Talk:Flip-flop (politics)

Elephant in the room Mitt Romney
This page is an information embarrassment to Wikipedia readers and general common sense. Constant attempts to keep this page muddied and unclear needs to be questioned and addressed sharply.

#1 Clear and concise facts.

#2 Chronological dating of its history, is basic.

#3 Just because this term does not favor your political party, or a political person you are attempting to protect is not a valid excuse to ignore documented history, and in turn (flip-flop) on facts.

#4 This is a political page and its history can be upsetting to some people. Facts are upsetting to individuals that want to ignore them and live in a pretend world of their own making.

#5 Example: Mitt Romney who is the most well documented political flip-flopper in American history. Endless media links of proof dating back into the 1990’s. Mitt Romney is the poster boy of the political flip-flop, and yet he is not mentioned once on this page. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Daveandaustin (talk • contribs) 15:23, 27 October 2012 (UTC)

Your point of view is noted. Your use of the article page for promiting your point of view is, unfortunately, contrary to Wikipedia policies. Collect (talk) 15:28, 27 October 2012 (UTC)

Before 2004
The term flip-flop has been around since long before the 2004 election cycle; see this press release from the Sierra Club in Sept. 1995. Does anyone know the true eytmology of the term (i.e. when it was first used in a political context)? &mdash;Minesweeper 11:23, Oct 29, 2004 (UTC)

It is very old, I corrected the 2004 comment, like most comments of the form 'came to public attention' it really means came to the editor's attention. The term was in use during the 80s. Incidentally the criticism of Heath was that he never tried an economic policy long enough to see the results. I also added in the comment on Sheehan because it demonstrates the exceptional vaccuity of the charge. If you can't change your mind about a war after your kid has been killed in it then what can you ever change your mind on? --Gorgonzilla 16:37, 16 August 2005 (UTC)

I think the etymology is here on wikipedia: a flip-flop is a two-state logic device, which can trigger between a on/off (or yes/no) state. The word came from the noise it made in flipping. To me, it seems that the political term should be reserved for those who, having changed their position, then change it back again, as did Heath. This is not so infrequent among politicians, but is a real symptom. A public figure who simply changes his/her mind based on new evidence, or a change of priorities, is doing what sane people do, whilst one who cannot change is psychologically disabled. Cherrywood 21:51, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

balance
examples seem leading, pov tingys. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.128.51.51 (talk) 09:19, 10 April 2007 (UTC).

there also clearly seems to be a reference to george w. bush and john kerry

I don't know this Edward Heath guy, but doesn't it seem kind of pov to be using his picture? Once again, I don't know him, and he could be the king of all flip-floppers for what I know, but wouldn't this violate wikipedia's npov guidelines? - Curseman

Continued usage
Shouldn't there be a mention of another prominent politician from Massachusetts running for the White House being accused of "flip-flopping"? WAVY 10 22:19, 11 July 2007 (UTC)

Fox News
Why isn't Fox News mentioned EVERYWHERE in this article? It is common knowledge in America, that News Corp famously uses the term. Michael Moore even edited a whole compilation of Fox's use of the term. --GnarlyLikeWhoa (talk) 21:51, 17 May 2009 (UTC)

Use for campaigning
I suggest that the current attempts to use theis article for a current campaign, including multiple mentions about the current presidential race, do not belong in this article. I have iterated that opinion in edit summaries. The edits in question appear to be less than neutral in content and wording. is the edit at issue. Collect (talk) 19:17, 22 October 2012 (UTC)

Note the editor who for several days has been promoting "Romnesia" seems averse to discussion here. Collect (talk) 12:44, 27 October 2012 (UTC)

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