Daybreak is a thorough investigation of how Bush/Cheney altered the way American government works and deteriorated the Constitution and Bill of Rights. It includes clear plans for how we may reclaim democracy, declare our rights, and truly set out for a new America. Shocking and inspirational, Daybreak provides a clear breakdown of all that we have lost, and all that we have to gain.
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"Swanson has been an indefatigable commentator and activist tirelessly advocating for the dismantling of the imperial presidency and the restoration of the principles of our Constitution. Daybreak urgently reminds us that good political intentions are not sufficient to ensure the continuation of our democracy; informed vigilance is vital to that task."—Mark Karlin, Buzzflash.com
"David Swanson is the most thoughtful, determined, and energetic progressive activist in America, and one of the most important voices of his generation."—Bob Fertik, President of Democrats.com
About the Author
DAVID SWANSON is cofounder of AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ConvictBushCheney.org, the Washington director of Democrats.com, and a board member of Progressive Democrats for America. He served as press secretary for Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign and has been a leading voice for the prosecution of Bush and Cheney for war crimes.
David Swanson's books include: Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union (2009) War Is A Lie (2010) When the World Outlawed War (2011) The Military Industrial Complex at 50 (2012)
Swanson contributed a chapter to "Why Peace" edited by Marc Guttman, January 2012.
Swanson hosts Talk Nation Radio.
Swanson helped plan the nonviolent occupation of Freedom Plaza in Washington DC in 2011.
In December 2011, The Hook newspaper in Charlottesville, Va., named him a runner-up Person of the Year.
Swanson holds a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Virginia. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and as a communications director, with jobs including press secretary for Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign, media coordinator for the International Labor Communications Association, and three years as communications coordinator for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
He blogs at http://davidswanson.org and http://warisacrime.org and works as Campaign Coordinator for the online activist organization http://rootsaction.org
In April 2012, Swanson began working for Veterans For Peace.
"David Swanson is a truth-teller and witness-bearer whose voice and action warrant our attention." --Cornel West, author.
"The world needs more true advocates of democracy like David Swanson!" --Thom Hartmann, radio host.
"David Swanson will be remembered and well recognized as the citizen who held up a lamp in the darkness and cried, as did good Tom Paine: 'We have it in our power to begin the world over again.'" --John Nichols, columnist, The Nation.
"David Swanson predicates his belief that nonviolence can change the world on careful research and historical analysis." --Kathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence.
"David Swanson's War Is A Lie may be the most comprehensive antiwar statement available in the English language." --Kevin Young, Znet.
"Our times cry out for a smart, witty and courageous Populist who hasn't forgotten how to play offense. Luckily we have David Swanson." --Mike Ferner, President of Veterans For Peace.
"David Swanson, who has been a one-man wonder leading the charge for accountability, writes a compelling narrative that inspires not just outrage, but ACTION." --Medea Benjamin, Code Pink and Global Exchange.
"David Swanson despises war and lying, and unmasks them both with rare intelligence. I learn something new on every page." --Jeff Cohen, founder of FAIR.
"David Swanson's book is a masterful exposure of the emergence of a monarch-like president coupled with an effete, irresponsible, and constitutionally ignorant Congress." --Bruce Fein, former Associate Deputy Attorney General.
"David Swanson has written a fascinating account of how peace once became the law of the land. It is particularly pertinent in the era of the Endless War, by giving encouragement and suggestions of a path forward to those who want to give peace a chance." --Liz Holtzman, former member of the U.S. Congress.
"Swanson's book is far more uplifting and inspiring than virtually any other book in its genre, as it devotes itself to laying out a detailed plan for how American citizens -- through the activism to which he has devoted himself -- can bring about a rejuvenation of our political values." --Glenn Greenwald, Salon.com.
"David Swanson is an antidote to the toxins of complacency and evasion. He insists on rousing the sleepwalkers, confronting the deadly prevaricators and shining a bright light on possibilities for a truly better world." --Norman Solomon, author of War Made Easy.
David Swanson is also the author of the introduction to "The 35 Articles of Impeachment and the Case for Prosecuting George W. Bush," by Dennis Kucinich (2008).
Swanson wrote the foreword to "Another Life" by Karen Malpede, 2011, and contributed two chapters to Fix America, 2011.
