Rating: 
Summary: political science for those interested in the inner workings
Review: As a Journalist Hunter S. Thompson is by no means impartial. Instead of striving to give an unbaised account of events around him, he writes thing exactly as he sees them. That's the whole point though. In a sense, it's also a large part of what makes this book so very interesting. Thompson doesn't give the reader a glossed over "Road to the Whitehouse" view of politics; his book gives the reader a chance to look at the underbelly of those fat cats who scramble for votes every four years. It captures one aspect of elections that most people don't even really think about. Instead of jumping straight into the Nixon-McGovern battle for presidency, Thompson begins with the primary campaigning. He focuses on the turmoil that occurs within a party when it is trying to choose a suitable candidate. In this case, he looks at all the various democrats who were rushing to face the incumbent: Nixon. Thus, we're allowed to look at the political landscape, and know who the primary and secondary actors are. It allows you to see how Muskey and McCarthy were important then in the same sense That McCain and Forbes are now. For me, this was the most valuable part of the book. However, the actual contest between Nixon and McGovern is interesting, and worth reading as well. Fear and Loathing on the campaign trail is twisted , and hilarious. At times (if not all the time), one wonders just how trustworthy all the accounts that Thompson is feeding you are --the unreliable narrator. However, whether you chose to believe him, or not, his passion for the political scene is unquestionable. For all of his drug induced ranting, Thompson has a certain profound nature about him. His knowledge of the political figures of the time is extremely impressive. I would recomend this book for anyone interested in the political process, or political involvement with the media. Through Thompson's coverage, you can see the profound effect that mass media has had on the porcess of electing the president of this country.
Rating:
Summary: The best study of modern American politics in practice
Review: Most political science texts are pedantic, dry, and boring. This one is not. The author is known for gonzo journalism; an essentially free association form of writing aided by copious intakes of drugs, hallucinogenics, alcohol, and God knows what else. It is a form of free-for-all frenzy that Thompson has elevated to a fine art. Initiates to this style of writing may be inclined to dismiss it as drug-crazed nonsense, but bear with the book, even though sections of it are marked with coarse, but funny, insults, tales of escapades under the influence, and frightful poems by the author. Admixed in this collage is the background story of the McGovern campaign of 1972, and a remarkable journey it is. Thompson closely examines the dynamics of groundroots politics, including issue formation, organization, campaign tactics, conventioneering, and the like. He shows you the Eagleton debacle, the abdication of labor's role in the Democratic Party, why Muskie failed miserably, the use of drugs by candidates, and a thousand other things you would never have thought about unless you are active in political campaigns. Overall, the book is a scintillating picture of America at the closing of the Vietnam era, and the effect this had on politics. I recommend the book very highly to anyone interested in the political proces, INCLUDING professors, students, political operatives, and the person in the street. Thompson was out there. He saw the campaign in action and reports his views with great passion and by never being dull. I loved the book.
Rating:
Summary: Greatness
Review: This book is so interesting. It was really detailed which made it nearly impossible to stop reading. I like how weird and satirical this book was. It would be good to see the movie after reading this book. would make it awesome. its a trip.
Rating:
Summary: Gonzo journalism at its twisted zenith.
Review: Anyone wishing to truly understand the Age of Nixon should have three books in their collection: The Final Days by Woodward 7 Bernstein; The Arrogance of Power: The Secret World of Richard Nixon by Anthony Summers; and Fear & Loathing: On The Campaign Trail '72. True, in this book Thompson focuses most of his attention and energy on the Democratic primary -- but that primary season was irrevocably shaped by Nixonian politics, and, in any event, Thompson did, surprisingly, manage to spend some time with the Nixon campaign. F&L:OTCPT'72 provides a jaggedly sharp view of the inner workings of four Democratic campaigns: the primary efforts of Ed Muskie and George Wallas as well as McGovern's equally ill-starred primary and general campaigns. Thompson's writing is remarkably unclouded; he writes as he saw things, holding back no details and pulling no punches. Would that political reporting were always so uncritical and focused! Of course, as with any Thompson book, this one is not without its moments of gut-busting laughter. The Doktor's savage daydream about convention delegate vote-brokering as well as a episode involving the "Boo-Hoo" -- a drunken maniac who harrassed Senator Ed Muskie during a whistlestop campaign tour of Florida -- are priceless moments of humor. Thompson was never quite as crazed as he was in this book. Even in "Hell's Angels", Thompson was more of a reporter than a participant in the action. For this reason, F&L:OTCPT'72 is truly Gonzo Journalism at its peak.
