Customer Reviews

Tell Newt to Shut Up: Prize-Winning Washington Post Journalists Reveal How Reality Gagged the Gingrich Revolution

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For the most part, this is an even-handed account of the first year of Republican control of the House, right after the so-called Republican Revolution of 1994 -- that is, if you can get past the constant insinuations, suggestions, and implications that everything Republicans do is because of their ties to big business (it seems nearly everyone the authors mention has a defense contractor in their district). Clearly, too, Maraniss and Weisskopf came away with a strong affinity for Ohio congressman John Kasich, and the story often favors him. Except for these points, the authors do make an effort to be fair, and the result is an entertaining, though somewhat flawed, look inside the famous revolution

The subtitle suggests that the book will explain how the revolution got the wind knocked out of its sails. Before reading, I thought this would focus on the Contract with America -- how it was created, how it fared in Congress, how Clinton reacted, etc. But in the book's central flaw, the authors focus on issues that are important but mostly tangential to the Republicans' central legislative package. Yes, de-regulation was an important component of the philosophy at the core of the revolution, but did that revolution's success or failure hinge on reforming OSHA or the school lunch program? I'm not convinced. After all, much of the Contract passed Congress, some of it became law under Clinton's signature, and Clinton declared the end of the era of big government. Obviously, the revolution was not entirely "gagged" as the subtitle also says.

The best part of the book by far is its discussion of the budget battle and the 1995 government shutdown. The telling is dramatic and detailed, a veritable feast for a political junky. Further, if you want to explain why the revolution sputtered out, it was this -- not OSHA regulations, not the battle over school lunches, not the GOP split over the B-2 bomber. Not only did Clinton outplay Gingrich and the Republicans, but the Republicans played right into the president's hand, making critical, often hubristic errors, the worst of which was Gingrich's belief that he was a second president. Gingrich would linger as speaker for another three years, and the Republicans still retain control of the House, but the party, at least in Congress, didn't have the same energy and enthusiasm after that.

From all aspects of the political spectrum left and right we should read this book and learn the cost of democracy. Newt Gingrich had a dream to spearhead a Republican Revolution and to bring it about as forcefully as possible. Unfortunately for him his nemisis William Jefferson Clinton knew how to counter him and how to do it well. The writing in this book is honest, and doesn't attempt to take sides. Anyone who truly wants to know why Congressman Gingrich exited from public life, you need not look further.

This book gives a good profile of the major figures of the Republican leadership of the 104th Congress. I have always enjoyed books such as this one, and Bob Woodward's "The Agenda," which give more insight into the personalities of their subjects than you would ever get from TV or newspapers. In the last two chapters in the book, which wonderfully describe the tedium of budget negotiations at the end of 1995, I could definitely feel some of the frustration that this group felt in their impasse with the White House.

The tale of the Republican Revolution of 1994. This was the first time in over 40 years that the Republicans had the majority in both chambers of Congress. The key to the House of Representatives was Speaker Newt Gingrich. This book documents every victory and defeat that Newt and his leadership team took. A great look at the politics, money, and power that is being handed back and forth in Washington. I recommend it to any political science student, interested citizen, and anyone who doubts the influence of $$$ in the capitol

This book is a nice little primer for political junkies like myself. The book gives detailed glimpses of the people who helped orchestrate the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994, as well as defining events during 1995.

I found it very interesting to read about the personal traits and activities of the major players behind the Revolution, like Dick Armey and John Kasich. However, I wish the authors had spent more time on Tom DeLay, the Majority Whip at the time. I concede that in 1995, DeLay was not the well known power that he is today, but the book never gives a good sense of DeLay: we only get very brief looks at him.

If there is one flaw in the book, however, it is that there is not enough discussion of Speaker Newt Gingrich himself. The authors do well to discuss how Gingrich fell out of favor with his Republican colleagues, but not too much else. Newt the Architect was kind of ignored for Newt the Annoyance. Except for disussing how Newt was no match for President Clinton, there was nothing else substantive about Newt's work as the creator of the Revolution.

Still, an interesting book on the inner workings of Congress during the tumultuous year of 1995.

A look into the demise of the Republican Revolution, starting with the upbeat ideal mood of the first Republican Congress in 40 years and ending with the budget showdown that closed the government for several weeks. The authors present a matter-of-fact, non-partisan, blow-by-blow of the events that transpired during this time, starting with the background of the revolution and its key players. The reader is taken through the 104th Congress' effort to implement its "Contract With America", propose legislation to trim federal spending, and provide income tax relief. Every major bump in the road is documented, along with the early signs of the demise of the revolution. Ultimately, the breaking point is presented in the final chapter, where the House confronts the White House on the federal budget, eventually leaving Republicans, and especially Newt Gingrich, with egg on their face. And while the Republican Revolution is not dead, it certainly is less ideal, and m! ore realistic that it was initially.

I never really liked Newt and I was hoping this book was going to be 200 pages of more reasons to dislike him or at the least more facts to sustain my current dislike of his politics. The tittle sure said to me that that was the focus of the book, unfortunately for me that was not what the book turned out to be. The authors decided to review 1995 and the battles between Newt and the rest of the world on policy. It was interesting and well written but the book Showdown by Drew did a much better job of covering the period of time.

With such a campy title I was looking for a lot of wit and humor and that really was not the strong point of the book. Overall the book lays out the facts in an easy to read way and it is well written, it just did not have the detail to make it the one complete record or the story and it did not have the sharp wit to make it satire.

Look at this authors other books to understand that you will not read an accurate account of Newt Gingrich's time in politics. They guy writes for the Washington Liberal Post. A liberal point of view only. How many bestsellers has this author? Heck, how many bestsellers have liberals in general written. Newt has many bestsellers to his credit. This author (use term lightly) is pandering to sell books. It is one thing to pander but lying about your subject is quite another. If you are liberal in your values, you will like this book. As a conservative I can say that the title told me all that I needed to know, but I had to endure the pain of the read because I am always intrested in Newt Gingrich. His accomplishment and ideals scare the left to death. Keep in mind, liberals/progressive only represent about 18% of the country. They have used the ever abused "minority" status to get their big microphones. The media votes and dictates their news in the liberal mantra daily. Again, combined the abuse of minority status with a hard left leaning lamestream media and viola, lies about conservatism run wild. Google the word Newt and this title is first. Now, ask yourself why it is when you search the single word "Newt" you get a book that blasts his values and lies about his tenure in politics when he has so many other accomplishment or even best selling books that could show up first in a Google search. Now, search Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google and see where he is now? Answer: The Obama Admin. No coincident there. Take any Conservative and search them on Google and you get a negative image, book, article or a whole website devoted to bashing them. Then search Bill Clinton Barrack Obama and The Algore...and you get glowing images and positive reporting. Its how we elected the least experienced person in America to serve as President. It was a marketing campaign just like this book is a negative marketing campaign against a Conservative. We're winning though and I have a brand new "N" word for all of those liberals calling me racist, 'NOVEMBER'!!

This book is a horrible lie. But hey, he's a liberal, what else should we expect?