Roger Simon remembers a friend, and a brave and articulate fellow Hollywood apostate.
8 thoughts on “RIP, Ron Silver”
Ah, Roger Simon, who inspired the classic “I used to consider myself a Democrat, but thanks to 9/11, I’m outraged by Chappaquiddick.”
Surely you meant to write something more intelligent (if not more appropriate) than that?
You’re writing examples for the definition of ad hominem attack, Jim? Well done!
I couldn’t help myself — the Chappaquiddick thing is too perfect. The best part is that within a month of Michael Bérubé penning that parody of the Roger Simon world view, Simon was literally writing about how the confirmation hearings of Sam Alito reminded him of Mary Jo Kopechne. He’s officially beyond parody.
People should change long-held views when new information renders them untenable (it’s why I’m no longer a Reagan Republican). But Simon seems more like someone who can’t be comfortable anywhere but on the fringe, and if 9/11 makes him change his mind about one thing, he’ll change his mind about everything else and cross the entire political spectrum to get to the fringe on the other side. See also: David Horowitz, Fred Barnes, David Brooks, etc.
Carl: No, it isn’t ad hominem. I’m criticizing Simon’s views, not trying to undercut those views by attacking the person who holds them. A better example would be “X is wrong about the war on terror because he kicks his dog” or “Jim is wrong about the stimulus because he’s a troll.”
I’m criticizing Simon’s views, not trying to undercut those views by attacking the person who holds them.
Nice try. You are making an ad hominem attack on Roger Simon as a swipe at his recently late friend. Pretty vile.
Just to be clear here, the only views that Roger Simon has that are pertinent to this post are his views about Ron Silver. What, in that context, would be the purpose of attacking other views of Roger Simon that are not the subject of this post?
My readers can discern it, regardless of the disingenuousness (to use the politest word possible) of our new resident troll.
Rand: You’re right, it’s the wrong context for a discussion of Roger Simon. I apologize.
Ah, Roger Simon, who inspired the classic “I used to consider myself a Democrat, but thanks to 9/11, I’m outraged by Chappaquiddick.”
Surely you meant to write something more intelligent (if not more appropriate) than that?
You’re writing examples for the definition of ad hominem attack, Jim? Well done!
I couldn’t help myself — the Chappaquiddick thing is too perfect. The best part is that within a month of Michael Bérubé penning that parody of the Roger Simon world view, Simon was literally writing about how the confirmation hearings of Sam Alito reminded him of Mary Jo Kopechne. He’s officially beyond parody.
People should change long-held views when new information renders them untenable (it’s why I’m no longer a Reagan Republican). But Simon seems more like someone who can’t be comfortable anywhere but on the fringe, and if 9/11 makes him change his mind about one thing, he’ll change his mind about everything else and cross the entire political spectrum to get to the fringe on the other side. See also: David Horowitz, Fred Barnes, David Brooks, etc.
Carl: No, it isn’t ad hominem. I’m criticizing Simon’s views, not trying to undercut those views by attacking the person who holds them. A better example would be “X is wrong about the war on terror because he kicks his dog” or “Jim is wrong about the stimulus because he’s a troll.”
I’m criticizing Simon’s views, not trying to undercut those views by attacking the person who holds them.
Nice try. You are making an ad hominem attack on Roger Simon as a swipe at his recently late friend. Pretty vile.
Just to be clear here, the only views that Roger Simon has that are pertinent to this post are his views about Ron Silver. What, in that context, would be the purpose of attacking other views of Roger Simon that are not the subject of this post?
My readers can discern it, regardless of the disingenuousness (to use the politest word possible) of our new resident troll.
Rand: You’re right, it’s the wrong context for a discussion of Roger Simon. I apologize.
Apology accepted.