Movie Review- Mitt

As we have talked about, Netflix is on fire. I decided to check out Netflix’s  documentary on Romney tonight and I am now more confused than I was when he was running.

Book Review: Franklin and Winston By Jon Meacham

In January of 1943 President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill meet in Casablanca to discuss the coming end of World War Two and the peace after.  The meetings, at least for the press, were jovial and good natured.  Behind the closed doors, this was not always the case.

Meacham writes a really interesting account of the friendship between Churchill and Roosevelt.  Built out of political necessity, their friendship went through many of the cycles that a tumultuous romantic relationship would. After the friendship was sealed, things got down right domestic.  I'll have you read the book yourself or at least research the story, but I will say that "nakey time" is involved.

If you are interested in politics, or international relations this is a must.  My bias towards Meacham aside, this is a great way  to see just how major decisions during the war were made. If you a Churchill buff, you won't be disappointed. Roosevelt fan? Read the book! Like "nakey time?" Get ready!!

It's Alive!!! It's Alive!!!

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Shaken To Its Core: Politics

Politics 

Americans have long sought alternatives to the two party system of government. With the economic system in shambles, and growingly distraught public, the political landscape of the Great Depression became ripe with such alternatives. Franklin Roosevelt faced no fewer than six third-party candidates in his first election in 1932. In that election alone, Norman Thomas of the American Socialist party garnered 2.23% of the popular vote. 1936 saw the Presidential pool increase to eight including the ill-fated “Share Our Wealth” party. It is a well documented fact that during times of economic hardships, people flock to groups specifically naming scapegoats or dynamically different systems to those that have failed. While only making small gains in national elections, third political parties grow in membership at the state levels throughout the Great Depression. Perhaps the most popular among third-parties were the German American Bund (or the American Nazi Party), and the Communist League of America which later became the Workers Party of the United States.

Book Review - Obama's War by Bob Woodward

When delving into anything written by Bob Woodward, one must give serious credence to his somewhat liberal bent. He is after all the slayer of the un-slayable Conservative Richard Nixon. He has been outspoken in his support of President Obama, and his policies. However, Woodward is still a top rate journalist and is, for the most part able to step off the slant and do his job well. This book is well researched and very well documented. Look not for any “Deep Throat” type sources, but Woodward does interview those that are pertinent to the story at all levels.

I read this book as the combat almost two full years after the last combat troops were pulled out of Iraq, and during the handover to NATO troops in Afghanistan, but the insight to those decisions could not be clearer. Throughout the book, Woodward documents the critical decisions making process taken by the administration, that at times was nearly paralyzed by turf wars and backbiting. 

Early into the book Woodward’s bias is first betrayed. In the first few chapters great pain is taken to describe the pitfalls of the Bush administration’s handling of the war, and the residue of those maneuvers on current events. As the book proceeds, it is easy to see a “us verse them” mentality between military and civilian leaders was very present and well established by the time President Obama takes office. The facts, as presented by Woodward, show the measures taken first by Candidate Obama, President-Elect Obama and finally President Obama to utilize the military. Those measures were soundly rebuffed on all fronts with few exceptions.

Movie Review: Game Change

I recently re-watched Game Change staring Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson. With more time on my hands, and a few more years away from the film, I cannot help but be glad the McCain/Palin ticket did not come out on top.

Those who would defend Palin would cite that she had just recently given birth, had a pregnant teen-age daughter, and a son shipping off to Iraq as distractions from the campaign. Those individually would cripple lesser people, but the hubris shown by Palin only compounded them. Most people understand politics to be a rough and tumble areana that is not for the faint of heart. All who enter the fray under even the best of circumstances are worn down. Palin was even warned about how hard it would be but she waved them off. Simply by denying how hard it would be was but the first of Palin's problems.

Book Review: Blue Dixie Awakening the South's Democratic Majority

Book Review: 

Blue Dixie Awakening the South's Democratic Majority

This is a review I originally wrote in 2011. The argument made in the book was not entirely prophetic, but more current events has proven the points made within. I have decided to overlay the original post with a revisit to the subject. I will put the current writing in italics 

http://us.macmillan.com/bluedixie

Major Points:

The South has traditionally been a Democratic area, but changes in the party have alienated Southerners The South is not as conservative as many would think Traditional Liberals in the South want to vote for the Democratic candidate but few candidates meet their needs The Democratic Party needs to jettison the notions of being "Republican Lights" Southern Neo-Liberals like Bill Clinton are actually not liberal enough for Southern tastes Obama as a candidate (written before the election) is continuing this pattern