Defeating Political Ridicule

American Thinker ^ | May 15, 2009 | Kyle-Anne Shiver

[bricks4all2]

think Carrie Prejean

[Marylander]

Lancey: Is there ANY reason the Republicans can’t utilize Alinsky’s tactics against the scumbags?

neverdem: The left richly deserves ridicule. It generates one problem after another domestically with their populist activism for more taxes, government intervention and statism. In foreign affairs, they consistently undermine our foreign policy.

How about finding more concrete names for those concepts, something they would not like to be called.

The article is a fine one. I like this response to ridicule: Is that the best you got? But I think that doesn't meet the criteria set down by the author.

[webstersII]

So, Saul takes the bully’s tactics and uses them for himself?

What a loser, to become a bully because you got bullied.

[webstersII]

The tactic of just refusing to respond to the bully is an incomplete answer to the problem.

You have to respond in the right way.
1) You never, ever answer a question or address an accusation from a bully.
2) Make your own assertions in the form of questions. Whoever asks the questions is in control of the conversation.

This is the way to control bullies. It is amazing how quickly it shuts people up when you do this.

[GladesGuru]

Your second line sums up the Alinsky ridicule attack methodology, “It was about labeling, minimizing, and removing an opponent/argument from serious consideration by the general populace.”

The author of the article had no real method of countering it.

The way to do that is to laugh at the attacker, followed by an immediate counter demeaning their facts, logic, ethics and morality for being so desperate as to have to stoop to such an argument.

If the conservatives can’t learn how to win the debate, they will be destroyed by communism or will have to fight a civil war rather than passively hand over their possessions and their freedoms.

BAAAAAD choice.

Better, by far, to learn how to squelch the Liberals.

Like it or not, communism IS in the White House, and in the hearts and minds( be they ever so shallow) of the average American.

Thank a teacher for the prevalent acceptance of communism amongst far too many Americans.

[wastoute]

We are such a bunch of Henny Pennys. I don't think I have ever seen so much "sky is falling". Damn right the sky is falling and it is a GOOD thing. Let the fascists do whatever they damn well please. None of their schemes will work and the whole house will soon come tumbling down. Let it. In fact kick as many load bearing walls as you can. On the other side lies the reset button. Just Do It.

The US gummint is broke and broken. It is a dead man walking.

Μολὼν λάβε

[FrogMom]

The libs use projection CONSTANTLY. If they say you are doing something nefarious, you can guaran-damn-tee that they are doing it. Since this is a lie, and childish to boot, real conservatives won't do it.

We ARE the adults, libs are stuck in perpetual adolescence (much easier than growing up), we need to act like it, not join in their immaturity.

[rdb3]

Real strength has no need to stoop to nastiness. Ever.

That's right! Took me 30 years to learn this, but I'm glad I did.

Amazing << Hear this. Feel this, and tell me that this isn't music.

Oh, dear...

[kabumpo]

I always say, “name-calling is the first resort of s person who has no argument.” That stops them in their tracks.

[kabumpo]

I AGREE — ridicule is about marginalizing.

[supercat]

On almost any issue, there are some people on both sides who are worthy of ridicule. In some cases, I would think it may be appropriate to acknowledge that there are often some people who would push issues to indefensible extremes, but the fact that other people may argue your viewpoint poorly does not mean you are one of them. Don't explicitly declare the more extreme people to be 'wrong', but rather point out that their arguments are not your arguments.

I just watched the Penn & Teller "BS" episode on gun control, and while I was glad that they acknowledged that the Second Amendment wasn't about hunting, I would have preferred that they take a slightly different tack. Rather than arguing that it is intended to allow the overthrow of a legitimate government, I would suggest that it is intended to allow people to defend themselves against a government that sometimes acts illegitimately. The goal isn't to overthrow legitimate government, but rather to protect it.

I wouldn't deny that the Founding Fathers would have probably considered it plausible that liberty might require the overthrow of even a legitimate Constitutional government, but I would regard P&T's talk of overthrowing legitimate government to be way premature, since one can't overthrow legitimate government where none exists.

The Constitution expressly forbids the government or its agents from depriving free persons of their life, liberty, or property without due process of law. It further forbids unreasonable searches and seizures. Together, these prohibitions mandate that government agents must make reasonable efforts, when conducting a search or seizure, to avoid unnecessarily depriving people of life, liberty, or property.

While there may be some dispute over what is "necessary", there are many cases in which it is abundantly clear that government agents have acted with--at best--wanton disregard for people's property. Can such agents be fairly described as "acting legitimately"? Is there any reason citizens should not be entitled to defend themselves against such "rogue" agents? (nb: I use the quotes around "rogue" because in many cases the agents' superiors approve of their action, but for rhetorical purposes it's best not to say so).

[goodnesswins]

bookmarked

[neverdem]

Rather than arguing that it is intended to allow the overthrow of a legitimate government, I would suggest that it is intended to allow people to defend themselves against a government that sometimes acts illegitimately.

Hitler's was originally a legitimate government. It became a tyranny just like George III's. When that happens all bets are off. Read all the grievances. It's not that long. Note four references to the Creator.

The Declaration of Independence

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

bump

[fr_freak]

"Real strength has no need to stoop to nastiness. Ever."

That's right! Took me 30 years to learn this, but I'm glad I did.

That may be true among regular people, but the Left employs nastiness to great success these days, while at the same time throwing charges of nastiness, or "mean-spiritedness" at any conservative who might try to defend himself or defend his country. For example, a left-wing nut may advocate open borders and total amnesty and spew all kinds of anti-Caucasian rhetoric about the time of "dead, white men" being over, but when a conservative tries to point out, however kindly, that such policies would destroy this country economically and culturally, he is immediately accused of racism, which is the ultimate charge of "nastiness" in most people's minds these days. The news media then reports the exchange as being a sweet love-in by the left and a racist hate-fest by the Right.

We are not living in times where the old rules of chivalry and fair play apply. We adapt or we die.

[grey_whiskers]

There is, I haven't had time to write the vanity yet. :-)

Had an awful weekend, over commitment and under-planning by "the Cubs."

As an appetizer on the problems of the government not listening to us, try this morning's vanity.

Cheers!

[GladesGuru]

“The US gummint is broke and broken.”

Agreed on the “broke” part. IMHO, government should be kept on a very meager financial leash.

Like all aggressive weed species, government needs to be rigorously and vigorously pruned by the voters.

The main indicator of government malfunctioning is the huge size of the beast. IT’S HUGH, I TELL YA’.

The US form of government isn’t broken, just out of control and in need of being refitted with the chains the Founders labored to create to bind the “Beast of Government”.

[sauropod]

I say use it against them. Code Pinko in particular.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks neverdem.