David Harvey's key to future politics
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written in an understandable manner for an interested public. clear disposition and logic intermeshed with experience especially from the urban scene and land economics. with political recommendations.
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Another brilliant but easy-to-read guide by David Horowitz on how the current administration and the American people must battle the modern Left.  It's been over sixteen years since he published The Art of Political War, and with Donald Trump having emerged as the new leader to engage in this war, Horowitz identifies what must first be understood by each reader in order to grasp the extent of this great crusade of our time: "Only by understanding the ideology of progressives and their true agenda, only by understanding that they view the acquisition of power as a self-justifying goal regardless of the means used to acquire it, can defenders of American values hope to prevail." Although at first it may seem that only those who are in the political arena can make a difference, those with the passion to fight back and save America should find certain ideas from the book to consider and put them into use in some way. Quoting Mike Tyson was rather odd, but it does hit home, and the Donald has shown the world that it works: "Everybody has a game plan until you punch them in the mouth."
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After months of listening to political drivel in the U.S. campaign to nominate a candidate to oppose the president, surely any other system of choosing a national leader is preferable.

 Nope.  Newman details how Canadians are equally clever in using very different politics to produce a landslide defeat based on the hubris of past success and the blinders of current arrogance.  He knows how to infuriate politicians;  he quotes them accurately and in enough context that they can't weasel out of gaffes, goofs and "Golly Gees!" with claims of misquotes.  It gives him two great advantages;  honesty allows him candid access to all who matter, including politicians, and in return he presents a complete "warts and all" picture.

 Trust me, I've been there.  Political campaigns are intense;  success requires an astute candidate plus a dedicated staff willing to literally work around the clock.  As Newman says, Michael Ignatieff began with these strengths until his campaign was taken over by good ol' boys wanting to cash in on easy glory.

 This book is a post-mortem, like an analysis of why the Titanic sank.  As with the Titanic, lessons learned mean big ships are still built and sail safely;  the lessons of this book may well become a foundation garment to rebuild the Liberal Party.  As an original supporter of John Diefenbaker and Dr. P. B. Rynard, I don't want Liberals to disappear;  because the lasting success of Conservatives depends on the intelligence of a good opposition.

 Without a good opposition to debate their politics, plans, policies and peccadillos, Conservatives will become a Canadian G.O.P. (Greedy Old Party).

 Conservatives skillfully used American campaign techniques in 2011, a system imported by Liberals in the 1962 election.  It doesn't imply Canada should copy the American primary system;  but it does suggest adopting new and more open methods of selecting candidates.

 Newman skillfully cites the arrogance and incompetence of the Worthy Old Elder Statesmen (WOES).  It's not unique to politics;  the basic errors are much the same as the collapse of once great businesses such as Kodak  --  the company that invented digital photography; or Research in Motion  --  creator of the world's best business phone.  Good companies re-organize and thrive;  weak companies, and inept politicians, refuse to change and die.

 This is a textbook on how to lose an election, destroy a great candidate and crush a venerable political party.  It's essential political reading as an example of what not to do;  plus, as a foundation to create reforms.  After reading it, perhaps Liberals will organize a new "Kingston Conference" similar to the one held in the wake of the 1958 triumph by Diefenbaker.

 Politics is a process of continual rebirth, simply because the interests, needs and whims of voters always change.  Newman has written a fine obituary of old Liberals;  now, party leaders must decide whether to die like Britain's Liberals or be reborn like Democrats after the 2004 election.  President Bush bragged of mandates and holding power for at least a generation after 2004;  Republicans were trounced in 2006 and 2008, then revived by 2010.  Such is the volatile nature of politics.

 Newman deftly outlines the Liberal WOES.  Now, Young Liberals must reform or learn to graciously fade into history like a curious oddity from times long past.

