130 of 139 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not an attack on conservatism, but on authoritarism, July 13, 2006
This review is from: Conservatives Without Conscience (Hardcover)
Dean is a noted conservative who believed in Nixon's ideals yet questioned his methods. This book is not a knock on the ideals of conservatism, but again on the methods used by the white house. I grew up during Watergate and know many people who were followed and bugged for years. Their only crime was to participate in antiwar demonstrations. A few were involved in the civil rights movement too. There were important lessons for the country and unfortunately many people feel that the ends justify the means. Dean uses facts to illustrate the current admin's propensity to do whatever they like, regardless of the constitutional procedures and limits to the scope of power. Just because you agree with an admin's policies doesn't mean that circumventing democracy is right. Dean made a lot of mistakes but at least he saw the failings of a government that hounded those that disagreed with their policies and used their power for personal vendettas. The book gives good evidence of how the Bush administration is turning towards authoritarism. Several people are ranting that Dean has no credibility, but I could argue that Bush and Cheney are also suspect. These are not the rantings of Dean, but there are facts to document the methods and effects of the executive branch. A good read and an important book for our time.
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106 of 113 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Read It in Good Conscience, August 1, 2006
This review is from: Conservatives Without Conscience (Hardcover)
In "Conservatives Without Conscience," author John Dean makes the observation that seemingly good people will do unconscionable even criminal acts, and put their consciences aside without guilt. Dean wants to know why, and he provides a hypothesis to explain why some will lead people in this direction, and explain why others are willing to follow them.
The author may be well-suited for such a task. As White House Counsel to President Richard M. Nixon, and an admitted Barry Goldwater conservative, he was surrounded by the Watergate Investigation, in which White House staffers conducted burglary, perjury, obstruction of justice, and other crimes, or knew of them, or concealed them, all in the name of their leader, Richard Nixon.
John Dean relies heavily on the work of a social psychologist, Dr. Altemeyer of the University of Manitoba, who has done much work on the theory of authoritarianism. According to Dean, Altemeyer's work in this area has been officially recognized, and he is considered an expert in the field.
Dr Altemeyer categorizes authoritarians as followers and leaders to varying degrees. What he also found was that authoritarians are likely to maintain certain beliefs about themselves which include a deep belief in God, patriotic, conservative, and see themselves as being more moral, ethical, honest, and better people than others in general. Their behavior however, is likely to be less honest, loyal or ethical than others.
Dean attempts to apply this to our modern day politicians of whom he is very selective. He finds a match between Altemeyer's theories and list of traits in people like Dick Cheney whom he contends is the real president, George W. Bush, Newt Gingrich, Bill Frist, Tom Delay and others.
The author provides plenty of anecdotal evidence to support his hypothesis: the president's signing statements, the secret meetings that are withheld from the public because of national security, George Bush's comments: "A dictatorship wouldn't be bad, just so long as I'm the dictator," or "I'm the decider." Newt Gingrich's ability to discard friends once he no longer finds them useful, and of course, Tom Delay who changed the rules of congress, where subterfuge and heavy-handed tactics have replaced debate, discussion, and compromise.
Because of the abiding belief in their leaders, authoritarian followers will put their scruples aside, for the greater good. Examples of these followers were: Attorney General, John Mitchell, G. Gordon Liddy, Paul Ehrichman, H.R. Haldeman, and Charles Colson during the Nixon administration. According to Dean, their modern day counterparts are members of Congress, cabinet secretaries who serve at the pleasure of the president, and millions of others who believe that patriotic Americans are leading them.
The reader should keep in mind that the author is attempting to prove a thesis here but offers no scientific evidence. It does not prove that all the people described earlier fit neatly in this authoritarian theory, nor can it explain their behavior with any certainty.
The one part of this book that is unquestionable is Dean's assertion that Americans must participate in their democratic form of government if it is to succeed. It cannot be simply observed or ignored. If it is, authoritarians will pick it up and take it away. Dean warns that we haven't lost it yet, but we are losing it day by day.
I recommend this book (after the first chapter) because it provided another way for me to look at family members and acquaintances whose rabid or knee-jerk loyalty for anything conservative I could not explain.
At least, now I have an explanation.
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143 of 157 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant effort at uncovering the truth of the Republican party, July 12, 2006
This review is from: Conservatives Without Conscience (Hardcover)
John Dean's latest book manages to question his own former political ideals years after they have evolved into something reminiscent of authoritarian rule.
For those of you who complain just to say "conservatives are always right and liberals are always wrong," you aren't going to like this book because you are clearly not an open-minded and intelligent person. I consider myself to be conservative, but I promise you that the facts stated in this book will not offend anyone. As a matter of fact, this really is Dean's most scientific and unbiased book to date.
Bottom line: for you intellectuals and open-minded people, you will find this a fascinating read. For those of you who are going to bash anything that perhaps challenges your own personal beliefs, avoid this book. But don't give it a poor rating just because you are a conservative.
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