Trump Archives - Lauren Sergy

Equivocation in the wake of Charlottesville

Politics, RhetoricBy Lauren Sergy August 17, 2017

It’s called “equivocation.” What Trump was doing in those two press conferences since Charlottesville – the rhetoric he’s using is called equivocation. Equivocation is a logical fallacy that uses vague language to hide meaning or to avoid committing to a point of view or stance. You see it used frequently in politics when a…

The Royal We: Trump’s Inauguration Speech

Language, Politics, RhetoricBy Lauren Sergy February 2, 2017

“L’état, c’est moi.” -Louis XIV In my blog a couple weeks ago I alluded to writing a post exploring Trump’s use of the Royal “We” in his inauguration speech. And even though we’re all exhausted from the non-stop flurry of news over his every tweet, phone call, and administrative faux-pas, I’ve finally rallied…

Demagogue: a lesson in rhetoric

Famous speakers, Politics, Rhetoric, Tactics, TechniquesBy Lauren Sergy November 9, 2016

Demagogue, n.: A leader of a popular faction, or of the mob; a political agitator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of the mob in order to obtain power or further his own interests; an unprincipled or factious popular orator. (Oxford English Dictionary) In democracies the principal cause of revolutions is the insolence of…

It’s a disaster! The 2016 presidential debates supercut

Funny Stuff, PoliticsBy Lauren Sergy November 4, 2016

I made something. It has next to no instructional value, aside from demonstrating what it’s like when you use a certain word so often that it becomes meaningless and threadbare. But it’s fun! So here, for your viewing pleasure, I present to you The 2016 Debates Disaster Supercut! Embedded video not working? Click here…

The Rhetorical Strategy you NEED, courtesy of Trump v. Clinton!

Arguing, Politics, RhetoricBy Lauren Sergy October 20, 2016

We’ve made it. Sweet merciful mother of everything that’s holy, we’re at the end of the debates. Praise be, hallelujia. We’ve withstood the mud slinging, the ludicrous claims, the hurled invective, the hastily invented “facts.” I feel like we all need and deserve a long, hot shower. But not before another lesson in rhetoric. In debate…

Rock the rebuttal – Oct. 9 Presidential Debate Round 2 Rhetoric!

Politics, RhetoricBy Lauren Sergy October 11, 2016

Sunday October 9th represented Canadian Thanksgiving. I, along with many other of my fellow Canadians, gleefully stuffed myself full of turkey and pie, then settled down for a spectacular evening of sport. Mud was slung, invective was hurled. Tactics were tried and plays made, as calculated discipline on one side and flailing onslaught on the other. Oh…

Video: Trump vs. Clinton debate and the rhetoric of misdirection

Politics, RhetoricBy Lauren Sergy September 27, 2016

Oh, how I love election season! Oh how I love debate night! Granted, I’d love it more if an evening of making pop-up rhetoric videos wasn’t bookended with a cranky, gassy, screaming baby, but such is life. In this Pop-Up Rhetoric video, we get into Red Herrings, Straw Man arguments, and Ad Hominem attacks. That’s…

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