As I mentioned earlier, all arguments eventually devolve to emotional pleas that exploit our fears. But, if you make a purely emotional plea that tries to tap into peoples hopes, as Obama did yesterday, you get dinged for being too vague.
Obama's speech was an attempt to motivate (manipulation, psychology) to pursue a larger purpose (situation, universe). The politicos take this as an opportunity to argue about Obama's methods (mind, fixed attitude), or lack thereof (since it was not, in fact a policy speech).
His optimism isn't realistic, they say. He didn't say how he'll achieve all of these things. It's all empty rhetoric 1.
Which pretty much misses while disappearing up their ownasses political echo chambers.
1. Rhetoric being the language of poetry and non-rational persuasion, as opposed to the cool2 prosaic3 language of logic.
2. Cool in its original meaning of detachment as opposed to it's current usage as a post-Boomer catchall for "nifty," as in "keep cool, but care" from Pynchon's V.
3. And here I mean prosaic as in, well I'm not sure, but just sort of banal and boiler-platish. The distinction between poetry and prose is kind of stupid anyway, since some of the best prose is rhetorically1 beautiful.
Obama's speech was an attempt to motivate (manipulation, psychology) to pursue a larger purpose (situation, universe). The politicos take this as an opportunity to argue about Obama's methods (mind, fixed attitude), or lack thereof (since it was not, in fact a policy speech).
His optimism isn't realistic, they say. He didn't say how he'll achieve all of these things. It's all empty rhetoric 1.
Which pretty much misses while disappearing up their own
1. Rhetoric being the language of poetry and non-rational persuasion, as opposed to the cool2 prosaic3 language of logic.
2. Cool in its original meaning of detachment as opposed to it's current usage as a post-Boomer catchall for "nifty," as in "keep cool, but care" from Pynchon's V.
3. And here I mean prosaic as in, well I'm not sure, but just sort of banal and boiler-platish. The distinction between poetry and prose is kind of stupid anyway, since some of the best prose is rhetorically1 beautiful.
