The Legislative Labyrinth: A Map for Not-for-Profits (AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series) (The AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series)

Book Description

A simple, practical guide to help not-for-profit organizations lobby local, state, and federal legislative bodies

Only a fraction of not-for-profit organizations take advantage of the legislative process in representing their members and their organization's goals. Yet lobbying is an important way to gain visibility, attract members, and find new sources of funding. This book is designed to help the modern not-for-profit develop and implement an effective lobbying program without jeopardizing its tax-exempt status. Dr. Pidgeon and the contributers he has assembled provide in-depth analysis of all the major issues of the lobbying process, including:

The basics of lobbying
The structure of local, state, and federal government
Using the mass media to spread the message
Political action committees (PACs)
Marketing and communication strategies
Strategic partnerships
The legal aspects of government affairs and lobbying
When and how to use outside consultants
A strategic, step-by-step plan for success

A CD-ROM with a wide-ranging array of tables, forms, and checklists as well as a complete model strategic plan is included. When used in conjunction with the CD-ROM, The Legislative Labyrinth is a comprehensive guide that explains and simplifies the process of developing and maintaining an effective, efficient government affairs program. This wealth of wise and insightful advice will help executive directors, board members, consultants, and lobbyists find creative, effective ways to earn the attention their organizations deserve.

Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House
Average customer rating:

Pathetic Drivel

Amazing coincidence

Hillary-mania : A wonderful thing!

Great book about a big liar

Swing and a miss, a good article expanded to a book

Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House
R. Emmett Tyrrell
Manufacturer: Regnery Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Clinton Crack-Up: The Boy President's Life After the White House

Hell to Pay: The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton

The Case Against Hillary Clinton

The Final Days: The Last, Desperate Abuses of Power by the Clinton White House

Hillary's Scheme: Inside the Next Clinton's Ruthless Agenda to Take the White House

ASIN: 0895260670

Book Description

First-hand reporting and revelations of recent behind the scenes maneuverings that shows the reality between her carefully crafted image.

Customer Reviews:

Pathetic Drivel.......2007-05-31

I was hoping for some intelligent insight into Hillary Clinton when I bought this book. Clearly, much can be said on both sides of this subject. I am trying to listen carefully to both and then make up my mind about her.

This is the equivalent to a rant from a right-wing Rosie O'Donnell. Don't waste your money on this rehash of old news.

Amazing coincidence.......2007-05-17

It is quite an amazing co-incidence that at least in some ways this book presented as "fact" seems to mirror a book presented as "fiction" which is entitled The Empress Project. Both books tell of an American woman of boundless and unbridled ambition seeking ruthlessly to become president of the United States. Author Tyrrell calls Hillary "Madame Hillary", while Dr. Little, author of the other book, writes a story of political intrigue about a CHICOM plot to make an evil American woman Empress of America. Are the similarities of these two books merely coincidental ?The Empress Project

Hillary-mania : A wonderful thing!.......2005-06-30

Whatever Hillary Clinton says and does is perfectly alright with me! If Hillary says it, then it's the truth. Hillary is perfect in every way! I love Hillary so very much!

Great book about a big liar.......2005-02-06

R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. should be given a lot of thanks for exposing the liar named Hillary Rodham.

Thank you R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr.!!!!!

Swing and a miss, a good article expanded to a book.......2004-08-19

Plainly stated, I was disappointed with this book. I am certainly part of the target audience for this book, being pretty disgusted with the Clinton duo. However, what I hoped for was a factual tome of the flaws, failings, and deceit of the junior senator from NY. What I got was a repetetive, smarmy, and poorly constructed screed against her that offered little new information and was so partisan in tone that it became untrustworthy even as a source of dirt. Authors on both sides of the political debate need to realize that too snippy a tone tends to turn off the average reader.

In more detail, the book is full of allegations of radical beliefs, wretched interpersonal skills, and bald-faced deceit but precious few illustrations of same. Don't tell me that Senator Clinton is a horrid person to work for with no sense of two-way loyalty, give me examples. Don't quote the radicals who supposedly influenced her beliefs, show me examples of her demonstrating those beliefs.

In short, while there is some interesting information in this book, it misses the mark. It could have been an exhaustive record of the senator's changing of beliefs, opportunism, and political deceit. Intead, we get an annoyingly repetetive and shrill attack without a great deal of substance. For anyone but those who simply want to nod and agree without learning anything new, this book is a wash.

Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry

Average customer rating:

Riveting Revelations
A Good Read Before the 2004 Election
Whose Kidding Who?
Unfit for Command
Never more timely than it is today...

Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry
John E. O'Neill
Manufacturer: Regnery Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Reckless Disregard: How Liberal Democrats Undercut Our Military, Endanger Our Soldiers, and Jeopardize Our Security
A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat
Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War
Dereliction of Duty: The Eyewitness Account of How Bill Clinton Compromised America's National Security
The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It, and How Far She'll Go to Become President

ASIN: 0895260174

Amazon.com

Due to the timing of its publication, Unfit for Command could be dismissed as the sort of controversial, loaded book typical in a presidential election year: Either courageous and necessary, or untruthful and malicious, depending on one's political point of view. Filled with interviews of men who served in Vietnam at the same time as John Kerry, the book poses the following question: "Why do an overwhelming majority of those who commanded or served with John Kerry oppose him?" (Note that the issue of "service" has sparked investigation into its definition--in other words, just how close was the interaction between Kerry and those cited in the book during Kerry's Vietnam tour of duty?)

The charges leveled against Kerry in this book are severe and include filing false operating reports; lobbying for and receiving three Purple Hearts for minor wounds, two of which were self-inflicted; receiving a Silver Star under false pretenses; offering false confessions of bogus war crimes in both print and testimony; and recklessness in the field, including the burning of a village without cause or direct order. The book also claims that Kerry left Vietnam after serving just four months instead of the usual one year tour and that he returned home and accused his fellow soldiers of atrocities without offering any evidence, endangering POWs in the process.

It is debatable whether the book will change any minds, or votes. Instead, readers will likely reach one of two conclusions: Either John Kerry grossly misrepresented his military service or the authors are spinning the interviews that they conducted for ulterior motives. There is a third option, however; readers will further investigate both sides of the debate, and by doing so, may reach conclusions independent of partisan extremes. --Brian Neff

Book Description

A shocking indictment of John Kerry by some of the men who knew him best.

Customer Reviews:

Riveting Revelations .......2007-10-04

This book took guts to write--Not many would have the courage to speak out publically about such a powerful man. My hat's off to the writers of this book.

A Good Read Before the 2004 Election.......2007-03-09

I'm glad I read this book before the 2004 election. I'm a Vietnam era vet, but I had forgotten many of the events covered in this book. It was eye-opening to realize that the guy most of us thought of as a traitor back then, is now pawning himself off as a war hero and presidential material. It was good to see Mr. Kerry pay for the sins of his youth.

Whose Kidding Who?.......2007-02-01

America knows characters the likes of John Kerry! No surprise here!

Unfit for Command.......2007-01-11

I know in our world there are two stories to all conditions in life but if half of this book is true then John Kerry should not be in public office. What a disgrace to all service members who served our great country. He should placed on the same list as Jane Fonda.

Never more timely than it is today..........2006-11-02

God Bless Swift Boat. This book was a blessing when it came out, and it truly is a testament to this "man's" character today as it was then. As Kerry, who still can't come to terms with the fact that America simply did not want his sorry excuse for a life to lead this fine country, tries to figure out how to dig himself out of the hole in which he has dug himself by stating that the men and women of our nation's Armed Services (myself included, as I am a Captain in the USMC) are uneducated nitwits "stuck in Iraq,"....well, there is nothing more relevant than this treatise to serve as an example why this piece of garbage should never have been, nor should ever be, our Commander in Chief. It is clear that his contempt of the men and women of the military runs deep, just as deep as it did when he returned from Vietnam and began holding hands with Hanoi Jane.

I take great issue with his recent comments. Above all else that this so-called "man" represents and claims to represent, the bottom line is that he is a bonafide loser. He can't get past that, nor accept it. To degrade our nation's finest in the manner he did is simply atrocious, above and beyond being outright incorrect. Sure, it was a "joke" that went wrong. Whatever you say Johnny boy. It was clear to all what you meant and, more importantly, what you actually SAID.

But, I must heartily shake your hand for one thing. The one thing you seem to have accomplished is that you single-handedly set the Dems back even further for the upcoming election, just days away. Great job. Leave it to Kerry to do such a job. You know you've done wrong when you have the likes of Billy and Hilly rushing in to beg you to apologize...yet even still, you chose not to do so publicly, but simply, coward that you are, post a little note on your website. Pathetic. Thank GOD this trash was so devastingly beaten and never had a chance. He never will. He simply cannot see what lies right beneath him, and trips over his own feet simply by being the idiot that he is. He's an arrogant, petty, stupid, whining, petulant little man, who will be resigned to the footnotes of history as nothing more than the penultimate loser of a bid to the White House.

