Who, if anyone among our political "leaders," do you trust?

[WT Fuheck]

Who do you think is doing what they truly believe is best for the American people?

[Barack_America]

1. Carl Levin.

He's always seemed to be in it for the right reasons and has represented Michigan well.

[dmr]

84. I wish we had more like Levin in Washington n/t

[Cant trust em]

2. Russ Feingold.

A little ironic based on my screen name, but he'd be my pick.

[bermudat]

3. Trust? Absolutely none.

[elifino]

I agree, none

[Old Codger]

16. Me too

not a one...they are pols, never ever trust a pol.

[hobbit709]

17. Same here

[orion007]

18. Vermont's Bernie Sanders is almost there,

Though I am concerned about the billions he just received for Vermont, and that he sold his vote.
Time will tell how good or bad this decision of his was.
But, we have a long way to go on health care, and who knows if any of these deals will be relevant.
He's my Senator, and we're very very fortunate to have him.

[Echo In Light]

35. As well you shouldn't

[Ichingcarpenter]

77. When Leaders Don't Lead

Leaders who fail to provide true and proper command, inspiration and strategic vision for their followers leave a battered organization. I have
revolted against athletic coaches, principals and political leaders.

You and they need the flame you provide for their leadership. Hollow leadership is a failed leadership.
With all of these dire consequences hollow ship, why would they ever fail to fulfill their leadership responsibilities? The answer is often quite simple. Either they think they have the option of not changing, or they know that change should take place but somehow cannot execute it.

If you notice birds in flight the leadership is past back and forth, not so in mammals that much except with Cetacea family. I'm not in the "Top Dog" family concept of leadership even being a "silver back' aged primate that I am.

Socrates rejected the materialistic view of leadership as did others

"I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live."

I take Politicians with a grain of salt because they are a fish that need to
be salted in order to taste and digested for they all too human
just like us and I do not follow the "school"

I admire a few politicians but most are frontmen and don't follow
what leadership means which is having

... a high degree of self-knowledge.
....are willing to hear unpleasant messages.
..... Are able to tolerate uncertainty.
.....Maintain clear and logical thought under great pressure.
.....Know when to lead and when to recede.
....Pride themselves on operating at high standards of performance.
.....Have, and can create in others, a healthy sense of urgency.
.....Seek solution-oriented feedback with which to adjust performance.
......Do not have to be right all the time.

Very few politicians do this,
some CEOs do like Steven Jobs and others
but that is another kind of leadership vs political leadership
and you can't fire them like you can in a democracy which
levels they playing field.

So I guess I have to say ..... I still don't trust politicians
and vote.

[movonne]

4. Bernie Sanders...

[WT Fuheck]

82. yeah.

me too.

[Ian David]

5. Al Franken and Barbara Boxer. Period. n/t

[Just-plain-Kathy]

22. ditto + Kucinich n/t

[napi21]

6. Bernie Sanders, Sherod Brown, Al Frankin.

[flvegan]

7. Trust? Meh. For your second question, Kucinich.

[WT Fuheck]

62. I agree. I trust me.

I think Kucinich is trying to do what's best for the people.

[donco6]

8. I trust them to always operate from their own best interest.

If that happens to coincide with ours, that's the best you're going to get.

[TorchTheWitch]

9. never trust any politician

The only way to keep them in line is to scrutinize what they do and kick their asses when they don't do what they should.

The whole reason we're stuck with a disgusting mess of a useless government is because people trusted and continued to trust when there should have been ass kicking.

[BOSSHOG]

10. General Wesley Clark

I don't know if he fits into your category but I certainly think (know) the man is a leader and he has the best interests of the American People at heart.

[blm]

11. Kerry, Kucinich, Bernie Sanders, Boxer, and Feingold for the most part.

I also think Franken got in for many of the right reasons.

[WT Fuheck]

63. Except for Kerry,

I'd go with that list.

DC politicians are all so beholden to their corporate sponsors that it is hard to trust any of them.

[blm]

65. That's absurd - you can't name ONE lawmaker who has ACTUALLY made a more positive impact on this

nation's REAL history than Kerry has the last 4 decades. You can't name ONE who has uncovered and exposed more government corruption than Kerry has.

Really....you can't...though I would like to see you give it a try. No one has been able to do so yet.

Sad that so many (even DUers) know so little about their nation's ACTUAL history and the REAL actions of Dem lawmakers, while they glorify those who put more energy into hot rhetoric than towards DELIBERATIVE ACTIONS that actually MADE or will make a difference to this nation and OUR right to open and accountable government.

