Customer Reviews

One State Two State Red State Blue State: A Satirical Guide to the Political and Culture Wars

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This book is hysterically funny and right on target on so many issues. I can't remember when I laughed so hard. If you're a fan of political humor on the late-night talk shows, this book is definitely for you.

This book is in the best tradition of political satires such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Its parodies

of the culture wars, and virtually all of the hotly-contested political issues of the day, are not only hilarious,

but also shine a spotlight on our often misplaced priorities and shortcomings as a nation. This is simply

one of the most clever and entertaining books that I have read in a long time.

This is a fine little book for everyone, which is rare these days. Everyone is backed into their own ideological corner with little in common. A humorous and enjoyable read.

For any connoisseur of political satire, it just dosn't get any better than this. Funny, smart, and provocative, this book consistently delivers biting social commentary with the force of a heavweight's knock out punch.

I would like to say that this book is a glorious insight into the modern pathos of the Blue Sater in America. First, Blue Staters have never gotten over the selection or election (depending on your point of view) of GHWB in 2000. Then 9/11 happened and a cowboy president or great president (depending upon your point of view) came out of the fray strong and sure. Well, after such events--including the Iraq War--only a book of this mock and contempt could be possible. It is a good read for Red Staters, not at a fair and balanced look at both sides, but rather viewing the modern pathos of Blue Staters in America, especially those who quote Thomas Jefferson as stating that descent in America is the greatest of patriotism. However, for some Blue Staters, they seem to think that supporting a cause that promotes a man strapping a bomb to his chest is a form of descent. Blue staters want to feel better and they feel awful about the current state of America and how could you blame them, when their whole life is defined by some quasi-Existential problemata of feeling. I ask them for proof all the time on why they feel GHWB is evil or why they think or feel that GHWB is wrong for the country and they can only speculate about their feelings or how it effects them personally (I hear this word "I" a lot when speaking to Blue Staters) or why the war is wrong. I carry a lot of respect for those who abdicate non-violence and stay consistent with this ideology. However, it seems that a lot of Blue Staters are only upset about war when it involves the other side of the political spectrum. Where were these anti-war feelings and outrage in Bosnia or better yet Waco, TX?

My biggest disappointment is where the author tries to mend ties with Red State America in the end by juxtaposing points of view as all being America. I find this funny, because many poems before this "healing" section berate the very people he is trying to unite with. It's sort of like a Nazi (a favorite word in the Blue Stater world) berating Jews and then in the end asking for unity. Sound familiar?