Real People vs. Straw Men

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Tuesday December 01, 2009 · 9:36 AM PST

2009/12/01 · 09:36

A straw man is a fallacy in which an irrelevant topic is presented in order to divert attention from the original issue. The basic idea is to "win" an argument by leading attention away from the argument and to another topic.

Recently, a Kossack wrote an impassioned plea for our President to not expand this war, including the line "Be your mother's son." The way I read that, it could have been said to anyone, as a plea to be human. To be humble. To remember one's roots, and to respect the life-giving power of mothers (as opposed to the potentially life-taking powers of people in positions like the president's).

So why did the following become the recommended meaning at Daily Kos:

bringing the president's mom into the mix - when she can't have a say about it - is just disgusting.

And while i won't do what you did and presume to know what a dead woman would think, i'll take a leap and say that Dr. Soetoro probably would be relatively proud of her son.

The straw man here is a presumed disrespect for Obama's mom, and a projection of what she would think.

KumarP

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Tuesday September 29, 2009 · 2:15 PM PDT

2009/09/29 · 14:15

Why do I have a harder time connecting with Daily Kos than in the past?

Because this site tries to simultaneously celebrate the democratic party, while at the same time maintain a healthy progressive voice. This is increasingly becoming an impossible goal, and I would like to propose that people start recognizing the fact that there are two things which will, in the end, prevent the majority of democratic politicians from being progressive the way that we, the untethered masses, can be:

The lack of a moral compass on REAL campaign finance reform, and

The commitment to 2-party rule

KumarP

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Friday August 21, 2009 · 1:57 PM PDT

2009/08/21 · 13:57

title=

A little humility may go a long way.

I am not ashamed to say it: the rest of the world seems to understand health care a lot better than us. Perhaps it is time we ask for help. Insights from "Dr. Deb":

KumarP

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Saturday June 06, 2009 · 11:29 AM PDT

2009/06/06 · 11:29

It seems to be on the lips of all the Democrats that are apologisting for something other than single payer- Darcy Burner makes it clear in her otherwise excellent diary ("So we need to convince the general public it's a good idea...") that she doesn't believe Americans support single payer.

Yet countless polls show otherwise. I think this is a case of people trying very hard to convince themselves that the wool they pulled over their eyes is so invisible, it doesn't actually exist.

Lobbyists be damned!

Please take the poll.

Poll

71 votes Show Results

Do Americans Support Single Payer?

71 votes Vote Now!

Do Americans Support Single Payer?

Yes

63 votes

6 votes

I'm so confused- the facts say one thing, our elected officials say another!

2 votes

Dear Prez, Your Economic Advisor is Insane

KumarP

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday April 14, 2009 · 9:16 AM PDT

2009/04/14 · 09:16

I was just listening to this morning's edition of Democracy Now, and heard reference to the following Larry Summers quote:

I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I've always though that under-populated countries in Africa are vastly UNDER-polluted

This comment bore a remarkable relevance to current events, considering the generally unreported economic piracy that is happening off the coast of Somalia, in the form of illegal fishing and toxic waste dumping- practices that depress the local economy, in effect encouraging that other form of piracy. The show's host, Amy Goodman, mentioned that Summers has defended the remark as sarcastic, so I figured I'd hold off judgment and try to learn a little more.

(please follow me below the fold)

KumarP

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday January 09, 2009 · 11:48 PM PST

2009/01/09 · 23:48

I heard you on the radio,

"HUNDREDS are dead in the CONFLICT,
MOST of them Palestinian."

Is it such a hard
thing

To wrap your head
round what
this
is?

Right now it stands at

around 800 gone on one
side,

around 10 gone on the other.

Thousands wounded, on one side.

This is a bloodbath!
This is a massacre!
An act of Genocide!

Is everyone insane?

As Far As Cars...

KumarP

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday December 03, 2008 · 9:59 AM PST

2008/12/03 · 09:59

As a producer of biodiesel from locally collected used fryer oil, I often post at the Biodiesel Infopop forum.

Recently, I started a thread about the trend toward sophisticated diesel emissions systems that ironically, and unfortunately, make it harder to run this cleaner-burning fuel (in the name of lower emissions!).

In that thread, poster keelec put out an awesome call to action:

As far as cars...

We now have a President Elect that at least supported biodiesel while out on the campaign trail.

And a current congress that has a weak majority in the party of the President Elect that claimed to support biodiesel.

And a future congress with a strong majority in his party.

And....

We have 3 HUGE Auto manufacturers who are now headed back to Washington DC to beg for a $25,000,000,000.00 loan.

Talk to your congressmen.

Write to your congressmen.

Tell them what you want for bio fuel support.

I sent this note to my congressmen...

Please follow below the fold...

Poll

7 votes Show Results

Have you used your leverage yet to get what you want from the Big 3, and Uncle Sam?

7 votes Vote Now!

Have you used your leverage yet to get what you want from the Big 3, and Uncle Sam?

Yes- I've written them

4 votes

No, I haven't

2 votes

Not yet, but I will!