[WT Fuheck]

66. you're a fan!

I'm not. I don't hate the guy or anything. I just don't trust him.

[blm]

79. You would if you bothered to LEARN about this country and cared about open government. You don't

bother enough to spend the effort and that is apparent. You're one of the easily led who glorifies left rhetoric over real and HONEST progressive action that actually has protected your right to open and accountable governance and to the honest recording of that governance.

[WT Fuheck]

81. No need to be insulting. We disagree about a politician.

BFD.

[blm]

83. that politician happens to have the UNDISPUTED best record of preserving YOUR right

to know what your nation has done in the last 4 or 5 decades.

And YOU used the 'fan' insult towards someone who HAS taken the time to examine actual government reports that matter greatly.

Yep - you are typical of those who glorify rhetoric as a substitute for learning of REAL actions that mattered (and still matter) to this nation.


You are a 'fan' of rhetoric. I am a 'fan' of open government and accountability and note those who have done more than ANY other lawmakers to respect our right to honest governance.

Talk is cheap.

[WT Fuheck]

88. I heard YOUR spiel the FIRST time,

and I am STILL not persuaded.

And my RECORD on this is UNDISPUTED.

You have no fucking idea what I'm a fan of.

[blm]

90. It's apparent. You use the word 'corporatist' as you disdain Kerry and it's obvious that you never

were an activist against corporate donations because you would KNOW that Kerry is the lawmaker who wrote the Clean Money Clean Elections public financing of campaigns bill that Wellstone signed on to and submitted with Kerry back in 1997, and only 4 other senators would vote for at the time. Several states (like Maine) used Kerry's bill as the base to draft their bills that did pass public financing of campaigns for their state.

And apparently you don't even "get' that this nation would be in its second decade of full on fascism by now if not for KERRY'S thankless work uncovering IranContra, BCCI, Iraqgate, and CIA drugrunning - work that took many years and made many enemies in DC, including many of the powerful in his own party.

You trust rhetoric and this thread made that obvious, and, obviously it's not just you. I trust REAL actions that actually mattered positively for this nation.

[karynnj]

93. That's your right

I suspect from the others on your list, that it is not "trust" that is the problem, it is that that there are areas where you fundamentally disagree. BLM's point is well taken, Kerry has fought corruption far more diligently than others who the left credit with fighting it. (John Edwards being the extreme for someone credited it without having done much to deserve it). In addition, Kerry is unfailingly honest. Like BLM, I will be labeled a "fan", but I have yet to see him ever lie - I suspect that is one reason he is so good on the "gotcha" talk shows.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. Al franken, dick durbin, Rod Blagojevich, but for different reasons

Al, because he is so fresh, so smart, and because he takes his oath of office so damned seriously.

Dick, because I find my senator doing a damned fine job, under the most trying circumstances, and somehow he manages to maintain an even keel, avoiding the worst of the dreaded Bloatway Disease.

Rod, because we really need more humor in office, especially when you read the description of his reaction to his indictment. Who else could start running in place senselessly, then curl up on the floor in the fetal position, and a week later start looking for gigs on boredcast TV? Not that Rod is funny, but rather completely amusing and entertaining in a wonderful, inadvertent way.

[Brickbat]

13. None. It saves me a lot of grief.

[elocs]

14. I trust my Senator, Russ Feingold. Plus, I can see him locally

when he has his listening sessions in this part of the state.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Wes Clark

He's still my general.

[C_Lawyer09]

57. I'm curious why Wes Clark seems to get unequivocal support

Within du, but all the other generals get torched. Do you think that Clark has wholly different views, or is the fact that he is a publicized Democrat the deal? I saw many of the same anti-Afghanistan du'ers waxing eloquent about Wes Clarks birthday, a week or so ago, while they maintain a constant peanut gallery assault against the other Generals. It doesn't make sense to me.

[C_Lawyer09]

58. I'd venture the trust meter should be impacted by

The Pigs at the Trough scenario put forth by Huffingtons book. I don't trust any of the politicians that draw heavily from special interest funding.

[freddie mertz]

71. Clark does seem to be an honest man. Agreed.

[TheKentuckian]

19. To varying degrees Feingold, Sanders, Boxer, Kerry, Brown, Durbin

Dean, Biden, and I like my rep Yarmouth.

There's probably a couple more but nearly all have failed at times.

[cali]

20. I pretty much trust all three of my D.C. reps: Pat Leahy, Bernie and Peter Welch.

[BeFree]

21. Bush and Cheney

I trust them to screw us over every chance they get.

