol has changed his or her mind
• as a matter of expediency

_or_

• as a result of a genuine change of heart or flash of genuine insight.

The term “flip-flopper” is a pejorative, and I am persuaded by the notion that the usage inherently implies that a given pol is prone to frequent changes of position primarily as a matter of political expediency. And that such a pol will given the frequent appearance of trying to have it both ways. Exhibit A in my mind is probably John “I was for it before I was against it” Kerry.

The current state of the art for inveterate flip-floppers is demonstrated by Schwarzenegger…who conflates flip-flopping with the genuine change of heart. But as we can all easily see, there is a vast difference between an occasional change of heart and perpetually weasel-like positioning.

]]> By: Transpartisan Babe http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/schwarzenegger-flip-flopping-is-great/comment-page-1/#comment-411750 Transpartisan Babe Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:41:45 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6311#comment-411750 This is such a double edge sword for politicians. As a candidate, I was accused of being "wishy-washy" when I wanted to get all the facts before stating a position. But as a citizen I want to know the candidate for whom I vote is solid with their positions on issues I care about...and will stay that way! So is it only OK for an elected to change their mind when they change it to agree with me? :) Gosh darn, this democracy experiment is messy. This is such a double edge sword for politicians. As a candidate, I was accused of being “wishy-washy” when I wanted to get all the facts before stating a position. But as a citizen I want to know the candidate for whom I vote is solid with their positions on issues I care about…and will stay that way! So is it only OK for an elected to change their mind when they change it to agree with me? :) Gosh darn, this democracy experiment is messy.

]]> By: Tully http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/schwarzenegger-flip-flopping-is-great/comment-page-1/#comment-411722 Tully Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:27:45 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6311#comment-411722 Changing your position based on factual shifts is a good thing, and I'm all for it. What I'm NOT for is changing your position while pretending you never did, and failing to come clean and admit you changed your position, and explaining why you did so. And that's what can quite righteously be pejoratized as "flip-flopping." So, no, I wouldn't call flip-flopping great. Changing your position based on factual shifts is a good thing, and I’m all for it. What I’m NOT for is changing your position while pretending you never did, and failing to come clean and admit you changed your position, and explaining why you did so.

And that’s what can quite righteously be pejoratized as “flip-flopping.”

So, no, I wouldn’t call flip-flopping great.

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