Category Archives: Weak Analogy

The NSA knows about your analogy and slippery slope

Posted on 6/16/2013 by Scott Aikin

In response to challenges to the legality and morality of the NSA’s surveillance program, President Obama said we should have a healthy debate about it (video HERE).  This occasions George Neumayr at the American Spectator to make this comparison: He … Continue reading →

Posted in Slippery Slope, Weak Analogy | Leave a comment

Pretty in pink

Posted on 5/9/2013 by Scott Aikin

Check out Charles Krauthammer’s downplaying analogy over at the NRO for Obama’s ‘Red Line’ ultimatum with Syria using chemical weapons and what the Right thinks is dithering (or “fudging and fumbling”) in the face of the worry they’ve used them.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Krauthammer, Weak Analogy | 1 Comment

The Kim Jong-Un of rhetorical analogies

Posted on 4/12/2013 by Scott Aikin

David Brooks, arguing that sequestration has put government spending well below ideal levels for sustainable economic culture: Right now, we are the North Korea of fiscal policy. That’s laying it on pretty thick.  Though, given the way Republicans talk about … Continue reading →

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Some analogies are are like propositions that aren’t true

Posted on 4/11/2013 by Scott Aikin

Sometimes when you make an analogy, you really just show how little you understand. Or, perhaps, how little you want to.  Charles Cooke at NRO thinks that taxing ammunition at a higher rate, perhaps at 50%, is not just bad … Continue reading →

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Welcome to the Secular Theocracy

Posted on 3/15/2013 by Scott Aikin

Jeffrey Lord’s post at The American Spectator about the “Theocratic” bent of “The Left’s” obsession with bans on things that are bad for us or are bad for the environment ends with a great flourish.  Lord’s analogy is to the … Continue reading →

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sneakyGodwin

Posted on 2/7/2013 by Scott Aikin

We’ve had discussions of the use of persuasive comparison with the Ad Hitlerum and Godwin’s Law here at the NS a few times.  (Just a sample from John HERE and from me HERE).  Here’s a stealthier version (hence, sneakyGodwin), one … Continue reading →

Posted in specious comparisons, Weak Analogy | Tagged , | 3 Comments

When ad populum identification itself is a fallacy

Posted on 1/30/2013 by Scott Aikin

Matt Purple has diagnosed the Republican Party with a case of Stockholm Syndrome.  They identify with their oppressors, now.  Specifically, liberal Democrats. Turn on MSNBC these days and you’ll see a non-stop metronome of post-Romney Republican flogging. You want this … Continue reading →

Posted in Appeal to the People, Specious allegations of fallacy, Weak Analogy | Tagged | Leave a comment

Reductio by analogy

Posted on 1/12/2013 by Scott Aikin

Johah Goldberg wrote a book about public and political discourse.  That makes him an expert about how people argue about policy.  His recent criticism of Joe Biden’s rhetorical flourish “if it saves one life,” reason to heavily regulate fire arms … Continue reading →

Posted in Jonah Goldberg, Straw Man, Weak Analogy | 7 Comments

Arsenic and old lace

Posted on 11/29/2012 by John Casey

Rick Warren, MEGACHURCH Christian minister, has a lot of gay friends.  You can tell this by the respect for them oozing from his well-considered words.  In an interview with Piers Morgan of CNN, he had the following to say about … Continue reading →

Posted in Weak Analogy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Consistently confusing criticism for censorship

Posted on 8/7/2012 by Scott Aikin

Jeffrey Lord's post, "Gay Totalitarianism," over at The American Spectator is hampered by confusion.  Lord's main case is that liberals can't stand dissent, and want to shut down any opposing voice.  This has, in his view, been in bright highlight … Continue reading →

Posted in bad company, Things that are false, Weak Analogy | Tagged | 3 Comments