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Bolton had his shot during the first impeachment inquiry. He refused to testify, and let his subordinates hang out to dry. I feel he's of low or bad character,
by bediger4000 2y ago
Bolton had his shot during the first impeachment inquiry. He refused to testify, and let his subordinates hang out to dry. I feel he's of low or bad character, and should be ignored.
- Terr_ 2y agoIsn't that just a textbook example of an ad homimem fallacy? I notice you never said Bolton's assessment of the incoming administration as corrupt/power-abusing was actually wrong...
- ttyprintk 2y agoSomeone omnipresent in DC, influential yet unelected is the epitome of swamp. The drain-the-swamp current invites ad-hominem; but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
- bediger4000 2y agoPotentially legit criticism. I did state some facts about Bolton's behavior. Then, I wrote how I felt about what that behavior means. I'm not sure that's ad hominem per se. Thanks for making me think!
- Terr_ 2y agoFor me, the framing is more like: "Holy crap, when even John Bolton has chosen to break Republican ranks in order to denounce someone as a hack with no integrity, that means there's something legitimately-unusual here to pay attention to." There is one scenario where I would be much more sympathetic to "whatever this person says is best ignored", and that's when they keep contradicting themselves with a kind of denial-of-service BS attack on listeners' minds that "isn't even wrong." As much as I dislike most of Bolton's views, awards for that particular style belong firmly elsewhere these days.
- bediger4000 2y agoI'm struggling a bit with the logic. If ad hominem is a fallacy, then surely your proposed framing is, too. I wrote that Bolton is a gutless coward therefore he should be ignored. You wrote that Bolton is a gutless coward, therefore he should be taken seriously. Still thinking, thank you for this opportunity!