I also like the measured praise "I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos."
If you're trying to persuade the undecided, sycophancy is probably not going to work.
"I got rhythm BA DOOM BING I got music DA DA BOOM I got [deep breath] David Allen Green, who could ask for anythin' moooooooooore!"
Which is another way of saying this is a very good piece and I wish people would discuss the importance of rhythm in prose more often. The world seems to have forgotten how much it matters.
Also: J.D. Vance — Lilliputian indeed, and a great disappointment. I don't share his politics but I admired Hillbilly Elegy and I thought he had more moral gumption than he's been displaying of late.
One might think she wrote for a living. In fact it is such a well written piece (and ditto your analysis) that it might be the opening shot in her 2032 presidential campaign!
People forget that Taylor is a professional author, of a somewhat unusual type. Argumentative prose isn't her primary genre. This is what she writes like on the clock:
"You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter,"
"How's one to know\ I'd meet you where the spirit meets the bone\ in a faith forgotten land"
"Your midas touch on the chevy door\ november flush, and your flannel cure"
"Slow is the quicksand\ Poison blood from the wound of the pricked hand\ Oh, still I dream of him"
Swift is not only good with words, but she is also good at understanding her audience. These two qualities do not often go together. And so it is certainly no surprise that in prose she uses words well to communicate her points effectively to whom they are addressed. Given these two qualities, the prose/song distinction is less important.
Your analysis is equally ‘masterful’
Amazingly beautiful commentary to Swift’s post.
A very poor persuator myself, Cialdini‘s work and books were very much appreciated.
I also like the measured praise "I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos."
If you're trying to persuade the undecided, sycophancy is probably not going to work.
She also doesn't directly attack Trump as chaotic, she let's the reader take that obvious conclusion.
"I got rhythm BA DOOM BING I got music DA DA BOOM I got [deep breath] David Allen Green, who could ask for anythin' moooooooooore!"
Which is another way of saying this is a very good piece and I wish people would discuss the importance of rhythm in prose more often. The world seems to have forgotten how much it matters.
Also: J.D. Vance — Lilliputian indeed, and a great disappointment. I don't share his politics but I admired Hillbilly Elegy and I thought he had more moral gumption than he's been displaying of late.
Her post is masterly, as is your commentary. Thank you.
Not surpringly, her fans say she is a really good -song- writer that speaks to about 280 000 000 people in a way they very much like
You do not refer to the key reference: the use of the word “hope”.
“We named her Hope.” How often have we heard Tim Walz talk about naming his daughter Hope?
Her endorsement of the Harris/Walz team embraces the family/women’s rights themes in one word. Plus, she did it so quickly - swift by name and nature.
One might think she wrote for a living. In fact it is such a well written piece (and ditto your analysis) that it might be the opening shot in her 2032 presidential campaign!
She's a songwriter... rhythm is kind of what she does!
And that is a point my post was seeking to convey, and so thank you for spelling it out.
People forget that Taylor is a professional author, of a somewhat unusual type. Argumentative prose isn't her primary genre. This is what she writes like on the clock:
"You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter,"
"How's one to know\ I'd meet you where the spirit meets the bone\ in a faith forgotten land"
"Your midas touch on the chevy door\ november flush, and your flannel cure"
"Slow is the quicksand\ Poison blood from the wound of the pricked hand\ Oh, still I dream of him"
"Fever dream high, in the quiet of the night"
Swift is not only good with words, but she is also good at understanding her audience. These two qualities do not often go together. And so it is certainly no surprise that in prose she uses words well to communicate her points effectively to whom they are addressed. Given these two qualities, the prose/song distinction is less important.