tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81784122011-04-21T14:55:55.794-04:00Deconstructing the Rhetoric of the Right (and occasional other political musings)rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comBlogger981100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1125873619052499802008-08-29T17:29:00.000-04:002008-08-29T13:38:45.799-04:00

Photo: Pollutants swirl in waters that have flooded New Orleans.[Note: This diary is being re-published in honor of the pending anniversary of Katina as a new hurricane heads into the Gulf of Mexico. Also fixed links that had gone stale, and added some comments at the end about some of the "fixes" provided by corrupt republican contractors, who all seem to somehow be friends of Jeb Bush - the

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-84817417640060244062007-02-23T14:58:00.000-05:002007-02-23T15:18:34.477-05:00

I finally got a bit of time to figure out what happened to the blog template. It's now fixed. The "click for more" is working again, so the site should be MUCH more readable. Yay! Plus I messed around with the style sheet to create magically self-resizing images, so they should no longer run over the right nav, even if they're big. Though the experiment to turn the DemocracyFest banner into a

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-58412746403643898632007-02-12T14:52:00.000-05:002007-02-23T13:41:10.809-05:00

Then I screamed at my daughter to get out of the house...... and leapt toward the fire extinguisher. The tiny bits of flaming foam insulation that had landed on me had gone out without any damage, but the fireball had also ignited the foam along the crack I had just filled, and the masking tape around it.Thus our experiment in low-carbon living has taken a short hiatus.We live a very strange

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1169628438957808122007-01-24T02:29:00.000-05:002007-02-23T13:56:18.957-05:00

STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSAs Prepared For a ParodyTO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:Thank you very much. Tonight, I have a high privilege and distinct honor of my own — as the first President to begin the State of the Union message with these words: Madam Speaker. Except that I didn't actually begin the speech with those words, I began it with "Thank you very much".In his day, the late

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1163045398444112602006-11-08T23:06:00.000-05:002006-11-08T23:52:07.200-05:00

Click the Play Button:Video showing why Nov 7, 2006 was only Day 1.Choreographed to the music of George Michael's "Freedom 90."

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1162667300198622722006-11-04T13:31:00.000-05:002007-02-23T13:57:45.985-05:00

Oops!Vermont's Republican Leuitenant Governor Douglas Dubie has been under pressure lately for doing part-time work for full-time pay during his term. The claim is that he has worked less than 30% of the time he has been in office. In reponse to the pressure, he finally this week released a "schedule" that tries to make him appear to have been busy while outside the office, soaking up taxpayer's

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1159420972296553502006-09-28T01:22:00.000-04:002007-02-23T13:59:22.554-05:00

The Torture Bill passed the House today, in the shiny wrapping paper of an immigrant-hate bill, literally adding insult to injury. Tomorrow it will likely be voted on in the Senate. Friday it will probably become law. Other administrations protected our basic constitutional rights in the face of whole nations, armed to the teeth with massive numbers of extraordinary weapons that threatened to

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1158941546374854982006-09-22T12:12:00.000-04:002007-02-23T14:02:17.855-05:00

Produce the BodyWhile we focus on the immoral "torture" part of the new torture bill, we're missing a more insidious little tid-bit: removing the right to a trial.In England, way back in 1679, it was made illegal to stuff people in prison without charges and leave them there to rot. This was done because imprisonment had become the government's favorite means of suppression. Parliament thought

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1158729281248873592006-09-20T00:10:00.000-04:002007-02-23T14:06:05.025-05:00

"Pardon Me"It's the new game in town, brought to us by none other than the Deciderer, grand Inquisitor of the new crusade. See, the President has spent the last 5 years promoting and ordering torture. Torture is immoral. That's why 194 countries, led by the United States (back in the days when we actually held the moral high ground in the world), cobbled together the Geneva Conventions. The

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1157734008654172882006-09-08T12:41:00.000-04:002007-02-23T14:06:51.353-05:00

To survive people conformed. They kept silent. And the continuous propaganda worked. (from Propaganda in the Propaganda State)In the USSR, Lenin and Stalin cultivated their power with the aid of the media. Sure, media was less sophisticated in those days: radio, newspapers, and the movies were pretty much it. But with willing propagandists at the media helm, tyranny was certainly an easier ride -

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1157169676698184012006-09-02T00:01:00.000-04:002006-09-02T00:01:17.566-04:00

Ghosts of past folly

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1154300623204944342006-07-30T19:00:00.000-04:002006-07-30T19:03:43.216-04:00

[crossposted on DailyKos and GreenMountainDaily]A few days ago, nyceve wrote an excellent diary on the sad fact that it's now economically more feasible for a person in the US to travel thousands of miles to a foreign country for medical care than to receive that care in this country.We all know that this is because of a simple lack of leadership from those who feel none of the consequences from

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1150584419956109252006-06-17T18:44:00.000-04:002006-06-17T18:46:59.966-04:00