 Okay?
1500754
Randy Shilts's intricately researched biography of one of the greatest gay activists of all time, Harvey Milk, is not only a political biography, but a chronology of an entire political movement.
This is the second book I've read by Randy Shilts, the first being And the Band Played On. While there are certainly some differences between the two, Shilts's imaginative narrative writing is the same. The Mayor of Castro Street is proof positive that he [the author] can turn even the most mundane of political machinations into high drama.
Starting out when Harvey Milk was growing up in Woodmere, New York, the book traces his life from there. From his high school athletic career, to his college years, his time with the Navy, and his Manhattan years. When Harvey makes the move from New York to San Francisco, the book changes pace, and a gay political hero is born. The book is filled with snippets of his speeches, and in the back appendices, the eloquent words of Harvey Milk come alive, as some of his more famous speeches are reprinted there.
At a solid 380 pages (including appendices and sources) the book never drags. Everything appears to be cause and effect, which makes for some white-knuckle reading even if the reader is already familiar with the budding gay movement, Harvey Milk's participation in it, and the untimely tragic assassination of he and Mayor George Moscone by a homophobic zealot.
I must admit, there were certain parts of this book that gave me chills: Harvey Milk's beautiful speeches, the candlelight vigils, the many marches, and the White Night Riots. The sheer epic proportions of it all can overwhelming.
However, epic or not, this remains the simple story of a man and his dream, vision, and hope for his gay brothers and sisters, and all of humanity.
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"Don't mistake neighbors who simply disagree with you for bullies--they are your teammates who happen to have different points of view.  Disagree with them, try to educate them, learn from them yourself, but don't fight them.  Instead, push back against the real bullies--those people and influences that wish to fundamentally change America to another type of society." - page 96

That in a nutshell is the urgent message that conservative columnist and retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson is trying to convey to Americans of all races, classes, religions and political persuasions in his important new book "One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America's Future".  After decades of bickering in this country this is a message we desperately need to hear and heed.  Whether we agree or disagree, Dr. Carson challenges each and every one of us to treat our fellow Americans with the utmost respect.  If we are ever to solve the daunting problems we now face in this country we need to put an end to the name-calling, ignore any personal attacks and stay focused on the issue at hand.  The good doctor recommends that people of good will who are sincerely trying to find solutions should concentrate on the big picture and de-emphasize the small details. He writes: "Individually, Americans need to choose to be the bigger person, overlook offense, and be willing to have candid discussions about volatile issues."  This approach makes perfect sense to me.  It is high time we rejected political correctness which stifles open and honest debate. I firmly believe that the immigration problem could be solved in rather short order if all of the interested parties (including the immigrants themselves) came to the table willing to offer significant compromises to make it happen.  The author praises the efforts of President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich to reform the welfare system back in 1994.

Take one look at his resume.  Dr. Ben Carson is a man of many talents who has accomplished incredible things during his lifetime.  What makes his story all the more impressive is the fact that he grew up dirt poor in the inner city of Detroit. He is also a man of great vision who possesses that rare ability to connect with all sorts of people.  A growing number of Americans believe he could be a formidable candidate for President of the United States in the not too distant future.  Throughout the pages of "One Nation" Dr. Carson discusses a whole host of important issues including health care, the national debt, tort reform, job creation, education, tax policy and the welfare state.  Suffice to say that there is an abundance of common sense in this volume.  What Dr. Carson has to say frequently seems to parallel the writings of my favorite economist Dr. Thomas Sowell.  If you are tired of all of the doom and gloom and the ceaseless name-calling and finger-pointing I would urge you to pick up a copy of  "One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America's Future" and to carefully consider what this man has to say.  I think you will find his candid and upbeat message to be quite refreshing.  Very highly recommended!
3002278
In many ways reminiscent of Kevin Phillips' recent works (American Theocracy comes to mind), John Dean writes from the viewpoint of a traditional conservative, someone whom Mr Dean proves would find no home in today's Republican Party.  He comes from the time-honored libertarian type of conservative who believes in conserving resources, preserving our nation's institutions for the next generations, spending within our means and not spending trillions on tragic and needless wars, protecting personal privacy and keeping government and religion separate.

John Dean shows how the Republican Party of today has used fear and manipulation of issues which resound most effectively with authoritarians.  Just as Kevin Phillips showed that religiosity is a reliable predictor of voting for Republican candidates for national office, Mr Dean highlights the evidence connecting authoritarians with support for most Republican candidates.

