First off, it should be said right up front that the title of this book is a little misleading. Despite what it suggests, this is not the sort of neo-conservative diatribe you might find on Rush Limbaugh's radio program or on FOX News about how and why liberals and Democrats are the scourge of society.
Rather, this is a well thought out, if somewhat lengthy, essay on how the modern day liberalism born out of the anti-war and civil rights movements of the sixties has essentially been sold out. Stephen Marshall - who I would have to assume was at least at one time a card carrying liberal himself - exposes how the values that once defined liberalism as a movement have been compromised in recent years as America's position in the world has become less secure in the wake of events like 9/11.
He makes a compelling argument.
Think about it. It's often been said that if you want to get a political job done — especially one that involves getting down and dirty — going to a Republican is going to be your best bet. I certainly know I felt that way when our own beloved Seattle Seahawks were about to be shipped out of town by then owner Ken Behring a few years back. Just when the situation seemed hopeless, some civic leaders here enlisted the help of Republican senator Slade Gorton.
Now Slade has never been one of my favorite people. The guy's face resembles that of Skeletor, for one thing. But as soon as Slade was on board, I knew that that the type of deal brokering required to keep the Seahawks in Seattle was a foregone conclusion. There was no longer any doubt the Seahawks would remain in Seattle with "Skeletor" driving the corporate boat.
The Republicans likewise had no problems with investigating the crap out of Bill Clinton for everything from his travel agent to his real estate dealings — eventually impeaching him over the little sumptin' sumptin' he was getting on the side. Meanwhile, we currently have a Democratic majority in congress, elected by the American people at least partially in the hopes of bringing an end to an unpopular Iraq war that looks increasingly like a quagmire — that doesn't seem to have the teeth to get the job done.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net , which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States, and to Boston.com. Nice work!
2 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Natalie. I don't do a whole lot of book reviews so the recognition is a doubly good thing.
-Glen
3 - Stephen Marshall
Thanks for taking the time to review the book Glen, the subject matter has made it tough for people on either side of the aisle to figure out what to do with it!
4 - Glen Boyd
Glad you liked it Stephen. It's an interesting book with an even more interesting premise to say the very least. As a somewhat frustrated liberal leaning moderate myself, I found myself nodding my head in silent agreement often as I read it. Thanks for the comment.
-Glen
5 - bliffle
Phew! Good thing we can get back to liberal-bashing so we don't have to look at the hell of the current administration.
I notice that this is a trend throughout BC, where we now have articles attacking Jimmy Carter and other liberals. Good distractions to keep us from contemplating the copious sins of the Bush administration.
6 - Glen Boyd
So Bliffle, with all due respect did you actually read this article?
As I state in the very first paragraph, the book's title is somewhat misleading as it is not an attack piece on liberalism, but rather a critical anaylsis looking at it from the inside. The book is not about bashing liberalism, but rather about how many so-called liberals seem to have abandoned the core values that once defined them. As a card carrying Democrat myself, I think the book asks some very important questions, particularly with regard to the lack of opposition with any sort of teeth from the left to the Iraq war.
No liberal bashing here. Just a timely and pragmatic look in the mirror.
-Glen