Customer Reviews

The I Hate Republicans Reader: Why the GOP is Totally Wrong About Everything

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

This is the type of book that the voters need to be confronted with. Sad to say is that this country is in a lot of trouble right now, and unless we are willing to do something about it, it's going to get worse. This book really discusses that factor, and regardless of it's slightly misguiding title, it's not republicans he's talking about, but rather Republicans, the big business man who've bought our country and are now running it via corporate interest and lobbiests. Unfortunetly, this will only be read by fellow liberals, who are already angry enough. This book really deserves to be read by the moderate in your family, or as a gift for the republican we all keep as the skelaton in the closet. It's not radical left agenda, it's just a plea to live up to what our country stands for. Our forefathers created the most incredible idea ever seen by men, it's our job to not to let that idea become yet another commodity bought and sold on Wall Street.

This book could definitely use a better title, regardless of any attempt by the editor to be funny or ironic. This type of title encourages reactionaries to publish one-star reviews consisting of less than three sentences, when they haven't read the book or even looked at a copy with their own eyes. Despite the corny title, there is some very informative material in here, and this compendium can be seen as a useful introduction to the workings of some powerful and well-connected writers, such as Arianna Huffington, Paul Begala, and James Carville. Consider the excerpts here to be a good justification for exploring larger and more in-depth books. The running theme in many of the excerpts here is the abuse of power and influence by the Dubya administration, along with its use of empty patriotism and simplistic jingoism to silence all dissent. It's interesting that guys who spread horror stories of a one-world government are well on the way to becoming one themselves.

Of special concern is Alan Dershowitz's expose on power plays at the Supreme Court to unethically hand the 2000 election to Bush, and Michael Jewell's intricate investigation into the Dubya administration's incestuous corporate connections and their effects. However, the book has to be penalized for mixing such serious material with a lot of cheese. Two satirical pieces from The Onion (the world's greatest webzine) are funny but misplaced, while silly quizzes and a collection of Donald Rumsfeld's bad poetry are wastes of space. Worst is Paul Slansky's never-ending 47-page laundry list of outdated Dan Quayle stupidity mixed with unfocused 80s irony. So once again, consider this book merely a useful introduction to greater works elsewhere. Those who automatically condemn this book as liberal babble (assuming they can spell either of those two words correctly) have been brainwashed by the very same dirty tricks described herein. [~doomsdayer520~]

If you are looking for a reason to avoid a knee-jerk pro-Republican response, this book details some of the seamier sides to America's Elephant Party (assuming that the stories are true and not the machinations of some vast left wing conspiracy seeking tax hikes and other abominations).
He fails to note that _both_ sides of the political fence (particularly now) claim a monopoly on virtue as loudly as possible, while accusing the other of unspeakable crimes.
The author includes some less-than-concrete examples when trying to defend Liberals and Democrats. James Carville goes on about how hamburgers dispel the myth of "Big Government," (he essentially says that the Democrats virtuously defend the citizens from the predations of business) or something ridiculous like that, failing to make the connection between sound regulation of the food supply and the goverment absorbing 22% of the economy, up to and including $20 million mohair subsidies and $6000 toilet seat covers.
I doubt if any reasonable person could envision a world where cash spent on meat inspections is not diverted to a padded defense contract, but that however is my point not the author's.
Ludwig von Mises said it best: The only thing Republicans are good for is tax cuts; they spend as irresponsibly as any other politician of any party affiliation from any point in history.
Whether you are a dyed-in-the-wool conservative, or a tax-and-spend, Kennedy Loving Liberal, or just a plain classical liberal (note the difference, please) this book has some interesting articles as well as some hysterical comment on the 1988 campaign [Dukakis -vs- Bush Sr.].
All in all a very good read.

I almost feel a slight bit embarrassed to review this book given that it is proof I have dug into the very partisan grab bag of hate books. My only excuse is that I was at an airport during a late night connecting flight lay over and had finished the book I brought. I figured this book would provide me enough humor and outrage to keep me up the remaining hours of my trip. First off the title of the book is all wrong, the book focused about 80% of the time on the current Bush Administration. The other 20% was throw in filler from past years going all the way back to Reagan. It is really just one more book that is after Bush Jr. and I assume that putting his name in the title in place of Republican might have been too much. Sure the book was interesting, but the through-ins from past administrations tended to slow down the rhythm and flow of the book. The book is divided into chapters with about 2 - 3 columns or book chapters from different progressive or liberal authors. For the most part the editor did a good job of arranging the sections.

As I said the book is heavily weighted to the current Bush team and the different issues that have outraged the left leaning of us. All the favorites are here, the rolling back of environmental laws, the tax cuts for the wealthy, and the war in Iraq etc. As I tend to read a lot of progressive publications and books I found many of the sections of the book to be repeats of items I have already read. This was a disappointment for me, but if you are just dabbing your foot into this type of reading then it will be new and probably enjoyable. I just felt that the editors probably could have not included the pre Bush Jr. items and still had an entertaining book.

