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Jackie Calmes

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Dissent: The Radicalization of the Republican Party and Its Capture of the Court Kindle Edition

by Jackie Calmes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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Featuring new interviews with his accusers and overlooked evidence of his deceptions, a deeply reported account of the life and confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, set against the conservative movement's capture of the courts.

In DISSENT, award-winning investigative journalist Jackie Calmes brings readers closer to the truth of who Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is, where he came from, and how he and the Republican party at large managed to secure one of the highest seats of power in the land.

Kavanaugh's rise to the justice who solidified conservative control of the supreme court is a story of personal achievement, but also a larger, political tale: of the Republican Party's movement over four decades toward the far right, and its parallel campaign to dominate the government's judicial branch as well as the other two.

And Kavanaugh uniquely personifies this history. Fourteen years before reaching the Supreme Court, during a three-year fight for a seat on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin would say to Kavanaugh, "It seems that you are the Zelig or Forrest Gump of Republican politics. You show up at every scene of the crime."

Featuring revelatory new reporting and exclusive interviews, DISSENT is a harrowing look into the highest echelons of political power in the United States, and a captivating survey of the people who will do anything to have it.

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497 pages
Language

English
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Twelve
Publication date

June 15, 2021
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24238 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"With a depth of research and a palpable love of politics, Jackie Calmes tells the story of the GOP's journey to power and the reckoning the party now faces as it struggles to contain the forces it unleashed. DISSENT is a brilliant look at the players who drive the system, unspooling through a Supreme Court confirmation fight that will resonate for decades."―Helene Cooper, New York Times bestselling author of THE HOUSE AT SUGAR BEACH and MADAME PRESIDENT

"The steady rise and tumultuous confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh—and with that, conservative command of the Supreme Court—reflects the transformation of the GOP, decades in the making and still underway. Clear-eyed and tough-minded, drawing on 40 years as a journalist and more than 200 interviews, Jackie Calmes takes us behind the scenes to see how it happened, and to understand the repercussions that will reverberate for years ahead. DISSENT is engaging, insightful and, at times, alarming."―Susan Page, New York Times bestselling author of THE MATRIARCH

"Jackie Calmes—one of the most insightful journalists in Washington, or anywhere else—brings fresh behind-the-scenes reporting and crackling narrative to the story of how the decades-long conservative project to remake the judiciary collided with the #MeToo movement. The bruising battle over Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination exposed the fragility of our institutions and our political system, and neither has yet to recover."―Karen Tumulty, Washington Post political columnist

"Jackie Calmes, a savvy veteran Washington reporter who recognized the growing radicalization of the Republican Party decades before most everyone else, has written a sophisticated analysis of contemporary American politics through the lens of Brett Kavanaugh’s history, leading to his nomination and confirmation as a justice of the Supreme Court. DISSENT presents a riveting narrative with fresh insights to the most hotly contested judicial confirmation battle in American history and importantly links it to profound developments that define the troubled state of our democracy."
―Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, New York Times bestselling authors of THE BROKEN BRANCH and IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN IT LOOKS

"Brett Kavanaugh’s journey is not merely the story of one the most tumultuous Supreme Court nominating battles in history. As Jackie Calmes' brilliant book reveals, Kavanaugh’s rise also tracks the evolution of Republican politics and the right-wing takeover of our highest court."―David Axelrod, former chief strategist to President Obama, director of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, CNN senior commentator and host of "The Axe Files" podcast

"Jackie Calmes persuasively describes how, with a little luck and more than a little duplicity, Republicans have virtually assured a conservative-dominated Supreme Court for the foreseeable future. The focus is on the nomination battle over Brett Kavanaugh, a very smart and very partisan jurist with, as she details, 'a troubling pattern of shading the truth.' But the backdrop is the radicalization of the Republican Party over recent decades. DISSENT should be read by anyone who cares about the Supreme Court and, more broadly, a fair and honest political process."

―Albert R. Hunt, Washington columnist, podcast host, and former bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News

“A scrupulous history of the Republican Party’s efforts to put a conservative 'lock' on the Supreme Court. [Calmes] lucidly and comprehensively explains the mechanics of the ‘ascendant conservative legal movement.’"

―Publishers Weekly

"A fascinating look not only into the life and career of Kavanaugh, but also into the American conservative movement's successful long-term plan to move the Supreme Court rightward. Calmes is a first-rate reporter, and her skills are on full display here. Riveting...DISSENT is a remarkable work of reportage."―NPR

"Ambitious...Calmes’s book stands out for how well she details the ways judicial confirmations have devolved into 'a gang war' endlessly provoking 'retaliatory hits.'"―Washington Post

About the Author

Jackie Calmes is the White House editor for the Los Angeles Times Washington bureau. She joined the Times from the New York Times Washington bureau, where she was a chief economics correspondent covering the global financial crisis, White House correspondent, and national politics reporter from August 2008 to 2017. Previously she had been chief political correspondent for the Wall Street Journal's Washington bureau.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08MZT57NC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Twelve (June 15, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 15, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 24238 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 497 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1538700794

Best Sellers Rank: #1,005,626 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #54 in Federal Jurisdiction Law (Kindle Store)
- #124 in Legal System
- #255 in Federal Jurisdiction Law (Books)

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Ronald H. Clark

What--another Brett Kavanaugh book? Yes, thank god!

