Customer Reviews

The Hillary Trap: Looking for Power in All the Wrong Places

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(33)

 

 

Laura Ingraham, television pundit, has written a book that is not a Hillary hit piece, despite what one might think from the title.

Instead, she has crafted a very readable volume which critiques the policies which Hillary Clinton and her liberal allies espouse. These policies are analyzed from the perspective of what they actually bring about, rather than from the stated intentions of the policies.

Ingraham brings a decidedly feminine perspective to her work. She concentrates specifically on what it means to women if Hillary and those who support her were to have their way and implement their desired policies on the nation.

She argues persuasively that these alleged feminist policies do not in fact empower women, but rather encourages them to change one dependency for another- from one dependency on men to another on big government.

Through the use of real life examples, studies, and statistics, Ingraham shows that it is the policies of Republicans and conservatives that offer women (and men for that matter) true empowerment and independence.

An easy read, The Hillary Trap is recommended for anyone who wants to have some factual ammo to engage the emotion based arguments of liberals.

At first I was skeptical about the publication of yet another book about Mrs. Clinton, but The Hillary Trap has something for everyone who is curious about the never-ending allure of the Clintons. Ingraham moves the debate about Hillary beyond scandal rehash to a serious and pithy dissection of Hillary's political agenda--along with her personal/power-hungry decision to stand by The First Cheat. The chapters are organized as a series of political and cultural "traps" Hillary has created for herself--the antigun trap and sisterhood trap were my favorites! On page after page, I found myself saying "yes! I especially enjoyed reading Ingraham's anecdotes about her own life and how her family and political experiences shaped the way she looks at the world (and the one Hillary would have us live in). I found that page after page explodes the myth of Hillary Clinton as self-reliant, independent, feminist icon and reveals her to be the opposite. I never thought of it this way before reading this book, but Hillary belongs in the Smithsonian! The woman clings to an outmoded way of thinking, one where all women are victims in need of govt protection, where individual liberty should give way to the liberal social good. I agree with Ingraham that this, combined with her pathetic and sustained defense of her hound-dog husband, proves Hillary to be not the First Feminist, but the First Hypocrite! The Hillary Trap offers an important warning: Women and Men Beware--Mrs. Clinton's social and political "solutions" for children and families will pull you right down into the same mindless groupthink that has kept her stuck in the intellectual quicksand of the late 1960s. A perfect book for anyone who wants substantive artillery in the ongoing Hillary debate. I bought two copies--one for my son, a college freshman; and one for my sister still believes Hillary is misunderstood!

I started listening to Laura's radio show right after September 11th and I've become a total "Laura addict." She's funny, smart and unpretentious--what more can we ask from a radio talk show host? So when I discovered that she had written a book--and about the Former First Lady Queen Hillary no less--I went immediately to amazon.com to buy it. Not only does Laura give us all the insights we need to prepare for Hillary's bid for the White House, she peppers the book with her own life stories and vignettes about her family, her college experiences, her work in the cable television world. This is much, much more than another book about Hillary. This is indispensable for anyone who is concerned about our country's future.

This book is chock-full of insightful analysis and useful facts for anyone who cares about the integrity of the American political system. Is Mrs. Clinton really the best we can do in New York Democratic politics? Beyond that, does she have a record of achievement that entitles her to a Senate seat or role model status? Ingraham sees Hillary's leftist ideology as offering women nothing but a series of traps of dependency. After all, if women are truly strong and independent, they don't need Hillary or N.O.W. or some other victims' group to "protect" their rights. This isn't another tome of hate against Mrs. Clinton, it's a book that unpacks her ideas, and scrutinizes the effects of those ideas on society at large. Hillary's campaign rhetoric might sound moderate these days (she "cares" about EVERYTHING deeply), but what Laura shows us brilliantly in this book is that in the end, Hillary's policies would just have us replace Big Brother with Big Sister.

Ms. Ingraham is not only obviously intelligent and extremely informed, she's logical and fair. She exposes what has been "rotten in Denmark." I found her trustworthy, something I've never felt toward Hillary and now I understand exactly why.

Amid politics, hoopla, and a rapid approaching election year we glimpse the rising star of the woman, Hillary, facing the challenge of shedding her "stand by your man" image yet needing or using the power aura of her husband Bill Clinton to attempt to further her own success. This is her moment in time, ironic, and tragic. Women will identify with the seeking of ones own "place in the sun"; men will identify with Bill's foibles and escapades. Fast-paced, witty, sometimes brittle and caustic, the book tells it all. Quid Pro Quo? I think not. If you want the political arena of action, read this book. Excellent and insightful

I found this book to be an interesting look at Hillary Clinton - how her political positions and professional and personal conduct are at odds with her image of a strong, independent feminist. Overall, it was thought-provoking and Ms. Ingraham made some good points about the extremes of the current American feminism movement.

However, the writing style could be distracting. Sometimes the tone was condescending and cynical, which can get in the way of a good argument by putting readers on the defensive. Also, the book is not very well documented. There are no footnotes, nor is there a bibliography or a list of sources used. Ms. Ingraham does identify some of the quotes and figures she uses within the text of her book, but not all of them, which makes it impossible to get further information on some of the claims she makes.

Everyone knows that Hillary is running for president. This book, more than any book about the former First Lady, tells us why it should be BUYER BEWARE. Her views are those of a '60s socialist throwback. Modern woman? Hillary is the exact opposite and Ingraham exposes this flawlessly.

As a disclaimer, let me say that I am a fan of Laura Ingraham's, but I am NOT a fan of Hillary Clinton. You might think that would translate into a rave review for this book, but it doesn't. The basic construct of each chapter is to take a liberal position, demonstrate how Hillary embodies it, and then offer a body of evidence rebutting the position and proving that Clinton is anti-democratic, anti-woman, anti-choice and anti- nearly everything else good and decent. It should be a devastating critique, but it isn't--what comes across is a loosely connected series of chapters with talking points and arguments that suggest Hillary is the personification of what's wrong with America today. And that's the problem--Ingraham would have been more persuasive if she had focused on the most egregious of Hillary's flaws instead of trying to indict Clinton on everything under the sun. Despite the fact that Ingraham litters the book with facts and data (most of which are nice tidbits for any argument you may get into with a Clintonista), it all gets monotonous very quickly and can even seem a little petty at times. All in all, it is a quick, readable political book (think "beach book") with several very good standalone chapters, but it doesn't deserve a place on the conservative bookshelf pantheon. Save that for something from Bork, Schlafly or Buckley.

I thought this was a great book. At first I thought it was going to be a typical bashing from the right wing. But 99% of the book makes so much sense. The concept of Hillary Clinton succeeding most when she is a victim is really the only explanation for her rising to such a presence without any real credentials.

The second subtle undertone I picked up was a definition of her running strategy. Mrs. Clinton outlines policies and procedures that run counter to the very groups she represents. She has a lost sense of reality the past 15 or so years being a protected first wife. So in essence by design and by lone choice she has adopted a strategy of winning by pity--or by becoming a victim.

Two thumbs up for Ms. Ingraham. The book answered a lot of questions. Especially for New Yorkers wondering exactly why Mrs. Clinton is running for office as a senator in NY. And why we shouldn't vote for her. I am sending a check to Lazio today. I hope he uses the money to have someone whisper in his ear 10 times every day: "Don't make her a victim."