I'm reading Al Gore's book...

[YvonneCa]

..."The Assault on Reason". Pages 60 - 62...PHENOMENAL! His words validate those of us here who are worried for our country. READ THIS BOOK. :patriot:

[applegrove]

1. Can you do a little "out take" and put it in "quotes"..no more than four

paragraphs...and cited to the author.

If you can. i would love that.

[yodermon]

5. p 62

Make no mistake: It is the president's reactionary ideology, not his religious faith, that is the source of his troubling inflexibility. Whatever his religious views, President Bush has such an absolute certainty in the validity of his rigid right-wing ideology that he does not feel the same desire that many of us would in gathering facts relevant to the questions at hand. As a result, he ignores the warnings of his own experts, forbids dissent, and often refuses to test his assumptions against the best available evidence. He is, in fact, out of touch with reality, and his recklessness risks the safety and security of the American people.

The Bush administration has demonstrated contempt for the basic tenets of a rational decision-making process, defined as one in which an honest emphasis is placed on getting good facts and then letting good facts drive decisions: Instead, the hallmark of the current administration is a systematic effort to manipulate facts in service to a totalistic ideology that is felt to be more important than the mandates of basic honesty.

[applegrove]

19. Thank you yodermon. Much appreciated. Devastatetingly true.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Here you go applegrove,

I bought "The Assault on Reason" yesterday, here is page 62, it totals four paragraphs. I am up to chapter three so far and it's outstanding, will finish it by tomorrow. Take care.


The chapter heading is titled Blinding the Faithful

"The truth about this particular brand of faith based politics is that President Bush has stolen the symbolism and body language of religion and used it to disguise the most radical effort in American History to take what belongs to the American People give as much of it as possible to the already wealthy and privileged. And these wealthy and privileged individuals look at his agenda and they say, as Vice President Dick Cheney said to former secretary of the Treasury Paul O'neil about massive tax cuts that they both knew would create an enormous budget deficit, "This is our due".

Make no mistake: It is the president's reactionary ideology, not his religious faith, that is the source of his troubling inflexibility. Whatever his religious views, President Bush has such an absolute certainty in the validity of his rigid right-wing ideology that he does not feel the same desire that many of us would in gathering facts relevant to the questions at hand. As a result, he ignores the warnings of his own experts, forbids dissent, and often refuses to test his assumptions against the best available evidence. He is, in fact, out of touch with reality, and his recklessness risks the safety and security of the American People.

The Bush administration has demonstrated contempt for the basic tenets of a rational decision-making process, defined as one in which an honest emphasis is placed on getting good facts and then letting good facts drive decisions: Instead, the hallmark of the current administration is a systematic effort to manipulate facts in service to a totalistic ideology that is felt to be more important than the mandates of basic honesty.

More than three hundred years ago, John Locke, one of the architects of the English Enlightenment that was so influential in shaping the philosophy of our Founders, wrote, "Every sect, as far as reason will help them, make use of it gladly; and where it fails them, they cry out, 'It is a matter of faith and above reason'" Thus, it is crucially important to be precise in describing exactly what belief system it is that Bush accepts so uncritically and insulates from any logical challenge or even debate.


Other chapter headings

1. The Politics of Fear

2. Blinding the Faithful

3. The Politics of Wealth

4. Convenient Untruths

5. The Assault on the Individual

6. National Insecurity

7. The Carbon Crisis

8. Democracy in the Balance

9. A Well-Connected Citizenry

10. The Rebirth of Democracy




:hi:

[applegrove]

20. Thanks uncle Joe. Gore has such clarity.

[BattyDem]

2. I just bought the book today

I haven't started it yet ... but I guess I'll be starting with pages 60 - 62, LOL!

Thanks for the info! :hi:

[kiteinthewind]

3. Gonna pick it up next payday! The excerpts I've read are fabulous. This man totally gets it! Al, we

really need 'ya: to save our planet and to save our country! :patriot:

[YvonneCa]

23. Yes, he does...

...get it. :patriot:

[IndyOp]

4. "Assault on Reason" discussion thread HERE ->

THE ASSAULT ON REASON discussion thread... Join In!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=260x1003

:hi:

[YvonneCa]

7. Pages 59 - 60 on torture...

...at Abu Ghraib.