As I read these books I often thought of how the Nazi propaganda machine in 1930s Germany was so effective at gaining the attention of the authoritarians, and when they reached critical mass, the apolitical people followed.  There are many parallels between that period and predictible way in which fear was packaged and sold to the public in the post-September 11th era in America, continuing to this day.  The message to me seems clear:  Facism neatly follows in the footsteps of Authoritarianism.

John Dean's personal life has been a testament to living with a conscience.  From his vital role in the downfall of the Nixon Administration, to this critique of the dangerous trend toward authoritarianism, Mr Dean speaks with great credibility.  I highly recommend this book to anyone looking at the question of "how did we arrive at this place?"
1438905
I highly recommend this book to any serious student of American politics, as well as to Democratic activists. I came away from it feeling I had a firm understanding of political competition in the U.S. and the driving forces behind the two parties. I also found myself in strong agreement with the aurthor on need for Democrats to communicate their message clearly and aggressively. If they do not, the Republicans will do it for them, as they have done successfully since the Vietnam war, and as perfectly illustrated in the recent mid-term elections.

The most remarkable thing about this book is its almost eriee accuracy in predicting the current economic situation from the vantage point of 1997. It shows what I have long suspected: that the Federal Reserve is essentially a negative influence in the economy, and that Republican Administrations mean stagnation, and perhaps even deflation. Libbey assembles some impressive statistics and graphics to demonstrate this, and lays out the economic logic to go with them. The message for a successful election campaign is plainly evident.  Sadly, though, nobody seems to be listening.
3422640
I think we all know Barack Obama as the charming, middle-of-the-road Illinois Senator now poised to make a run at the White House in 2008.

While I still believe it's unlikely America is ready for a non-white male Christian President, Obama's book at least gives a vision of what qualities I think the first non-white male Christian President of the United States will probably have to possess: appealing values & integrity.

I knew about as much as the average American about Obama prior to reading "The Audacity of Hope." After completing the book, I can honestly say he is indeed a mild-mannered politician brimming with optimism who believes there's no reason why America's promise can't & shouldn't benefit all.

Obama tends to go the empathetic route (liberal views by some standards) when it comes to helping the poor, fighting poverty and improving the educational system in low-income areas across the country.

He also tends to lean slightly more conservative when it comes to his religious background and acknowledging how that shapes his worldview.

However, the real jackpot of this book and where I think Obama is starting to win fans over is promoting the notion that we all can find COMMON GROUND no matter what our background or personal political perspectives might be.

This isn't necessarily a new concept by any stretch of the imagination, but I think Obama succeeds where many politicians have failed because he still has that "I'll fight for what's best for the common man" approach that so many politicians on his level have lost.

"The Audacity of Hope" in Obama's concept is loosely based on overcoming differences of opinion, Congressional alliances and all of the idling bureaucracies that hinder any real progress to make positive changes Americans can see and touch.

It would take me another 1,000 or so words to break down the book chapter by chapter.  Obama, like all politicians, has an opinion on everything.

The only asset I'd add that perhaps hasn't been expressed by other reviewers here is that Obama comes across as very non-threatening, approachable and genuine.

At central focus of "The Audacity of Hope" is Obama detailing how his childhood, racial background, education, religious faith and family values all contributed to shaping who his is today and how he sees the world.

All of these things helped form his opinions on race, politics, war, social welfare, Capitalism, Communism, freedom and matters that pertain to Church v. State.

Yet, his winning points are in understanding how his identity both enhances and in some ways limits his perspectives when it comes to trying to relate to others who come from the opposite end of the spectrum.

This is where putting into action the attempt to find common ground and making sure the good of all Americans truly being made top priority is soooo fundamental.

In other words, Obama knows he doesn't have all the answers and is the first Democrat to openly admit one must listen to the other side (Republicans) because one side doesn't have all the right answers.

As the title of my review states, if you "get this" about Obama's perspectives, "The Audacity of Hope" will either be one of your better or worst reads.

I, for one, understand the value in understanding a point of view counter to my own and the impending necessity in life you'll find in having to work together to tackle a big problem.

