First Review of Upcoming Frank Rich Book: "A Savaging Sermon" on Bush

[truthpusher]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002838474

First Review of Upcoming Frank Rich Book: "A Savaging Sermon" on the Bush Years

Published: July 12, 2006 5:55 PM ET

NEW YORK A new book by New York Times columnist Frank Rich, "The Greatest Story Ever Sold: The Decline and Fall of Truth from 9/11 to Katrina" will be published by Penguin on Sept. 26. In the book, Rich delivers a savaging sermon on the US government's "rampant cronyism, the empty sloganeering of 'compassionate conservativism,' the reckless lack of planning for all government operations except tax cuts"—and so much more.

(snip)

By Rich's account, of course, that parade of missteps is organic; Bush and company cannot help but err. In an effort to disguise that track record, the Republicans have exercised single-minded control of the grand narrative of the last five years, at least in part because they have exercised quasi-totalitarian control over the news media. (They are nearly forgotten already, but one needs to remember Judith Miller, Jeff Gannon, Karen Ryan and various columnists and commentators paid off to repeat the party line.)

Not for nothing did a White House adviser reveal to one journalist that his bosses were set on creating their "own reality," one that all Americans were expected to share; not for nothing did that reality include spinning amazing lies about everything from the death of football- and war hero Pat Tillman to the kidnapping of Jessica Lynch to the government's preparedness for Katrina. And yet, and yet . . .

Though the administration may be remembered as the worst in American history, the people seem mostly silent. One wishes that Rich had explored that particular mentalit along with the others he so fluently discusses.

link: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002838474

[AlwaysQuestion]

1. Another Bushco Bashing Book--Hooray--but...

There have been any number of books bashing Bushco and here's yet another. My question is, who's reading them and what if any effect are these books having on a public call to arms. I'm an oldie and I can't remember another president who's been so hammered in print--and yet the rethuglicans relentlessly advance. Where is the intrepid opposition? If one doesn't surface soon, we're hammered for good.

[kwolf68]

2. Here is a reminder

....>>>>I can't remember another president who's been so hammered in print


Ahh, Bill Clinton? Oh that's right, NOTHING was ever written about that guy.



Further, there are plenty of books by Ingaram, Hannity, Savage, and Coulter bashing and trashing Liberals...its great to finally have someone on our side defining them.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. An absolutely stupendous, top-of-the-charts US bestseller

might mean 3 million copies sold. That's 1% of the population. Assume--generously--that half of those books will actually be read. Do the math yourself. Any book these days will get to a very small portion of the population. Take the top 10 Bush-bashing books. I bet there is a core readership of no more than 5 million people who will account for most of the sales of those books. The fact of the matter is that a book is not a good way to get information to the masses. A single network TV show might have 10 or 20 million viewers. I'm making these numbers up, but doubt that I'm incredibly far off the real numbers. If it isn't on the idiot box, it doesn't exist.

[msongs]

4. these books are "preaching to the choir" nt

[Gabi Hayes]

5. considering the last link of the OP:

it's OBVIOUS why people are ''silent,'' to a great extent, in the author's nearsightedness....

the fricking MEEEEEDIAhas been silent over the last seven years, switching from "The Hunting of the President" mode (thank you, J. Conason, G. Lyons) for eight years, to an almost complete melding with the PR "geniuses" who have put out the government spin since 1999, when the idiot dauphin burst, like a puswort, on the national scene.

the media handmaidens have ACTIVELY suppressed ALL the major stories about Bush and the BFEE, from the time of the Reagan admin (Iran/Contra/BCCI, anyone?)

the average media consumer, who can cite chapter and verse about Monica Lewinsky will greet anyone who mentions the Aug. 6 PDB or the Downing Street Memo with a glassy-eyed stare, because the MEDIA refuses to cover any topic in other than the most cursory manner which redounds to the negative for the regime in power; it's that simple

in what hole has this reviewer been hiding for the last two decades?

I would suggest he start with "On Bended Knee" for the blueprint of all succeeding RW PR hacks

Mr. Deaver, shake hands with Mr. Rove