"What happened at that prison, it is now clear, was not the result of random acts by a 'few bad apples.' It was the natural consequence of the Bush Administration policy that dismantled the constraints of law and the Geneva Conventions, made war on America's system of checks and balances, and evaded accountability and responsibility for the actions it ordered. "

[YvonneCa]

8. More from Page 60...

...on torture.

"The abuse of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib flowed directly from the abuse of the truth that characterized the administration's march to war and the abuse of the trust that was placed in President Bush by the American people in the aftermath of September 11th."

[NastyRiffraff]

9. I can't wait

I'm waiting for my order from Amazon...should be here Tuesday.

[YvonneCa]

10. A gem from page 61...

...about the president.

"Some mistakenly malign the president as not being smart enough to have normal curiosity about separating fact from myth. Others seem convinced that his personal religious conversion experience was so profound that he relies on religious faith in place of logical analysis.

But I reject both of these cartoon images.

I know President Bush is plenty smart, and I have no doubt that his religious belief is both genuine and an important motivation for many things that he does in life, as my faith is for me and as it is for most people. I'm convinced, however, that most of the president's frequent departures from fact-based analysis have much more to do with his right-wing political and economic idealogy than with the Bible."

[riverdale]

45. "I know President Bush is plenty smart"?

Why oh why do politicians always say this? He obviously is not smart, and is closer to being an idiot.

[YvonneCa]

46. The context for this is that Gore is saying what he thinks...

...his conclusions about decisions on policy that Bush has made over the past six years...based on evidence he (Gore) is aware of as a connected, former Vice President of the United States. Passing it off as the failing of 'a politician' without reading the book is a bit concerning to me.

Believe me, I am NOT defending Bush. But I respect Al Gore.

[YvonneCa]

11. One more...

...from page 62.

"The truth about this particular brand of faith-based politics is that President Bush has stolen the symbolism and body language of religion and used it to disguise the most radical effort in American history to take what belongs to the American people and give as much of it as possible to the already waalthy and privileged."

And from page 152 - 153, about torture. I cried at this one:

"President Bush should make amends not only for letting down the young soldiers, who are themselves culpable but who were clearly forced to wade into a moral cesspool created by the policies of the Bush White House. The perpetrators as well as the victims were both placed in their relationship to one another as a result of decisions made in Washington, D.C. Those decisions by the Bush-Cheney administration resulted in behavior that shocked the conscience of Americans and dragged the good name of our country through the mud of Abu Ghraib, Saddam Husseinn's former torture prison...

...This pattern of abuse clearly did not spring from a few twisted minds at the lowest ranks of our military enlisted personnel. It came from twisted values and atrocious policies at the highest level of our government. This was done by our leaders, in our name.

These horrors were the predictable consequence of policy choices that flowed directly from this administration's contempt for the rule of law..."



:patriot: Thank you, Mr. Vice President !

[globalvillage]

12. I was just telling someone

that pages 60-62 are excellent.

I'm on chapter 3.

[YvonneCa]

14. It's really a good book...

...I started it this morning, and can't put it down. Most of his January, 2006 speech on domestic surveillance is in the book...but he expands on it. I have the C-Span DVD of that speech. It's inspirational!

[OnionPatch]

13. It's on its way to my mailbox

I ordered it a few days ago. Can't wait!!

[ellisonz]

15. Heck ya.

I have a feeling a trip to the bookstore is in order soon.

"The truth about this particular brand of faith-based politics is that President Bush has stolen the symbolism and body language of religion and used it to disguise the most radical effort in American history to take what belongs to the American people and give as much of it as possible to the already wealthy and privileged."

:patriot:

[illinoisprogressive]

16. Okay people, I want a book report. Sounds good but, please enlighten me.

[YvonneCa]

17. Here's a summary...

...a really short summary: :7


In his new book, "Assault on Reason", Former Vice President Al Gore explains his views about what our country has been experiencing since 2000, what conditions caused our current situation (hint: lack of informed citizenry), and what we...as a country...need to do to make our democracy healthy once again.

The book contains a healthy dose of reality and the truth about what is going on and who is responsible. It is a MUST READ.

[YvonneCa]

27. Okay...

...now that I've finished reading it...I recommend it more than ever! This book by Al Gore goes to the heart of what is wrong in our country. We HAVE to fix it...and this book leads the way. Thank you, Vice President Gore!!!!!