God bless the United States of America, God Bless our troops both home and abroad, and SEMPER FI.

Congress And Its Members (Congress and Its Members)

Average customer rating:

One of the best textbooks on the subject
Thank you!
Excellent Textbook on Congress
Excellent textbook, lots of examples, and a good read
excellent introduction in the United States Congress

Congress And Its Members (Congress and Its Members)
Roger H. Davidson , and Walter J. Oleszek
Manufacturer: CQ Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Congress Reconsidered
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Congress: The Electoral Connection, Second Edition
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Politics of Congressional Elections (Longman Classics Series), The (6th Edition) (Longman Classics Series)

ASIN: 1568029357

Book Description

The tension between Congress as a lawmaking institution and Congress as a collection of re-election-minded politicians has proven to be a powerful and effective way to understand Congress and the legislative process. Over nine editions, thousands of students have benefited from Davidson and Oleszek's tightly organized framework, as well as from their engaging and vivid narrative. Helping students understand the institution's evolution, Congress and Its Members paints broad brush strokes, while effectively showing enough color and detail to ground students in important concepts.

Each chapter of the tenth edition will feature new analysis of the most recent and important scholarship. While the authors discuss the overall position and prospects for congressional government, they will include up-to-the-minute details on:

the 2004 congressional elections and ongoing party realignment indicating Republican dominance for the foreseeable future;
the state of campaign finance, including performance under the McCain-Feingold legislation;
the majority leader's efforts to strengthen his powers and the role of the new Democratic leaders in challenging the GOP's agenda;
party realignment from the standpoint of floor voting, including the decline of the middle;
the consequences of war for the legislative branch and for the separation of powers, as well as reorganization due to homeland security and intelligence reform;
the new rules for the 109th Congress, with the possibility of changes in the Senate's filibuster rule and unusual procedures to pass legislation;
the outlook for a second term president and the role of the minority party in challenging an assertive White House;
big government conservatism, new regulatory trends, the rules and tools for effective oversight, and the shadow government of contractors;
legislative-judicial conflicts, including controversies in naming judges to the federal bench;
the return of deficits, the growing use of earmarks, congressional budget reforms, and the conflict between discretionary versus entitlement spending.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best textbooks on the subject.......2007-05-29

I have ordered this book in its many editions for classes that I have taught on Congress and Legislative Politics. It is one of the best general texts available--and readily accessible to those who are simply interested in the politics of Congress.

One of the key points made by the authors is that there are "two Congresses": One of these is the Congress of "how a bill becomes a law," of the actions and politics characteristic of Capitol Hill. The other is the operation of representatives in their home districts, acting on behalf of their constituents, "the folks back home." The two worlds that members of Congress live in (Washington D. C. and "back home") can produce tensions and dilemmas for members of the legislature. But these conflicts help us to understand the complex nature of Congressional politics and decision-making.

Lawmakers cannot just live in the one Congress or the other. They must navigate and negotiate between the two.

This text covers the full territory, from the history of Congress, to how one ends up getting elected to Congress, to how Congress works and its interactions with other key political actors, to the policy process of which Congress is a key.

For anyone--students or citizens--interested in the nature of Congress, this represents a good starting point.

Thank you!.......2005-10-02

I received my book on time and in great condition!! Better than I had expected! Thank you!!

Excellent Textbook on Congress.......2004-08-27

This is probably the best textbook on Congress for undergraduates that I have seen. Primarily I like it because it's easy to read and very well written, covers all the important topics, and is not tedious. Now you might think being easy to read isn't important since it's for college students. But believe me, if you want students to actually read the assignment, more engaging texts are important.

Excellent textbook, lots of examples, and a good read.......2001-07-28

If you are looking for a textbook for upper-division classes on Congress, this is the one. It is thorough, full of interesting stories and examples, it's not too long, and it's easy to read. Oh, and it has lots of pictures! If you want to know how the US Congress works, this is the best text I've seen.

excellent introduction in the United States Congress.......2001-07-21

"Congress and Its Members" is an excellent textbook for any government student wanting a thorough introduction into the actions and events of the United States' Senate and House of Representatives. The discussion found in the book ranges from the differences between the two houses, their procedures, methods of governance, etc... This book is very easy to read and comprehend what the authors convey.