1 vote

Amusing dKos Spam

KumarP

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday November 06, 2008 · 9:19 AM PST

2008/11/06 · 09:19

I get this kind of stuff all the time in my junk mail folder, but was surprised to see the phrase, "Daily Kos" on this one:

From: suzee_20@yahoo.com
Subject: Nice to meet you
Date: November 6, 2008 4:06:56 AM PST
To: suzee_20@yahoo.com
Reply-To: suzeegoodluck@yahoo.co.uk

Hello,
How are you and how is your work hope all is moving fine.i seek for honest partner and i meet you on dailykos.com and it was interesting and attractive then i drop by to know who this was, i will like to know more about you. if you wouldn't mind you can reply my mail.
i will be very glad to read your mail with all pleasure. it will be nice to meet you and also read from you. please do honor my invitation so that we can exchange our pictures and maybe become partner.
Remember the distance does not matter what matters is the love we share with each other.
i wait to hear from you soon.

kiss regards Miss Suzee

If anyone's interested in the delightful Miss Suzee, consider this a gift.

Meta Comment On Hatred: Kossacks, Don't Play That Game

KumarP

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday October 27, 2008 · 3:15 PM PDT

2008/10/27 · 15:15

Folks, meet KumarP, Naderite thug (4+ / 0-)

Classic Naderite behavior -- a TR because he finds my comments "disrespectful," but when the diarist compares Kossacks with a less than favorable opinion of Saint Ralph to Freepers, Kumar's TR is oddly absent.

To TR someone because you don't agree with their opinions is a violation of FAQs -- to lie about it is merely the behavior of a scumbag.

by ------- on Mon Oct 27, 2008 at 09:32:34 AM PDT

The "TR" in question was given by me because I thought the following comment, in response to a plea by the diarist to give Nader respect for his historical victories (like the subject of the diary in question: today's date, 39 years ago, when Nader's Raiders were formed), was, ironically, completely disrespectful:

Jim, I'd gladly give Nader the respect he's due. (8+ / 1-)

Tell me where he is appearing next, and I'll go there and piss on him.

Haven't you Naderite schmucks caught on to the fact that you are as welcome at DKos as your johns in the GOP?

please follow me below the fold...

KumarP

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday October 21, 2008 · 10:21 PM PDT

2008/10/21 · 22:21

...made an open copyright (see caveat below) image:

Feel free to use this however you like, provided you give credit to "Kossack KumarP". I was thinking of doing something at Cafe Press, but this is easier. Hope you all enjoy it!

P.S. - I know this would work better as a comment, but I put a lot of work into it, and in return, I ask that it be given a chance not to disappear as quickly as most comments. A heartfelt thank you to understanding diary police.

Poll

73 votes Show Results

Do you agree with Olbermann?

73 votes Vote Now!

Do you agree with Olbermann?

Yes, Palin really is that dumb.

54 votes

No, she's just not eloquent.

1 vote

I liked what he said about pie. Seriously.

18 votes

NPR on McCain's Constitutional Christianity, and more

KumarP

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday September 30, 2008 · 1:21 PM PDT

2008/09/30 · 13:21

Today on Fresh Air, belief.net founder Stephen Waldman brought up a couple of points that I haven't heard talked about that should scare the begeezus out of any potential fence-sitters...

Mr. Waldman, trying hard to be even-handed despite his "list of 75 questions that he would ask Sarah Palin" (in which, "What were you thinking while Reverend Moothy was trying to cast out witches?" "wasn't even in the top 10") mentioned as very scary things the fact that a) Sarah Palin believes her natural gas pipeline is a mission from God (nothing new there), and b) the fact that she created a Christian Heritage Week as governor of Alaska.

This second point was new to me: that Alaska is officially making it policy to discriminate against Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Buddhists, etc. by endorsing that one particular religion. Additionally, Palin committed a huge no-no in Waldman's book (literally) by invoking the Christianity of the founding fathers in the wording of the proclamation.

more after the fold (involving McCain)...

KumarP

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 25, 2008 · 3:21 PM PDT

2008/09/25 · 15:21

Here's the clue:

The McCain campaign said Thursday night that he will remain in Washington for the night "as he continues to take action in brokering a deal that will address the crisis as well as protect the taxpayer. No further travel plans have been made at this point."

There has been talk of the Republicans posing a completely different plan, that doesn't call upon the government for bailout funds. I have to wonder if it emerges magically tomorrow as a McCain creation.

A group of GOP lawmakers circulated a less government-focused alternative. Their proposal would have the government provide insurance to companies that agree to hold frozen assets, rather than have the government purchase the assets. Rep Eric Cantor, R-Va., said the idea would be to remove the burden of the bailout from taxpayers and place it, over time, on Wall Street instead.

If that becomes "the McCain plan", and the failed bailout becomes branded the "Bush/Democrats plan", then this thing could go all weird on us. What do you think?

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Real People vs. Straw Men

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WE NEED HELP!

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Dear Prez, Your Economic Advisor is Insane

Perspective (a Wake and a Dirge)

As Far As Cars...

Amusing dKos Spam

Meta Comment On Hatred: Kossacks, Don't Play That Game

Inspired by tonight's campaign comment, I...

NPR on McCain's Constitutional Christianity, and more

The Setup?