[YvonneCa]

28. Kicking...

...my own post...'cause we've got to do this. :)

[IndyOp]

36. I've done some of my book report here --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=260&topic_id=1003&mesg_id=1003

So far I've covered Gore's statement on Amazon.com about why the book is dedicated to his father, a quote on the back jacket, and the introduction.

I've actually gotten into Chapter 3, but have had to spend the day getting ready for the class I teach tomorrow. J-O-B interfering with life again!

:hi:

[DemoTex]

18. I'm reading it, too.

Great stuff.

[YvonneCa]

24. Definitely...great stuff. n/t

[mantis49]

21. Ordered it yesterday.

Can't wait! Thanks for the excerpts everybody :)

[YvonneCa]

25. You are most...

...welcome. :7

[blm]

22. Gore's definitely joined the anti-corruption, open government wing of the Dem party

and I am glad he is speaking out publically in this way.

THANKYOU AL!!!!!

TRUTH does, indeed, MATTER!!!!

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/051006.html

[YvonneCa]

26. So am I...

...the truth does indeed matter! And I hope he gets the media attention he should get...being a former Vice President, and all. ;) Much of this book is an elaboration on his January, 2006 MLK Day speech in Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. Sadly, it was barely covered. I hope the media step up to the plate this time. :patriot:

[blm]

29. I always thought you were there, anyway. I noticed for years that you show up on

threads where serious issues of corruption are being discussed. And have always been glad to seee you.

;))))

[YvonneCa]

30. "...yes, my country right or wrong...

...when right, keep it right...when wrong, MAKE it right. That's what we have to do today...get out there and MAKE THIS COUNTRY RIGHT."



Quoted from tall, famous legislator from Massachusetts...:7


Thanks, blm. :patriot:

[YvonneCa]

31. MORE...

...from page 61*...

"Now, with the Radical Right,we have a political faction disguised as a religious sect, and the president of the United States is HEADING it. "

...from page 62...

"Make no mistake: It is the president's reactionary ideology, not his religious faith, that is the source of his troubling inflexibility. Whatever his religious views, President Bush has such an absolute certainty in the validity of his rigid right-wing idealogy that he does not feel the same desire that many of us would in gathering facts relevant to the questions at hand. As a result, he ignores the warnings of his own experts, forbids dissent, and often refuses to test his assumptions against the best available evidence. He is, in fact, out of touch with reality, and his recklessness risks the safety and security of the American people."



* I hope posting this from Al Gore's book is okay with DU rules..Skinner, let me know, if it's not. One premise of the book is that Gore is perplexed and incredulous that the American people are tolerating and not questioning this administration's actions/abuses. Another premise is that TWO-WAY communication (such as the internet and blogs like this one provide) are the hope for the future...if "We, the people" use these avenues to save our democracy from government abuses.

[blm]

34. I would wager that Al wants this material spread around as much as possible.

.

[YvonneCa]

35. Yep...

...that's what I thought, too. :7

[Uncle Joe]

32. I just finished reading "The Assault on Reason" and I believe it's Al's best book

and loved his best seller "Earth in The Balance", not to mention his Academy Award winning, Nobel Peace Prize nominated "An Inconvenient Truth" but The Assault on Reason covers it all from Bush/Cheney
crimes and abuses, to our dysfunctional media, our democratic history, how mass psychology and propaganda have adversely affected our society, our environmental crisis, the importance of the internet, blogs and net neutrality in our democracy and solutions as to how we can bring a functional democracy based on the meritocracy of ideas back, he even lists a website critical of himself, such is his love of democracy!

I can't express in words how powerful this book is, and for that very reason, I believe the Mass Corporate Media at best will only give it lip service or obfuscate it as CBS did today on their website, trying to blame it all on FOX News when it's the entire television and radio media Al is speaking of.

All I can say is whether you support Al Gore for President as I do or not, you absolutely owe it to your self and your family to read this book!

Edit for link to CBS

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/25/opinion/main2...