The time has come to thank those who have worked so hard to protect the powder. For those who don't know, powder is a special legislative element, and must be kept as dry as possible. Wet powder can be a very unstable and hard to work with.Now, the fruits of carefully tended powder are ripening into big, juicy delicacies for us all.Let' take a look at a particularly luscious piece of low hanging

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1144399652741622092006-04-07T04:36:00.000-04:002007-02-23T14:10:32.707-05:00

This diary speaks for itself. Anyone who is still on the fence about impeachment, or against it, must read. [Cross-posted Wholesale From: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/6/194043/7323]Fitzgerald Has Proof That Bush and Cheney Were At Center of NIE-Plamegate Leaks (Poll)! by HoundDogThu Apr 06, 2006 at 06:40:43 PM ESJason Leopold has just published an article at TruthOut entitled, Bush

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1143682295163468272006-03-29T20:27:00.000-05:002007-02-23T14:11:41.808-05:00

[Cross-posted a bunch of places]I've been involved in the Rutland Resolution portion of the impeachment process in Vermont and thought it would be a good time to share what we've learned over the last 6 weeks or so, for any of you who might want to give it a "go" in your own states.While all of us have been relatively politically active the last couple of years (a couple of us have even managed

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1141749315360908132006-03-07T11:32:00.000-05:002007-02-23T14:13:29.050-05:00

[Crossposted on DailyKos and My Left Wing]There was a thread lat night on yesterday's Conyers hearing re: Impeachment over on that Orange site. It had lots and lots of people saying hopeless things like "We need action NOW" and "People just don't know the truth" and "How do we get around the fact that the media won't cover [x]?" and "We'll never get public support if..."Well there is a way. It IS

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1139844864590426612006-02-13T10:32:00.000-05:002006-02-13T10:35:23.350-05:00

Today, in Burlington, VT, Democracy for America endorsed Representative Bernie Sanders for US Senate and VT Senator Peter Welch for US Congress.Great choices!

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1138667850657237902006-01-30T19:08:00.000-05:002006-01-30T19:37:30.703-05:00

It took 56 Years but the United States Finally Lost World War IIThat's a quote from a songwriter regarding today's Alito filibuster vote.Very apt.

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1133362362415016292005-11-30T09:09:00.000-05:002007-02-23T14:15:41.346-05:00

Electronic voting machines installed all over the country are proving to be extremely unreliable, with problems including easy vote tampering, miscounting votes, machines that simply break down, and most importantly, no way to run a recount if an election is close. An in-depth General Accounting Office investigation found this to be a very serious issue (Full General accounting Office Report -

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1133240183752335642005-11-28T21:48:00.000-05:002005-12-13T21:51:54.756-05:00

And thus I clothe my naked villainyWith old odd ends, stol'n forth of holy writ;And seem a saint, when most I play the devil. - William ShakespeareFlexibility - moral flexibility, that is has allowed the crew in office to start their very own chain of Rent-a-Gulags in our name, recycling the evil prisons of torture created by Stalin, Tito, and other Soviet dictators.Their moral relativism

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1128212742445573652005-10-01T20:10:00.000-04:002005-12-13T21:56:53.226-05:00

No one ever gave their heart to a number. That's why the pictures aren't allowed. It's too dangerous. People might start to feel this war.But we are talking about poeople. Or not. More often not. This war lurks in the background, a silent reality, a faint feeling.Many, many people. Dying in an unjust war, against innocent families in a country that posed no threat.Maybe someday, we'll learn. 

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1127242074072500992005-09-20T14:40:00.000-04:002005-12-13T22:01:10.546-05:00

We are a group of writers who are passionately committed to supporting women's basic freedom as citizens of the United States. We are appealing to you as free citizens dedicated to political growth, fairness and the spirit of Liberty guaranteed in the US Constitution.We are not paid pundits or political operatives. We are concerned citizens who represent the diversity of the United States: women

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1126657949491171932005-09-13T19:43:00.000-04:002005-09-13T20:32:29.536-04:00

Tens of thousands of Americans were abandoned on a rainy day in August of 2005. Parents, children, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters were left to suffer and die. People who could not escape - due to money or illness or age - had their lives stolen by a merciless storm of wind, water, and human failure, some quickly, some only after agonizing hours or days.We cannot abandon these families again.

