Has Christopher Hitchens debated any 9/11 Truther crackpots?

Titanic Explorer · 10th June 2010, 09:44 AM

Has Christopher Hitchens ever debated a 9/11 Truther? He is one of the finest debaters out there, and feels very stongly that we must not give an inch religious theocracy (Be it Islamic or Christian) . Clearly he thinks the Truthers are absurd. Most truthers are such ignorant buffoons, I wonder how many seconds they would last in a debate with Hicthens.

carlitos · 10th June 2010, 09:49 AM

Google is your friend.

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the JREF. The JREF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

Jono · 10th June 2010, 10:29 AM

Hitchens is one of the finest debaters? He's certainly capable, but I wouldn't call him a brilliant debater.

Brainster · 10th June 2010, 11:14 AM

I don't think Hitch would want to do the homework on the Truthers' claims. It's really a ton of minutiae which someone like Gage or Grifter can present in a fairly compelling fashion. In that brief clip, you can see that he doesn't know the proper response to the Truther caller, which is that the 9-11 Commission was not the investigation. The investigation was performed by the FBI and was the largest in its history, at one point involving half of all the agents in the bureau.

T.A.M. · 10th June 2010, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Brainster

I don't think Hitch would want to do the homework on the Truthers' claims. It's really a ton of minutiae which someone like Gage or Grifter can present in a fairly compelling fashion. In that brief clip, you can see that he doesn't know the proper response to the Truther caller, which is that the 9-11 Commission was not the investigation. The investigation was performed by the FBI and was the largest in its history, at one point involving half of all the agents in the bureau.

exactly. You need a wonk like Brainster or Gravy to take on these turds.

TAM

dudalb · 11th June 2010, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Jono

Hitchens is one of the finest debaters? He's certainly capable, but I wouldn't call him a brilliant debater.

Hitchens is a lot of fun and one of the great masters of invective in our generation, but, frankly, he has a tendacy not to do his homework and fall ball on his ability to make quips.

Titanic Explorer · 11th June 2010, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by dudalb

Hitchens is a lot of fun and one of the great masters of invective in our generation, but, frankly, he has a tendacy not to do his homework and fall ball on his ability to make quips.

There is nothing quite as enjoyable as watching debates where Hitchens tears apart Christian fundamentalists...

Edx · 12th June 2010, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Titanic Explorer

There is nothing quite as enjoyable as watching debates where Hitchens tears apart Christian fundamentalists...

But you see its easier to argue against Christians since a lot of why they are wrong can be argued on logical grounds rather than factual grounds. Truthers on the other hand make a lot of factual claims that are 100% wrong but when people dont call them on it it makes them sound better.

Jono · 14th June 2010, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by dudalb

Hitchens is a lot of fun and one of the great masters of invective in our generation, but, frankly, he has a tendacy not to do his homework and fall ball on his ability to make quips.

Yes, I'd like a little more "Daniel Dennett" and a little less "Steven Fry" so to speak.

10th June 2010, 09:44 AM	#1
Titanic Explorer Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Boston Posts: 1,281	Has Christopher Hitchens debated any 9/11 Truther crackpots? Has Christopher Hitchens ever debated a 9/11 Truther? He is one of the finest debaters out there, and feels very stongly that we must not give an inch religious theocracy (Be it Islamic or Christian) . Clearly he thinks the Truthers are absurd. Most truthers are such ignorant buffoons, I wonder how many seconds they would last in a debate with Hicthens.

10th June 2010, 10:29 AM	#3
Jono Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,550	Hitchens is one of the finest debaters? He's certainly capable, but I wouldn't call him a brilliant debater.
	__________________ "I don't believe I ever saw an Oklahoman who wouldn't fight at the drop of a hat -- and frequently drop the hat himself." - Robert E. Howard

10th June 2010, 11:14 AM	#4
Brainster Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 10,441	I don't think Hitch would want to do the homework on the Truthers' claims. It's really a ton of minutiae which someone like Gage or Grifter can present in a fairly compelling fashion. In that brief clip, you can see that he doesn't know the proper response to the Truther caller, which is that the 9-11 Commission was not the investigation. The investigation was performed by the FBI and was the largest in its history, at one point involving half of all the agents in the bureau.
	__________________ My new blog: Recent Reads. 1960s Comic Book Nostalgia Visit the Screw Loose Change blog.

12th June 2010, 10:15 AM	#8
Edx Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 4,251	Originally Posted by Titanic Explorer There is nothing quite as enjoyable as watching debates where Hitchens tears apart Christian fundamentalists... But you see its easier to argue against Christians since a lot of why they are wrong can be argued on logical grounds rather than factual grounds. Truthers on the other hand make a lot of factual claims that are 100% wrong but when people dont call them on it it makes them sound better.
Edx Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 4,251	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSkepticalIdealist

14th June 2010, 02:51 PM	#9
Jono Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,550	Originally Posted by dudalb Hitchens is a lot of fun and one of the great masters of invective in our generation, but, frankly, he has a tendacy not to do his homework and fall ball on his ability to make quips. Yes, I'd like a little more "Daniel Dennett" and a little less "Steven Fry" so to speak.
	__________________ "I don't believe I ever saw an Oklahoman who wouldn't fight at the drop of a hat -- and frequently drop the hat himself." - Robert E. Howard

10th June 2010, 11:58 AM	#5
T.A.M. Keeper of the Kool-Vax Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Far East...of Canada Posts: 20,816	Originally Posted by Brainster I don't think Hitch would want to do the homework on the Truthers' claims. It's really a ton of minutiae which someone like Gage or Grifter can present in a fairly compelling fashion. In that brief clip, you can see that he doesn't know the proper response to the Truther caller, which is that the 9-11 Commission was not the investigation. The investigation was performed by the FBI and was the largest in its history, at one point involving half of all the agents in the bureau. exactly. You need a wonk like Brainster or Gravy to take on these turds. TAM

11th June 2010, 01:25 PM	#6
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22,848	Originally Posted by Jono Hitchens is one of the finest debaters? He's certainly capable, but I wouldn't call him a brilliant debater. Hitchens is a lot of fun and one of the great masters of invective in our generation, but, frankly, he has a tendacy not to do his homework and fall ball on his ability to make quips.

11th June 2010, 01:54 PM	#7
Titanic Explorer Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Boston Posts: 1,281	Originally Posted by dudalb Hitchens is a lot of fun and one of the great masters of invective in our generation, but, frankly, he has a tendacy not to do his homework and fall ball on his ability to make quips. There is nothing quite as enjoyable as watching debates where Hitchens tears apart Christian fundamentalists...