The Missing Majority: The Recruitment of Women as State Legislative Candidates

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The Missing Majority: The Recruitment of Women as State Legislative Candidates
David Niven
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Constitutions | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0275960730

Book Description

In America, women are the clear majority of the electorate and the clear minority of elected officials overall. In 1997, women held only 21% of the seats at the state legislative level. This study finds that a significant and overlooked culprit acting to limit women's state legislative candidacies is the political party elite. Surveys of county party chairs and potential women legislative candidates were used to investigate the interaction between party leaders and women candidates and to assess its importance in the women's candidacy equation. The vast majority of potential women candidates did, in fact, respond that their parties discriminated against women candidates. Why would party leaders harbor bias against women? Party leader survey responses are consistent with the notion that most leaders are subject to the outgroup effect, which in essence means they prefer candidates in their own image. Since most party leaders are men, this encourages them to value male candidates and doubt the merits of female candidates. The findings suggest that this bias against women is most likely to occur where chairs have greater decision-making power and where chairs are leading the parties in less competititve districts. The existence of outgroup-motivated bias from party chairs is estimated to reduce the number of women state legislative nominees by one-third. Scholars interested in women in politics, political parties and recruitment, legislative elections, social psychology, and political psychology will find this book useful.

Average customer rating:

Frankenstein Unbound!
Rewriting History
Hillary Clinton's 'Living History' exposed.
All Too Human
Why does Dick Morris always pick on Hillary? I can't be objective, but ...

Rewriting History
Dick Morris
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Because He Could
Outrage: How Illegal Immigration, the United Nations, Congressional Ripoffs, Student Loan Overcharges, Tobacco Companies, Trade Protection, and Drug Companies Are Ripping Us Off . . . And
The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It, and How Far She'll Go to Become President
The Final Days: The Last, Desperate Abuses of Power by the Clinton White House
Hell to Pay: The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton

ASIN: 0060736690
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Amazon.com

It's one thing to review a book by pounding out a few hundred words of criticism but it's quite another to review a book by writing an entirely new book. That's what Dick Morris, former advisor to President Bill Clinton, has done in Rewriting History, an energetic response to Hillary Clinton's Living History. Mrs. Clinton, Morris warns, is on a direct path to the White House due to a lack of Democratic alternatives and a leftward trend in the nation; therefore America must evaluate who she really is and not just what her memoir says. Morris's book is actually remarkably similar to the slew of attack books published about recent presidents but with the crucial difference that Hillary is at the very least four years away from the Oval Office. So Morris's criticisms of her, though backed up by a 20-year relationship with the Clintons, are rarely more than speculative, worrying about what she might do and asking ominous questions that are inherently unanswerable. Hillary Clinton, in Morris's view, is a much more insecure, disingenuous, and calculating creature than "Hillary," the palatable political product that won election to the Senate in 2000 and she's also an inferior politician to her husband. But as a political operative who has worked for both conservatives and liberals, Morris's indictments of Clinton evolve into a grudging respect as he demonstrates her considerable political resolve. All the same, he refutes many passages in her book with his own accounts of what transpired and indicts her integrity and behavior dating back to Bill Clinton's early career in Arkansas. Going forward, he says, she must decide whether to rely on her behind-the-scenes political acumen or embrace actual convictions. Often, Morris puts Clinton in no-win situations. For instance, while First Lady, she decides to get a dog, a decision that Morris infers is entirely politically motivated despite Clinton saying that it was because daughter Chelsea had moved out. Thus, if she had "admitted" her motivation was political, it would be an admission of cynicism and manipulation, but if she protests that her motives were simpler, Morris would have us believe that she's just lying. Nowhere is it allowed that the woman may have just wanted a dog. Rewriting History, co-written by Morris's wife Eileen McGann, offers a pleasing blend of Washington (and some Little Rock) gossip along with its political strategizing and is more valuable as insider scoop than presidential road map. Fans of Hillary Clinton will find little to alter their view and those who oppose her will find plenty of talking points for all the years of future debates that Hillary Clinton will surely inspire. --John Moe

Book Description

A smart and scathing bestseller: former Clinton adviser and confidant Dick Morris offers a response to Hillary Clinton's biography – to expose the history of lies and obfuscations this very controversial politician has left in her wake...

In Rewriting History, Dick Morris had his biggest bestseller in years––and with its subject, Hillary Clinton, perennially in the spotlight, this smart and scathing rebuttal to Living History is sure to have a robust life in paperback as well.

