Reviews (5)

Not only politicians but also voters need to upgrade their savvy
In _Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business_ (1985), Neil Postman (1931-2003) detailed the decline of public discourse in the Age of Television.
Starts Out Good, then slides downhill -
"The Way to Win" professes to provide campaign secrets from both the Clintons and Bushes (read Rove).In reality, it offers little in the way of secrets, though it starts off well by describing the reality of the New Media "Freak Show."
Sharp political analysis for the political junkie
The Way to Win is a very good book.I bought it when I needed something to read on the train from D.C. to New York.I was pleasantly surprised by its readability and insights.The Way to Win is a well-thought out, timely, at times fascinating exposition of not just what it will take to win the presidency in 2008, but more broadly how the drastic changes to the way news is reported in this country will affect national politics in the future.The authors' analysis of this new media age, which they dub the "Freak Show," is probably the book's most useful contribution, even more so than their assortment of "trade secrets" to prospective presidential contenders.
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Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. 2008    3. 21st century    4. Election    5. Government - Executive Branch    6. Government - General    7. Political Parties    8. Political Process - Elections    9. Political Process - Political Parties    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics and government    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Presidents    15. U.S. Presidential Elections    16. United States    17. Political Science / Political Parties   

Reviews (68)

IS VOTE FRAUD JUST A HARMLESS PRANK ?
NO CONSENSUS EXISTS ABOUT THE PERVASIVENESS OF CONTEMPORARY VOTE FRAUD or the frequency with which elections are stolen.A recent bipartisan report (U.S. Election Assistance Commission, May 17, 2006)tends to minimize the phenomenon ofvote tampering as insignificant or unsubstantiated.Consequently, the message seems to be that we should forget about it and roll our eyes when cranky complainers continue to harp about vote theft.
Socialism has never worked...
This book was at my local library so I decided to read it because it has received such great reviews that say like yeah that is right Bush lied, people died. First off this book was highly entertaining. Mr. Palast writes in a sarcastic tone that the reader must adjust to. The beginning of the book was really easy to read. He does not blame Bush so much as he does the Saudis. The Saudis really run our country with Bush as their puppet. Palast never accounts for the poor intelligence that the U.S had in Iraq before the war. Palast does not understand that part. I did not agree with Palast blasting Thomas Friedman as the worst thing since Bush. I respect Friedman and the work that he has done.
A Must Have Title
A great well exposed piece of research. The abuse and lies of the US Gov't under George W. Bush andhis cronies is beyond comprehension. This book clearly identifies what a inside out, upside down world we suffer under today. This is a must have investigation that should be in every library- personal and public. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 2000    2. 2004    3. Election    4. Government - General    5. Government - State & Provincial    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. Political Advocacy    8. Political Corruption    9. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    10. Political Process - Elections    11. Political Science    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Presidents    15. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    16. United States    17. Political Science / Political Ideologies / General   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. Political Process - Elections    4. Political Science    5. Politics - Current Events    6. Politics and government    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Textbooks    9. United States    10. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    11. Political Science / General    12. USA   

Reviews (3)

So good, I gave it to my pastor!
My pastor is one of the wisest, smartest, and best-read people that I know.But I was pretty sure he had a copy of THE HOLY VOTE---and he didn't, so I gave him mine.
WHAT DRIVES YOUR VOTE? A CONSIDERATION OF TODAY'S ISSUES OF FAITH!
Four VERY IMPORTANT Stars!! Written by Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer", this fact-laden, opinion-driven book investigates the juxtaposition and intersections of religion and politics in America. Mr Suarez states he wants "to alternately infuriate and intrigue you". And so he does! In many ways, it's a series of topical essays which are energized by years of interviews and many quotes. In fact, it is as much a brief history lesson as a survey of religion and politics, revealing many finer details of our historical background and the personages that have populated our history. If you missed the importance of religion to politics or believe it doesn't exist, this book will drive home the point from Mr Suarez' point of view. Indeed, some religious blocks are claiming more and more that they are determining the outcomes of elections from the local level to the White House. This book is not a demographic-driven study of the voting habits of the religious in America with charts and graphs showing the past votes and future trends from sea to shining sea. Perhaps in this form it's ultimately more conversational and readable.
Incomplete discussion of a key national issue.....
This book adopts a common modern perspective for its analysis: belief frameworks with a supernatural component are ultimately inappropriate in the public square.Only a belief framework without any supernatural component is acceptable (i.e., secularism).
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Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - Political Issues    2. Christianity and politics    3. Political Process - Elections    4. Religion    5. Religion - Socialissues    6. Religion And Politics    7. Religion, Politics & State    8. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    9. United States    10. Religion / Church & State   

Reviews (17)

Best book for local elections
I've read quite a few books on running for office and this is the best one I've seen for running for local elections. If you are running in a County, City, Township or Village race, this book has a wealth of real, usable information. The book is easy to read, has real-life examples that you can understand and is the best book I've seen for people running in smaller, local races. I personally have given it to candidates and recommend it to all candidates. Great, useful book!

