Arguments, Liberals and the Health Care Debate

This afternoon I stumbled across an excellent article entitled "Argument Writing for Liberals 101" written by Garrett Baldwin. The article discusses blogs, free speech and a recent attack the writer received from a reader:

On Monday, I received my first piece of ‘hate mail’. It was a riveting diatribe exploring the unprogressive complexities of my posting on George Bush and Barack Obama. The writer’s argument exemplified my problem with anonymous writing. The critic failed to grasp any core part of the argument, and instead just attacked my individual personality. You might call that form of argument Rule 12 for Radicals.

The note reads (sic:)

“Your a [complete] idiot. What did you do, steal a bunch of quotes from Rush Limbaugh and tie them together? Your just another racist repug and your pissed that Barrack Obama’s in the White house. Your side had 8 years and Bush destroyed the economy. Just leave the (sic:) distict of Columbia. No one wants you here. CONSERVATISM IS DEAD GET OVER IT!!!”

Mr Baldwin then proceeds to assist the writer with recommendations on how they might improve their attack on his position. He begins with Grammar:

Part One: Megan’s Basics

1) Spelling: Barack Obama only has one ‘R’ in his name, and you have probably written, read and screamed his name in adulation at least 30 times a day since mid-2007. The fact that you are unable to remember this spelling is troubling. Maybe it was because you took the ‘R’ out of District (sic: distict of Columbia) and gave it to your president’s name. No worries, you’re just maintaining the Joe the Plumber spirit, right? Spread the letters around.

2) You’re and Your: I cannot even remember how far back I would have to go to remember when I learned this basic rule of grammar. Probably at a time when I was unaware there was a President outside of George Washington, and my principal dressed up as Christopher Columbus on Columbus Day. That was in the mid- to late-1980s. Even if you forget this rule, Megan, you own a machine that has a grammar checking device. You typed that attack, yet you seemed incapable of hitting F7.

3) Spelling Numbers: In long form writing, spell numbers zero to nine. After 10, you may use numerals.

4) Commas: Commas are needed before every use of the word ‘and’ in your statement. Each of your clauses has a noun and a verb, which means that each can stand on its own.

He then goes on to discuss how to present ones thesis and how to support it thoroughly. In addition, he uses the health care debate to demonstrate how to do it well. All while attempting to assist his critic while maintaining a self deprecating tone.

Rebut the central argument of the opposition

This is my favorite paragraph, because you get to attack the other person’s argument… not the person, which is what the liberal would prefer. All you need is some logic, and their arguments fall apart.

In this paragraph, I would take a swing at Obama and Pelosi’s reasons for trying to railroad through this bill. Right away, I might say, “Pelosi argues that this reform is essential because she claims that she has the support of the American people, and there is an immediate need to insure 46 million people without proper care options.”
So I attack, with a great big, “HOWEVER”, Pelosi’s argument is flawed because…

She does not have support of Americans as the polling data continues to plummet and Americans are opposed to Congress’ actions since January.’ Americans who favor this plan trail 46 to 49 percent, according to polls released today. I would cite this data.

Furthermore, I could attack her almost arbitrary figure of ‘46 million uninsured’ who do not have access to healthcare, a fact which the Heritage Foundation has systematically proven to include 12 million illegal immigrants who do not pay taxes, nearly 10 million people who can afford healthcare, but refuse to purchase it, and millions more who have enrollment options but utilize Medicare and Medicaid.

And then there’s the people who are dead but are still being counted.

Just like that, I have seriously damaged Pelosi’s reasons and evidence for passing healthcare so swiftly.

In the Garrett Baldwin is a complete idiot, argument, Megan does not rebut anything I wrote in my article about Bush and Obama’s deficit spending. But, she could try to make some sort of logical argument that Garrett claims to not be a complete idiot, however... Then she would attack my claim with further evidence that might damage my argument, thus making me look foolish.

She fails to do any of these things. Instead she demands that I should leave the (sic: ) ‘distict of Columbia’, which I am assuming is a band.

This is a must read article. Read the entire article here.

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Conservatives and the 2008 elections

Here I sit in a town that is not my own reading a slew of drivel about what conservatives should take out of this past election. Since I live in New Jersey, I have heard all of these arguments before because alleged conservatives are an extinct species in NJ. But that isn't really the problem. New Jersey is exactly the model that national conservatives should shun when mapping a strategy forward. Why?

