rationalizations

It leads to some rather thin rationalizations (see transubstantiation), but the goal is always to escape the ‘irrational’ and get into ‘arational’ territory.

The Volokh Conspiracy » Latest Mohammed Cartoon Controversy, this Time in South Africa 2010

I’m enjoying the petulant rationalizations from the resident conservatives here.

Matthew Yglesias » Conservative Voters Hate “Spending” Love Spending on All Actual Categories of Government Spending 2010

Can we not cast "rationalizations" and "justifications" out the window of our own personal views?

Gaza Invasion Protesters; Don't Feed the Beast-- Let's start talking about smart protest." 2009

Actually, Obama supporters reaction to the "Reagan comment" s were not mere "rationalizations," but were instead based on his entire interview, or at least the two paragraphs of his interview in question.

Obama Labor Ally Spending Nearly $14,000 On New TV Ad In Nevada 2009

President Bush may be straighter than Clinton when it comes to personal dealings, but George W uses the same kind of rationalizations when it comes to confronting corruption in high places.

Who's Looking Out for You O'Reilly, Bill 2003

You’ll already know the answer - because they’re inconveniently demolishing the argument - but watching the rationalizations should be amusing.

Pushback on some pushback rhetoric… - Moe_Lane’s blog - RedState 2010

Then come the staff layoffs and "rationalizations" of business units, followed by a string of quarterly reports that reveal underwhelming financial results.

InformationWeek - All Stories And Blogs 2010

Then come the staff layoffs and "rationalizations" of business units, followed by a string of quarterly reports that reveal underwhelming financial results.

InformationWeek - All Stories And Blogs 2010

Then come the staff layoffs and "rationalizations" of business units, followed by a string of quarterly reports that reveal underwhelming financial results.

InformationWeek - All Stories And Blogs 2009

My guess is that media enthusiasm for sex scandals would drop within days of the first report (replete with photos) on the sexual indiscretions of a television news anchor or reporter, and that the kind of rationalizations we have heard for two decades --- "we had to cover it because the newspaper that brought you 'Woman Gives Birth to Four-Headed Reptile" was covering it -- would disappear as fast as you can say "zip it."

Drew Westen: Catching the Wrong John: Why Are the Media Talking about John Edwards' Infidelity If They Aren't Going to Talk about John McCain's? 2008