Thursday, December 18, 2003
That Hurts, But Thanks Anyway
Spinsanity is one of the most useful public services on the Internet. Its three writers dissect political rhetoric and the way politicians use it--which generally means calling attention to misleading spin and faulty arguments. Ben, Brendan, and Bryan are scrupulously non-partisan, taking apart rhetoric from the whole spectrum. Their straightforward style is devastating when pitted against the rantings of an Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. But in the interest of fairness, I have to report that in the last week, they've also analyzed MoveOn.Org's Daily Misleader as partisan disagreement and ideological attack masquerading as objective analysis of dishonesty. In their most recent post, they criticized Howard Dean's attacks on Bush's supposed foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks and Dean's distortions and omissions regarding the Iraq war resolutions in Congress.
It ain't exactly pleasant when someone or something you support is demonstrated to be less honest than it should be, but knowing that can also be useful. Something to steer by, like a lighthouse in the fog. Something with which to hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Spinsanity is one of the most useful public services on the Internet. Its three writers dissect political rhetoric and the way politicians use it--which generally means calling attention to misleading spin and faulty arguments. Ben, Brendan, and Bryan are scrupulously non-partisan, taking apart rhetoric from the whole spectrum. Their straightforward style is devastating when pitted against the rantings of an Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. But in the interest of fairness, I have to report that in the last week, they've also analyzed MoveOn.Org's Daily Misleader as partisan disagreement and ideological attack masquerading as objective analysis of dishonesty. In their most recent post, they criticized Howard Dean's attacks on Bush's supposed foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks and Dean's distortions and omissions regarding the Iraq war resolutions in Congress.
It ain't exactly pleasant when someone or something you support is demonstrated to be less honest than it should be, but knowing that can also be useful. Something to steer by, like a lighthouse in the fog. Something with which to hold ourselves to a higher standard.
