Comments on: Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” http://themoderatevoice.com/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Mon, 28 May 2012 17:38:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: D. E.Rodriguez http://themoderatevoice.com/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-134061 D. E.Rodriguez Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:45:36 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/#comment-134061 Thanks for the comment.<br><br>No, I am not suggesting that “politicians should just hold opinion polls to determine what to do.” Rather I am suggesting--demanding--that our elected officials do not take our country into wars based on lies and fear mongering. I am suggesting that our leaders, if and when they take our country into war, do such only after careful planning and, then, manage such military actions efficiently, and not use our troops and treasure as fodder for their ideology and incompetence.<br><br>Additionally, when the majority of our elected representatives and the vast majority of the American people demand accountability from our president and vice-president--through elections, legislation and public debate--I do not call that opinion polls--I call that the will of the people. And you know what the pesky Constitution and other precious documents say about that.<br><br>Finally, I, for one, would not have the temerity to say ”Voters are willfully ignorant about political issues and can't be trusted.“<br><br>Dorian de Wind Thanks for the comment.

No, I am not suggesting that “politicians should just hold opinion polls to determine what to do.” Rather I am suggesting–demanding–that our elected officials do not take our country into wars based on lies and fear mongering. I am suggesting that our leaders, if and when they take our country into war, do such only after careful planning and, then, manage such military actions efficiently, and not use our troops and treasure as fodder for their ideology and incompetence.

Additionally, when the majority of our elected representatives and the vast majority of the American people demand accountability from our president and vice-president–through elections, legislation and public debate–I do not call that opinion polls–I call that the will of the people. And you know what the pesky Constitution and other precious documents say about that.

Finally, I, for one, would not have the temerity to say ”Voters are willfully ignorant about political issues and can't be trusted.“

Dorian de Wind

]]> By: Parableman http://themoderatevoice.com/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-134060 Parableman Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:52:22 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/#comment-134060 Are you suggesting that politicians should just hold opinion polls to determine what to do? Why elect people we consider qualified to make decisions, then? Why not have a pure democracy? The answer is obvious. Voters are willfully ignorant about political issues and can't be trusted. They can't be trusted about how to evaluate who is a good candidate either, but there are at least limits on how bad they can bungle that because of the party structure. Imagine if they just made decisions according to popular will.<br><br>I happen to think public opinion on this issue is very wrong, indeed deeply immoral. Abandoning a terrible situation we helped create is a pretty evil thing to do, and yet that's what public opinion wants. Even if we aren't making things better, we're preventing it from getting much worse than it already is, and we do have a moral obligation to do what we can. Nevertheless, there are issues where I think public opinion is right and politicians wrong, and I still prefer a structure of government with the kinds of checks and balances on the popular will.<br><br>If the public is right, "So?" is a bit dismissive coming from someone who has the wrong view, but the issue there isn't a politician ignoring the public's view. It's having the wrong view and not caring that so many recognize the view as wrong. If the public is wrong, "So?" is exactly the right response, and those like me who are completely bewildered at the popularity of the idea that we need to get out of Iraq ASAP are in full agreement with what the vice-president expressed with that one word. Are you suggesting that politicians should just hold opinion polls to determine what to do? Why elect people we consider qualified to make decisions, then? Why not have a pure democracy? The answer is obvious. Voters are willfully ignorant about political issues and can't be trusted. They can't be trusted about how to evaluate who is a good candidate either, but there are at least limits on how bad they can bungle that because of the party structure. Imagine if they just made decisions according to popular will.

I happen to think public opinion on this issue is very wrong, indeed deeply immoral. Abandoning a terrible situation we helped create is a pretty evil thing to do, and yet that's what public opinion wants. Even if we aren't making things better, we're preventing it from getting much worse than it already is, and we do have a moral obligation to do what we can. Nevertheless, there are issues where I think public opinion is right and politicians wrong, and I still prefer a structure of government with the kinds of checks and balances on the popular will.

If the public is right, “So?” is a bit dismissive coming from someone who has the wrong view, but the issue there isn't a politician ignoring the public's view. It's having the wrong view and not caring that so many recognize the view as wrong. If the public is wrong, “So?” is exactly the right response, and those like me who are completely bewildered at the popularity of the idea that we need to get out of Iraq ASAP are in full agreement with what the vice-president expressed with that one word.

