Damning with faint praise

from JoeUser Forums

I just ran across a literal case of damning with faint praise in a comment on Megan McArdle's blog at the Atlantic.

Why are you Obama supporters so depressed? I know he's a great speaker -- I haven't seen a crowd in the palm of any speaker's hand like that since "Triumph of The Will" -- but as a practical matter, there is hardly any policy difference between Hillary and Obama. He's maybe 5% more liberal than her. Is style more important to you than substance? - Posted by Fred | January 8, 2008 11:09 PMM

I don't know if this is an actual Godwin's Law incident or not - but wow.

(Agreed on the plain meaning of the comment as well - though Sen. Obama seems to have a less-mean attitude that Sen. Clinton; I find myself hoping for Sen. Obama to get the nomination, and not for metagame reasons. In many ways, I think Sen. Clinton would be an easier opponent for my preferred candidate, Fred Thompson. But I'm not interested in the weakest opposition for my candidate. I want the best on both sides).
4,032 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

Damning with Faint Praise?  More like slamming with a semi truck!  That one just plain stinks and reeks!

(I agree with your assessment of Obama and Hillary vs Thompson - but dont want Hillary that close to the whitehouse period!)

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Like I said - literally damning. The only quibble I have with the phrasing the the "faint praise" part of it - there's little argument that the "stars" of "Triumph of the Will" were charismatic orators. High praise in a purely technical sense, highly damning when taken in context.
Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!