The Trump Presidency: Part 20

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Stacyhs said:
When I cited the professional judgment of one of, if not the, leading DNA experts in the world on the credibility of crucial DNA evidence in a case, not only did the other poster claim an Appeal to Authority, but insisted that expert was a "paid shill". In fact, every single bonafide expert that disagreed with this poster was labeled a "shill" or "bent". Thus is the ability of people to hand wave away that which they do not want to accept.
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Yep, pretty standard CT tactics- they taint the criteria by which any objective standard for assessing fact and resolving a question is possible because, for the subject under discussion, the object is not to reach a resolution, but to prolong the discussion (as per JayUtah)- they "win" the argument simply by never, in their minds, losing it.

This may all seem to be veering into OT territory, but I'd argue that it's a valid point when talking about Trump's presidency; it's no accident that a substantial portion of his base is a group of people for whom that CT tactic is a necessary one, a paradigm they need to maintain their belief (in Trump as well as in their more basic god). I mean, of course, the religious fundamentalists- as I've said here before, religion is really just the ultimate conspiracy theory, especially as practiced by fundies. So it should be no surprise that so much of his core base has so little regard for objective fact- it's an obstacle to them, to be waved aside by whatever means they can use, fair or foul, so the question is irresolvable, and opinion, one just as good as any other, reigns supreme. The faith is maintained because it's made indestructible by pure persistence on the one hand and simple attrition on the other- they win by not ever recognizing a standard that could measure loss, and their measure for success is the frustration of people who, in the end, can only shake their heads.
 
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Captain_Swoop said:
Trump Tweets

I want all Americans to understand: we are at war with an invisible enemy, but that enemy is no match for the spirit and resolve of the American people...

...It cannot overcome the dedication of our doctors, nurses, and scientists — and it cannot beat the LOVE, PATRIOTISM, and DETERMINATION of our citizens. Strong and United, WE WILL PREVAIL!
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"WOLVERINES!! (And it's a Chinese virus!)"
 
Horatius said:
The really annoying thing was, a lot of them would quite happily commit a real Appeal to Authority fallacy when it was in their interests. "Listen to this guy, he was a cop!", and then you realize he's just spewing the same BS, and nothing in it is in any way relevant to his being a cop.
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Just a reminder, not saying who needs to be reminded:

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/Appeal-to-Authority
Be very careful not to confuse "deferring to an authority on the issue" with the appeal to authority fallacy. Remember, a fallacy is an error in reasoning. Dismissing the council of legitimate experts and authorities turns good skepticism into denialism. The appeal to authority is a fallacy in argumentation, but deferring to an authority is a reliable heuristic that we all use virtually every day on issues of relatively little importance. There is always a chance that any authority can be wrong, that’s why the critical thinker accepts facts provisionally. It is not at all unreasonable (or an error in reasoning) to accept information as provisionally true by credible authorities. Of course, the reasonableness is moderated by the claim being made (i.e., how extraordinary, how important) and the authority (how credible, how relevant to the claim).
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I missed the visual, but I heard a reporter ask Trump if he was aware that one of his admin people was calling it the "Kung Flu". But I swear I heard him smirk.

He said (of course) that he hadn't heard that and asked the reporter who had said it. She didn't know, which was poor research on her part.
 
Captain_Swoop said:
Trump Tweets

I will totally protect your Medicare & Social Security!
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Both of which were decried as Socialism when proposed.

Meanwhile, add to the list of things the Trump admin can't do competently: The 2020 census. I've received two invitations in as many days. And they're doing it on line. What could possibly go wrong.
 
All of these nasty, viscous remarks directed at our president... you guys should be ashamed. Step back and think about what kind of person at a moment of national crisis would waste valuable time by posting hateful comments to the Internet.
 
Captain_Swoop said:
Trump Tweets

...It cannot overcome the dedication of our doctors, nurses, and scientists — and it cannot beat the LOVE, PATRIOTISM, and DETERMINATION of our citizens. Strong and United, WE WILL PREVAIL!
Click to expand...


Defeating a disease with love, patriotism, and determination. I'm suddenly reminded of a line from a Call of Cthulhu RPG book about modern New Age beliefs and the Mythos. It was something like "All of the visualized white light in the world won't help when an otherworldly abomination is trying to eat your face."
 