Overall I would say that this is an above average book for someone looking to feed his or her all ready strong negative perceptions and thoughts about the GOP. This editor did not go out of his way to try and present balanced articles about this issue and there are no "fair and balanced" rebuttal pieces to be found within miles of the book. The book is for the hard core Democratic base and is basically a response to the Coulter's and Hannity's of the publishing world. If you are looking for nothing more the an anti Bush Jr. book then this is just as good as any compilation book out there. It falls a bit short if you want more then just rhetoric and want to dig into the issues.

Ah, the GOP. Masters of lying and dirty campaigning. Puppets of big business. Enemies of the US Constitution and the middle and lower classes. Evangelicals with a murderous, quasi-fascist theocratic agenda. Draftdodging chickenhawks who like to slaughter our soldiers for Halliburton. Stealers of elections. Infantile, sanctimonious pseudo-patriots.

What's not to love about these guys? Today we live in a one-party state, enmeshed in deceit, treason, and cronyism, and their lies and scheming get worse by the hour.

This book makes for an invigorating reminder of the disaster that is the Republican Party, and also the disaster that is "President" George W. Bush. Everyone should read it and keep it in mind this November, when the Democrats will prevail--despite the best efforts of the Republicans to steal the election.

This book is a mandatory read for everybody who suspects the Bush White House is harming the country...and everybody who does not realize it yet, but can be salvaged to organize on behalf of of their country.

Culling pieces from the nation's foremost political thinkers, this anthology is a survival kit until the 2004 elections---when we, the American public engage in some long-needed regime change of our own (both the President and Congress). Short of a miracle, the Republican-controlled Congress will attempt minimize these presidential discretions, no matter how much they endanger national security.

The 'blanket' title is mandatory because an in-your face approach is needed for times like these. The Bush regime is openly lying to the American people about the presence of WMD's in Iraq, the real economic state of the union and feels it still be elected to a first term.We need something which will grab people's attention and mobilize them into social justice.

Emergency times call for emergency circumstances.

What's not to hate about Republicans? The title alone earns this book 5 stars. Says it all. "Republicanism" is a scam. Every so often they get elected, skim money off the working classes, bankrupt the country and then Democrats get elected to fix it all. Then they have the nerve to spit on the very people who allow them to become wealthy; their employees and the vast majority of their customers. Their whole Trickle Down theory and Just Cut Taxes theory and Just Get Rid Of Government theory are all moronic ways to get more money into the hands of rich people whenever and however they can. I love Capitalism and I love rich people as much as poor...as long as they believe in bottom-up and not top-down economics, but man, I HATE Republicans and I'm not one bit sorry about that.

It might be easy to dismiss this as just "liberal babble" like some of the other viewers did, and that is what I would do if I were a Republican also. That way you didn't have to address things like why did Florida Sec. of State Harris ask for 60,000 "felons" to be taken off the voter database for crimes they committed in the future (I guess Minority Report was inspired by a true story), and who were overwhelmingly minorities who just happen to have voted almost exclussively for Gore in the state.
Also you would not have to consider the possibility of a conflict of interest among the Supreme Court justices who decided the case. Such as: Gore and Joe L. had both voted against Thomas's conformation (I bet that didn't compromise him), or that O'Conner's husband is the head of the Republican party in Arizona--where Sandra was also very active in the party, or that she wanted to retire while a Republican was president and at a party got very upset when Florida was annouced for Gore, or that Kennedy's only chance of being named Chief Justice when Rehnquist retired was with a Republican since he had also been very active in the Republican party prior to being on the court.

Of course that is all just liberal babble. Probably even lies according to the always truthful Anne Coulter. But Republicans might want to read it if just to know all the of the stuff being made up about them.

First, I burst out laughing when I read some of the previous reviewer comments. Yes, I believe you're all entitled to your own opinions. But the reason for my laughter is that by far the most "hatred of anyone who disagrees with them" actually comes FROM the Conservatives/Republicans/Right-wingers/Sheep. I don't know ANY liberals who hate much of anyone (excepting W and his "base" of small-minded, narrow-minded people who either just prefer to stay ignorant or who truly care more about the desires and preferences of a narrowly-defined group than for humnakind as a whole. Anyone who pays ANY attention to the policies of the current admin (and similar previous rep. admins) knows that laws and policies favor big-business over public good.

Ok - on to this actual book. If you're a Republican and you automatically get defensive whenever anyone tries to expose the corruption in your party, then either don't read this book or swallow your defensive comments.

If you're a dem, or an indy - this book uncovers some of the lies, the slight-of-hand and other methods used by W and similar pols to keep people (mostly party members) confused and *thinking* that those in office are doing things for the voters. Underneath those lies is the stark truth that our country is being totally screwed by the right and they don't give a crap.

Go Blue States!

This should be required reading for all voters. Too often the media covers up a lot of truth in order to bend to the will of the powers that be. It was sometimes overwhelming and depressing but sometimes it forced an audible laugh. It really provides some ammunition to confront your friends who don't vote. Read this and give it to a friend--or better yet, send it to your congessman. I also suggest you purchase the book soon, before the present administration bans it!