In "The Assault on Reason," Gore blames the "grievous mistake" of the Iraq invasion in part on the fact that Americans spend too much time vegging out, passively allowing themselves to be manipulated by modern-day "media Machiavellis" (read: FOX News). Gore writes: "While American television watchers were collectively devoting 100 million hours of their lives each week to these and other similar stories, our nation was in the process of more quietly making what future historians will certainly describe as a series of catastrophically mistaken decisions on issues of war and peace, the global climate and human survival, freedom and barbarity, justice and fairness."

[Lisa]

33. after reading it, I had a nightmare about Karl Rove showing Georgie ...

... how to hypnotize a chicken, just like Al describes in the book. Only the chicken had human eyes -- and Cheney was standing there, smiling the way he does ... and he was holding a big sharp knife behind his back, waiting for them to put the bird under.

The book, by the way, is fantastic.

[Apollo11]

37. This is a very important book

I intend to buy several copies and give them as gifts to people I know will read it.

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF AL GORE
By Eric Pooley
TIME Magazine -- May 17, 2007
Let's say you were dreaming up the perfect stealth candidate for 2008, a Democrat who could step into the presidential race when the party confronts its inevitable doubts about the front runners. You would want a candidate with the grass-roots appeal of Barack Obama -- someone with a message that transcends politics, someone who spoke out loud and clear and early against the war in Iraq. But you would also want a candidate with the operational toughness of Hillary Clinton -- someone with experience and credibility on the world stage.
In other words, you would want someone like Al Gore -- the improbably charismatic, Academy Award-winning, Nobel Prize-nominated environmental prophet with an army of followers and huge reserves of political and cultural capital at his command.
...
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1622597,00.html

Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore! :patriot:

Visit Al's site www.algore.com and read his blog http://blog.algore.com

Get ready for Live Earth on 7/7/07: www.liveearth.org

Sign the petitions at www.algore.org and www.draftgore.com

:kick:

[blm]

38. I bought two extra copies for my local library.

.

[YvonneCa]

40. What a GREAT idea...

...blm.:hi:

[Lisa]

48. I'm going to see about buying the CD for them -- library's audiobooks have long waitlists (n/t)

[YvonneCa]

39. That's what I'm doing, too...

...payday is on Thursday. :7

[politicat]

41. I just finished it, and he's got every fiber of me if he runs.

The NYT may be calling it an assault on *, but heaven knows that * could use a little assaulting in retributive justice for all of the assaulting he's done.

I am floored at how FAIR Gore is. Even when he's talking about people who have attacked him, he gives them equal time and never denies them the right to criticize. And the work is a stellar piece of sythesis - he has proved to me that he is a scholar and is wise, with his ability to draw parallels between human evolution, behavioral psychology, television, and political behavior. These are not closely related fields, mind you, and to be able to integrate the structures of all...

I'm looking for a local Draft Gore group now. He has a convert on his hands.

(I was a reluctant Gore 00 supporter -- I despised then and still despise Lieberman, and I've always been a bit concerned with Tipper Gore's take on censorship. Art isn't always pretty, after all.)

[YvonneCa]

42. I agree...

...completely with what you say. ..."he's got every fiber of me if he runs." :)

I just couldn't stop reading it...he is so intelligent. He validates all that we here at DU have been concerned about for years, now. But he wove it into a story that...together with his inside knowledge of democracy and how Washington D.C. works, clarifies the problem our country is facing. Until I heard his speech last January, I kept thinking something was wrong with me...for worrying about 'little details like torture, and the Constitution'.

When John Kerry started speaking out, I was so grateful that finally someone in a position of leadership was going to lead. And I know he is still leading.

Knowing that the former Vice President also sees these issues is comforting. Now I know we have hope to turn things around.:patriot:

[Apollo11]

44. Tipper never advocated censorship

I don't think Tipper ever suggested that Prince should have his songs censored by the authorities.

She called for more informative labelling of records so that consumers (especially parents) can make an informed choice.

Although I guess now with downloading there is no way for parents to know if their pre-teens are listening to sexually explicit "songs".

But at least when you are buying a CD for your child or nephew, you can look for the warning sticker.

PS Tipper Rocks !! :)

[YvonneCa]

43. Kicking...

...again...for President Gore !:patriot:

[Uncle Joe]

47. I wish, I could recommend this twice. n/t

[YvonneCa]

49. Aw, thanks...

...Uncle Joe...me, too. :7

[YvonneCa]

50. Come on...read the book. n/t

:)