Argument Clinic - Open Thread

Do you want to have just one argument, or were you thinking of taking a course?

Open thread. Argue about whatever you like.

E.J. Dionne's Head Just Exploded

Remember when I said that the Georgia gun legislation was going to cause some head explosions over on the left?

Yeah, E.J. Dionne just had his head explode on Sunday. Clean up on aisle 4, please.

The amusing thing is that his entire piece is devoid of any logical argument. Apparently, his position is to light his hair on fire and run around screaming about how the end is near because of this new expanded carry law. That's basically his argument.

Hey, the facts are on your side argue the facts. When the law is on your side, argue the law. When neither the facts nor the law is on your side - pound the table.

Dionne is pounding the table.

The really funny thing is that in freaking out over the Georgia law that allows CWP into restaurants, places like the post office, and other areas, he's missed something. Most states already have similar laws. If Dionne ever figures out how to work Google, he's going to have an aneurysm when he sees how this sort of law is actually fairly standard across the country.

"We need to talk, we need to communicate, and then come together and sign something of this nature and present it to our public that we represent,"

Said Councilwoman Leona Plaugh, who did not sign the Mayor's "Civility Pledge".

The whole idea of this "civility pledge" seems very middle-school student government to me. I can't believe that grown-ups we put in charge of the City of Columbia are doing civility pledges. It's not that I'm anti-civility. I just don't think a pledge is how you achieve civility.

You're either going to have rational, constructive debate - which at times can be pointed - or you're not. Signing a little pledge isn't going to make someone "civil".

To me,  it all seems like theater. I want to see City Council debate issues, have the public weigh in, and then make decisions. All this nonsense about civility pledges is a waste of time.

Ted Cruz vs. Dianne Feinstein

I post this not to discuss gun control, but if you want to, that's fine. I post this to bring up the fact that I hear this type of response all the time.

I'm a young lawyer. But you probably already knew that. When I have an opposing counsel who's on the other side of a case I sometimes (not always) hear some version of this argument: I've been a lawyer for longer than you've been alive. I've never had someone (take that position, file that motion, assert that claim) in all my years. Don't you know who I am?

My response to that? Blech. If your response to my motion, position, letter, claim is to tell me how you've been a lawyer for sooooo loooong.....guess what....you've lost the argument. I know who you are. Guess what. I don't care. The law doesn't care.

Advice for Confrontations

Advice for political arguments. This would apply to litigation attorneys, as well.

The State of Political Argument Today

Brad Warthen nails it, again. Also, we at Permanent Press applaud the use of Monty Python in making any point.