1. In New Jersey, unless a Republican (the closest thing we have to a conservative) agrees with abortion, there is a high degree of probability that the political machines will squash them out of the gate. And God forbid, they get the nomination. Google Brent Schundler to get the details on that. He lost through friendly fire before he ever competed. Abortion is an issue. Maybe to me it is important and to others less important. This needs to stop being a wedge issue among conservatives. And it needs to stop being a disqualifying issue among moderates when competing against conservatives in the party.

2. Many have argued that conservatives need to move to the middle because their beliefs don't match the electorate. This one is interesting. Barack Obama won with a solid margin. But defense of marriage won big in every election where it was on the ballot. This is not exactly a mandate against conservatism. It is as I have blogged before a great sign of voters breaking out of formerly lock-step mentality.

3. Conservative ideas don't work and need to be more liberal. How would you know in NJ or in the country? There has not been a conservative influence in our state in 40 years. And when Republicans got control of the federal government, they let down their core constituency by quickly learning to spend just like their Democrat friends. What does that prove? That Trenton and Washington corrupts and conservatives let us down.

4. Once voters believe it doesn't matter, you lose. For example, George W Bush reduced taxes by significant margins at every level. In return, states like New Jersey immediately sucked up the reduction with increases with no explanation. As a matter of fact, our corrupt governor (who became our corrupt gay governor to avoid prosecution) somehow managed to increase taxes, spending, borrowing and corruption without any media attention paid. And now NJ residents believe that "it doesn't matter who is in charge, taxes will go up".

The net for conservatives and Republicans is that we need to take a position that we stand for something. Anything. If Republicans like the former Chris Shays of CT win and we become warmed over Democrats, fine. At least the party will stand for SOMETHING. Right now, the brand is tarnished by the war, tarnished by a congress that would not hold true to its principals and catered to a pack of politicians that espoused conservative and Republican principles only when convenient but never in practice.

Time to stand up for something, anything, please....

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A powerful email from The Corner

This was just posted at The Corner and I think speaks volumes for many of us. It is reprinted unedited in its entirety:

I've had it with the Left and I've had it with "conservatives" who haven't had it with the Left [Andy McCarthy]


I'm posting because it is indicative of the anger in lots of reader email I'm seeing:

The Ifill issue is front and center. Last night on Brit Hume's program, the consensus was that they all knew Gwen and she is a swell person, and of course she wouldn't do anything partisan. Just where the hell are these people coming from? Day in and day out, out here in the real world we see obvious bias, obvious double standards and yet the Republicans and a lot of the "conservative" media either don't see it, or if they do, they let it slide.

A few examples. Obviously the current flap of Gwen Ifill, Tom Brokaw, Jim Lehrer as moderators for presidential debates but never an O’Reilly, Hannity, Limbaugh or Brit Hume. Why not?

A special prosecutor is appointed to investigate firings of 9 prosecutors but none was or will ever be appointed to find out why Clinton fired EVERY single prosecutor when he took office?? Republicans stand mute on this and it is infuriating.

Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Waters and the entire Black Caucus defend the running of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and prevent the very reforms which might have avoided the mess we are in today. Yet the MSM and Republicans are silent. Why aren't these guys investigated, forced to step down and prosecuted as was Tom Delay?? Again silence from the White House, McCain and other Republicans.

These are just a few of the things that infuriate conservatives outside the beltway and New York City. We have the Republican Party asking us for money, yet I haven't seen a single penny spent on demanding the Democrats adhere to the same standard Republicans are required to meet. Being a punching bag for liberals who constantly lie about you, constantly use inflammatory language (hate speech in some cases) and use any means necessary to gain power is no way to win elections. Yet this is the path the Republican Party takes time and time again. To say I am mad as hell about the Dems and the response of the Republicans to these liberal attacks is an understatement.

O’Reilly has an article on his web site that says “Conservative group drops Ayers, Rezko and Wright from their ad.” Why I ask?? These guys are terrorists, crooks and as anti-American as they come, yet those in a position to speak out remain mute!!

Enough. I don’t give a damn if the Fox media folk know Gwen and say she is a swell person. I don’t care if McCain thinks the Dems in the Senate and congress are his “good friends”, they sure as hell aren’t my good friends. In fact they work day in and day out to destroy all I hold dear, and tax me to pay for those in society who are too lazy and/or stupid to care for themselves....


10/02 01:42 PM

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