This blog is a collection of what goes through the mind of a father, a husband, a son, a friend, a lawyer (not your lawyer), and a storyteller, all competing for attention in my head.
The golden rule applies here.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Some say many things.
But, perhaps the question we need to ask is, "Who are the some, Mr. President? And are you properly reciting their concerns?"
Strawmanning at its finest, but most people don't recognize it. That's one reason those of us in Rhetoric think we have an important civic function. It's not just Bush that does it, of course (said to ward off the tired accusation that all academics hate conservatives). He could just as easily claim that "Some say the Earth is flat" or "Some say that everyone should be bisexual," and there would still be people who didn't question the formula.
One of the things that annoys me is that it is so deliberate--anyone who's reached the level of White House speech writer knows s/he is using a standard trope. I don't even let my freshmen get away with the unnamed "some."
1 comment:
Hey, you trying to take over my job, Steve? :-)
Strawmanning at its finest, but most people don't recognize it. That's one reason those of us in Rhetoric think we have an important civic function. It's not just Bush that does it, of course (said to ward off the tired accusation that all academics hate conservatives). He could just as easily claim that "Some say the Earth is flat" or "Some say that everyone should be bisexual," and there would still be people who didn't question the formula.
One of the things that annoys me is that it is so deliberate--anyone who's reached the level of White House speech writer knows s/he is using a standard trope. I don't even let my freshmen get away with the unnamed "some."
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