Highly recommended read!
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Anyone who enjoys business history knows the thrill of learning how commerce has helped society.

Sometimes the tidbits are complete surprises, other times they confirm, or denigrate, urban lengends. I was unfamiliar with Fred Harvey before reading this, but I have always wondered how the West was refined. This story provides a lot of insights! And clearly Fred Harvey had a driving force that was unusually powerful.

Like so many other industrial/post-industrial business people--Thomas J. Lipton and JP Morgan among them--Harvey was a student of business methods. The composite picture that Stephen Fried paints is one of great ability and, for some time, happiness for the Harvey's. This book is a very enjoyable reminder of the possibilities in an idea powered by personal commitment, and of the challenge in passing that vision to the next generation.

Just as the Harvey Girls provide a glimpse of the country's moral compass, Fred Harvey's legacy and story represent the entrepreneurial urge magnificently fulfilled in ways that shape our society still.
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"Murdoch's Politics" by David McKnight is a fine introduction to the political life and career of the powerful media mogul, Rupert Murdoch. Mr. McKnight is an award-winning author and associate professor of journalism in New South Wales, Australia (Murdoch's country of origin) who has spent years studying the subject including interviews with media insiders.  This insightful book helps inquisitive readers understand how Murdoch's political ambitions have markedly shaped the media landscape as we know it; including the prospects for change in the foreseeable future.

The Foreword is written by the veteran media critic, Robert W. McChesney who justifiably critiques Murdoch's U.S. Fox News network for its Right-wing partisanship, lack of journalistic integrity and faux objectivity.  Mr. McKnight's Introduction posits that Murdoch has been driven as much by ideology as the desire to gain power through exercising control over a vast business media empire.  The extended, thoughtful analysis that follows succeeds in presenting a Murdoch that alternately surprises, confounds and infuriates us with his ruthless, winner-take-all approach to life, business and politics.

Interestingly, Mr. McKnight tells us that Murdoch was born into privilege but as a young man identified with populist struggles against elite power.  Mr. McKnight explains how Murdoch changed his sympathies from pro-labor to pro-capital when a strike at his newspaper disrupted production.  Murdoch eventually came around to supporting the neoliberalism of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in the name of a righteous rebellion against restrictive welfare states.  In this manner, Murdoch hit upon the wildly successful marketing idea of building a so-called fair and balanced conservative news outlet to fight the good fight against an ostensibly biased, unimaginative yet all-powerful liberal establishment.

On that point, it seems the truth has frequently become a casualty in Murdoch's culture and propaganda wars.  For example, Mr. McKnight documents the Murdoch media's abysmal record of dishonest reporting about gay rights and the AIDS epidemic.  Climate change deniers have been provided a platform to disseminate lies and misinformation in order to curb meaningful action at a time when the environmental crisis has grown acute.  Whatever the real reasons for the Iraq War might have been, it was not about weapons of mass destruction and other myths that were loudly proclaimed by Fox News. Last but not least, Mr. McKnight chronicles a few of the many bitter partisan attacks and dirty tricks that Murdoch's companies have unscrupulously launched against their opponents, including the infamous phone hacking scandal in the U.K.

Mr. McKnight speculates about what may come next as Murdoch faces up to his mortality. Murdoch wants the corporation to remain in family hands but it appears that some of his heirs may hold very different values and beliefs.  Indeed, Rupert has pledged that his companies would soon become carbon neutral at the behest of one of his sons. To the many of us who hope for a media that supports reasoned, well-informed and civil debate, the day that the senior Murdoch relinquishes control can not come soon enough.