A long–time adviser to both Clintons, in Rewriting History Dick Morris turns his sharp–eyed gaze on Hilary, the former first lady, current New York Senator, and bestselling author. For, as he argues, no politician in America today is better aligned to become president in 2008–and none would bring more baggage to the White house–than Mrs. Clinton. Drawing on his own long working relationship with the Clintons, as well as his trademark deep research and candid, non–partisan analysis, Morris pierces Hillary's mask to get at the truth behind the distortions and omissions of her memoir. Here we meet the real Hillary, both good and bad: the manager who makes the trains run on time, but also the paranoid who sees all those who disagree with her as personal enemies; the idealist, but also the "advice addict" easily misled by the guru of the moment. Morris describes Hillary's sense of entitlement, and warns that it may lead deep into financial scandal. And he demonstrates how Hillary dodges criticism by pretending that every attack is directed not just at her, but at every working woman in America.

Ultimately, Morris argues, Hillary Clinton faces a choice. Will she, like Bobby Kennedy, see the error of her ruthless ways, and embrace the sincere idealism she professes? Or, like Richard Nixon, will she allow the darker angels of her nature to overcome her, jeopardizing herself and the country in the process? As Rewriting History suggests, we can only hope that her past performance is no guarantee of future results.

o For political buffs.

o Dick Morris's credibility as an insider–from his years of experience as an advisor to politicians of every stripe, to his own extensive interactions with the Clintons in the years leading up to and during Clinton's presidency–makes Morris's book the most qualified analysis of, and answer to, Senator Clinton's bestselling memoir.

Download Description

Political consultant extraordinaire Dick Morris, former Clinton adviser and confidant, turns his sharp-eyed gaze on Hillary Clinton - whose appetite for power, he argues, has only increased since her husband's checkered presidency. Morris draws on his own extensive interactions with the Clintons, as well as his trademark deep research, to create a rebuttal to Hillary's bestselling autobiography, Living History. Focusing on Senator Clinton's attempts to remake her image in preparation for a future presidential race, Morris exposes Clinton's habitual attempts to pad her resume, amplify her accomplishments, and otherwise misrepresent her life story - in short, to lie - for political gain. Armed with years of political experience and insider credibility, Morris rises to challenge the Senator's memoir, lifting the mask to reveal the dark side of Hillary Clinton.

Now, for the first time, Fox News political analyst and former Clinton adviser Dick Morris turns his sharp-eyed gaze on Hillary, the longtime First Lady, current New York senator, and bestselling author. For,as he argues, no politician in America today is better aligned to become president in 2008 -- and none would bring more baggage to the White House -- than Mrs. Clinton. In Rewriting History, Morris draws on his own long working relationship with the Clintons, as well as his trademark deep research and candid, nonpartisan analysis, to create a rebuttal to Hillary's bestselling autobiography, Living History. Morris documents how Hillary hides her true self behind a ""HILLARY"" brand that is chatty, charming, giggly, and warm --but is far from her true personality.

In Rewriting History, Morris pierces the mask to get at the truth behind the distortions and omissions of Hillary's memoir.

Customer Reviews:

Frankenstein Unbound!.......2007-08-08

Face it, fellow Americans: if Hillary Clinton did not exist, it would be necessary for us to invent her.

With 'Rewriting History', former Clinton campaign heavy Dick Morris plows into what he saw while doing hard time at the Clinton Oval Office, and what he concludes about uber-pol Hillary Rodham Clinton isn't pretty, folks: She's into Power. Raw Power. Raw, unbridled, absolute Power.

From the time the Hellmouth spat her up as an infant on the rocky slabs of Golgotha (complete with molten magma caul)---or, if you prefer, from the time Mighty Poseidon raised her up from the waves, a virgo intacto in a half-shell!---Hilary has plotted, cajoled, lied, triangulated, and maneuvered with a restless, hungering glee that would have made a Borgia pope blush.

Well, Duh! Look: it has become almost stupefyingly boring to observe that politicians don't really care about their constituents. They want the perks of office: the long 5 martini lunches with bigwigs, Hottentots, and sultans, howler monkeys; the chauffeured limos; the many invitations to get all liquored up in the Green Room and go mano a mano with Hannity, Mathews, or O'Reilly. Wouldn't you? Sure you would.

With that in mind, let's worry less about ethics, character, and competence, and focus on the one trait in our 'Leaders' we should value most: sheer Entertainment Value!

In that regard, then, Ladies & Gentlemen, my fellow Americans, through the pages of Dick Morris's peerless little sordid potboiler---you know her! You love her! You can't live without her! The next President of the United States----HILLARY CLINTON!

