Someone who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, despite pressures or political fallout? Someone who will tell you the harsh truth whether or not you want to hear it, especially if you don’t want to hear it, because it’s the truth and you need to know it? Contrast this with Obama, who I believe to be honest, but is very mindful about what he says and tries to bring both sides together by not pissing off either side.
Caveat: Whether you agree with what this person says is irrelevent. What matters is he believes what he’s saying, and he doesn’t care which way the political winds blow. Contrast this with Palin, who probably believes what she says, but will hook her wagon up to whatever is most convenient for her and ride the coattails and is full of BS and spin because she believes she’s never at fault.
2nd caveat: Doesn’t have to be currently in politics, but should have held office recently (let’s say last 10 years).
I have a few names in mind, but I’m sure there are much more politically connected Dopers who have better suggestions. A few of the more liberal and outspoken politicians like Alan Grayson or Barney Frank fit the bill for me
No pundits please, though people like Joe Scarborough would kind of fall on both sides as I see him more as a pundit but I’m sure his home state still remembers him as a Congressman.
Sorry if this is being overly nitpicky… But if she believes what she says, she’s not “full of BS” is she? Unless you mean she is factually incorrect, but you already said that it doesn’t matter if you agree with her. So if I told you 7+9=15 and believed it, I would according to your own definition fulfill the criteria for being honest, ie: not full of BS. And I’m guessing you think that she is in your face a lot. If you have examples of her holding unpopular* opinions that she’s NOT expressing, I’d admit that she should not qualify.
But going by a very strict interpretation of your rules I’d have to say Palin is my candidate for “most honest, in-your-face, no BS politician”. You only have to believe what you say and be in your face.
If crazy people are disqualified I’d go with Ralph Nader. I’ve seen a few interviews with him and he comes off as believing what he says and saying it because he thinks people need to hear it. And he’s obviously not “catering” since his opinions are very unpopular to the vast(?) majority of people.
*say like… supporting blood sports? Would that be deemed unpopular in her target demographic? That’s the most realistic example I could come up with (after putting several seconds of thought into it).
“Tell it like it is” or “the harsh truth” depends on your perspective. We all have our own “truths” based on our political leanings. I’d probably put Kucinich in that category as well as Ron Paul. He’s not active in politics anymore, but Alan Simpson (R-Wy) has been in the news a lot lately, and he is great to listen to. No BS from that guy. I’d probably put Russ Feingold in that category, too, although he might have been a bit more careful in his words than Simpson.
I don’t know a lot about Chris Christy (NJ gov), but he’s the latest media darling wrt no BS. But then again, this is the same media that loved “McCain the maverick”.
Three cheers for Oregon’s Peter DeFazio. I don’t claim to be extensively knowledgeable about politics, but I like him very much and believe that he believes in what he’s fighting for.
Ron Paul told a room full of thousands of rabid republican tough guys that of COURSE Iraqis are upset with America because we’re occupying their goddamned country and we really ought to just get the hell out, not just once but at every presidential debate he was invited to. The man has more balls than any other American politician since Lincoln.
I will read no further. When I read the OP, Jerry Brown was the first and only person that immediately came to mind.
In my view, Jerry was the most honest, straightforward, and best governor California ever had (1975-1983). Nothing he’s done since then has changed my opinion of him. I fully expect him to be a breath of fresh air during his third term as CA’s Governor.
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I knew someone was gonna take issues with Palin. Let me clarify:
I think that for the most part, she believes the crazy stuff she’s saying. However, I feel she also looks for things she can get behind that maybe wouldn’t be on her horizon if she wasn’t trying to whip up hysteria or get publicity. Things she wouldn’t otherwise have an opinion on because, frankly, she is very very stupid. Remarkably stupid. Facepalmingly stupid.
Like, for example, regarding the community center near Ground Zero that most people refer to as the Ground Zero Mosque. When called on it, she pleaded that Muslims should be sensitive and move the spot. That’s an issue I believe she had no clue about until it was drummed up by Fox News to be an issue before the election. She didn’t know or care about it, but took it upon herself to tell millions of Muslims in the US that they were being provocative. To me, she saw which way the winds were blowing and hitched her wagon to what she thought was the winning side. I’m sure she believes Muslims should move it, but I also believe it’s a bit misleading because it’s not something she would give a damn about if left alone
Issues that, through her ignorance, would be ignored, but was made into part of her platform can be believed wholeheartedly, but entirely fake in its presentation makes me believe she doesn’t fit my criteria.
It is amazing to me how many of my politico friends agree with this, not to mention the strangers on the internet. As someone else said, on the republican side, it’s not even close. I would love to see what he could do with 4 years in the WH.