I highly recommend this outstanding book to everyone.
3331197
Ever since Election Day of last year, I've been reluctant to pick up a political book. Walking through the bookstore, glancing at all the antiquated and soon-to-be-discarded anti-Bush titles, titles prophesizing the future triumph of the left, even seeing the occasional Kerry-Edwards bumper sticker reminded me of more hopeful times, hopes that the election had dashed. However, I did recently pick up and read, from cover to cover, a book on politics.  Liars! Cheaters! Evildoers!: Demonization and the End of Civil Debate in American Politics, by Tom DeLuca and John Buell, is a thoughtful analysis of demonization in American politics today.  It traces the history of demonization in American politics, uncovering and outlining the social structures that allow for demonization of a moral and personal nature to occur. It also looks at several groups that have been targeted for demonization: immigrants, the poor. And it examines the rhetoric of demonization in the war on terror, the Clinton Impeachment, and the 2004 elections. The authors, in concluding the book, suggest how we can overcome this and live in a world that is freer of demonization. Deep, insightful, and informative, this book is a must-read for anyone mildly interested in politics.
3888318
So that we can all get an understanding of what our politicians will need to do in the years ahead.
3627271
This book is a necessary addition to anyone seeking to make American democracy what it should be -- and what it must be if it is to survive well into the 21st century, as it's no longer optional to advance these reforms. "Repair" isn't quite the right word. Hill wants to bring American democracy to a better place than it's ever been with proposals that are at once both "common sense" and "revolutionary." That combination of words shows Hill's role in the electoral reform world (in tandem with a few innovative groups like FairVote and Hill's New America Foundation) -- a Tom Paine who boldly is willing to learn from international examples, apply those lessons to our nation with an American twist and go beyond the tepid proposals so typically espoused by our political and civic leaders. Here's a guarantee, one the publisher almost could say "or your money back": you will learn about at least one reform or reform strategy that you will be shocked that you didn't already know about. Be prepared to go through at least a few weeks (and probably years) of wanting to tell all your friends about how they can do to make our democracy work better, starting in your own community.
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says Tom Fletcher. Having served as a foreign policy adviser to three British Prime Ministers and having been Ambassador to Lebanon for four years, he nevertheless admits that as a man in his mid  thirties, he was too old for the job. He argues that the coinage of global politics and diplomacy now is digital and we currently witness a dramatic shift in our relationship with authority, diplomats included. Governments are becoming weaker compared to other sources of power, therefore the role of ambassador in the future will not be just representing a government to a government, but a people to a people.

In the chapter Envoy 2025 he conjures up a daily routine of the future ambassador consisting of a series of digital encounters (at a more traditional lunch, however, standard etiquette will require that no smartphones will be at the table). The embassy increasingly will be an idea not a building, and times will come, that states will send their ambassadors not only to other countries, but also to Google and Apple.

I think, however, that the main point the author pushes forward is that diplomacy may not be a job for a life. New phases of innovation will destroy traditional jobs more quickly than new ones are created. Tom Fletcher believes that diplomacy will not be immune to this process. For you to find, why.
738434
A Declaration of Independents: How We Can Break the Two-Party Stranglehold and Restore the American Dream by  Greg Orman  shows how the two party  system has insulated itself from the average American. Those inside Washington,D. C,  for the most part can not  understand  those outside. This is a timely book because this election cycle independents are having a impact . Compromising and listening are skills that are lacking and needed. Greg Orman uses his life and experiences to show how America can be fixed. the major thing is to focus on the country not what  you can get out of it. It is a book that needs to be read by everyone whether they are  republican, Democrat or an independent.

I received this book thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
3111048
I recommend anyone who wants to be informed on issues of today to read this book.  Mark builds a strong case for the rising generation the rest of the country to adopt conservative principles.  He lays out issue after issue how liberal policies of the past and present are destructive and at the same time deceiving to the rising generation and generations to come. The reader is left armed with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision on issues surrounding the next election.
4382740
Looking at some of the negative reviews on this page, I have to wonder whether these readers read the same book I did.  I though Dionne's book was a political opus and the large number of awards it has received encourages my judgement.  What Dionne explains is how we got to where we are today (or  at least to 1992 when the book was written).  This includes the ideological  spectrum, the travels of each political party, and most importantly, why  our people are so disgusted with politics.  Because he is a liberal,  Dionne's criticisms of his ideology and his explanations for the political  failure of liberalism are particularly credible and insightful.  I heartily  recommend this book.  If you share my opinion, see Robert Samuelson's  "The Good Life and Its Discontents."