Otherwise, none.

[laughingliberal]

23. Feingold, Franken, Sanders, Grayson

Not that the trust is unconditional but I think they try to stand up for what is right for the people.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

24. Feingold. Boxer. Sanders. Kucinich.

[Greybnk48]

26. These plus Greyson and Al Franken for sure.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

30. Great adds. I keep forgetting about the newbies.

lol.

[Quantess]

25. Howard Dean and Alan Grayson come to mind.

[Quantess]

43. And Dennis Kucinich.

I almost forgot.

[ipaint]

27. None of them.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

28. Al Franken.

[FrenchieCat]

29. Pres. Barack Obama.

He's in a position that tests your question
much more than any other.

So I'm giving him the benefit,
as opposed to giving it to those
who have not gotten elected to a national office
of such high accountability, such as the President has.

And yes, He is doing the best at what he truly believes is best
for the American people, all under a great big magnifying glass,
with everyone and their mama, with microphone and blogs in hand.

In the end,
the proof will be in the pudding,
and I trust that he will do much good
in those things that directly affects our everyday lives.

[Donnachaidh]

31. Bernie Sanders

And Russ Feingold. All others are various degrees of corporate whores.

[Blue_In_AK]

32. Bernie Sanders, Barbara Boxer and Al Franken

as much as it's possible to trust someone I don't know personally. The only politician I really trust is Diane Benson, who is also a friend of mine, but unfortunately she has yet to win an election, being a "true" progressive in Alaska.

[lamp_shade]

33. President Obama.

[TexasObserver]

34. Feingold, Doggett, Harkin, Franken.

There are others.

[Posteritatis]

36. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha (nt)

[Thickasabrick]

37. Weiner....along with all of the above. nt

[angee_is_mad]

38. President Obama is #1

for me, because I feel he is looking out for ALL Americans, even the ones who didn't vote for him. He is the President of the United States of America.

Elijah Cummings and Barbara Boxer are tied for #2.

[Raine]

39. Howard Dean ... is the only one. nt

[Undercurrent]

40. President Obama

and Joe Biden

[Golden Raisin]

41. Feingold

[LWolf]

42. "Trust" is not a word I associate with politicians.

Who is doing what they truly believe is best?

I guess it depends on what they "believe." That reminds me of a statement I've heard ad nauseum to refute anything some people don't want to acknowledge. "I don't believe in....." Insert evolution, the age of the planet, charity, taxes, big government, or anything else that supports someone's agenda. They don't "believe" in anything that contradicts them.

Politicians can truly "believe" that what their corporate donors want is best for the rest of us, I guess. They can also believe that denial is a river in Egypt.

A few politicians are consistent in representing citizens before corporations and despite the likelihood of convincing "main street" to do the same. I "trust" them as long as they stay consistent, but not when they step off the path. That's as far as my "trust" extends...as long as they are walking the path I want to see the nation on, I'll support them. When they step off, they lose my support.

It's a simple as that.

[chimpymustgo]

67. +1. "A few politicians are consistent in representing citizens before corporations." Barbera Lee,

Howard Dean, Bernie Sanders, Alan Grayson, Al Franken, Elijah Cummings, Russ Feingold, Dennis Kucinich.

But everybody in politics has a price, as we've seen in the health care debacle. Some good people are going along with the bullshit, 'cause Obama masterfully backed them into a corner to support the corporations.

[mochajava666]

76. Add Boxer and that would be my list,

but you're right. EVERYONE has a price.

[LWolf]

87. Yes. nt

[AnOhioan]

44. Basically, Sanders, Kucinich, and Sherrod Brown

There are others I respect but those three are out in front.

[goclark]

45. Barack Obama

Hillary Clinton

Al Franken
Barbara Boxer

and others

[kiva]

46. Trust, not so much.

As to them doing what they believe is best...well, I suspect many of the hyper-conservative reps are doing what they think are best, so not always a positive sign.

On another note, I know that not linking to a story adheres to the letter of DU law, but urging people in a forum to go to other forums and recommend or disagree with others might still be considered...ummm...pompomish.

[Hekate]

47. Barack Obama. Howard Dean. Barbara Boxer. Nancy Pelosi. Lois Capps. Joe Biden. Al Franken.

Just off the top of my head. I could come up with more by looking at the list of Senators and Representatives. We have some good ones in our party.

John Kerry. Al Gore. Bernie Sanders.

Shall I go on?