]]> By: Barack Obama » Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” http://themoderatevoice.com/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-111615 Barack Obama » Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:03:50 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/#comment-111615 [...] The Moderate Voice - Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti... wrote an interesting post today on Guest Voice: Dick Cheneyâ??s â??So?â?? Or The Power of â??Little Wordsâ??Here’s a quick excerptGuest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” April 4th, 2008 by JOE GANDELMAN Vice President Dick Cheney raised many eyebrows — and sparked lots of news stories — when he uttered the word “So?” when asked about opinion polls on the Iraq war. In this Guest Voice post, Watching America translator Dorian de Wind looks at power of little words. “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” By Dorian de Wind Dick Cheney responded with one word in a recent interview when he was aske [...] [...] The Moderate Voice – Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti… wrote an interesting post today on Guest Voice: Dick Cheneyâ??s â??So?â?? Or The Power of â??Little Wordsâ??Here’s a quick excerptGuest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” April 4th, 2008 by JOE GANDELMAN Vice President Dick Cheney raised many eyebrows — and sparked lots of news stories — when he uttered the word “So?” when asked about opinion polls on the Iraq war. In this Guest Voice post, Watching America translator Dorian de Wind looks at power of little words. “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” By Dorian de Wind Dick Cheney responded with one word in a recent interview when he was aske [...]

]]> By: War In Iraq » Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” http://themoderatevoice.com/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-111608 War In Iraq » Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:20:16 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/#comment-111608 [...] The Moderate Voice - Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti... wrote an interesting post today on Guest Voice: Dick Cheneyâ??s â??So?â?? Or The Power of â??Little Wordsâ??Here’s a quick excerptGuest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” April 4th, 2008 by JOE GANDELMAN Vice President Dick Cheney raised many eyebrows — and sparked lots of news stories — when he uttered the word “So?” when asked about opinion polls on the Iraq war. In this Guest Voice post, Watching America translator Dorian de Wind looks at power of little words. “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” By Dorian de Wind Dick Cheney responded with one word in a recent interview when he was aske [...] [...] The Moderate Voice – Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti… wrote an interesting post today on Guest Voice: Dick Cheneyâ??s â??So?â?? Or The Power of â??Little Wordsâ??Here’s a quick excerptGuest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” April 4th, 2008 by JOE GANDELMAN Vice President Dick Cheney raised many eyebrows — and sparked lots of news stories — when he uttered the word “So?” when asked about opinion polls on the Iraq war. In this Guest Voice post, Watching America translator Dorian de Wind looks at power of little words. “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” By Dorian de Wind Dick Cheney responded with one word in a recent interview when he was aske [...]

]]> By: Iran » Blog Archive » Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” http://themoderatevoice.com/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-111604 Iran » Blog Archive » Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:40:27 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/#comment-111604 [...] The Moderate Voice - Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti... wrote an interesting post today on Guest Voice: Dick Cheneyâ??s â??So?â?? Or The Power of â??Little Wordsâ??Here’s a quick excerptGuest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” April 4th, 2008 by JOE GANDELMAN Vice President Dick Cheney raised many eyebrows — and sparked lots of news stories — when he uttered the word “So?” when asked about opinion polls on the Iraq war. In this Guest Voice post, Watching America translator Dorian de Wind looks at power of little words. “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” By Dorian de Wind Dick Cheney responded with one word in a recent interview when he was aske [...] [...] The Moderate Voice – Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti… wrote an interesting post today on Guest Voice: Dick Cheneyâ??s â??So?â?? Or The Power of â??Little Wordsâ??Here’s a quick excerptGuest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” April 4th, 2008 by JOE GANDELMAN Vice President Dick Cheney raised many eyebrows — and sparked lots of news stories — when he uttered the word “So?” when asked about opinion polls on the Iraq war. In this Guest Voice post, Watching America translator Dorian de Wind looks at power of little words. “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” By Dorian de Wind Dick Cheney responded with one word in a recent interview when he was aske [...]

]]> By: Davebo http://themoderatevoice.com/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-134059 Davebo Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:07:55 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/#comment-134059 How at this point, could anyone be suprised for the total disdain Dick Cheney has for the American public at large? How at this point, could anyone be suprised for the total disdain Dick Cheney has for the American public at large?

]]> By: Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” | Barack Obama Chronicles http://themoderatevoice.com/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-111597 Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” | Barack Obama Chronicles Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:56:51 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/barack-obama/18772/guest-voice-dick-cheneys-%e2%80%9cso%e2%80%9d-or-the-power-of-%e2%80%9clittle-words%e2%80%9d/#comment-111597 [...] The Moderate Voice - Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti... placed an observative post today on Guest Voice: Dick Cheneyâ [...] [...] The Moderate Voice – Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti… placed an observative post today on Guest Voice: Dick Cheneyâ [...]

]]>