Don't groan. I'm throwing my vote for Hillary come 2008 because---well, for deeply personal reasons. Chiefly because I have a fiendish plan. Mainly because we need an interregnum of such beastly political malfeasance, something so utterly hellacious, as to---well, but I'm tipping my hand. It's not that important.

Anyway, Hillary will be more entertaining than anyone else. As Morris observes in what amounts to a collection of bile-dripping epistles devoted to all things Clintoniana, Hillary is a Nixon character: furtive, incapable of bonding with human beings outside her phalanx of titanium-faced harpies (scarier than she is, actually, which is probably the point), willing to sell her grandma into white slavery just to see the look on her face, more than capable of having subordinates or even intimates whacked (I'm lookin' at you, Vince Foster), and very, very paranoid.

The Clintons have sheer moxie, magic & unbridled audacity on their side. Why shouldn't they have Power as a kind of garnish?

Check it out, dawgs: Bizzle and Hizzle pretty much carried out rapine in the Ovum Office, turned the Lincoln Bedroom into a free-standing bordello, looted the White House of everything that wasn't nailed down, and stole the flotation devices & oxygen masks off Air Force 1---and all of this is just their final 2 hours in office alone---and yet still, despite it all, bazillions of registered American voters adore them! If that's a mandate for Divine Right monarchy, what is?

It's true that Morris, a man so feverishly ratty even his literary style sounds like Templeton Rat, has an axe to grind. Morris has a---well, *complicated* relationship with the Clintons. It's like a sort of perverted umbilical cord, and this one works two ways, only instead of feeding precious nutrients it spews out black bile and political poison. That's why "Rewriting History" is so much devilish fun.

Anyway, the point here is that Morris's little exegesis on the Arkansas Power Duet never fails to amuse: pound for pound, it's a truly wicked piece of political skull-duggery. The Portrayal of Lady Clinton is truly warts and all, though mostly warts. Big, nasty, blackish warts, with little scraggly hairs growing out, truth be told.

This might lead you to conclude, as Morris does, that 1) Hillary will do literally anything and everything to get elected Grand Poobah of the Republic; 2) given her brand name, she's likely to take the Prize---beware Obama, there can be only One!---and will, yet again, have those keys to the exhausted Lincoln Bedroom, where in the last Clinton Regime they were lining up overnight donors like 747s at O'Hare; 3) this will be a Great Tragedy for the Republic.

Not so! The Clintons, if not national treasures, are certainly national fixtures, like big, comfy, ratty barco-loungers. We want the Clintons because, unlike JFK, they're America as we see ourselves, not as we ought to be. For better or worse, they're our Ozzie & Harriet, our Augustine & Livia, Lucrezia & Cesare, Kermit & Miss Piggy, Big Bird and Snuffleupagus, Lord & Lady MacBeth.

And it can be said, as Morris someimes does, that Hillary is the supoerior in the political firepower arena: where Bill could tailor his views to every push poll or audience, the Hill can acually adjust her deeply held views (she's hawkish! she's dovish! she's right, left, cleaning up, flying right! she's the King of the Sea!)---better still, she she can also completely alter her dialect and voice! A human Transformer! Marvellous!

Plus, we'd have Bill back. Bill is the gift that keeps on giving: he could jam it up on the sax with Guy Ritchie and Madonna in the Lincoln Bedroom. You know you want it.

Anyway, Morris's book is, as usual, trenchant, nasty, caustic, bold, and deeply amusing. Election 2008, might yield us a national disaster (though it would be hard to imagine trumping the current White House denizen in that regard) but she'll be fun political theater.

As for Dick, though: if Hillary wins, he might find himself rewriting---well, if not history, at least his travel itinerary. Somewhere without extradition laws? Hell hath no fury, and all.

JSG

Rewriting History.......2007-06-16

This book will put chills on your spine. So scary! If this beast could be president our country will be destroyed. A must read before 2008. Lets face it there will be no chat or talk like she thinks-she is a calculating dictator and must be stopped. Thanks Dick Morris for letting giving us this side of Hilary. This is a must read for every American.

Hillary Clinton's 'Living History' exposed........2007-04-26

Dick Morris, political analyst and advisor under president Bill Clinton, offers a rebuttal to former first lady Hillary's Clinton's 'Living History'. Claiming the memoir is distorted and incomplete, Morris critically appraises the New York senator's potential for higher office. No better time to read it then now, as she is in the running for the Office of President.

Mr. Morris was someone who worked very close with Hillary Clinton on a daily basis for years. He reveals both some of her hidden strengths and weaknesses, so the book reads as if it is objective. The facts just keep coming in this book, and it seems dull at first, but keep reading. I would rate the book four-and-half stars. This book is worth reading but does have some strong language.

