Gandalf for President?

Originally Posted by Formendacil

In that case I fear you have misapplied the word "counsel", because to take counsel is to take advice from. The Palantír is not a sentient object, so it cannot give advice, which left me with the only interpretation that Sauron was giving advice to Denethor--whether solicited or otherwise, and refuting that was clearly my position.

The Palantir cannot give advice in the common sense, but Denethor could still use it to draw counsel from what he saw through it. Indirectly, the Palantir, hence Sauron, was dictating the mind and actions of Denethor into submission.