I'm a flip flopper

[Maraya1969]

And hopefully everyone here is also. We change our minds as we learn new things and grow. There was a point where I thought attacking Iraq was a good thing but that was very short lived and now I realize that I was very wrong. So now I say it was not a good thing to attack Iraq. I used my brain and my heart and I flip flopped.

This whole idea of making political candidates stay stuck in previous positions is just absurd. Hilary Clinton won't admit that the Iraq vote was a mistake because she is afraid of being called a flip flopper. I don't blame her so much as I do our whole media, political, collective thinking process. Most of this country has now "flipped flopped" about Iraq and thank God!

And when John Kerry said he voted "for it before he voted against it" everyone got up in a tizzy. Well geeze ya think maybe he learned something new in the middle?


I just wanted to get this point across. It has been bugging me for a long time.

[bahrbearian]

1. Hey ,I can even admit to being wrong.

[libneo]

2. Would you still support attacking Iraq

without the benefits of hindsight? If yes, you are not a flip-flopper.

[Maraya1969]

8. That's an unanserable question. I've changed and I don't want to see

any war. And the best hindsight I have been given is seeing that it is a terrible idea to trust someone just because they are in a position of power. Always check facts and gather information.

I remember protesting this war before it ever started but I also remember feeling a sense of relief when Mr. Jackass said; "Mission Accomplished" and I thought the Iraqi's were going to be better off.

You know what? I don't even know what the Hell I thought. It seems like it has been lifetimes ago. I know I pissed off many of my mother's friend's by trying to get them to see how horrible this whole thing was going to be.

Maybe I never really supported this war. I don't fucking know right now. I do know that I am sick after reading about our soldiers living in squalor at Walter Reed.

[Colobo]

3. Well, Edwards admitted he was wrong

And that has been a plus for him.

[AJH032]

4. exactly

I agree 100%

[yourout]

5. I was wrong also......Colin Powell's speech at the time had me snowed.

Wish I would have did a little research.

[Arugula Latte]

11. I remember being on DU at the time and people were saying "Colin Powell is lying."

And they were right.

I wish more people could find out the truth from alternative web sites and media.

[AtomicKitten]

6. you raise a great point

Of course Hillary is trying to avoid the potholes Kerry stepped in, and as I've stated before on these boards, rating their explanations for voting "yes" on the IWR after the fact is like judging a contest in which artists paint with feces, some techniques may be more polished, but the medium is still shit.

If this board spent a fraction of the time building up our declared candidates as they do trying to tear them down, the Democrats would be a formidable contender against the Republicans.

[Pushed To The Left]

7. Kicked and recommended! A lot of my views have changed in recent years

I originally supported the Iraq War, mainly because of wishful thinking. I wanted my government to be doing the right thing so badly that I didn't look at things clearly. I remember being really angry at Michael Moore during the Oscars!

I used to despise the ACLU!

I was staunchly pro-death penalty up until less than 2 years ago.

I used to support 3-strikes.

I used to support trying minors as adults.

I voted for a ballot measure back in 1998 that was similar to the union-busting prop 75 because I bought in to the rightwing talking points.

I used to lean towards parental notification on abortion!


I have changed my opinion on all of these issues. I oppose the Iraq War, I like Michael Moore and the Dixie Chicks, I am a monthly donor to the ACLU, I oppose 3-strikes sentencing and trying kids as adults, I oppose the death penalty, I was very politically active against the union-busting prop 75, and was also very active in defeating 2 parental notification ballot measures (73 and 85) 2 years in a row. So, I could definitely be accused of some flopping!! However, I didn't become truly politically active (besides voting) until I was a liberal!

[Maraya1969]

9. That is a great thing to hear. I remember registering to vote "Republican"

because my parents were Republican. What the Hell did I know? And I thought the ACLU was bad once and now I am a card carrying member!

I feel like I've become a nicer person over the years and I am proud to call myself a bleeding heart liberal. At least I have a HEART!


EDIT TO ADD: Remember how many people booed Michael Moore at the Oscars? And that is Hollywood! The same people who are now speaking out and marching against this war. It is no shame to realize that you were wrong. This administration did a great job of misleading us.

Also....I was believing what they are saying about Iran until this week when I read on this forum that all of it is coming from unconfirmed sources. Again I just believed it because someone said it.

[AtomicKitten]

10. hooray for people evolving

in their POV -- an open mind is a beautiful thing

[recoveringdittohed]

13. I'm a flip flopper too

Sad to say I voted for *(in 2000) before I voted against him (in 2004). I've since progressed to where Hillary Clinton is too conservative for me (but I will support her or any Democrat in the 2008 general election)

[Deja Q]

12. There is a fine line between "learning and growing" and "flip-flopping".

And that's something people on both sides of the aisle can do.

The media itself is garbage, but most people I'd hope know that too.