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It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism Paperback – September 3, 2013

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Thomas E. Mann (Author)
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Thomas E. Mann (Author), Norman J. Ornstein (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 338 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Basic Books; Reprint edition (September 3, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0465074731
  • ISBN-13: 978-0465074730
  • Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.8 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (338 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsOutstanding work from Mann & Ornstein
By Johnny Na on May 1, 2012
Format: Hardcover
What this book IS NOT is another silly polemic designed for the polarized Sunday talk shows. This is a careful, thoughtful discussion of the problems at the heart of our dysfunctional Congress.

This is a book every American should read. It discusses the problems that led to this, it discusses bromides that should be rejected and proposes thoughtful solutions that are well reasoned even if some may be difficult politically to implement.

Check out NPR's April 30 edition of Morning Edition for an interview with the authors.

The authors are political scientists who've studied Congress for 4 decades and aren't just talking head political pundits. They don't let the Democrats off the hook but they lay the chief blame for the current dysfunction in Congress upon the Republicans. Their reasoning is based based on a number of factors. High on the list are the tactics Republican Congressional leaders employed during the ceiling debt fiasco of 2011 (see update below). It is the authors' judgment that by implying to the world that Republicans preferred to have the US default on its debt rather than have a compromise with the Democrats that included revenue as part of the agreement, the Republicans took Congressional dysfunction to a new extreme.

The authors make a good case. But what makes this book really fascinating is the level of scholarship, the wealth of political science material and the long term view.

For example, there is a graph of party polarization as calculated by roll call votes. It shows that the polarization is at an all time extreme since 1879, 133 years ago. This speaks to the seriousness of what faces this country.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsRefreshing Verity, Sad and Dangerous Message
By Donald A. Collins on May 1, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Two respected policy analysts, one from a liberal think tank, the other from a conservative one, have stated for us news junkies a verity which is obvious, yet not well understood in its implications for conducting future sane policies.

As a former Republican when moderate Republicans were uncricified in that Party, I can well appreciate their concerns as stated in their May 1, 2012 Washington Post article: "It is clear that the center of gravity in the Republican Party has shifted sharp0ly to the right. Its once-legendary moderate and center-right legislators in the House and the Senate---think Bob Michel, Mickey Edwards, John Danforth, Chuck Hagel--are virtually extinct."

The implications for that extremism are dramatic. Inability to compromise or to make any connections with the other party means (again from the Post piece) "When one party moves this far from the mainstream, it makes it nearly impossible for the political system to deal constructively with the country's challenges."

In short, they write, "The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in Americn politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of is political opposition."

They mention the charge reminisent of Joe McCarthy from Congressman Allen West (R-Fl) who stated that "78 to 81" Democrats in Congress are members of the Communist Party, regretting that virtually no Republican challenged that absurd comment.

This situation produced almost complete gridlock, as issues such as our obscenely huge debt, health care reform and climate change are lost in Republican embrace of ideologies which lead to no decisions.

This stark book needs wide embrace by independent voters who will determine the next election.
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5.0 out of 5 starsWell Thought Through, Credible
By Loyd Eskildson HALL OF FAME on May 4, 2012
Format: Hardcover
The authors, Mann and Ornstein, took up residence at the Brookings Institute (Mann) and the American Enterprise Institute (Ornstein), helping ensure objectivity; usually this also ensures that any conclusions are vague and mushy. Not here - their 'bottom-line' is that today's Congressional Republicans behave like they were in a British parliamentary, winner-take-all system. The problem is that such 'ideologically polarized, internally unified, vehemently oppositional' doesn't work in our 'separation-of-powers system that makes it extremely difficulty for majorities to work their will.' (My one criticism of this book is that it didn't really explain why the English system works in England and not in America.)

Republicans are now 'more loyal to party than to country,' and the political system hobbled and unable to address serious problems and threats. They are scornful of compromise, unpersuaded by conventional facts, evidence and science, and dismissive of Democrats' legitimacy.

The most glaring example is how House Republicans addressed the need to raise the debt ceiling in 2011. And its going to be repeated in 2013, per Senator McConnell in a Fox News statement.

Adding to this partisan warfare is the increased role of money on our politics - the worst of any time in over a century, possibly ever.

The authors grant former Speaker Gingrich special dishonor - painting the House as elitist, corrupt and arrogant when the Democrats controlled. His strategy - convince voters the institution was so corrupt that anyone wold be better than the Democratic incumbents.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsYeah, politics is WORSE now than ever: authors tell why

Great book, depressing topic

Published 2 months ago by Dennis Copeland
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Should be required reading for anyone serious about American politics.

Published 2 months ago by RDR
3.0 out of 5 starsConvincing but one-sided

Damning and probably accurate, but failure to explain why, from a philosophical viewpoint, the GOP blocks everything makes it seem overly biased. The Dems are no saints either.

Published 2 months ago by Robert W. Gilstein
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

Still working on this book not my typical read!

Published 2 months ago by Kathy Leonard
4.0 out of 5 starsIt's kinda/really the GOPs fault...

A very detailed look at our government's dysfunction, who's to blame and what we can do about it. Unfortunately, I'm not particularly hopeful.

Published 3 months ago by Shannon CC Nedelka
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

fine

Published 3 months ago by John G. Crowley
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

Interesting look at current political climate in Congress. Does heavily lay the blame for inaction on the Republican leadership.

Published 4 months ago by Rick Biles
5.0 out of 5 starsThis is an excellent book about the current

This is an excellent book about the current, sorry state of the GOP. It is very revealing of their obstructionism.

Published 4 months ago by John White
5.0 out of 5 starsEyes wide open on the real scandal

Worse than it looks, is better than its title. This should be required reading at every high school and college. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Dwight C. Douglas
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Good

Published 4 months ago by Robert A. Perigi Jr.

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