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1125174602663336592005-08-27T16:24:00.000-04:002005-08-27T18:55:07.286-04:00

On the home front, progress is afoot. We have a pop-up tent, a kitchen tent, a shower tent, an outhouse, a well, solar panels, a bio-diesel generator, and a great big hole in the ground. (Shower tent and outhouse aren't shown in this shot)The solar panels power our light bulb. It's, um, overkill! The generator runs the well pump and any power tools we're using for construction.By the way,

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1123534367016488482005-08-08T16:46:00.000-04:002005-08-08T17:12:09.356-04:00

[copied wholesale from Renee in Ohio's diary on DailyKos, because it's so important.]Last night, I turned on The Laura Flanders Show on Air America Radio just in time to hear that Cindy Sheehan would be interviewed after the break. I recorded most of the show--only missed about the first half minute. Below the fold you can see what Cindy had to say (if you missed it last night) and how you can

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1122995462612501562005-08-02T10:52:00.000-04:002005-08-02T11:12:24.790-04:00

When creating a new policy to deal with a potential problem, the effective way to do that is to examine the potential problem, then institute a policy that is related to that problem.We must determine a rational and appropriate plan to deal with the threats that face us, but we must ensure that the response is not one that sacrifices the principles of democracy on the altar of a false sense of

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1121984732305368162005-07-21T17:40:00.000-04:002005-07-21T18:25:32.360-04:00

The President and his administration have spent the last few weeks, since Sandra Day O'Connor announced her desire to retire from the Supreme Court, trying to play "Pin the Responsibility on the Donkey."The line is that the President is entitled install a new judge into the highest court of the land - for life - without anyone asking questions. MR. McCLELLAN [White House Press Secreatary, July 12

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1118211956783810582005-06-08T01:57:00.000-04:002005-06-08T02:25:56.790-04:00

We're moving, shortly. We'll be spending the summer in a tent, while building a new house, so tents are on my mind. There are many kinds of tents, in many shapes and sizes. There are the ones you use for car-camping in good weather, and the ones you use for climbing Mt. Everest in heavy snows. There are little tiny ones for one, and there are big tents.Big tents can hold more people and more

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1115418172072218212005-05-06T18:06:00.000-04:002005-05-06T18:22:52.146-04:00

Have you ever wondered what you can do in your own community to make sure that there's room for all community members at the table? Have you been faced with a takeover of a public entity - like your schoolboard, or even your church - by people whose primary goal seems to be conversion to a particularly intolerant version of Christianity? Today is the launch of Talk2Action.org, an organization for

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1115078912726939712005-05-02T19:51:00.000-04:002005-05-02T20:09:31.093-04:00

Sometimes language can be so inadequate.One place where I think the words truly fail is the topic of abortion. People are so hung up on choice vs life, that both sides are missing the goal. There's the old mantra of "safe, legal and rare." It's a nice start, but I don't think it works, because it leaves too much wiggle room on the "how" of making it rare. The pro-life camp believes that creating

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1113190077462190272005-04-10T23:27:00.000-04:002005-04-10T23:27:57.463-04:00

[written for the MA MoveOn "millibuster"]First, a quote, from the Constitution of the United States of America, Section 2, Clause 2: ... and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1111786716031825662005-03-25T16:13:00.000-05:002005-03-25T16:38:36.033-05:00

From an AP wire story making excuses for the Democrats who caved on the Schiavo case:"The party didn't want to be on the wrong side of "the culture of life," said one Democratic aide, speaking on condition of anonymity."A culture that ignores starving families, bombs more than a hundred thousand innocent civilians, tortures people to death, and would cast the fates of our elderly, orphaned, and

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1110958114493864902005-03-16T02:35:00.000-05:002005-03-16T02:37:10.453-05:00

The price of the goods we buy is more than just the number on the price tag.Price Paid by ChildrenWorking at rug looms, for example, has left children disabled with eye damage, lung disease, stunted growth, and a susceptibility to arthritis as they grow older. Children making silk thread in India dip their hands into boiling water that burns and blisters them, breath[e] smoke and fumes from

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1109889399987092462005-03-03T17:36:00.000-05:002005-03-03T17:36:39.993-05:00

I came across a discussion of this open letter on DailyKos. It's written by Canada's former Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy, who is currently president of Winnipeg University (Wow, Canadians like politicians who are capable and intelligent. Weird.).Dear Condi, I'm glad you've decided to get over your fit of pique and venture north to visit your closest neighbour. It's a chance to learn a thing or

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1108873890536272492005-02-19T23:10:00.000-05:002005-02-19T23:32:08.603-05:00

When the President presented the budget, he said something interesting:The important question that needs to be asked for all constituencies is whether or not the programs achieve a certain result. Have you set goals, and are those goals being met? And the poor and disadvantaged absolutely ought to be asking that question, too. In other words, what is the goal of a particular program? And if that

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1108358777944526712005-02-14T00:38:00.000-05:002005-02-14T12:35:03.876-05:00

(originally posted at Daily Kos on Sun Jan 30th, 2005)We need to prevent the tipping point at which the current US administration realizes they can get away with "it" - whatever their "it" is.In Germany, many believe the tipping point was Kristallnacht, a couple of nights on which Hitler's propaganda chief Joseph Goebels (the Karl Rove of his day) orchestrated "spontaneous" uprisings against the

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1108236536413381552005-02-12T14:23:00.000-05:002005-02-14T01:04:49.830-05:00

