Customer Reviews

Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union

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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.

BY BUZZFLASH

David Swanson is the most prolific, indefatigable advocate and activist that BuzzFlash knows of. He is equally at home writing countless persuasive commentaries on the Internet about the urgency of upholding the Constitution and making those in power accountable under the law on his main site [...]. and with being a ubiquitous grassroots activist.

Swanson is a young father, but his personal actions echo the mobilization protests of the '60s. Unlike so many of us creatures of the Internet who make our logical arguments for principle and social justice on the net and feel that we are doing our job, Swanson doesn't miss an opportunity to hit the streets, Congressional offices, protests in front of the White House, organizing advocacy marches -- whatever it takes.

As a result many "mainstream" progressives regard him as "unruly" and violating "decorum." Meanwhile, the right wing shouts, screams, and engages in the most vile, hateful and violent behavior and the same Congressional progressives and "centrists" run scared and capitulate. All David Swanson asks for is justice and is spurned.

A lot of the new Internet left doesn't have room for the likes of a true grassroots activist and "pamphleteer" like Swanson. No, he's not a radical of any sort, just someone who would have been riding with Paul Revere or penning protest broadsides against King George, or organizing protests for American Independence.

He speaks truth to power, and for that he has irritated some progressive Capitol Hill Democrats because he has the "audacity" to hold sit ins and corner Dems who are trying to weasel out of standing up to injustice.

Unlike many progressive net advocates, Swanson is not about to be co-opted by lofty rhetoric about the Constitution by Dems who continue the status quo of letting entrenched power remain above the law. He's not someone who will appear on the media as a pundit (with rare exception), because he does more than talk in sound bites and challenges the acceptable range of being a "Democratic seat filler" on talk shows. So the corporate media knows he won't stick with the corporate news "script" of the day.

David Swanson is what we all need to be if we are to defeat the powerful and unlimited financially backed forces of corporate control over our nation; he takes his case to the streets, to the Halls of Congress, to churches, to colleges, to anyone who will hear him out. He believes that when all you get from the Democratic elected officials is rhetoric without follow through, you sit in their offices until they come out -- and sometimes get arrested.

David is a man who hits the keyboard, but never forgets that it is hitting the streets that makes the difference: that is how we achieved gains in Civil Rights, in ending the Vietnam War, in gaining the right of Women to Vote, in stopping a reactionary anti-immigration movement.

Buy and read David Swanson's 360 page book. If we are to win back the momentum of the '60s, David is one of those who will be there leading us in a protest march for justice.

David knows that the only way to counter big money is sore feet, a hoarse throat, and hundreds of thousands -- even millions -- taking the strength of their convictions directly to the sources of power in America.

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

If you would like a return to normalcy, democracy and compassion - things the United States used to stand for - read David Swanson and become part of the solution.

Being an Iraq War Veteran, and author myself, I was wary when I picked up this book--as I am picking up any political book.

When finished reading Swanson's book, I remembered a fleeting line from JFK's speech for his party's nomination: "We must prove all over again whether this nation--or any nation so conceived--can long endure."

I think too often, politics and politicians only have four year or eight year vision. One thing we all need to be aware of is that simple decisions now, are going to affect the history of our nation. We need to ask ourselves, a hundred years from now, are we going to be proud of what we've become and our decisions. Are we going to say, we abolished hunger, disease, we spread freedom, or are we going to say....

Maybe I'm on a JFK fix, but Swanson also rings true to the idea of a "New Frontier" what we need to do, to make this the nation we know we can have, and we deserve.

There's a lot in-between, but it is truly a hard book to put a finger on. But I like it, and I recommend it.

Mass Casualties: A Young Medic's True Story of Death, Deception, and Dishonor in Iraq

David Swanson's DAYBREAK is a very important book. David has thoughtfully put together and clearly laid out the deep problems in our government. He explores the current imbalances of power in the three branches of government, with emphasis on the overreaches of the Executive branch, and how these came about. DAYBREAK provides the reader with a cohesive understanding of the depth of the problem, from the overall lack of respect for the Constitution to the abdication of responsibility by the majority of those in the Congress. And he offers suggestions for fixing the problems and creating the more perfect union our forefathers hoped we would create. The book is highly readable and, for me, at once fascinating, enraging, terrifying, and motivating. Having read DAYBREAK, I am motivated to help mend our broken system of government and help restore democracy in our country.

For me, the essence of author/activist David Swanson's insightful tome: "Daybreak," is this: On June 16, 2005, I was at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., to cover a hearing on the infamous "Downing Street Memos." This document, crafted by the Brits, revealed that the Bush-Cheney Gang, colluded with Dubya's poodle, Tony Blair, the then British P.M. It showed that they were predisposed to go to war with Iraq--no matter what. To that immoral end, the scoundrels schemed to fix the "intelligence and facts...around the policy." In other words, the b......s lied and thousands of innocents died, U.S. troops and Iraq civilians alike; and the U.S. taxpayers are now out $3.5 trillion and counting.

That hearing, initiated by Swanson, along with a coalition of activists, was held in a basement room of the Capitol--more like a large closet. The phonies in the Establishment media either totally ignored, marginalized or mocked it. This, sadly, was their M.O. during most of the reign of the Bush-Cheney Gang.

Swanson details how Dubya enlarged the powers of presidency way beyond the original intent of "The Founders." He rightly labels it a "power grab." With respect to the battle for Impeachment, Swanson spotlights the laudable efforts of House member, Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH).

Moving on, it will just break your heart to read how the Congress could have ended the blood bath in Iraq. As Swanson underscores--and this was in 2007 when the Democrats held a majority in the House--all they had to do was simply to "stop passing bills to fund it."

Finally, Swanson writes with urgency. Let his call for the full utilization of "Citizen Power," echo throughout the land. The people need to take their country back before it is too late. Wake-up, America!

Upon finishing this book last night, all I could think was if the citizens of our nation really believe in democracy and care about making it the center of our political life, then this is a must read book. All of Congress should read it. It also occurred to me that the Tea Party crowd should be invited to read this book since they have recently caught onto the idea that our Constitution and our democratic way of life is threatened. They just may find, and this will be a good thing, that our nation is threatened like they believe but for reasons other than they what they have been led to believe by the Right-wing echo chamber. This is an important work and Swanson has done us a service by his tireless advocacy for the rule of law.

Left the New Hampshire woods early yesterday to find an email from Amazon on my desktop in Washington last night: "Daybreak" has been shipped and will arrive in Woodmere tomorrow! Woodmere, New York. I've got to get to NY before the week is out; I've been waiting for months to read David Swanson's book!

Truth is, even in high school, I wouldn't write a review of a book I hadn't read. Back then, and in college, I only knew writers through their books (the writers I did know, studied with, argued with, drank with, hadn't been published yet). These are among the reasons I am so keen to read "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union." I've read and continue to read David Swanson's writings regularly. I've corresponded and talked with David at length. Walked across DC with him, sat in cafes with him, sat-in congressional offices with him.

If walking-the-talk can be put in a book, I'm sure it's in "Daybreak."

If reading, writing, talking, walking, sitting down, and finally, standing up, are daily acts of democratic action, and indeed they are, we best begin at daybreak.

--zool Zulkowitz