¶ … Red Herring Argument / Petition Principi: Heard from friend who is supporter of the ancient astronaut theory. She seemed to believe it telling me that that intelligent extraterrestrial beings had almost certainly visited Earth in antiquity and made contact with humans in certain points of our history. This she argued was indicated from certain ancient texts such as the Ramayana that, for instance, has gods and avatars who travel from place to place in flying vehicles, whilst the Book of Genesis, (chapter 6 verses 1 -- 4) mentions "sons of God [who] went to the daughters of humans and had children by them" -- which she, along with others, maintains refers to extra-terrestrials. The Book of Ezekiel too has a description of winged creatures flying in the Chariot of God who looked like humans which indicates that that Ezekiel had seen spaceships.

These arguments -- all spurious -- not resting on evidence are examples of the 'red herring' / petition principia fallacy particularly since the arguer attempts to give the impression that the premises are sufficient evidence.

2. Argument: No True Scotsman.

Lyndon's argument for votes for Blacks -- powerful and moral though it was -- appeals mostly to elements of purity for its support.

Take these...

For with a country as with a person, "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Rather than focusing on rational support for why Blacks should vote, Johnson relies on principles of religion, transcendence, and America's supposed greatness as was well as their history. He reminds his listeners that "This was the first nation in the history of the world to be founded with a purpose." He ends with: "Above the pyramid on the great seal of the United States it says -- in Latin -- "God has favored our undertaking."

God will not favor everything that we do. It is rather our duty to divine His will. But I cannot help believing that He truly understands and that He really favors the undertaking that we begin here tonight."

.It seems to me that…