Against incredible odds, Governor Howard Dean, M.D. has been elected Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. It's a very welcome surprise. His goal to empower the grassroots, helping state parties become more effective, and ensuring support for local candidates at all levels will be a welcome shot in the arm for a party beset by apathy.Even more important, to paraphrase Jesse Jackson,

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1108191476266470472005-02-12T01:54:00.000-05:002005-02-12T01:57:56.266-05:00

Look! We've made things better for women in Iraq - as long as you define subjugation under Sharia law as "better." The actual women might have a slightly different definition of better.“Please dress appropriately next time you come here.” The man said to me. I looked down at what I was wearing- black pants, a beige high-necked sweater and a knee-length black coat. Huh? I blushed furiously. He

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1108021959183286322005-02-12T01:30:00.000-05:002005-02-12T01:31:18.086-05:00

When you don't pay your bills, you get in trouble. Businesses that can't pay their bills fail. People who can't pay their bills end up on the streets. Countries that can't pay their bills crash.The administration hasn't been paying America's bills. Instead, they've run up a massive credit card bill to hand down to our children, because they are afraid to admit that their tax cuts were a mistake

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1107595600335544902005-02-05T03:27:00.000-05:002005-02-05T04:31:04.233-05:00

Apparently, converting the Middle-East into an American Empire is likely to take more than 8 years, which means the Emperor has no time, so a move is afoot to remove term limits for the President: Re: Dubya In 2008--Repeal The 22nd Amendment (Score: 1) by HotCarl on Monday, November 08 @ 15:45:33 CST Oh my gosh, it would be awesome if dubya could be president for a third term, I'd vote for

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1107408073515602592005-02-03T00:20:00.000-05:002005-02-03T00:21:13.516-05:00

Think first about retirement: In roughly what year will you reach retirement age? Will the stock market be in an up-cycle or a down-cycle that year? What do you mean you don't know? If the stock market is down, where will your survival money come from? Now think about disability: Does your medical insurance cover treatments, like an organ transplant, that the insurance company considers

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1107234424191309502005-01-31T23:57:00.000-05:002005-02-01T00:10:29.873-05:00

The Alberto Gonzales hearings continue. The vote on his confirmation will probably happen on Wednesday, February 2. PLEASE Call or write both of the Senators from your state today (find contact info here) and tell them that there is no room in our democracy for an Attorney General who does not respect our Constitution. If he is confirmed, he will be the first Attorney General in the

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1106955105500379402005-01-28T18:32:00.000-05:002005-01-28T18:31:45.500-05:00

Politically Correct. What does it mean? It means that, before you speak ill of a group of people, you should put yourself in their shoes. It means you should take just a moment to bring them to a level equivalent to yourself in your mind's eye, and consider, in that moment of empathy, whether what you are about to say would be hurtful. Many would think this moment of reflection would be a

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1106704556747410012005-01-25T20:33:00.000-05:002005-01-25T20:55:56.746-05:00

During the Abu Ghraib toruture hearings, Senator Joe Biden, whose son is a member of the US Armed forces, stated the point perfectly. We adhere to the Geneva Conventions to protect our soldiers. "By allowing this, you have put my son at severe risk of torture." The moment a country lowers itself to the level of torturer, that country has lost any claim to morality in their actions. In

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1106302348134628242005-01-21T10:54:00.000-05:002005-01-21T10:55:20.250-05:00

Each day, a shimmering lure is dangled before us, enticing and dangerous. It usually comes cloaked in a special code word, like "reform," and promises great rewards. But there's always a catch. We are asked for a favor in return. On Social Security, we are asked to walk away from a guaranteed retirement system that grants independence to our parents. We are asked to cast future generations

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1104897703270239832005-01-04T22:57:00.000-05:002005-01-04T23:01:43.270-05:00

The following are Food & Aid Drop Off Locations in the Northeast to help the people affected by the tsunami. Some centers also need volunteers! Note Do not just send stuff! Please call your nearest center for details on what they need. They are coordinating with agencies on the ground in affected areas to send the required supplies. Extra stuff will just bog them down un-necessarily. New

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1104618007791634962005-01-01T17:19:00.000-05:002005-01-01T17:20:07.790-05:00

In America, you're supposed to proclaim Christianity, but actually living by the words of Christ - that's right out. Compare Luke 6:35: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil -- Luke 6:35. To the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1103736782402168912004-12-23T02:58:00.000-05:002004-12-23T03:03:02.526-05:00

'Tis the season! Temper tantrum season, that is. Did you ever see a 3-year-old being told that he can't have all the cookies because that wouldn't be fair to the other kids? He starts yelling and stomping about because he wants all the cookies. He doesn't want to hear why it's not fair - heck he doesn't CARE that it's not fair. He wants those cookies and nothing his parents say will convince

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1103650321071825492004-12-21T13:30:00.000-05:002004-12-21T12:48:12.083-05:00

We hear a lot about "supporting our troops" from the right, but words and deeds seem awfully far apart. For example, besides obvious example of failing to order the armor needed in a war zone, in this administration's continued demonstration of so-called "support" for our troops, the swell folks running our government require wounded soldiers to pay to call home from the hospital. From the

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1103522258012691162004-12-20T01:15:00.000-05:002004-12-20T20:15:47.503-05:00

WARNING! For the irony-impared: This post contains irony. Proceed at your own risk. "Redistribution of wealth!" comes the cry from those poor, unfortunate, wealthy corporatists on the right, "It's class warfare!" They're right, you know. It is redistribution of wealth. It is class warfare. They just neglected to mention how the wealth is being reditributed and which class is waging the war.