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2021

Verified Purchase

This book proclaims itself to be about the capture of the federal courts by the Republican party. And in fact it contains several highly effective chapters on this important topic. But what it really is much more is an extensive analysis of the Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination and confirmation. I was not too pleased when I discovered this, since I watched the hearings and have read virtually every book that has emerged discussing it. However I changed my opinion.

One factor is the journalistic skill and ability to dig out the facts exhibited by the author, who has for decades written for leading newspapers such as the NYT, WSJ, and now the LA Times. There is a reason this book checks in at over 400 pages of text--the author has been relentless in reviewing every printed article or book relating to the nomination, including her own articles written while she was covering the story. In addition, she has done scads of interviews with many of the leading actors involved in the nomination, who can now look back to 2018.. As a result, she brings to the reader a richer and more perceptive perspective than other authors. I believe that this book may become the definitive analysis of the Kavanaugh nomination.

Some of her 20 or so chapters have real bite. Personally, I believe her discussion of the FBI investigation "that wasn't" is the strongest chapter. She has run down he dozens of folks who had information and hoped to disclose it to the FBI, but who were never contacted. As the reader digests each chapter, even those on familiar topics, her new research and investigative experience add valuable information. That is to say, this book is not simply the same old Kavanaugh story that we all lived through, but a richer and deeper exploration.

The reader only has to read the 41 pages of notes to see how deeply the author has dug to uncover new and important dimensions to the story. Toward the end, she includes chapters on Kavanaugh's first terms on the Court (and what they may foretell about his likely future decisions) as well as the newest Justice, Amy Comey Barrett. I have never found such "reading of the tea leaves" to be particularly accurate in predicting the future. |For example, the author could not discuss the current 3-3-3 Court breakdown that may yield some surprises in future decisions. But to put it simply, if you are interested in the GOP, Kavanaugh, and the future of the Court, this book is indispensable reading. It is long and takes a while, but the payoff is magnificent.

19 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Most Compelling Account of the Kavanaugh Confirmation Process

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2021

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This is the fourth book I've read about the Kavanaugh confirmation process and it's, by far, the best, in large part because it contextualizes that process within the broader GoP effort to capture our federal judiciary. The author managed to persuade an extraordinary number of insiders to speak on the record and the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the GoP ran Kavanaugh's accusers, Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez, over with a bus. That effort included an utterly shambolic "investigation" by the FBI (Chapter 17: The Investigation That Wasn't). Shame on all of them.

14 people found this helpful

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Donald N. Powell

Important history and politics

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2022

A bit long and the prose seems to prolong it further. The facts are important parts of American history and current politics. The Book is a complete rendition of all things Kavanaugh, including a brief discussion of some of his acts on The Court since his installation. This is an important book on important facts. The author's analysis seemed objective and correct in my humble opinion. The fifth star is withheld because the writing made the going a bit slow.

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Lance M. Brown

Insghtful look at the years-long making of the conservative Supreme Court

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2021

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Journalist Jackie Calmes traces the making of the present-day conservative Supreme Court back to the late 70's when she began her career. In a professional, insightful and sometimes personal way, she shows us the the behind-the-scenes machinations that ultimately led to the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. The focus on Kavanaugh, to me, is enlightening and necessarily upsetting. The book is carefully researched and fairly reported, but not dry. The anecdotes make me feel like I am getting the inside scoop from a hardworking journalist.

12 people found this helpful

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Julie Meier Wright

Outstanding and sobering history.

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2021

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Although written from a left perspective, this book is a sobering and well-documented look at the supreme court nomination process as well as one of the most recent nominees, Brett Kavanaugh. When one ignores character, integrity and experience for senior public officials, especially lifetime appointments. We are on a sad path.

7 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Must read for anyone that cherishes their freedoms.

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2021

Verified Purchase

Thrilling read with a frightening conclusion.The greedy, power-hungry, no boundaries lust of the bad actors who stacked our courts with inexperienced or no experience at all, poorly rated by the ABA, odious judges—cannot be forgiven.A must read for anyone that cherishes the freedoms we were born to love about America.

13 people found this helpful

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Allison

Brett “I like beer” Kavanaugh

Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2021

Dissent is a detailed account of confirming a Supreme Court judge. The book is clearly written for a lay person like myself. I watched the hearings on TV and found the backdrop Ms. Calmes provided riveting. The snarling facial expressions of Justice Kavanaugh are a reflection of his persona. Once again women struck out and old white men hit a grand slam.

11 people found this helpful

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John J McInerney

Title says it all

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2022

Verified Purchase

Using the Kavanaugh story as it’s base, the author explains the radicalization of the Republican and it’s ruthless pursuit of power.