A very nice, concise, no-frills primer

I lost EVERY battle but I won the WAR!
My opponent was the favored incumbent.She received the endorsement of the local newspaper AND her name was listed on the ballot before mine.All of these small things added up to sure and sudden defeat, right? Well, not so fast! Read more

Subjects:  1. Local elections    2. Local officials and employees    3. Political Process - General    4. Political Science / Elections    5. Political Science / Practical Politics    6. Political campaigns    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Practical Politics    10. United States    11. Campaign management    12. Electioneering    13. Elections    14. Handbooks, manuals, etc    15. Local government   

Reviews (4)

Of course he is right!
Ed Gillespie is the man who is able to articulate the true message of the Newt Gingrich revolution: You are either right or wrong. And for Ed and the rest of the "Reagan is God" crowd, right means right wing, right religion, right thinking, and don't question the authorities. Anything else is wrong thinking. Get in line, and don't question the men of wisdom. And if you do, well, you are a communist or a "liberal" who does not deserve the benefits of the conservative revolution. Ed's "Contract on America" was a rousing failure, but that never shamed him enough to think much about it. Nothing to see there, just move along, OK?
Great book for political junkies of all stripes...
Gillespie's book is chock full of great anecdotes about the many elected officials and other characters he has worked with through the years.While some think political people are all anger and hard eges, this book shows that players in this business can be (indeed should be) decent and respectful of their opponents. Gillespie's policy prescriptions at the end of the book are sound, and some were new to me, and the section about his work in helping the recent Supreme Court nominees offered some interesting insider information.
A perspective on how the game is played and the challenges your faced with...
An interesting history of one mans ascent into politics. One of great loyalty, commitment and not to mention his impeccable values. The book is filled with inspiring stories along with humor that keeps you from wanting to put this one down. One of the most impressive political strategists we have today! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Conservatism    2. Government - National    3. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    4. Political Process - Elections    5. Political Process - Leadership    6. Political Process - Political Parties    7. Political Science    8. Political campaigns    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. U.S. Elections And Voting    12. United States    13. Political Science / Government / National   

Reviews (6)

Excellent Resource For The Modern Campaign!!!
Ron Faucheux does an excellent job of laying out what you need to know when you are running for office. You can be assured that every word in this book comes from working on over 100 campaigns.
Any more reviews of this book out there?
I'm curious about this book, but I'm wondering why three of the four reviews were posted from San Diego, why two of those three were by the same person, and why two of those three (not by the same person) were posted on the same day.
Lists for the candidate to work through
The book provides a long set of lists for the potential and declared candidate.There is no mention of getting along with your political party.
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Subjects:  1. Campaign management    2. Elections    3. Elections And Voting    4. Political Process - Elections    5. Political Process - General    6. Political Science    7. Political campaigns    8. Politics    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. United States    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (3)

Look under the hood
The author is clearly a Democrat, but the book gives an under-the-hood perspective on modern campaign techniques on both sides of the aisle.