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1102403418039577812004-12-08T02:11:00.000-05:002004-12-07T03:01:22.330-05:00

There's a new sheriff in town, and he ain't gonna take no guff from the likes 'a you! According to the recently retired CIA Director, the internet is the new Wild West, and the 'gummint' needs to ride on in an settle things down. I guess folks out here's gittin' a mite too ornery for the administration's likin'. ...but ultimately the Wild West must give way to governance and control. ... The

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1102309765937823462004-12-06T00:08:00.000-05:002004-12-06T00:09:25.936-05:00

The right is very fond of the word "agenda." Agenda: A list or program of things to be done or considered. Every time some neo-con on the right dislikes the facts provided by someone on the left, they attempt to discount the facts by claiming the other person has an agenda. For example, the office of U.S. Representative Henry Waxman of California issued a report on the state of Abstinence-only

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1101709375879405282004-11-29T01:20:00.000-05:002004-11-29T01:24:40.336-05:00

War is hell. That's what some people say when I rail against the wanton death and destruction wrought by mighty fire-power raining down on a weak, helpless people. War is hell. As if admitting war is bad somehow makes it OK to have condemned the innocent. Our kids, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and neighbors have been betrayed. They face death or dismemberment,

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1101226715841852902004-11-23T10:05:00.000-05:002004-11-23T20:18:59.666-05:00

When you're "hungry," you grab a snack or a meal and and you're all set. Sometimes you'll be too busy and forget to eat, suddenly realizing some period of time later that you're "starving." Or perhaps you're trying to trim down a bit after holiday-season overindulgence and often feel a bit low on fuel... Thinking this way means that, when a study of hunger comes out, it's hard to really grasp

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1101186172751094082004-11-23T02:32:00.000-05:002004-11-23T02:37:43.343-05:00

The latest news from Iraq has focused on Fallujah, a city we've been pounding, relentlessly for days. Fallujah is only the most recent segment of an unjust war. During the first 3 days of the battle of Fallujah, it was reported that 1,200 insurgents have been killed. In that same time, the Red Cross reported 800 civilians killed. No one knows for certain how many of the so-called insurgents

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1100666575313577562004-11-16T23:44:00.000-05:002004-11-17T10:18:04.343-05:00

Here are some quotes I find interesting: "[the government] will regard it as its first and foremost duty to revive in the nation the spirit of unity and cooperation. It will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built. It regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life." "Republicans want the best for

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1100501152632564942004-11-15T01:45:00.000-05:002004-11-17T20:20:02.583-05:00

UPDATE 11/17/2004: Added Porter Goss CIA Shakeup Memo quote to the end of the post. This country has had many exceptional leaders. Among my favorites are Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower, and George Washington. These four, among others, had a common guiding principle that was obvious in their execution of their duties as President. "The President is merely the most important

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1100215136491999622004-11-11T18:16:00.000-05:002004-11-11T18:18:56.493-05:00

On this Veteran's Day, when more soon-to-be veterans are readying to ship out to an unjust war against the innocent population of a weak, helpless country, remember: "The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in time of great moral crisis." -Dante Alighieri My thoughts are with all who are being sent into harm's way and those already there, regardless of how you

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099814693999589972004-11-07T03:04:00.000-05:002004-11-07T03:08:27.370-05:00

C.S. Lewis once wrote: The safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. The radical extremists on the right have slowly guided the country their way over the last 30+ years. Pulling us closer to a government of the corporations, by the corporations, and for the corporations. They own the media, who

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099715808761510652004-11-05T23:50:00.000-05:002004-11-05T23:50:19.953-05:00

Exit Polls: Paper vs Electronic Voting States Who did you vote for? If you voted for Kerry and lived in a paper-ballot state, you probably voted for Kerry. If you voted for Kerry and lived in a paperless electronic-ballot state, you probably voted for Bush. Diebold did indeed deliver Ohio for Bush. While they were at it, they delivered New Mexico, and Florida. Welcome to the Bush Leagues.