All Too Human.......2007-02-18

This is basically a warmed version of Travelgate, Whitewater etc covered more memorably in Ann Coulter's first book High Crimes. What Morris doesn't get is what Republicans fear from a Hillary presidency is not really her odious all too human weaknesses outlined here - stealing more china from the White House, installing her cronies in positions of power and demeaning the office through the garage sale of favors. That's a given. It's what her potential loony leftism might do to certain quaint ideas such as the first and second Amendments of the constitution.......

Why does Dick Morris always pick on Hillary? I can't be objective, but ..........2006-11-10

I personally really like Dick Morris, and respect his thinking and product, overall. But, I think Hillary is absolutely perfect and beautiful, yet he just does not seem to like her. I can't understand that, but I still really like Morris, and I truly love Hillary, forever. The book is interesting, though I don't know how accurate and objective it is. Decide for yourself, but if it's about Hillary, it will always be an interesting read. I guarantee it!

The American Legislative Process: Congress and the States (10th Edition)

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The American Legislative Process: Congress and the States (10th Edition)
William J. Keefe , and Morris S. Ogul
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Congresses, Senates, & Legislative Bodies | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Inside Congress: A Cq Reader : 107th Congress
Heavy Lifting: The Job Of The American Legislature
The American Congress
Home Style: House Members in Their Districts (Longman Classics Edition)
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ASIN: 0130877034

Victory on the Potomac: The Goldwater-Nichols Act Unifies the Pentagon (Texas a & M University Military History Series)

Average customer rating:

Required reading, but with a big caveat
Gripping and Insightful, "Victory" for Studying Policymaking
Powerful study of Congress and the Pentagon

Victory on the Potomac: The Goldwater-Nichols Act Unifies the Pentagon (Texas a & M University Military History Series)
James R., III Locher
Manufacturer: Texas A&M University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Air War: 1939-1945 (Potomac Books' Cornerstones of Military History series)
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Learning Large Lessons: The Evolving Roles of Ground Power and Air Power in the Post-Cold War Era

ASIN: 1585441872

Book Description

". . . a comprehensive account of the battle to make the GNA a reality. Skillfully bringing to life not only the players but also the issues, Mr. Locher, who was a prime mover in framing the legislation that resulted in Goldwater-Nichols, has written the definitive history of the Act."--Washington Times

". . . a monumental Washington battle in prose that is both exciting for experts and informative for novices . . . offers a unique historical lesson in rational decision making and civilian control of the military, and reminds us that the United States never pauses on the path to perfection."--William S. Cohen, former Secretary of Defense

"A definitive case study of the most important and successful American defense legislation of the twentieth century. Victory on the Potomac is probably the best informed book we are ever going to get on this critical chapter in the history of U.S. military policy. As such, it is must reading for military professionals and civilian defense policy experts alike."--Air and Space Power Journal

". . . a tale of the careful preparation and tenacity required to overturn an entrenched bureaucratic position . . . lays out the manner in which a handful of senior officers, vigorously supported by farsighted members of Congress, managed to overcome bitter institutional resistance to pass the Goldwater-Nichols Act--which embodied a veritable organizational revelation."--James R. Schlesinger, former Secretary of Defense

". . . provides a superb insight into how the system works in the marble, stone, and cement battlefields of Washington. For anyone interested in Congress, the Department of Defense, or the White House, this book provides a unique view into details not revealed in textbooks or biographies."--Proceedings

Customer Reviews:

Required reading, but with a big caveat.......2006-03-18

My rating is in the middle because the book should be required reading for anyone who wants to know how Goldwater-Nichols came about, however, at the same time, it is extremely biased in its delivery, analysis and conclusions. The author was appointed by Senators Nunn (D) and Goldwater (R) to be the senior reorganization staffer who, "led the team that helped congress 'get smart' on this complex but critically important subject." Because of Locher's involvement from the Act's beginning through to its approval, which gives him unique insight, he has a vested interest in presenting his justifications for the Act in a positive light. This is best seen in his portrayals of the principals involved; those who supported reform are heroes who were not afraid to stand up to the establishment and the institutionalized bureaucracy. Those who opposed Goldwater-Nichols were more interested in their own power and often presented emotional rather than factual or issues based arguments.

Unfortunately, the book was published in 2002, which means the work was done before the US invasion of Iraq in 2003; it would be interesting to see his analysis of the relationship between the SECDEF and the JCS now.

