Books

[geiger]

A politics prof friend of mine got me started on a book that I somehow missed during the last election cycle, Stanley Greenberg's Two Americas. I've always kept up with his polling, but the book here pulls it all together in an informative and fun way.

I can also recommend Susan Estrich's most recent book, "The Case for Hillary Clinton," which I actually read twice because I thought maybe I had been reading to much into it.

I am wondering what books any DU members may have found especially helpful or illuminating. Would appreciate hearing; I've been spending too much time working and not enough reading. Thank you.

[Schmajo]

1. Jimmy Carter's "Our Endangered Values"

Everyone should give a copy of this book to a Fundamentalist friend or family member who has been misled by Pat Robertson, et al. into believing that Democrats are Godless humanists and Republicans are the heaven-anointed defenders of Goodness and Light.

A born-again Christian, President Carter takes to task the neocon "Christian Right" that has taken over his Southern Baptist Convention (he has changed churches). ("... there are three words that characterize this brand of fundamentalism: rigidity, domination, and exclusion." p. 35) He describes how this neocon fundamentalism permeates the Bush administration.

The book addresses specific fundamentalist beliefs and related political policies of the administration, and shows how they often are, in fact, un-Christian. Chapter titles include: "No Conflict Between Science and Religion"; "The Entwining of Church and State"; "Fundamentalism in Government"; "Worshiping the Prince of Peace or Preemptive War?"

It's a quick-read 200 pages.

[geiger]

2. I wonder ...

...if President Carter's speech at the last convention was the genesis of this book. Thanks for your synopsis; I have had it on reserve at the library and am looking forward to picking it up.

[Earl from Ohio]

3. Not exactly on topic-but interesting

I just finished "Hope Agianst History: the Course of Conflict in Northern Ireland" by Jack Holland. Not great literature by any means, but a very compelling read. (covers through 1999.)

[Kolesar]

4. "Myths of Free Trade", Sherrod Brown, 2004

I must admit I have not read it. I find myself reading mostly headlines and articles, or writing organizing materials.

[geiger]

5. He talks truth to power, another reason to support Sherrod Brown

hey, thanks. I will definitely read this--I really, really can't believe I missed a new book by SB. Is it a revised edition of an earlier book by him?

You mention reading mostly headlines and articles. It's still productive, and by the end of the day, I'm sometimes amazed how much I have been able to find out. It's not all bad! I can tell you from experience, it's better than nothing. I'm trying to figure out whether the project I was working on last year kept me from keeping up, or whether I was maybe trying to stay away from everything. Yesterday was an especially bad (political) day, I thought. Everything from Ohio HB3, to continued blind powermongering in the Congress, and the beginning of fake Alito hearings. It was enough to make a person cry.

Thanks for the tip. I enjoy your postings, by the way.

[Kolesar]

6. I am still trying to find the quintessential global warming thesis

Everything I know is from articles, films and seminars. I think Sherrod's "Myths" is first edition. I expect that is what he is going to base his campaign on, so that would be a good tutorial on his talking points if you are going to do any outreach work on his campaign.

Thanks for the compliment. We in the opposition need any lift we can get. You certainly have taken this forum by storm since you started posting, too. :hi:

[geiger]

7. NPR recently ran some interviews, but...

I am not an expert on the topic. You might want to start with "The Republican War on Science," by Chris Mooney, but since there has recently been another international get-together, there's got to me more up-to-date information.

My sense about the most recent summit is that the argument has changed to not "if" something needs to be done, but "how long" it should take. Might be a cop-out, but I think the rationale is just to keep dialogue alive at this point.

I'll keep my eyes open.

[Schmajo]

8. I just got "Take It Back"

by Carville and Begala. Practical advice for WINNING. These guys are my kind of Democrats.

I'm 45 pages into the book. I'm impressed, so far. I'll post a review when I'm done.

[geiger]

9. I've been wondering what Carville has been up to

I went and ordered it yesterday after Carville and Begala made a Today Show appearance about the book, and got very little time to talk about it.