IF THE GODS HAD MEANT US TO VOTE THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN US CANDIDATES

clever book jacket with his face in cowboy hat and blue and red stripes with stars on either side with the photo of heads of politiciansIF THE GODS HAD MEANT US TO VOTE THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN US CANDIDATES: More political subversion from Jim Hightower (2000)

Note, there is an updated and revised 2010 edition. This cover image is from the 2000 edition I got from the library. They may have the newer version too, and I definitely want to check it out (pun intended!).

I had heard the name of Jim Hightower and recognized him as a politician. I had no idea he was so FUNNY! Since he was from Texas I just assumed he was one of the humorless, hostile, conservative types. Turns out he will SKEWER ANYONE with equal delight!

Jim Hightower, America’s most popular populist, is a bestselling author, radio commentator, public speaker, and all-around political sparkplug whose credo is “You can fight the gods and still have fun.” Twice elected to statewide office in Texas, he has long battled the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought to Be: the working families, consumers, the environment, small businesses, and just plain folks.

Though the jacket copy above used the cringe-worthy “folks” that has forever been made vomit-inducing from the W use of it (and followed by Obama continuation of same while speaking in an elegant fully literate way otherwise), I was delighted to read this description, itself amusing.

The title alone perfectly sums up the 2016 election without needing any updating. In fact, it might be even more applicable to 2016. The 17 losers (and I include 45 in particular despite the Electoral concept biting US all in the ass), was astonishing in the shallowness of the candidates, the YUUUUUGENESS of their egos (45!! Unbelievable. Trust me. Believe me. Sad.)

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Going Red by Ed Morrissey

book jacket with united states map with 7 states with flagsGoing Red: The Two Million Voters who will Elect the Next President — and how CONSERVATIVES can win them  by Ed Morrissey (2016)

This book just came out in April, and it is SOOOO WROOONG in what is happening in Republican strategy such as it is having been demolished by The Donald!

First, Donald Trump only has 2 references in the index and the text is absolutely not reflective of reality since he is the only Republican left standing. I suppose the author wrote it awhile ago, and it took time to print and so on, but really? Two mentions? Ah read on and it is clear the book must have been written before New Hampshire, based on the quotes below from speakers from there. The mentions of Trump include one of his apparently random interviews the author conducted in the seven states deemed crucial.

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The ACLU vs America by two right wing extremists

book jacket featuring a fragmented composite of CongressThe ACLU vs America: Exposing the Agenda to Redefine Moral Values by Alan Sears and Craig Osten (2005) published by Alliance Defense Fund

I don’t recall how I came across the reference to this book so that I ended up putting it on reserve. I am not sure if I saw ACLU and assumed it was about the ACLU in an objective historical way or if I realized upon closer reading the subtitle that it was going to be a right wing screed of lies and bullshit and decided on my general principle of know they enemy that I should give it a look.

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Compassionate Conservatism by Marvin Olasky

compassion my assCompassionate Conservatism: what it is, What it does, and How it can Transform America  (2000) by The Free Press (I just hate the way they co-opt words and twist the meanings using free like it is not propaganda.)

This “book” (in the most expansive sense vs. lies, propaganda) with a foreword by Governor George W. Bush [so that pretty much gives you a clue about what I think of the content; note this was pre-debacle presidency]

There is a list of others Olasky wrote or co-wrote so if you want to read some propaganda, just check the titles at the end of this post. And I say propaganda having read CC which is full of religious babble:

p.101 [discussed the abhorrent aberration of Social Darwinism, embraced by government officials who complained that “idleness” and “other forms of vicious indulgence” are “frequently, if not universally, hereditary in character. . . .Vigorous efforts must be instituted to break the line of pauper descent.” He goes on to say that the biblical base opposed Social Darwinism. [things change I think].

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