Anyone who's paying attention knows President Trump's doing a heck've job combatting this Kung Flu.
 
turingtest said:
Yep, pretty standard CT tactics- they taint the criteria by which any objective standard for assessing fact and resolving a question is possible because, for the subject under discussion, the object is not to reach a resolution, but to prolong the discussion (as per JayUtah)- they "win" the argument simply by never, in their minds, losing it.

This may all seem to be veering into OT territory, but I'd argue that it's a valid point when talking about Trump's presidency; it's no accident that a substantial portion of his base is a group of people for whom that CT tactic is a necessary one, a paradigm they need to maintain their belief (in Trump as well as in their more basic god). I mean, of course, the religious fundamentalists- as I've said here before, religion is really just the ultimate conspiracy theory, especially as practiced by fundies. So it should be no surprise that so much of his core base has so little regard for objective fact- it's an obstacle to them, to be waved aside by whatever means they can use, fair or foul, so the question is irresolvable, and opinion, one just as good as any other, reigns supreme. The faith is maintained because it's made indestructible by pure persistence on the one hand and simple attrition on the other- they win by not ever recognizing a standard that could measure loss, and their measure for success is the frustration of people who, in the end, can only shake their heads.
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Well said.

The main aim of all religions is to explain what we do not know and/or understand and thereby reduce or remove fear. As a species, we do not like not knowing. It makes us uncomfortable and fearful. So we make up answers and explanations. It doesn't matter whether or not these explanations are logical or make any sense. Almost any answer is better than "don't know". The Fundies are used to and accept the idea of an all-powerful, authoritative, single entity who will fix everything. So when Trump tells them "I'm the only one who can fix this," they are primed to believe him.
 
An indication of how seriously Trump is now taking the pandemic is the fact that we haven't heard about him golfing lately. It must be the End of the World and we just haven't been told yet. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
 
The Great Zaganza said:
Trump is now calling himself a Wartime President - which actually isn't that far off the mark.

This crisis might very well be the thing that gets him a second term, even though his administration is largely to blame for the lack of preparedness.
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He's finally getting a "message" together that he can sell. Apart from that nothing really changes but the perception can now be managed.
 
Stacyhs said:
An indication of how seriously Trump is now taking the pandemic is the fact that we haven't heard about him golfing lately. It must be the End of the World and we just haven't been told yet. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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I think it may be an indication that the Secret Service doesn't consider Mar-a-Lago secure anymore. Way too many rich dirtbags spread the virus there.
 
Captain_Swoop said:
Trump Tweets

I want all Americans to understand: we are at war with an invisible enemy, but that enemy is no match for the spirit and resolve of the American people...

...It cannot overcome the dedication of our doctors, nurses, and scientists — and it cannot beat the LOVE, PATRIOTISM, and DETERMINATION of our citizens. Strong and United, WE WILL PREVAIL!
Click to expand...
In feeling NAUSEOUS after reading that.
 
Captain_Swoop said:
Trump Tweets

The DNC will have gotten their fondest wish and defeated Bernie Sanders, far ahead of schedule. Now they are doing everything possible to be nice to him in order to keep his supporters. Bernie has given up, just like he did last time. He will be dropping out soon! MAGA/KAG

95% Approval Rating in the Republican Party, 53% overall. Not bad considering I get nothing but Fake & Corrupt News, day and night. “Russia, Russia, Russia”, then “the Ukraine Scam (where’s the Whistleblower?)”, the “Impeachment Hoax”, and more, more, more....

....Also, according to the Daily Caller, leading Sleepy Joe Biden in Florida, 48% to 42%.
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Speaking of fake and corrupt, Fivethiryeight has Trump's approval rating at 43% overall, disapproval at 52.8% as of today. Even Rassmussen, which is generally more Trump friendly, has his disapproval at 46%, disapproval at 54%.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/
 
alfaniner said:
I missed the visual, but I heard a reporter ask Trump if he was aware that one of his admin people was calling it the "Kung Flu". But I swear I heard him smirk.

He said (of course) that he hadn't heard that and asked the reporter who had said it. She didn't know, which was poor research on her part.
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I don't think she needed to do research. The aide said it to her. She just didn't want to out him.
 
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