#rhetoric

#rhetoric

Even now, six months into President Trump's second term, there's a tendency to disregard his sometimes fiery rhetoric as mere big talk. Americans ought to know better by now.

Farnsworth writes that such repetition creates a "hammering effect" that is likely to be remembered. Examples he provides include: "They always will; they always do; they always have." Quoting Charles Dickens for an example, Farnsworth includes "...the most dismal trees in it, and the most dismal sparrows, and the most dismal cats, and the most dismal houses..."

The question "Do you personally know anyone who X?" serves as a rhetorical strategy aimed at creating the illusion that X is uncommon or less serious, impacting public perception.

The problem with addressing attacks like these is that you use more time than the attacker, leading to a perceived victory for them.

In academic circles, the ad hominem is regarded as a logical fallacy and frowned upon. It is uncivil, it stifles debate, and it is a tacit admission that you are losing the argument.

Roman orators like Cicero used the method of loci for memorization, a technique originally developed by Simonides of Ceos after a disaster where he identified victims.

I said if you help the Harrigans, the Harrigans will help you. You have not helped the Harrigans. Not at all. Okay? So now I, Kevin here, he's gonna lose his family, I'm gonna lose my family, both of us are gonna die, and others, yeah? Thanks to you, okay, and Eddie. So I don't think it's very fair that you don't share in some of that joy, you understand.

Gidursky's beeper comment was interpreted as a reference to a recent tragic event, leading to a heated exchange that prompted his banning from CNN.

Stephanopoulos pressed Johnson on whether it was appropriate for Trump and his family to claim that Democrats are behind assassination attempts against him, raising concerns about the rhetoric involved.