AP's Loven Not Lovin' Bush

In what can only be called a biased attack on President Bush today, the AP's Jennifer Loven gives us this nonsense, where she parses Bush's political rhetoric as if to show he is the gross exception to some rule.

Bush Using Straw-Man Arguments in Speeches

A specialist in presidential rhetoric, Wayne Fields of Washington University in St. Louis, views it as "a bizarre kind of double talk" that abuses the rules of legitimate discussion.

"It's such a phenomenal hole in the national debate that you can have arguments with nonexistent people," Fields said. "All politicians try to get away with this to a certain extent. What's striking here is how much this administration rests on a foundation of this kind of stuff."

Before refuting this now broadly circulating tripe, at least let me point out the news the wires are all but ignoring, while picking the straw man piece.

ROMMANA, Iraq (AP) — The seasons swing from cold and muddy to unbearably hot, the roadside bombs are deadly and the long separations from wives and newborns are more draining as third and fourth deployments loom. Re-enlistment is down, and generals acknowledge victory is uncertain.

Yet morale among U.S. troops in Iraq remains somewhat upbeat — without the frequent fraggings, suicides and insubordination that shook the draft-era army in the last years of the Vietnam war.

The Straw man argument:

To identify a Straw Man Argument, you must be familiar enough with the topic in question to recognize when someone is setting up a caricature. Understanding when someone is using this deceptive tactic is the best way to call attention to the weakness of the straw man position. A Straw Man Argument is a statement a person makes if they want to more easily attack an opposing position.

Where to begin:

Hillary Clinton: she told a mostly black audience at a Harlem church that Republican leaders have run the House "like a plantation" and the Bush administration will go down as "one of the worst" in U.S. history.

John Kerry:  And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the--of--the historical customs, religious customs.

Howard Dean: Howard Dean yesterday blamed President Bush for the deaths of thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims - prompting a swift rebuke from Republicans.

Al Gore:  “He took America on an ill-conceived foreign adventure, dangerous to our troops, that was preordained and planned before 9-11,” Gore told Tennessee Democrats at a party event ... Instead, Gore shouted to the crowd, Bush “betrayed us.”

I could go on, but why bother? The reality is that Loven pulled together some number of academics who probably have no regard for Bush in the first place and they all pretended that our political rhetoric in the US is something other than it is and Bush is somehow deviating from the norm.

Like it, or not - as long as politicians makes speeches, straw men will be created and knocked down. And for the AP to suggest that this broadly used tactic is somehow the province only, or especially of President Bush is nothing but a bold-faced biased attack and direct obfuscation of the truth.

In essence, the article creates its own straw man, that of the rhetorically pure politician, then attempts to use it to hammer Bush. Like perhaps the most notable straw man of all, Oz's scarecrow, Ms. Loven either doesn't have enough brain power to counter her Bush-loathing heart, or she is counting on her readers not having a brain at all.

Comments

[splashtc]

what is it about the media that they don't get it that the majority of americans voted for bush and support him. everytime they write anti bush stories they are shooting themselves! talk about being dumb!

[GSPatton]

You must live in a blue state. Travel more....the South is the only area where Bush has much popularity.

Most Americans (myself included) voted for Bush by default. Kerry would have been a bigger disaster. Face it, Bush will be remembered as the worst two-term President ever.

[Steel Turman]

Being 'popular' does NOT translate into being a good leader.

Often they are antithetical.

The very same thing was said about Nixon.

Name another President who accomplished more in the last 60 years.

Bush WILL be viewed with favor in 50 years.

You can't see that because you are too busy with the 'here and now'.

As it happens, THAT is the single most debilitating thing about America.

NOW! I WANT RESULTS NOW!

Rome was not built in a day.

And do yourself a favor and resist the urge to point out that Rome 'fell'.

It lasted longer than the current 'world' has since the Dark Ages.

By twice and more.

Think on this ... the roughest, meanest most ignorant man in the world is YOUR drill sargeant.

Who would you prefer to go to war with?

I thought so.

'Patton'? Heh. He'd be the very first to kick your ass.

[jay lassiter]

Do you think George Bush has a small penis?
it is my firm belief that the more conservative the man, the smaller the tool.
And before you answer, look down between your own legs and ask yourself why you're so damn angry.

[Brainster]

Jay, we'll accept that you have a lot of experience at sizing up penises of different political persuasions. Libs make you gag?

[Dave]

"All politicians do it". A popular argument among the Bushies.

They promised to run a positive campaign, then ran one of the dirties ones in history. But that was ok, because "all campaigns turn negative". So why promise not to do it?

Bush's big claim to fame is that he's a regular guy, a man of the people. He's a "straight-talking everyman". He's supposed to be disinterested in the games that politicians play. And yet, whenever someone calls him on one of his sleazy tactics, the response is that other politicians are no better. But I thought Bush was above all that! I thought that was his claim to fame!

