TPMCafe
« "The consequences of defeat would have been increased Iranian influence." | Home | Who Are You Going to Believe, Me or Your Lying Eyes? »

Ways of Understanding the World

user-pic

McCain: "I don't think Senator Obama understands...."

"I have a record. I have a record."

"I will wear his bracelet with honor."

"We don't want defeat."

Obama: "Are we making good judgments?"

McCain: I've been around.


12 Comments

| Leave a comment
user-pic

McCain was repeatedly condescending toward Obama, and Barack let him get away with it.

Bitch slap for McCain. I'm afraid Obama didn't win this round.

Sorry to say.

-- ARG

Facebook

Thanks for your patience and sorry for the inconvenience!

Best regards, Mary CEO of youtube downloader free

Facebook

This is a smart blog. I mean it. You have so much knowledge about this issue, and so much passion. You also know how to make people rally behind it, obviously from the responses. Youve got a design here thats not too flashy, but makes a statement as big as what youre saying. Great job,children health indeed.

user-pic

I don't recall how many times McCain referred to "Veterans" but it was quite a few. He sounded like his 72 years when he talked almost nostalgically about veterans, I expected him to break into a story from his past naval experiences at any time. Undoubtedly he made points with his Party and older veterans. He also got in strong plugs for Israel when speaking of Iran, browny points for him from AIPAC.

His attack on big government sounded like Ronald Reagan - government is not the solution, government is the problem. Funny with the "Bailout" looming, it looks like government for many Republicans will be the solution. They'll have to quickly rewrite the Republican Bible to justify their vote, but I strongly suspect that government will remain the enemy.

user-pic

Todd:

When you get a chance could you combine these "live blogging" blogs.

They're taking up a lot of real estate.

Thanks.

user-pic

Or maybe delete those which have failed to generate interest.

user-pic

Both Bush and McCain constantly use or rather misuse the term "Understand" -- and I suggest it is intentional.

Bush is always saying, as a way of drawing all possible choices down to what he advocates, "You have to Understand..." essentially leaving everyone with no choice but his.

McCain's use of "Understand" is quite similar, though he uses it to suggest lack of understanding is an indicator of being dumb, stupid, or niaeve.

In both cases it is a way of dismissing reasoned differences about policy, sometimes fact, and instead making the whole matter more a consideration of the supposed competence of the audience to which the remark is directed, and not the core of any issue differences. It is a rhetorical tactic of self-empowerment, and disempowerment of one's interlocutor.

It is time someone boldly called both Bush and McCain out on this tactic for exactly what it is, and my guess is that somewhere in that jumble of debate coaches, they have the same teacher.

How to call them out? --- with Bush, "No, I don't have to Understand anything. If you want to convince me, then make your argument clearly."

With McCain -- "Of course I understand your position, I just happen to have a quite different one based on ...such and such evidence. It's up to the audience to figure out which one of us has the best thought out position."

Facebook

religious sect may degenerate into a political faction,' wrote James Madison, but the new American nation would nevertheless be protected against the ungovernable combination of religious fervor and political power as long as the Constitution prohibited the federal government from establishing any particular creed as preeminent.
Egitim | Chat

Facebook

Madison believed that we should have separation of church and state throughout the land, federal and local. There was a fascinating moment during the congressional debate over what became the First Amendment. How could the beloved First Amendment be harmful to religion? Huntington feared that it would overturn or interfere with Connecticut’s approach, which was to have state-supported religion.
Chat | Chat

Facebook

Are you good until this issue thanks admin.
Chat | chat

Facebook

This information is very useful! Thanks!
Best regards, Katya, CEO of hyper v server download, clariion iscsi

Facebook

Si vous etes interesses par le dossier, ou desirez en savoir plus, contactez-moi par mail, et je vous mettrai en contact.
Best regards,Jane, CEO of high availability virtualization

Leave a comment

Advertisement
Please disable your adblocker!
Ads are how we pay the bills!

Subscribe

The Coffee House
TPMCafe's regulars

House Brew
From Your Cafe Editor

Special Guests
Big names and big brains

Special Features
Pressing topics and trends

Table for One
An expert's week-long talk.

All Reader Posts
TPM readers discuss.

Advertise Liberally
Share
Close Social Web Email

"To" Email Address

Your Name

Your Email Address