Originally Posted by
Mark Rippetoe
See how the Left works? First, note the lack of response to my points. Then the straw man is born: Texas is far from the most libertarian state in the union, and being a mayor in Texas does not make anybody a libertarian, but he makes the statement -- he builds the straw man -- and proceeds from there to dismantle that which only exists in his "argument." All of his posts do this very thing, and all the Leftists that post here do it too. I don't know where they learn this, but be assured that it is intentional, and it persuades stupid people all the time. It's a useful rhetorical tool in that respect. Maybe law school teaches this? Anybody know?
And then he says:
The Appeal to Sincerity. That works on stupid people too: "He really means it. He believes it. I guess he's right. And I don't want to be wrong, because that would make me wrong. It's important to listen to all sides, even if they make no logical sense, so I hope Rip keeps approving his posts!"