Serious analysis with lots of facts
This book has been seriously misrepresented in the press (a stupid review by George Will and a misleading review on Amazon). It is a very serious work of scholarship with a good deal of insight into the problems of the Democratic party. Edsall characterises the Democratic party as (a) an uneasy and unstable alliance of minorities and the poor, who have serious economic issues on the one hand, and liberal, affluent elites with interests in new age values and individual liberation on the other. He charges that Democrats have no coherent economic policy to protect marginal groups in the age of globalization, no coherent policy for rectifying government inefficiency and stifling bureaucracy, and no credibility in dealing with military affairs in particular, and foreign affairs in general. Liberal values, he argues, have led to the election of Republican mayors and governors, as for instance, noting that Dinkins in New York was so ineffective that he was followed by four successive Republican mayors. Democrats, moreover, are in bed with the most venal of feeders at the public trough, organized unions in education (AFT and NEA), whose bread and butter middle class economic issues prevent Democrats from espousing choice programs that would benefit the less well off.
Really bad
Author just does not get it.Every word, every line, every chapter in this book assumes without ever examining that what the Democratic Party says is really what the great majority of people want, and that the party's only problem is communication.Horsefeathers.Never explores the possibility that people do accurately understand the Democrat's platform and agenda and have examined it, weighed it, and thoughtfully found it wanting.According to Edsall, Republicans are driven only by fear, racism, anger, etc. -- never by reason or principles -- while Democrats are just the opposite.Author can't even bring himself to say illegal immigrant and always uses the style "illegal" immigrant.What is so hard about understanding and saying (1) our laws do not allow everyone who wants to to move into the US, and (2) people who come into the US in violation of those laws have therefore broken them, so are here illegally?People who are waiting for Green Cards, following the law in applying through legal channels, are right to find queue jumpers offensive and wrong.
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Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    3. Political Ideologies - General    4. Political Process - Elections    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Religion And Politics    9. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    10. United States - 20th Century    11. Conservatism & right-of-centre democratic ideologies    12. Political parties    13. USA   

Reviews (1)

A very good and comprehensive look at negative campaigning and strategy
Going Dirty is an excellent book covering the recent history of negative campaigning in the US. The book gives an insightful and balanced look into a topic most people wish wasn't there.
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Subjects:  1. Advertising, Political    2. General    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. History    5. Negativism    6. Political History    7. Political Process - Elections    8. Political Science    9. Political campaigns    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. United States    13. Political Science / Elections    14. Political campaigning & advertising    15. USA   

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - General    2. Christianity and politics    3. Church and state    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    6. Political Process - Elections    7. Political Process - General    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Progressivism (United States politics)    10. Religion    11. Religion And Politics    12. Religion, Politics & State    13. United States    14. Religion / General   

Editorial Review

In the first of his three debates with George W. Bush, 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry argued against the war in Iraq not by directly condemning it but by citing the various ways in which airport and commercial shipping security had been jeopardized due to the war's sizable price tag. In so doing, he re-framed the war issue to his advantage while avoiding discussing it in the global terrorism terms favored by President Bush. One possible reason for this tactic could have been that Kerry familiarized himself with the influential linguist George Lakoff, who argues in Read more

Reviews (177)

Is Framing really the issue?
I came to the 'Elephant' book by way of O'Reilly's Culture Warrior. I'm not one to be spoon fed something without checking out details, if they are provided. O'Reilly provides plenty of names, events, organizations for someone like me to verify the truth or 'stretch' or a point.
secularist advice for guaranteed failure
George Lakoff's advice and efforts to help John Kerry in the election really worked out well. It's obvious Lakoff is dispensing the same wonderful advice to the DNC Chair Howard Dean. As an Independent conservative I am thrilled with George Lakoff's work. Thanks, Georgie

Very Clarifying
I read this in one sitting on Christmas Day at a relative's house. It's such a useful book that I ordered my own copy. Lakoff just makes sense, and I try to frame my political conversations accordingly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. Communication in politics    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    5. Political Process - Elections    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics and government    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Progressivism (United States p    11. Progressivism (United States politics)    12. Reference    13. United States    14. Conservatism & right-of-centre democratic ideologies   

Reviews (4)

Pretty Good
Winning Elections is a compilation of articles that have been assembled by Editor, Ronald Faucheux.As a newcomer to politics I found this book to be especially informative. It is about processes and strategies that campaigns employ.This book, however, is not a beginner's book. It is not about building a campaign, or learning the nuts and bolts of campaigns.It is much more than that.This book is meant to build upon existing skills that successful managers and consultants are doing.In reality, there are not set right or
A Superb Compilation of Articles from C&E Magazine
This book is a compilation of practical political advice, originally published as articles in the excellent Campaigns and Elections Magazine, published by the author.
Excellent Resource for any campaign!
This book is an excellent resource for anyone involved in electoral campaigns. I will never regret my purchase. A must read for political activists!
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Subjects:  1. Campaign management    2. Elections And Voting    3. Management    4. Political Process - Elections    5. Political Science    6. Political campaigns    7. Politics    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Reference    11. United States    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    13. Political Science / Elections   

Reviews (2)

A fascinating look at the Governator
This book is a fascinating look at a different type of politician.Far from being simply a movie star now "playing" Governor, Mathews' book demonstrates that Schwarzenegger gets involved in the details of public policy to an extent much greater than one would expect.It also is apparent that Schwarzenneger is actually interested in trying to solve some of the state's long term problems, rather than simply staking out positions for political advantage.This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand recent California political history (assuming it can be understood!)