Swanson is Co-Founder of AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ProsecuteBushCheney.org and Washington Director of Democrats.com, a board member of Progressive Democrats of America, the Backbone Campaign, Voters for Peace, and the Liberty Tree Foundation for the Democratic Revolution, and chair of the Robert Jackson Steering Committee.
Swanson joined the board of the National Coalition to Protect Student Privacy in December 2011.
In December 2011, The Hook newspaper in Charlottesville, Va., named him a runner-up Person of the Year.
This book accomplishes two critical things. One, it clearly documents the power grab and crimes of the Bush administration. Two, it provides a field manual for a social movement to put the people (us) back within the balance of powers.
The book is an excellent documentation of the theft of our democracy. Swanson presents a thoroughly documented analysis of the creation of the imperial presidency. This grounding is fundamental for citizens to have the tools to counter the blather that passed as news and neo-con talking points for eight years - and continues now as the talking heads try to block any investigation of those crimes.
David Swanson also provides suggestions and strategies for an activist citizen's movement to (1) address the undermining of the Constitution and balance of powers, and (2) to return citizen voice and power to the ruling of our nation.
One of the issues that people across the political spectrum should agree on, is the long term threat that the powers stolen by the Bush presidency will pass from President to President unless they are challenged. Swanson (and most in the impeachment movement) are aware of this as well. There is a consistent effort to paint those who want thorough investigations - with prosecution where warranted and legislative remedy where needed - as wanting "revenge," or having "political" interests, or just "Bush Bashers." However, we know and Swanson makes clear, the stakes are much higher - the future of any functioning democracy in the United States.
This book is more than a "read it" book. Swanson has created a reference manual for activists. Daybreak is chock full of organizational strategy and mechanisms. It provides a vision of what a citizen involved democracy in the United States could look like - and how to get there.
My recommendation: Get it, read it, share it. Kudos and thanks to David Swanson.
In the fight for accountability, there are many whose actions have failed to live up to their rhetoric. It is one thing to believe this country is worth fighting for, and yet another to actually spend time fighting.
As someone who worked for Congressman Wexler's campaign and his push for impeachment hearings, I can attest to David's fighting spirit and breadth of knowledge. His comprehensive understanding of the supporting evidence - coupled with a singular clarity of the legislative process and players - made him an vital resource.
There are surely plenty of people who disagree with him on Impeachment and/or his approach, but few that have been witness to his dedication, or have heard him speak in defense of the rule of law, could reasonably question his commitment to basic principles of justice and our constitution.
This book not only outlines the broad effort to hold our leaders accountable for their actions (and in some cases, inaction) - but it serves as a guide to understanding how today's activists can still find their voice heard (and force movement) despite the complex political dynamics that govern today's government.
One side note - whether or not you're an impeachment advocate or simply interested in political science, the notes section alone (and its rich collection of sources and links) make this book a must-have.
I've only been fishing once. Took a fly fishing lesson in Sedona, Arizona at daybreak, and caught a pretty little trout which I promptly released and watched swim swiftly away to safety. But the daybreak I see coming soon and am talking about now requires another fishing expedition-- this time for the high-ranking individuals who have deliberately altered our 3-branch system of government into a imperial, unitary executive which can ignore Congress and the expressed desire of the people for justice, peace and well-being. Congress has become a spineless group of politicians constantly running for re-election and kow-towing to party leadership, working as a political machine for the highest corporate paymasters. We haven't got a chance to survive with a government like this and David Swanson is one of our best, constant, and intelligent town criers letting us know that we need to step up and turn this situation around. As an activist, I depend on Swanson and [...] for information and analysis. Daybreak is a hard-hitting history of greed, corruption, stupidity and malfeasance, but it offers hope, and that's why I'm recommending it highly. Like others I really admire and follow, David is a hope junkie. If he weren't, he'd have given up fighting the corruption long ago. So buy Daybreak. And starting September 12 come to Camp Cheney*, a fishing camp for justice and accountability activists at Cheney's house in McLean Virginia, where you can meet David and others he has inspired to stand up to the architect of America's torture policy and the other illegal, immoral, and repugnant campaigns Cheney steered. Buy the book today. Go to the NAAN website for Camp info:[...], and take action now by telling Holder to prosecute Cheney: simply phone and Email the Office of the Attorney General at 202-514-2001 AskDOJ@usdoj.gov . Then notice how good it feels to take action. Cynthia Papermaster, National Accountability Action Network