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099623065903035732004-11-04T21:50:00.001-05:002004-11-04T21:51:05.903-05:00

The right is trying to position the left as losers because their incumbent candidate won by the slimmest margin since Woodrow Wilson in 1916. This is an important frame for them to spread, because the truth is not in their favor. What they want people to forget is that we on the left have made a HUGE difference in this election. "What?" you ask, "But Kerry lost." Well, the right's smear

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099536932648753952004-11-03T21:53:00.000-05:002004-11-03T21:55:32.646-05:00

I just heard a pundit ask why we shouldn't have "free market health care." The Frame This implies that health care is a market - just like a furniture store. It implies that the person seeking health care can choose whether or not they need care. The Reality In reality, unlike a furniture store, where you can opt for a less-expensive fabric for your new sofa, or skip the sofa altogether, you

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099415615817421572004-11-02T13:12:00.000-05:002004-11-02T12:13:35.816-05:00

The title says it all. Read it, then Do it. Bring a friend!

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099360583680972592004-11-01T20:56:00.000-05:002004-11-01T20:57:39.743-05:00

A Brief Stop on the Way to PT

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099156296306039342004-11-01T01:33:00.000-05:002004-11-01T01:33:05.946-05:00

I've heard this a lot lately - "Freedom isn't free." When someone points out the stupidity of Bush's war against a harmless, weak country, a common response is: "Freedom isn't free." The Frame This frame implies that the war in Iraq is a war for our freedom. It implies that our freedom was threatened by the Iraqis. It implies we would not be free if we hadn't attacked Iraq. But there's a

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099183644481928932004-10-30T20:45:00.000-04:002004-10-30T21:47:59.576-04:00

Here's a simple visual aid for picturing how much explosive Bush allowed to get away: http://protest.bmgbiz.net/377tons.html Here's a printable PDF file. Time to print up some flyers to leave on people's windshields: http://dfa.bmgbiz.net/377tons.pdf

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099114219474819252004-10-30T17:15:00.000-04:002004-10-30T22:16:40.646-04:00

Here's what bin Laden said: "Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands. Any nation that does not attack us will not be attacked," bin Laden said in the video. Here's the Bush response: "Americans will not be intimidated or influenced by an enemy of our country. ..." The Frame Bush isn't scared by Osama. Bush is a protector, he'll keep us

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1099112333264028972004-10-30T01:05:00.000-04:002004-10-30T01:05:41.246-04:00

It's been an interesting week for the Bush campaign. First, there was this small problem of missing explosives, then there was Osama bin Laden, free, healthy and thumbing his nose at Bush for all the world to see. The rhetoric has been hot and heavy. Osama bin Laden needs his own post, so this one will focus on just the explosives: Enough explosives to take down every airplane in the world

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1098973344629238342004-10-28T10:22:00.000-04:002004-10-28T10:51:50.103-04:00

Hard to Believe

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1098687327399851332004-10-25T02:45:00.000-04:002004-10-25T02:58:48.340-04:00

You've heard it said many times "The world is safer with Saddam Hussein behind bars." Here's an excerpt from a Bush speech: We are safer -- we are safer and the world is better off because Saddam is sitting in a prison cell. ... And when you put your troops in harm's way, you better have the best -- the best equipment, the best support, and the best possible pay. Well, today's New York Times

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1098646719232064332004-10-24T15:35:00.000-04:002004-10-24T15:38:39.233-04:00

This isn't so much a deconstruction of the Bush campaign's rhetoric, but I have to post it. This is how I'd answer the campaign's "wolf" ad: [scene] Wolves in a forest, similar to those in the Bush ad. [voice over] Bush thinks he's making us safer by fighting in Iraq. Fade [scene]Cut to laughing hyenas laughing, with more hyenas running into the shot. [voice over] But the real threat isn't in

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1097768904980937172004-10-21T21:30:00.000-04:002004-10-21T21:27:40.216-04:00

Here's the first paragraph of what Marc Racicot of the RNC put out last week. He was supposedly referring to the final Presidential debate. Perhaps it was written before the debate and sent along anyway? President Bush won a clear victory on substance, style and credibility in the final debate tonight - showing that he's the candidate who "finishes strong." The President spoke with clarity,

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1097686879029183212004-10-13T13:01:00.000-04:002004-10-13T13:03:36.013-04:00

Sometimes, the left inadvertently uses framing that makes the right drool with envy. Dow concludes that the administration of U.S. President George W Bush has "exploited our national trauma to extend law enforcement authority, as the long-standing biases within the Justice Department against Muslims and Arabs became politically correct." Implication Bush administration policies of disappearing

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1097461459514229292004-10-11T01:50:00.000-04:002004-10-11T01:54:11.883-04:00

Every once in a while, President Bush forgets his terminology handbook and muddies the message. He tries so hard to follow Rove's framing rules, but as a non-English speaker, sometimes he has a little trouble. Paraphrasing some of my favorites, in order of utterance:I'm a War President. I don't want to be a war President, I want to be a peace president. We have won the war in Iraq. We can't win

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1096868335384839232004-10-04T01:30:00.000-04:002004-10-04T11:34:49.126-04:00

