Straw Man disease

Answer me this…

WHY do we keep fighting the straw men?

Is it because we feel the compulsion to respond?  To show we’re right?  Because if we don’t, they’ll claim to have won?
Every time I look at the news, or blogs, or read comments on blogs, there’s always someone who erects straw men.  And we are somehow compelled to tilt at these windmills.  (I know – mixed metaphor)
It’s like a disease.
Is there a Straw Man Anonymous?
It’s been this way since long before the Internet and blogs.  Remember newspapers’ editorial pages?  Back when local TV personalities set aside three minutes to pontificate about a particular issue?  And clearly labeled it as an editorial?  And there was response?
Today, anyone with access to a public library can access the Internet and spew hatred, fear, disinformation, spin, and erect straw men all day.  And for some reason, we cannot just let them stand there.

Remember Saturday Night Specials?  Assault Weapons?  Assault Clips?  Stand-Your-Ground laws?  It’s not just about gun civil rights.

It’s about our very Republic’s direction.

I’m stymied about the upcoming Presidential Election.  I’ve stated before I would probably not publicly support a candidate, and my policy is to debate issues, not call names.  Or use straw man arguments.
I’m not a fan of the current administration, or this President’s policies.  But the heir apparent on the Republican side is not less big government and more libertarian than he.
It’s truly tweedledum versus tweedeldee.

And now come the straw man arguments:
Mitt Romney left a dog carrier on his car roof and drove off.  Obviously he hates animals.

Now I like animals, and have never done that.  But, I have made mistakes.

Here comes the straw man knee-jerk response:
Well, when the President was growing up, he actually ate dog!  (admitted in his own words-link omitted)

Should White House dog Bo fear for his safety?  Of course not.

Neither man is Michael Vick.

Why can we not address each issue with a measured response?  Instead of worrying about fluff not of national or international import?

This election is not about who gets voted off the island.

It’s about who is at the tiller of this Republic’s Ship of State.