Protestantism

» Migisi - Ad Hominem

In response to Ad Hominem posted by BrianTubbs:
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There's little civility anymore. In fact, groups like MoveOn.org actively discourage civility. It's not a good thing for civil democracy. Not good at all.
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Nasty politics? Puhleez! Get a historic grip.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1021/p09s0...
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(Quote).........
"Andrew Jackson was described by his opponents as a drunkard, bigamist, adulterer, gambler, and murderer. Abraham Lincoln likewise was viewed as an "awful woeful ass," a "dictator," a "coarse vulgar joker," and a "grotesque baboon." To Republicans in 1884, Grover Cleveland was a "lecherous beast," an "obese nincompoop," and a "drunken sot." ...
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"Is incivility a new and growing threat to American politics? No. American politics has always been robust, edgy, overstated, and "simplistic." Today's much-bemoaned 30-second attack ads are surely no more irrational, emotionally provocative, or unfair than posters of elephants stomping on Communism and New Dealism, which are meant to be viewed as two peas in a pod, according to the postermaker.
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"Only in the eyes of certain elites is our politics today more than ordinarily nasty. And the solutions to that nastiness just happen to augment the influence of those very elites. Though they argue for a transcendence of the Founders' low expectations for American politics, even they live down to them. In the closing days of this election season, American citizens should celebrate, enjoy, and throw themselves into the exasperating, wonderful spectacle of our presidential election.
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"And when they hear complaints about our debased politics, they should reflect on this lament: "The age of statesmen is gone.... God save the Republic ... from the buffoon and gawk ... we have for President."
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"That was the 'New York World' in 1864, commenting on the renomination of Abraham Lincoln." (end)
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The article is worth reading, IMO.

-- posted by Migisi