Just when you think it's safe to go back on the internet, The Drudgerino comes along and muddies things up. Today's humdinger: Cheat Sheets. You see, without a cheat sheet, George Bush isn't capable of speaking coherently off-script. As a result, his "homies" can't imagine that anyone else is capable of stringing together actual sentences, or (dare I say it?) paragraphs on a given topic without

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1096779546541218502004-10-03T00:59:00.000-04:002004-10-03T00:59:06.540-04:00

The San Francisco Chronicle brings us what may be the first comprehensive review of Bush's constantly shifting Iraq rationales: An examination of more than 150 of Bush's speeches, radio addresses and responses to reporters' questions reveal a steady progression of language, mostly to reflect changing circumstances such as the failure to discover weapons of mass destruction, the lack of ties

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1096547880133962722004-10-02T13:15:00.000-04:002004-10-03T01:00:05.870-04:00

Voter registration has been a huge effort this year. In Latino communities, people registering Latino voters are expressing concern over how difficult it is: But in an hour of door knocking, each registered just one new voter. Everyone else they encountered was ineligible to register, many because they had not taken the steps to become U.S. citizens, even though they met the legal requirements.

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1096645608455628902004-10-01T11:40:00.000-04:002004-10-01T11:48:49.040-04:00

Here's a compilation of the letters I've sent to various news organizations post-debate, plus some samples I gave to others for inspiration. Feel free to use as a source of ideas, but please use your own words if you want to join the fun. If the same letter appears from many sources, the media gets cranky and the letter will be less effective. It was fun, but I've seriously exceeded my typing

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1096605083168610652004-10-01T01:23:00.000-04:002004-10-01T00:31:23.166-04:00

In the Kerry/Bush debate, George Bush was detail-free and clearly flustered in the face of Kerry's intelligent, detailed understanding of foreign policy. Bush, substituted repetition for substance. It was rather pitiful. My favorite part was Bush's whining that bi-lateral talks with N. Korea would destroy the 6-party talks. That's silly. The 6-party talks are a failure, as evidenced by the fact

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1096493779217774372004-09-29T17:30:00.000-04:002004-09-29T17:36:19.216-04:00

Over and over, this administration has used falsified evidence and misleading legislation names to pass their agenda. They lie about other candidates, lie about Iraq, lie about the state of the economy, lie about the strength of the terror network. What are they afraid of? America can handle the truth, can Bush?

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1096237588538122182004-09-26T18:30:00.000-04:002004-09-26T19:07:47.020-04:00

Bush and the Rovians are at it again. Apparently, telling the truth about the war in which we unnecessarily invaded a country that did not attack us, posed no threat to us, and was not about to pose any threat, is "not supporting the troops," it's "comforting the enemy." Root, Root, Root for the Home Team Here’s a sample from this morning’s Meet the Press I don't see how he can become the

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1095974853979829302004-09-25T00:01:00.000-04:002004-09-25T02:11:30.480-04:00

What is the Protect the Pledge Act? It’s the Protect [extremists from having to admit that the words Under God in] the Pledge [of Allegiance are unconstitutional] Act. Here are a few excerpts from the right wing talking points: The phrase "under God" is back in the spotlight, with an important bill that would immunize the Pledge of Allegiance from the tampering of activist federal judges

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1095636972630957282004-09-19T18:36:00.000-04:002004-09-19T20:48:58.086-04:00

In speaking of Iraq, Bush says he wants to bring the war to the enemy. There are two frames: 1 - The enemy is "away" and can be kept "away" if we send troops there. This implies that not sending our troops "away" will cause the enemy to come here. 2 - Iraq is the enemy we're supposed to be fighting. In a land far, far, away Bringing the fight to the enemy as a means of keeping the enemy

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1095230709201509732004-09-15T02:30:00.000-04:002004-09-15T02:45:09.200-04:00

This one's been eating at me for weeks, now. In response to complaints about the dangerous and filthy conditions of the "little Guantanamo freedom prison" that was set up to hold people picked up by police in NYC during the RNC convention, Republican New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said "it's not supposed to be Club Med." What he omits is what it is supposed to be. I'd wager it's not supposed

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1095057885446193792004-09-13T01:30:00.000-04:002004-09-25T00:03:49.830-04:00

In a desperate attempt to keep from being held responsible for the actions of his department, Donald Rumsfeld trotted out the following nonsense: "American abuses of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib were terrible, but they are not crimes on par with beheadings and other acts carried out by terrorists, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said [Sept. 11, 2004]. "Has it been harmful to our country?

