I'm a bit concerned about the vitriol engendered by Kerry's recent remarks on the campaign trail. Not that it is undeserved, but that it is a distraction.

There's rhetorical device known the 'Straw Man'. It basically means to present someone who defends a position poorly as the defender, refute that person's arguments, and pretend that every upholder of that position, and thus the position itself, has been defeated.

Kerry is not running for anything next Tuesday!!

This may well be the Democrats trying to have a sort of mystical Karl Rove moment.

Think about it... Democrats are joining in demanding an apology, and every eye on Kerry is an eye away from the races that matter next week.

If it isn't a democratic tactic, I'll bet there's folks in back rooms saying "wish I'd thought of that!"

Just sayin',,,

Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on November 1, 2006 at 02:20 PM in Current Affairs, Zero Ponsdorf | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: velvethammer

Ya know Zero, that is a helluva point. A diversion tactic....?
Who better than him to do so? After all it is something he would say, the *&%$&.
Actually if it were part of pre-planned agenda, then to me that is a million times worse.
Overall, am I shocked he said it? No. Par for his course, they would of picked the
perfect patsy to do so.
Well no matter why he said it, it still really PISSES me off!

Posted by: velvethammer | Nov 1, 2006 3:14:29 PM

Posted by: antimedia

Are you off your meds?

Posted by: antimedia | Nov 1, 2006 11:21:13 PM

Posted by: ponsdorf

antimedia:

Not at all. The timing of Kerry related headlines may well be a coincidence. Occam's Razor suggests it is, but either way he is a distraction from the main event next week.

Posted by: ponsdorf | Nov 2, 2006 1:01:54 AM

Posted by: Rurik

I've long suspected that this may have been the secret behind Slick Willie's success. He kept the scandals and outrages flowing so continuously that nobody had time to really get ahold of one, before its place in the attention span had been taken by yet another. We were just overwhelmed and obsessed by Monica and sexual escapades while missing his abuses of the FBI, IRS, sale of influence to China & Indonesia, passing of nuclear secrets and more. We let a major traitor slide because Ken Starr wanted to nail him for a blowjob.

Posted by: Rurik | Nov 2, 2006 8:51:54 PM