They Only Look Dead: Why Progressives Will Dominate the Next Political Era [Hardcover]

E.J. Dionne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 20, 1996

onne once again goes against the grain to demonstrate that the Democrats' failures do not add up to Republican dominance. Dionne contends that the GOP's laissez-faire approach is no answer to the frustrations of an electorate that, while skeptical of bureaucracies, still wants a government that governs.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Progressives everywhere, wake up and look alive! E. J. Dionne brings good news. Dionne analyzes the recent political chaos and concludes that it's due to Americans moving towards a New Progressive Era, not towards a New Right.

From Publishers Weekly

Despite the title, this book is less a contrarian projection of the future than a savvy if incomplete analysis of our current political landscape. Washington Post columnist Dionne (Why Americans Hate Politics) suggests that our current political chaos derives from multiple crises-of economics, politics, morality and our national purpose-with interesting parallels to upheavals the country faced in the late 19th century, culminating in the first Progressive era. And the "Anxious Middle"-the swing group in elections-is pandered to, says the author, by both parties. He goes on to suggest that President Clinton, even without his gaffes, would have faced intractable divisions within his party, that Newt Gingrich represents a new breed of technology-oriented conservatism and that journalism must adapt to promote a more serious level of debate. Dionne argues quite plausibly that the new conservatism will fail because it "seeks to define away" the problems we face, yet his vision of a new Progressivism ignores some practical steps, such as a move away from identity politics, that must presage such change. Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1ST edition (February 20, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684807688
• ISBN-13: 978-0684807683
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,114,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book helped me understand my own experiences., December 29, 1998

By 

Ed Murphy([e-mail]) (Saratoga Springs, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: THEY ONLY LOOK DEAD: Why Progressives Will Dominate the Next Political Era (Paperback)

This book helped me to step back from personal experience, hopes and actions to review and refresh my understanding of political history in the past 100 years. The book helped me commit to becoming a better citizen/businessman working to strengthening our society. My consulting company helps implement what Dionne calls "the Progressive project", providing management, planning and communications consulting with business, government and non-profit organizations. Many of the CEOs I coach would benefit from reading this book. Dionne puts his finger on the pulse of the broad political spectrum of Americans, analyzes our hopes and helps us see our false solutions. He then helps us reaffirm our deeper commitments and shows us a nation of citizens worth trusting. I found him fair in dealing with those he clearly disagrees with and instructive when speaking about the failures of those he held out hopes for. The section "Why politicians don't get respect anymore" is a continuation of his earlier work, "Why Americans Hate Politics". I read these books in sequence over the past month and recommend that others do also. His discussion of four crises, economics, politics, morality and our understanding of America's role in the world, allows us to see their interdependence. His discussion of Clinton and Gingrich shows the pivotal role personal risks, or failure to take them, and leadership play in political history. I wish he had spent more time on them as participants in the 1960's. Readers would have gained a better appreciation of their actions in the 1990s. Neither were significant players in those days yet they have assumed responsibility for history they were peripheral players in. I would have liked to have seen more discussion of leadership development and how and why others stepped aside to make room for minor leaguers to play in the majors. The discussion of the press is very good. While I had earlier studied the development of some newspapers, I felt that this book gave me a context in which to appreciate what I had learned. I look forward to Dionne's next book. His first two helped me see that the downfall of Gingrich and Livingston and the impeachment of Clinton are natural outcomes of the process we have all participated in. I hope he and/or others put more focus on the intergation of policy, programs, budgets and personnel. Americans need greater help understanding how change is implemented. It would also help to put more focus on changes across the nation, not just in Washington DC. Dionne has done an excellent job with Washington, however. Thank you for what you have given us. I recommend this book for all citizens. It will help us participate in realigning our society. It made me revisit my political values and strengthen my commitment to a progressive agenda. I hope others are equally challenged and inspired.

13 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Liberalism's best hope is this book, January 9, 2000

By 

Todd Winer - See all my reviews

This review is from: THEY ONLY LOOK DEAD: Why Progressives Will Dominate the Next Political Era (Paperback)

I have given this book a very high rating although ironically, I do not agree with its thesis. Progressives (code-word for "liberals") will not dominate the next political era. Anyone studying the past decade can see that the trends of history are moving in the completely opposite direction of Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy. Nevertheless, Dionne is such a lucid writer and his book is so crammed with interesting facts, that he comes as close to proving his thesis as any liberal possibly can. I appreciate that. His pen is liberalism's best hope.

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Check the Pulse, May 16, 2003

By 

John G. Hilliard (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: They Only Look Dead: Why Progressives Will Dominate the Next Political Era (Hardcover)

This was just an all around excellent book, not only did it have the tone and future I am hoping for, but it was just so well written. The pages just moved effortlessly on and on and before I knew it the book was over. The only disappointment would be that it had to end. Basically the author takes a look at the early 90's and makes an argument that the trend in America is moving to more support for the Democrats if they can maintain the perception that they have evolved as a party with the times. There is just a ton of interesting facts and stories woven together to provide a very convincing argument.

I admit, I wanted to be sold so I am not the most objective as to the overall effectiveness of the argument so take this review with a grain of salt. I guess it is comforting, if not a bit short sighted, for me to believe the book in it's totality, but I want a nice view of the future and this book provided it. If you are a Democrat and are not feeling too good about the current state of affairs then this book will give you hope and who knows, maybe the author is correct.