Hekate

[rebel with a cause]

48. Barack Obama. Barbara Boxer. Nancy Pelosi. Joe Biden. Al Franken, and Dick Durbin.

I may not always agree with everything they do or say but I trust them.

Edited to add: General Clark although I don't consider him a politician most of the time.

[blues90]

49. None, how I can I trust anyone who I never met or talked to?

I've know people who live in the building I live in for years but I can't say I would trust them. Perhaps if people did the things they said and were up front about it all then I would at least have an idea of how far I could trust them and what I could trust them with.

[ddeclue]

50. Alan Grayson Al Franken, Dennis Kucinich, Barney Frank

[debbierlus]

51. Kucinich

That's the only one I can think of...

Sanders should have filibustered the Senate bill, so I don't trust him anymore. Although, he is far better then most.

[bobbolink]

52. Add Grayson and Weiner. For now, anyway.

After seeing Kucinich dump poverty issues, I don't trust any of 'em until I see real action from them on poverty. It hurts to be fooled that way.

And don't dump on me about Kucinich...yes, he dumped poverty, I was there and I know, and it hurt. I don't need grief about that.. it hurt enough as it was. If you don't believe it, then go push Kucinich on my behalf, Not Me.

[The Gunslinger]

53. None.

[mmonk]

54. I trust Barbara Lee, Dennis Kucinich and currently not in office Howard Dean.

[TheWatcher]

55. Dennis Kucinich.

And that's about it.

[Mendocino]

56. In the film "Hunt for Red October"

an actor says something like "I'm a politician, that means I'm liar and a cheat, and when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops".

That sums it up. I trust no politician these days. In the past, Paul Wellstone. Now I can appreciate Marcy Kaptur. But they are politicians, lack of trust is the grain of salt.

How do you tell when a politician is lying?

They're breathing.

[elshiva]

59. Tammy Baldwin, Democratic Congress Member from WI

I LOVE THIS WOMAN! :)

[Greyhound]

60. Sanders and Kucinich completely, and I think Feingold, Boxer, Merkley, and

probably Franken and Grayson, plus a dozen or so Reps, are naturally inclined to do right, I believe.

So that leaves at least 400 that can be culled as far as I'm concerned.

[seeinfweggos]

61. president obama, al franken, bernie sanders, howard dean, sen. feingold

al gore, bill clinton, hillary clinton, and many others.

[blindpig]

64. None of them.

What have they done to deserve it?

[Le Taz Hot]

68. All the Democrats in the Senate voted for "HCR"

so, none. Including my previously beloved Barbara Boxer. I still can't believe she fucking caved.

[freddie mertz]

69. Dean and Kucinich seem to be honest, at the very least.

There may be others, but my list is shrinking daily.

Feingold and Sanders have slipped a few notches in recent days, for example.

[Odin2005]

70. Howard Dean. Bernie Sanders. Al Franken.

[rucky]

72. Great question!

I think it's the root of the problem with the Progressive Movement: Our inability to trust any leader - much less those who've stepped up and offered to lead us. We're just not followers, and that's okay, but we're also frustrated because of our inability to organize a significant mass movement. It's sort of a catch-22.

For me, I trust Dean, Sanders, Robert Reich & Barbara Boxer the most, but if any self-identified progressive wants to step up and lead, I'm on board!

[Tailormyst]

73. None anymore.

[undeterred]

74. Russ Feingold, Dennis Kucinich.

[earth mom]

75. Kucinich & RFK Jr. I want to say Gore too, but he's disappointed me by not kicking Obama & Congress

in the ass about Global Warming.

What the hell is going on Al?!

[xiamiam]

78. kucinich..nt

[Kansas Wyatt]

80. None... Drain the swamp.

Once they get that election victory to go to Washington, they are all corrupted.

[guardian]

85. Dennis Kucinich

Dennis Kucinich comes first to mind for me. I think he is a straight shooter. Does what he thinks is right. Isn't swayed by polls or political expediencies.

[TornadoTN]

86. Mostly none, but I do like Feingold, Sanders, Kucinich, Greyson, and to an extent, Franken

I really don't trust any of them to be quite honest. And I, like many others, believe the swamp should be drained entirely.

My list is politicians that I like and trust to an extent.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

89. “The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.”

Marie Beyle

A sentiment I always keep in mind in regard to politicians.

[Harry Monroe]

91. The phrase "Trust a politician" is an oxymoron!!

I trust absolutely none of them!!

[karynnj]

92. John Kerry

Because of his integrity and honesty - and because he has Teresa Heinz Kerry, whose own moral compass is true.