The Governator: a fair and balanced look
I won't spend a lot of space going over the same ground as the two capsule reviews, but suffice to say that Los Angeles Times writer Joe Mathews has done an extraordinary job examining Schwarzenegger and how he came to be governor of California, in terms of both the man's strengths and weaknesses. While making the typical mistakes one expects of someone "new" to California politics (though he met Howard Jarvis and closely followed the machinations involved with Prop 13 many years earlier in the late 1970s), Schwarzenegger comes off smarter than one might expect.
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Subjects:  1. 1951-    2. California    3. Government - State & Provincial    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Process - Elections    6. Political Science    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Schwarzenegger, Arnold    12. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    13. U.S. Elections And Voting    14. United States - 21st Century    15. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (24)

An interesting, personal glimpse into politics as an insider sees it
Joe Klein has spent his career interviewing and writing about politicians.This book, Politics Lost, pulls together various threads from this experience to give an interesting, personal glimpse into politics for those of us who have never met a president or presidential candidate.Unfortunately, it's not a pleasant picture.Our schools tend to teach us that our system of government works very well, a shining example for the world.Not so, according to Joe Klein's view of it.He sees, as the subtitle says, that American democracy has been trivialized.
The Melodrama of the Mediocre Pundit
It sure is easy for pundits and commentators to get book deals these days, when you can sell a tirade of personal opinions and second guessing as in-depth political analysis. Joe Klein has the added distinction of criticizing other people for doing exactly what he does, and of complaining about political and media trends from which he benefits directly. Klein has a reasonable basic point here about modern lowest-common-denominator politicking, in which image and sloganeering are seen as more important than knowledge and leadership. But Klein, in a display of mind-boggling myopia, can't even see that this exact same phenomenon allows weak and opinionated books like this to qualify as serious political analysis.
Political Lying is the Issue
I purchased this book after reading an interview with Joe Klein online. His thesis that both or either the politicians or their "handlers" think we, the public, are stupid may have been misplaced. After reading this book describing ad nauseam the culture and egos of political handlers, I'm left with the impression Klein thinks his readers are stupid. I admire his writing ability but "Politics Lost" could be summed up by a comment Klein made in his Internet interview: America has become a culture of lying, where the public knows their leaders are lying, but get caught up with media fascination with "How good a liar is that particular leader" -- or for that matter any public figure. Lying, unfortunately has become a political art form (i.e., "spinning") rather than being treated as a sign of not really caring or gross "indifference" toward the public. Were he really to focus on the "art of lying" by politicians and political operatives in America this book would not be a lost opportunity, for example, by documenting an "insider's" view of Karl Rove's Machiavellian machinations.Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel has stated that "The opposite of love isn't hate; it is indifference." The real danger of "Politics Lost" is that it fails to recognize that we have come to a perilous point in our society where the public has become too inured to lying to do something about it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. General    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    5. Political Ideologies - Democracy    6. Political Process - Elections    7. Political Science    8. Political culture    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    12. United States    13. Political Science / General   

Reviews (38)

"Let us march against Bush, the corporate media, and the complacent Democrats"
Mark Crispin Miller's eye-opening FOOLED AGAIN is not a book to enjoy and then lend to a neighbor.Rather, FOOLED AGAIN is a call to action.When Aeschines spoke, they said, "How well he speaks."But when Demosthenes spoke, they said, "Let us march against Philip."
Fooled Again
Wonderful and at the same time frightening.A must read by
Let's be brief.Pick a reasonBush defeated Kerry.
Here's one.You live in southeastern Ohio and you have one issue that is vital to the survival of the United States.
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Subjects:  1. (George Walker),    2. 1946-    3. 1989-    4. 2001-    5. Bush, George W.    6. General    7. Government - Executive Branch    8. Political Corruption    9. Political Process - Elections    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics and government    13. Politics/International Relations    14. U.S. Presidential Elections    15. United States    16. United States - 21st Century    17. 21st century    18. Elections & referenda    19. USA