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The Magistrate

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14. Ad Hominem, Sir, Is Not Just A Ritual Chant

Wed Jul 2, 2014, 11:35 PM

Jul 2014

It means to attempt to discredit what someone says by pointing to something about them with no particular relation to the point.

It would be an ad hominem if I were to say of someone that, because he was an adulterer, his comments on whether Yogi Berra was the greatest catcher in baseball history could not be taken seriously.

It is not an ad hominem to point out that someone has made predictions which proved false, or described as true events which did not take place, and so maintain that in view of this record of poor judgement or even outright delusion, that there is no particular reason to take a fresh statement by that person seriously as an accurate description or a sound weighing of causes and outcomes. In the case of Madsen, he has been so notorious for so long as a fringe nut-case that one simply points to highlights nearest to home as a sort of public service: back when we had moderators, links to his site were 'remove on sight' items, along with Tom Flocco and Alex Jones and several others.

Nor does appeal to authority carry any particular weight with me, particularly when the authority is a fellow with a radio show and a slot on Russia Times. I am unconcerned with what Mr. Hartmann thinks; there is nothing particularly wise or insightful or knowledgeable about his commentaries, and there gist can be had from many others.

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Russia and Ukraine 'agree steps' towards new truce [View all] muriel_volestrangler Jul 2014 OP

Have Kiev's ultra-nationalist armed volunteer battalions agreed too? another_liberal Jul 2014 #1

The Truce Will Hold, Sir The Magistrate Jul 2014 #2

The truce has to actually begin first . . . another_liberal Jul 2014 #22

After Your Mash Note Here, Sir, You Have Relieved Any Of Any Obligation To Take You Seriously The Magistrate Jul 2014 #35

Now you've really hurt my feelings, . . . sniff! another_liberal Jul 2014 #43

This is a 100% PNAC operation. delrem Jul 2014 #3

So - should Kerry have told her her husband could not come to the swearing in? karynnj Jul 2014 #5

Putting my best face on it: you miss the point. delrem Jul 2014 #6

No, I reject the point karynnj Jul 2014 #8

That was as coherent as "The Magistrate"'s reply. delrem Jul 2014 #12

If it is true that I am as coherent as the magistrate, I feel I have done well karynnj Jul 2014 #25

Thank You, Ma'am The Magistrate Jul 2014 #45

You Have To Have A Point For Anyone To Miss It, Sir The Magistrate Jul 2014 #10

I see the Catherina Crowd is out in force again. nt Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2014 #7

Well we do form a majority here dipsydoodle Jul 2014 #49

I Strongly Doubt That, Sir The Magistrate Jul 2014 #50

I concur with The Magistrate's assessment. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2014 #69

Jesus Sweet Christ, Man: You are linking to a Wayne Madsen Article? The Magistrate Jul 2014 #9

More ad hominem: this time against Thom Hartman, delrem Jul 2014 #11

Ad Hominem, Sir, Is Not Just A Ritual Chant The Magistrate Jul 2014 #14

That's an incredible... word salid... The Magistrate, Sir. delrem Jul 2014 #15

Again, Sir, 'Word Salad' Is Not Just A Ritual Chant The Magistrate Jul 2014 #16

Congratulations on completing the sequence, The Magistrate, Sir. nt delrem Jul 2014 #17

"Word Salad" would be throwing in the words... Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2014 #21

PNACers are neo-nazis. delrem Jul 2014 #28

Okay then. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2014 #30

The obsession about Victoria Nuland is just so bizarre. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2014 #26

PNAC isn't some"delusion". delrem Jul 2014 #27

PNAC is real. Their involvement in Ukraine isn't. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2014 #29

Of course Victoria Nuland is "involved in the Ukraine". delrem Jul 2014 #31

Okay, several things. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2014 #34

Nor Will You Ever Hear Such A Coherent Narrative As You Request, Sir The Magistrate Jul 2014 #36

Now I'm supposed to educate someone who denies the efficacy of PNAC. delrem Jul 2014 #38

Well I tried to give you a chance. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2014 #39

You feign to not understand the significance of even your own words. delrem Jul 2014 #40

