Here I am at work, for the first time in a few days. I’m feeling better than yesterday, which was better than Sunday. I’m still a little dopey from Sudafed (they say it’s non-drowsy, but it’s at least a little dopey).

I’m looking forward to the vice-presidential debates tonight. I hope Edwards flirts with the audience a little. He’s a dynamo. It will at least be refreshing to see a more-or-less equal intellectual playing field on the stage. I only caught some of the first presidential debate, because we were en route to Kansas City for most of it, but that was just ridiculous.

Have I mentioned that I’m annoyed with the “flip-flopper” label the Republicans have slapped on Kerry? I bet 2/3 of the people who use that as an argument against him can’t even name an issue he has allegedly flip-flopped on. And while we’re criticizing people for having inconsistent actions…

GOVERNOR BUSH VETOES PATIENTS’ RIGHT TO SUE… “Despite his campaign rhetoric in favor of a patients’ bill of rights, Bush fought such a bill tooth and nail as Texas governor, vetoing a bill coauthored by Republican state Rep. John Smithee in 1995. He… constantly opposed a patient’s right to sue an HMO over coverage denied that resulted in adverse health effects.” [Salon, 2/7/01]

…CANDIDATE BUSH PRAISES TEXAS PATIENTS’ RIGHT TO SUE… “We’re one of the first states that said you can sue an HMO for denying you proper coverage… It’s time for our nation to come together and do what’s right for the people. And I think this is right for the people. You know, I support a national patients’ bill of rights, Mr. Vice President. And I want all people covered. I don’t want the law to supersede good law like we’ve got in Texas.” [Governor Bush, 10/17/00]

BUSH WILL NOT OFFER NUCLEAR NORTH KOREA INCENTIVES TO DISARM… “We developed a bold approach under which, if the North addressed our long-standing concerns, the United States was prepared to take important steps that would have significantly improved the lives of the North Korean people. Now that North Korea’s covert nuclear weapons program has come to light, we are unable to pursue this approach.” [President’s Statement, 11/15/02]

…BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFERS NORTH KOREA INCENTIVES TO DISARM “Well, we will work to take steps to ease their political and economic isolation. So there would be — what you would see would be some provisional or temporary proposals that would only lead to lasting benefit after North Korea dismantles its nuclear programs. So there would be some provisional or temporary efforts of that nature.” [White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, 6/23/04]

BUSH WANTS OSAMA DEAD OR ALIVE… “I want justice. And there’s an old poster out West, I recall, that says, ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive.'” [President Bush, on Osama Bin Laden, 09/17/01]

…BUSH DOESN’T CARE ABOUT OSAMA “I don’t know where he is.You know, I just don’t spend that much time on him… I truly am not that concerned about him.”[President Bush, Press Conference, 3/13/02]

And these are just a few examples. Source.

And honestly, that was just to prove a point. I don’t have any particular problem with a politician changing stances. I change my opinion on things all the time. Part of being a thoughtful person is gathering evidence, weighing it against what you already know, and deciding whether or not your views need modification. In my opinion, that’s a much more intelligent way to deal with the daily onslaught of information a president receives than to just doggedly stick with one position.