"The writer singled out Bush and didn't pick on anyone else". Funny, I seem to remember that same argument during Clinton's impeachment, and the Trent Lotts of the world said that presidents ought to be held to higher standards. For once, I agree with the man.

[Phoenix]

So, Dave, how about something of substance about Bush. You've just trashed the superficial baloney any sixth-grader talks about on the playground.

[Althor]

QUOTE: "Do you think George Bush has a small penis?
it is my firm belief that the more conservative the man, the smaller the tool.
And before you answer, look down between your own legs and ask yourself why you're so damn angry.
"
Posted by: jay lassiter | Sunday, March 19, 2006 at 09:13 AM

And it has been amply proven by the film failure "Brokeback Mountain" and its "Liberal" supporters, in spite of all of the hype, that the more "liberal the man (?) is, the bigger his butt-hole!!!

Before you ask about President Bush's "penis," which should only concern Laura, ask why kids in my time watched
"Cowboy" movies by John Wayne on the screen, and asked for Roy Roger Chrome Plated "Six-shooters" for Christmas, while all that our children have to look for in your twisted
"Progressive," "Democrat," "Liberal agenda" imposed world, is to see Brokeback Mountain on the screen for a "Cowboy movie" and ask of their parents for the "Winter Solstice Holiday" (Christmas, and Santa Claus, of course, are
"Politically Incorrect," and in many places are no longer allowed!) for what??? A Chrome plated "Six-incher dildo" ?!?!

Touche!!! Need I say more?!?!

Althor :)

[Phoenix]

Althor,

I could have thought for days and not said it better than you have. Bravo!

[LP]

"Yet morale among U.S. troops in Iraq remains somewhat upbeat — without the frequent fraggings, suicides and insubordination that shook the draft-era army in the last years of the Vietnam war."

Wow, troop morale in Iraq is better than it was in Vietnam! That is really hard to do... That's like saying that the US' recent showing in the WBC was as success because they did better than Italy or South Africa.

[Althor]

QUOTE: "Wow, troop morale in Iraq is better than it was in Vietnam! That is really hard to do... That's like saying that the US' recent showing in the WBC was as success because they did better than Italy or South Africa."

Posted by: LP | Monday, March 20, 2006 at 01:13 PM

And would be doing a heck of a lot better if they had the full support of the Nation, and not the "Anti-war," "Viet Cong flag wielding Commies," "Defeatist cut-and-run Democrats," and their "Pet Elite Media" waging a viscious "Propaganda War" against them!!!

The way the "Elite" media has portrayed this war for their
"Democrat, Left-wing, Masters," conforted and abbetted the enemy with their constant, virulent, "Anti-US" attcks, and the way they "nick-pick" anything at all to "fabricate" into a non-existent scandals, such as with the infamous, self-fulfilling, "No weapons of Mass Destruction" (which according to several, credible, ex-Bathist sources, Saddam whisked into Syria just before the much touted Invasion, but, of course, you never hear about that in the "Media"!)argument they helped create, the on-going "NSA Wiretapping Democratic fiasco" circus, or the non-existent "Civil War" they are desperately helping to ignite by fueling sectarian outrage with their inflaming "Chicken Little" reportages and inciendary claims; one has to come to the sad conclusion, that compared to their "treason," "Tokyo Rose" should no longer be considered a "traitor broadcasting Japanese propaganda" aimed at "demoralizing" our troops during WWII, but rather awarded a "Presidential USO Medal" for having "entertained" them instead!!!!!

Althor

[annie]

What on earth did all you liberal left wing lot want President Bush to do after 9/11, just sit there are hope it wont happen again. He did exactly the right thing, he went after the enemy and took the fight to them. As a result, you have not had to fight them on US soil, and may I say that if ever you had to, there would only be half of you bothering to fight, the rest of you, probably led by Cindy Sheehan would have surrendered!! What a pathetic bunch you are!!

[AE Romm]

I know the following things: Penis Clinton's penis is little and curved (first to the right,then the upper part "makes a U turn to the left". He is circumcised. And Angela Merkel's ass is somewhat pale, without any birthmark or frekles.
I am still curious about the following questions: Is Chirac circumcised? What was the colour of mad Maddi Albright's bra & panties when she exposed them in the Lake of Galelee, Israel, in 1984? And what was the colour of George W Bullshit's underwear when photographers took pictures of him changing his clothes in Ireland in 2004?

[AE Romm]

I just forgot one thing: How many cigarets,aproximately, did GW Bullshit mooch, while serving in the National Defense Gaurd, before going AWOL? And where did he found the right bars to appear nacked in as he used to do?