So go ahead. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2014 #41

You Fail To Demonstrate Any Significance Whatever Is Contained In Your Words, Sir The Magistrate Jul 2014 #42

So nuthin'. Gotcha. NT Adrahil Jul 2014 #78

Just disgust for those who support and defend PNAC on DU. nt delrem Jul 2014 #79

A New Century of American Wars, maybe . . . another_liberal Jul 2014 #24

They do the same "attack the messenger" routine in every case. delrem Jul 2014 #32

Thom Hartman is well intentioned yet if he is supportive of the assertion a coup Jefferson23 Jul 2014 #55

Here you go, Jefferson23: straight from Victoria Nuland's mouth delrem Jul 2014 #56

This Is Ancient News, Sir, And Does Not Come Near Establishing Your Claims The Magistrate Jul 2014 #58

You liked that Nuland-Kagan speech, didn't you Sir. Right down your alley. delrem Jul 2014 #59

I heard it, delrem and I think some very well intentioned people are being mislead..as Jefferson23 Jul 2014 #70

That was the voice of PNAC talking, Jefferson23. delrem Jul 2014 #71

Because essentially, you have no evidence otherwise. My understanding of the situation Jefferson23 Jul 2014 #72

I think we're deadlocked because you're stuck on PNAC. delrem Jul 2014 #73

I have been misled before, have read trusted sources before and those sources turned out to Jefferson23 Jul 2014 #74

I doubt that PNAC would be so readily dismissed if the Republicans were in power. delrem Jul 2014 #75

I feel any further contribution to this conversation would be to repeat myself. Jefferson23 Jul 2014 #76

How many years of PNAC is required to see their good "Dem" side, in your opinion? nt. delrem Jul 2014 #77

This just gives the two sides time to ballyhoo Jul 2014 #4

I don't like these "bipartisan" PNAC orchestrations. delrem Jul 2014 #13

Me neither. But we know who is doing it and in the end ballyhoo Jul 2014 #18

"Try not to get too excited here, delrem." delrem Jul 2014 #19

Probably so. I have not been political as long ballyhoo Jul 2014 #20

Yeah, thanks for the heads up. They play a crooked game. delrem Jul 2014 #33

New pro-war demonstrations are taking place in central Kiev . . . another_liberal Jul 2014 #23

Poroshenko is getting desperate. The walls are closing in ballyhoo Jul 2014 #37

Poroshenko and his fellow Ukrainian Oligarchs armed the right wing militias . . . another_liberal Jul 2014 #44

So, why does a Jewish professor, working in Moscow and Kiev, does not see the fascism you do? karynnj Jul 2014 #46

Ukraine isn't about "jews", for god's sake! delrem Jul 2014 #47

When One Whimpers About 'Neo-Nazis In Charge In Kiev', Sir, One Makes the Jewish View Significant The Magistrate Jul 2014 #48

Victoria Nuland opened those doors, sir -- regardless of your strident denials. nt delrem Jul 2014 #52

Again With the Ritual Chants, Sir The Magistrate Jul 2014 #53

More word salid, Sir -- meaningless filler for your strident denial. nt delrem Jul 2014 #54

You Know, Sir, This Is Like Playing Mad-Libs With Someone Who Only Knows Three Or Four Words The Magistrate Jul 2014 #57

You specialize in ad hominem and word salad, Sir. delrem Jul 2014 #60

Honestly, Sir? The Magistrate Jul 2014 #61

My point is that no people would be more sensitive to neo Nazis or fascists than Jews karynnj Jul 2014 #51

So far as I can tell, the Ukraine "problems" have nothing to do with Jews. delrem Jul 2014 #62

In addition to being Jewish, this is a man who has been in both Ukraine and Russia karynnj Jul 2014 #63

Yes. I'm against censorship too. delrem Jul 2014 #64

Neither of us said the video was "non existent" karynnj Jul 2014 #65

I see. You understand the PNAC plan. delrem Jul 2014 #66

Be condescending if you like - frankly I'm not impressed with your analysis either nt karynnj Jul 2014 #67

That wasn't condescending. delrem Jul 2014 #68