Rating:
Summary: On the trail of McGovern
Review: For all his gonzo journalism, Thompson has a very keen eye for politics, even if he backed McGovern in '72. This is a very engaging and very insightful study of the McGovern campaign and how, in Thompson's mind, it was the only hope in the miasma of politics at the time. He is unsparing on McGovern's opponents, particularly Humphrey, but saved his scorn for Nixon, whom the Democrats were desperately hoping to unseat. One of the most memorable scenes in the book (whether real or imagined) is when Thompson was called up to talk sports with the President himself on Air Force One. For a moment, Thompson puts down his guard, to engage in Nixon's favorite pastime, football. What you get is a heady mix of politics and humor as only the Grandmaster of Gonzo Journalism can give. The book remains unsurpassed in its candid view of a presidential political campaign.
Rating:
Summary: An important look at American Politics
Review: When Thompson started this trip, he was out for revenge, by the end of it he is a self confessed political junky. The book follows the 1972 presidential election and the great hope that was George McGovern. Thompson here is at his most optimistic; he finally has something to believe in. His deconstructions of Wallace, Humphry and Nixon are calculating and precise. His descriptions of the "wizards" who manipulate the press and mold the candidates are facinating. Thompson reveals himself as a political journalist like no other: opinionated, articulate and honest. The honesty cannot be stressed enough, he is able to admit when McGovern stumbles, when Wallace gives a good speech and when Nixon ultimately triumphs. The only complaint is that the fantastic sketches by Ralph Steadman are not well preserved in this book. It begs to be reprinted on larger, superior paper. Thompson gives us a look at the political machine that we might otherwise never see; as and it's as revelant now as it was 30 years ago.
Rating:
Summary: George W. Bush is our Richard Nixon
Review: Does history repeat its self? All I can say is that Hunter wrote this book coming out of the liberal 60's which rounded out in a big bummer with Richard Nixon winning. The election in'72 was in a sense for all the marbles as it was a pivotal point to see if the country was going to be able to retain it's liberal ideals carved out by all of the revolutionary politics or if it would swing towards what the time was a radically conservative approach offered by Nixon. In this book Hunter follows the democratic party on the campaign trail and shows how their efforts unravel and ends up in a big victory for Nixon. If you want to read a campaign book that draws an innumerable amount of parralles between what's at stake for this up-coming election and what was at stake in '72 I highly recommend this one. Hunter delivers again with hard hitting style and bite.
Rating:
Summary: Oh so relevant
Review: This is a must read! The comparisons this book draws to the current political climate of the USA and the upcoming 2004 presidential elections to the 1972 campaign and election is startling. History most definitely appears to be repeating itself. Have a read and draw you own conclusions.
Rating: 
Summary: Great political education
Review: Hunter s. Thompson defies all normal journalism precedents and presents the campaigning process in the most straightforward style possible. HST only planned on covering the '72 presidential race and no others so he had no incentive to be polite or write positive articles about anybody. This bridge-burning rationale leads to some vulgar yet refreshingly honest evaluations of the candidates and the mistakes they made in their campaigns.
HST's style of writing makes the book, like all his others, very enjoyable to read. He digresses often into subjects not at all related to politics, but this only gives us a breather from endless political talk. He sugarcoats nothing and is able to provide a interesting outsider viewpoint.
Rating:
Summary: Plus ca change...
Review: Hunter S. Thompson has always been a great writer, with his breathless prose and over-the-top commentary he could never be accused of pulling his punches or shying away from speaking his mind - but a book on the 1972 presidential campaign? How could anyone make that even vaguely interesting?
Thompson not only makes it interesting, he makes it gripping, despite the fact the end result is given in the foreword! The book is a compelling look at the presidential year the saw Nixon's re-election, viewed by a drug-crazed loon with no respect for the incumbent candidate ("the dingbat"), or the rules of being a Washington reporter. HST tears them down and clearly loves every minute of it.
While the book isn't as flat-out entertaining as "...Las Vegas", it can also be read in much the same way as "1984" and "Animal Farm" by Orwell. Basically the story takes on another level of meaning and another sense of urgency when viewed an an allegory for today. It's sad, but we're in the same situation today as we were 31 years ago:
A Republican incumbent who doesn't care about ordinary people.
American soldiers dying every day for no good reason.
An apathetic public.
A huge number of Democratic hopefuls that are more content on tearing each other apart than in actually appearing electable.
A Democratic Party Leadership that wants to be centrist, "Republican Lite".
A Democratic rank-and-file that wants a huge swing to the left. For George McGovern read Howard Dean - the parallels are uncanny. Both have a huge intensely committed (or devoted) grassroots activist following, both are shunned by the mainstream Democratic party, both are politely ignored by a press who thinks they're "perfect, but won't win because everyone says they can't win". Well, McGovern did win the party nomination and went on to get thoroughly trounced by Nixon by an electorate that had taken a huge swing to the right. Read this book and tremble, and then go out and get involved in politics!* *As a sidenote, Nixon was eventually done in 2 years later when Watergate (which is mentioned in passing in the book as a brewing scandal) eventually explodes and leads the attempt to impeach Nixon. Is there a similar scandal waiting in the wings today? The missing WMD perhaps? The leak that exposed the CIA operative? The Enron collapse?
|
