define rhetoric as its being used today?

Listen to Obama speak, he speaks just to hear himself speak. He says he's going to do this and that and so on, but then turns around and does just the opposite. Rhetoric is words without meaning, but can sound very convincing when heard.

This is where the 'action not words' comes into play. Just because a person can speak intelligently/articulately, if they don't match actions with their words/thoughts it's rhetoric, pointless words.

Pointless. both sides are so far to the extremes lately that you either whole heartedly believe a party's rhetoric, wholeheartedly oppose it, or completely ignore it all because you know its 95 percent bull no matter who its coming from.

Using speech to make a persuasive argument.

Democrats saying they protect working class jobs.

Republicans saying they will end big government.

Both BS.