Bottom line: if you're interested in how Goldwater-Nichols evolved, buy the book; I did, and I have no regrets. But read it with a (big) grain of salt.

Gripping and Insightful, "Victory" for Studying Policymaking.......2003-01-13

This is quite easily one of the best books I've ever read on the creation of public policy. Locher paints a full and colorful picture of the military reform efforts culminating in the Goldwater-Nichols Act. I never realized what a role the Beirut/Lebanon operations played in creating an atmosphere in which military reform began to be viewed as necessary, and I found both the strategy and actions used to push the legislation through the Senate Armed Services Committee in 1985-86 particularly fascinating. With regards to balancing personal insights and meticulous research, in my opinion "Victory on the Potomac" is unequalled, and I consider it one of the top prizes in my personal library. If your interests include public policy, successful reform attempts or the organization of the U.S. military, you will find this book to be an entertaining and informative treasure.

Powerful study of Congress and the Pentagon.......2002-08-03

Jim Locher tells the fascinating story of how Congress forced the Pentagon to undergo major reform in the mid-1980s. Locher, who was a major participant in the process, tells the inside story of the Goldwater-Nichols reforms and really takes the gloves off. Locher is a careful researcher and skillful writer who demonstrates vividly the courage of Senators Barry Goldwater and Sam Nunn, Congressman Bill Nichols, Admiral Bill Crowe and others. Locher highlights both the brilliance and the manipulative skills of Secretary of the Navy John Lehman in the debates and interactions between the Congress and the Pentagon. . My only criticism is that Locher is a bit too critical of Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger who did so much to build up the military during the early 1980s. Must reading for all who will work with or within the Pentagon or the Congress in the years ahead

Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process (Congressional Procedures & the Policy Process) (Congressional Procedures & the Policy Process)

Average customer rating:

Book is great
An excellent insider's guide to understanding Congress

Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process (Congressional Procedures & the Policy Process) (Congressional Procedures & the Policy Process)
Walter J. Oleszek
Manufacturer: CQ Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Congresses, Senates, & Legislative Bodies | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Congress Reconsidered
Congress And Its Members (Congress and Its Members)
Congress: The Electoral Connection, Second Edition
Unorthodox Lawmaking: New Legislative Processes in the U.S. Congress, 3rd Edition
Politics of Congressional Elections (Longman Classics Series), The (6th Edition) (Longman Classics Series)

ASIN: 0872893030

Book Description

The definitive work on how congressional rules, procedures, and traditions affect the course and content of legislation, this seventh edition reflects both thorough updating and further refinement. In the House and the Senate, and from committee room to the floor, the fundamentals of lawmaking are made clear in Walter Oleszek's straight talking, informative book on Congress. With dozens of lively illustrations, charts, and extracts from real documents, Oleszek spotlights both "regular order" and unconventional procedures while explaining the role of congressional leadership, the use of strategic tactics, and complicated parliamentary processes. Readers will appreciate Oleszek's insight on the ever-sophisticated use of procedures--such as "filling the tree"--to achieve party and policy objectives in a time of sharper partisanship.

Updates include:

changes in congressional budgeting, such as the return of fiscal deficits, the clash between discretionary spending and entitlements, and the drive to curb the explosion in earmarks
the "nuclear option" controversy over filibusters
the wider use of technology in the lawmaking process

Customer Reviews:

Book is great.......2007-01-05

A great resource for everyone from new lobbyists to people interested in knowing more about how their government works.

An excellent insider's guide to understanding Congress.......2002-06-13

I'm a chief of staff to a Member of the House of Representatives. I give a copy of this book to every new staffer who comes to work in our office, and tell them it's mandatory reading. Simply put: Mr. Oleszek's book is the single best reference out there for students and citizens wanting to learn about the ins and outs of how a bill becomes a law. What makes the book a must-read is not just the author's experise in understanding how Congress works, but also his ability to write extremely readable prose.

Average customer rating:

Analyzing Congress
Charles Stewart , and Charles Stewart III
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America (Great Questions in Politics Series) (2nd Edition) (Great Questions in Politics)

ASIN: 0393976262

Book Description

The first undergraduate Congress text written from a rational-choice perspective, Analyzing Congress provides students with the basic analytical tools for understanding congressional politics. In addition to introducing the fundamental concepts of rational-choice theory, the text includes many empirical examples drawn from classic scholarship on Congress. Several chapters conclude with exercises that encourage students to apply the analytical tools they learn. Make the rational choice. Choose Analyzing Congress for your course.

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