Why the groundhog never loses
Reading Time: < 1 minutes The whole groundhog-seeing-his-shadow thing an example of a false dichotomy. (And yes, I know the picture is a prairie dog. I’ll explain.) Continue reading Why the groundhog never loses
Tag: DEBATES
Foul: Ad Hominem
Reading Time: 2 minutes In a speech this week, President Biden said those who oppose the election bill are racists. Did he learn personal attacks from Donald Trump? Continue reading Foul: Ad Hominem
Foul: Changing the Rules
Reading Time: 2 minutes Will changing Senate rules help protect minority rights? The Rhetoric Referee reminds us everyone is a minority—of one. WITH VIDEO. Continue reading Foul: Changing the Rules
The Indefensible ‘If True’
Reading Time: 2 minutes – RHETORIC REFEREE – The words ‘If True’ make the difference between real and fake news, especially in an echo chamber. Continue reading The Indefensible ‘If True’
Mastering the debate game
Reading Time: 3 minutes – RHETORIC REFEREE – Donald Trump knows how to play the game to win. Now you can, too! Follow along see if you can spot these debate tricks and traps. Continue reading Mastering the debate game
The Great American Elimination Reality Show
Reading Time: 3 minutes – ESSAY – Gaffes and blunders, successes and failures, new heroes and villains every week — does any of this sound familiar? Continue reading The Great American Elimination Reality Show
The Straw Man
Reading Time: < 1 minutes – DEBATE TRICKS – American political discussions violate many rules of logic and debate. One of the most outrageous, easiest to spot, and hardest to parry is the Straw Man argument. Continue reading The Straw Man