don't think of an elephant! (review) - Comments Page 2

In "don't think of an elephant!!" cognitive scientist George Lakoff (Links open in new windows) focuses on the political arena with this guidebook for progressives and independents. He provides a model of how conservatives think and an explanation of why they are able to consistently win political debates, even before the debates begin.…
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Article comments

  • 26 - Hal Pawluk

    Feb 06, 2005 at 7:13 pm

    Ummm, it's easier if you search for Frank Luntz (note the "n" :-)

    You get several hits.

  • 27 - Hal Pawluk

    Feb 06, 2005 at 7:37 pm

    While we're on Luntz, you might find a Frontline interview with him interesting.

    He discusses the Republican "Contract With America" (since breached), coming up with "death tax" to replace "estate tax," "healthy forests," "privatize" and other emotive, manipulative words.

  • 28 - DrPat

    Feb 06, 2005 at 7:55 pm

    Hal, I did a cut-and-paste from your article to do the search, and Amazon replied "Most popular results for Frank Luntz:" followed by three Lakoff texts. The only way you don't get Lakoff first is by asking for Luntz inside quotes.

    If we're going to talk about co-opting...

  • 29 - Hal Pawluk

    Feb 06, 2005 at 8:12 pm

    I tried it and you're right.

    Those first three results are their advertising push, to sell books they have in stock. Just below that list of three, they start a new list with the real Luntz stuff (which is out of print so they can't make any money off it ) first.

    What a country :-)

  • 30 - Dave Nalle

    Feb 06, 2005 at 8:18 pm

    Hal: He discusses the Republican "Contract With America" (since breached), coming up with "death tax" to replace "estate tax," "healthy forests," "privatize" and other emotive, manipulative words.

    What you call 'emotive and manipulative' some of us would call true and accurate.

    Hal: As to "nice," the word "unique" didn't communicate anything to me so I didn't see it one way or another.

    Exactly. Communicating what I really think of your site would not have been at all nice.

    Dave

  • 31 - Hal Pawluk

    Feb 06, 2005 at 11:19 pm

    "No guts, no glory," Dave.

  • 32 - Randy

    Feb 07, 2005 at 8:00 am

    There are certainly some great points about language usage, something both parties are adept at. The statement regarding asbestos and Haliburton is flat wrong though. Haliburton settled their asbestos lawsuit by paying to pay over 4 billion to a trust fund. That's water under the bridge. If you have a desire to understand the asbestos issue try reading some of Lester Brickman's articles. You would then understand how the trial lawyers have taken the issue as a right to fleece America.

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