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094952043875997662004-09-11T21:20:00.000-04:002004-09-11T22:06:59.030-04:00

It's a work of art - spin within spin. The latest tack on the right is that no one should look into George Bush's National Guard record because he didn't tout his record, but you should report without question lies about actual war heroes. Well, I have some bad news for the right. The stories the candidates don't tout are exactly the ones to investigate. Nixon didn't tout Watergate, Reagan

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094873919428974422004-09-11T02:38:00.000-04:002004-09-25T00:04:37.406-04:00

Iraq is not associated with the terrorists who attacked us, but the right has done a great job of convincing people otherwise. Countering their claims with "Nuh-uh, no they didn't," is completely ineffective. You've got to break the false "Iraq = Al Qaida-terrorists" frame. So how do you counter them? They've so tightly bound "Iraq," "Al Qaida," and "terrorists" in people's minds that if you

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094870658379138222004-09-11T01:44:00.000-04:002004-09-25T00:05:20.466-04:00

Earlier this week, Vice President Cheney desperately tried to make people think that voting for John Kerry would cause a terrorist attack: “It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on Nov. 2, we make the right choice, because if we make the wrong choice then the danger is that we'll get hit again and we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094790978286786492004-09-09T10:53:00.000-04:002004-09-25T00:06:21.073-04:00

Lots has been made of George W. Bush's National Guard duty (though not nearly enough). Honestly, the specifics of his failure to fulfill his duty don't matter. What matters is the pattern: 1 - Take on responsibility, 2 - Shirk your duty, 3 - Discredit anyone who tries to hold you accountable. This man has twice taken on a role where he was supposed to defend his country. In both roles, he deemed

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094614150320253522004-09-08T02:00:00.000-04:002004-09-25T00:07:08.596-04:00

What's wrong with this sentence (John Kerry at a Cincinnati, Ohio campaign stop): "Today marks a tragic milestone in the war in Iraq; more than 1,000 of America’s sons and daughters have now given their lives on behalf of their country, on behalf of freedom, the war on terror." Answer: It legitimizes the so-called "war on terror," legitimizes the war on a country that posed no threat to us, and

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094593528946327132004-09-07T20:58:00.000-04:002004-09-09T11:53:19.040-04:00

In a desperate attempt to frighten people into voting Republican, Vice President Cheney came out with the following bit of hysteria in Des Moines, Iowa: `It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on Nov. 2, we make the right choice, because if we make the wrong choice then the danger is that we'll get hit again and we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094575680251392222004-09-07T16:48:00.000-04:002004-09-09T12:07:29.823-04:00

Imagine the first draft of Zell Miller's 2004 RNC Convention Speech - before the truth was edited out. It might go something like this... Since I last stood in this spot, a whole new generation of the Miller Family has been born: Four great grandchildren, which is entirely irrelevant, but I want you to like me. Along with all the other members of our close-knit family -- they are my and

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094505905426110792004-09-06T20:30:00.000-04:002004-09-25T00:08:54.896-04:00

One of the biggest questions this election year is how to get women, particularly single women, to the polls. Well, you've got to make the issues, besides reproductive rights, relevant to women's lives. For that to happen, you've got to know where women's pain is. Frank Luntz, the architect of the neo-con's rhetorical approach (Iraq, for example), in an interview, in July, explained the

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094504826863555872004-09-06T20:00:00.000-04:002004-09-06T17:31:16.596-04:00

Andrew J. Bacevich wants the generals in Iraq to speak up about the insurgency: A year ago, when he assumed charge of United States Central Command and acknowledged that Operation Iraqi Freedom had given way to what he candidly called "classical guerrilla war," Gen. John Abizaid assessed the total number of insurgents to be 5,000. But according to a recent Associated Press dispatch all but

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094416206315777582004-09-05T19:30:00.000-04:002004-09-09T12:09:52.290-04:00

Imagine the first draft of Dick Cheney's 2004 RNC Convention Speech - before the truth was edited out. It might go something like this... Mr. Chairman, delegates, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States. I am honored by your misplaced confidence. And tonight I make this pledge: I will give this campaign all the dirty tricks

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094338754626309052004-09-04T22:45:00.000-04:002004-09-09T12:10:56.010-04:00

I heard a very disturbing thing the other day. Zell Miller gave a speech during the Republican convention. People have focused on the obviously bizarre elements of his speech and his subsequent behavior, but they have not called him on the carpet for a particularly disturbing portion of his speech - the part where he implies that the military is the provider of our freedoms. For it has been

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094316299742991612004-09-04T16:40:00.000-04:002004-09-15T03:03:14.740-04:00

Lie of omission - "A lie of omission is a method of deception and duplicity that uses the technique of simply remaining silent when speaking the truth would significantly alter the other person's capacity to make an informed decision." The problem with American media became crystal clear in the recent exchange between John Stewart and Ted Koppel on ABC's Nightline(R). In explaining the

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1094249837263813852004-09-03T21:17:00.000-04:002004-09-14T11:41:51.643-04:00

Imagine the first draft of President George W. Bush's 2004 RNC Convention Speech - before the truth was edited out. It might go something like this... Mr. Chairman, delegates, fellow citizens: I am honored by your support, and I accept your nomination for President of the United States. When I said those words four years ago, none of us could have envisioned what these years would bring. In the

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0