Do you like politicians who change their minds or ones who stick to their beliefs?

Question

I understand that a combination of the 2 is preferred BUT - I like to know the principles of the person I voted for. I do not like politicians who govern on a whim. Meaning - they go with whatever feels good to them on that day ( a la Bill Clinton).

Answer 1

Well, it would depend on why they change their mind. If they really researched something or took someone elses opion into consideration and thoughtfully changed their mind, that's ok.

I like the ones that stick to their values. Changing your mind is ok, as long as you remain within the same value "area" you started with.

Answer 2

I prefer leaders who can change their minds when the facts warrant it.

For example. If the polls show you should support the war and you do, then not support the war and you don't, you're a politician: a person who is only slightly more useful than a bureaucrat (my least favorite word).

If you believe that you should support the war (or not) regardless of the polls, then you have the makings of a leader. I might disagree with you, but at least you have some backbone.

Answer 3

I prefer someone who is open-minded enough to take in a problem from all angles and make an EDUCATED decision. It's not a whim, it's education.
I don't need some "the Earth is flat" person to be my president. Stubborn and unwilling to learn. That hinders progress.

Answer 4

A politician must have firm personal beleifs, but also must not be so stubborn that they can't see when they are wrong. (E.G. stem cell bill)

Also they must have the Constitution formost in their minds, not a perceived constitution, but the real thing. It only takes a few minutes to read it and it is an awesome document.

When a leader trades our civil liberties for perceived threats, he is a coward and a traitor and should be impeached and prosecured.

Answer 5

Hitler and Stalin stick to their beliefs, as did Lincoln and Churchhill. Joe Kennedy and Clinton changed their minds, but so did Sharron and John Kennedy.

Some guys change minds because what they did was wrong. But there is a difference between changing values and changing actions.

Answer 6

Sticking to ones mind isn't always a quality.Where I obviously agree that one should stick to ones ideals and ideology,circumstances change and to be bounded by positions of the past is wrong.

It requires courage to look at your position every day and question it.You got to keep thinking.For some,Bush for example this is too hard and they stick whit their position.
They just will not take the effort.
And do you still consider this a quality?

Answer 7

One can admire a solidity of belifs, but one must also recognize that times change.

There was a time when segregation was the law of the land. By understanding the change that had to occur, many segregationsists changed their viewpoints (not all, however).

I dislike the wishy-washy types.

Answer 8

I think it depends on why the mind was changed.

If someone made a good, valid point for another view, and they agreed with it, okay - change their mind.

Unfortunately, most of the time it is because someone with a different view has more money than the one before them. Money is the runner of the government. . .

It's the American way.

Answer 9

first of all, people need to realize that politicians are total idiots. have you ever asked them a question concerning problems in our country? they turn a simple yes or no question into a 7 paragraph pile of bullshit that has nothing to do with what you asked. they all have an agenda they follow and they don't stray from it or they will end up like robert kennedy...

Answer 10

I like someone who has learned a lot and tries to learn more and more and get better and smarter as life goes on.
The Shrub seems to have the learning ability of a plant. It probably came from the fermented barley and hops and grapes and rice and potatoes and apples ...