# In your opinion, who is currently the most honest, in-your-face, no BS politician? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 12, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164 "2011-04-12T23:41:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/21 "2011-04-13T10:15:43Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Ron Paul on the Republican side. > [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > Jerry Brown is doing a pretty good job of trying to deal with the California budget mess without smoke and mirrors… First two I thought of, in that order. Arguably, Ron Paul’s “libertarian” advertising is a little insincere, he’s more a fundie neo-Confederate than say, a Bill Maher. But he seems to say what he believes even if everyone around him says he’s a fool. And I’ve long liked the way Jerry Brown seems to be casually honest, like he can’t be bothered to script some lie. I would perhaps add Dennis “no strings!” Kucinich, but he’s perhaps more an advocate for his idealistic principles than an exposer of ugly truths. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/22 "2011-04-13T12:24:43Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Arguably, Ron Paul’s “libertarian” advertising is a little insincere, he’s more a fundie neo-Confederate than say, a Bill Maher. This is not even close to true. I doubt you’ll find any self-described libertarian anywhere that believes that. Maher is center-left but doesn’t want to call himself that because he’s trying to be edgy and cool. [http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/2001/08/01/maher](http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/2001/08/01/maher) I’d agree with many names on this list: Ron Paul, Kucinich, Feingold, Simpson, Christie. I’d add Rand Paul and Tom Coburn. To go way back, I’d throw in Mark Hatfield and Paul Wellstone. At one time I’d have put Barney Frank on the list, but no longer. I’d actually even add Charlie Rangel. There is a man who truly believes his own bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/23 "2011-04-13T17:05:46Z")
Hard to say with people like Palin. I’m reasonably sure she believes what she says, but the thing is that she’s never had to pay a political price for it. She was elected in a conservative state, brought into the the campaign as a conservative counterweight to McCain, and then cought the conservative Tea Party wave. So it’s easy for her to say what she believes. The question is what she would do if she stood to gain by portraying herself as something else, and she’s never been tested in this way. The same goes for a lot of other politicians, to one extent or another. I would say Feingold, at this point. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/24 "2011-04-13T17:36:39Z")
I agree with many of the names here, and would also add Jesse Ventura. A true fiscal conservative who doesn’t buy into most of the socially conservative bullcrap, and also honest enough to admit when he didn’t know much about a certain issue. From his wiki page: > [@](#): > > In political debates, he often admitted that he had not formed an opinion on certain policy questions. Ventura frequently described himself as “fiscally conservative and socially liberal.”[37] He selected teacher Mae Schunk as his running mate. > > Later, he came to support a unicameral (one-house) legislature, property tax reform, gay rights, and abortion rights. In an interview on The Howard Stern Show, he affirmed his support of gay rights, including gay marriage and gays in the military, humorously stating he would’ve gladly served alongside homosexuals when he was in the Navy as they would’ve provided less competition for women.[38] While funding public school education generously, he opposed the teachers’ union, and did not have a high regard for the public funding of higher education institutions. Additionally, Ventura supported the use of medicinal marijuana,[39] advocated a higher role for third parties in national politics, and favored the concept of instant-runoff voting. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/25 "2011-04-13T18:24:19Z")
> [@NajaNivea](#): > > 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. > [@furt](#): > > I’d agree with many names on this list: Ron Paul, Kucinich, Feingold, Simpson, Christie. I’d add Rand Paul and Tom Coburn. To go way back, I’d throw in Mark Hatfield and Paul Wellstone. At one time I’d have put Barney Frank on the list, but no longer. In addition to DeFazio and Hatfield, I nominate Sen. Ron Wyden. The Oregon delegation is always top notch. I think former Sen. Gordon Smith and his successor, Jeff Merkley also deserve consideration. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/26 "2011-04-13T18:30:41Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > 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. She regularly waffles on those opinions too. One classic example in fact involves her reactions to both the Muslim community center and the Gabrielle Giffords shooting. As you remember, she was getting a lot of flack in the aftermath of the shooting (unfairly IMO) for the crosshairs map, the “don’t retreat, reload” remark, and just generally contributing to the decline of political discourse in this country. When she made that (infamous “blood libel”) speech defending herself, one of the points she made was don’t judge large groups of people (ie her and the Tea Party) for the actions of a few crazy individuals. But that’s essentially what she was doing when she said the community center should be moved. Also don’t forget the shitstorm she raised when Rahm Emmanuel said the word “retard.” But when Rush Limbaugh later used it, she simply brushed it off as satire. So, yeah, if she was anymore full of shit, you’d need to hook a septic truck hose to her. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/27 "2011-04-14T00:23:27Z")
Tom Tancredo I think counts. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/28 "2011-04-14T02:21:36Z")
Yeah, Palin may in some ways be in-your-face, but she doesn’t live up to the honesty part. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/29 "2011-04-14T03:25:05Z")
I’ll go with Bernie Sanders. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/30 "2011-04-14T03:31:03Z")
I’d like to narrow the field a bit to politicians who are BOTH in-your-face AND no bs. Someone like Palin is as full of shit as someone like Cynthia McKinney, even though both are in-your-face. You can be honest and full of shit at the same time. Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich both seem like good candidates. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/31 "2011-04-14T04:23:58Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich both seem like good candidates. My choices as well. ---
**Author:** ![TransMonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@TransMonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TransMonk)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/32 "2011-04-14T16:38:48Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > Russ Feingold. The country will rue the day they let such an asset get sacked. This. He’ll be back, though. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/33 "2011-04-14T16:42:10Z")
None, although I find it funny that the add for this thread features Donald Trump… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/34 "2011-04-14T16:42:19Z")
Ron Paul is hard to argue with, even if he’s crazy. On the left, Alan Grayson. ---
**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/35 "2011-04-14T16:55:52Z")
Absolutely no elected offical from Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/36 "2011-04-14T17:03:33Z")
I don’t believe you can be an effective anything if you are in-your-face, no BS and correspondingly, not interested in compromise. I know this is not what the OP asked, but a better question may be “Who is the most effective politician?” The answer is probably the opposite characteristics of in-your-face & no BS. Politics is not about agreement, it is about disagreeing without killing eachother. Compromise is everything. Absolutism is nothing. Isn’t this how we get our jobs done everyday? ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/37 "2011-04-14T17:50:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Ron Paul is hard to argue with, even if he’s crazy. He’s hard to argue with because he never concedes anything, even when he’s wrong. People who think their opinions are facts are hard to argue with but that isn’t a good thing, IMHO. Hard-headed and stubborn does not equate to being a straight-talking true teller to me. His stands against the gold standard have been disproven for a long time now, for instance, but not to hear him tell it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/38 "2011-04-14T17:56:09Z")
Right, but the thread is about who the most _honest_ politicians are. Paul isn’t dishonest, he’s just wrong; he genuinely believes in what he’s saying, and he’s willing to piss off his own party consistently because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/39 "2011-04-14T19:26:02Z")
Jerry Brown, Alan Grayson and Anthony Weiner. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164/40 "2011-04-14T19:31:56Z")
Ron Paul and Bullworth. If I could, I’d vote for the latter. :o [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164.md?page=3)