Outsider in the House

Rating:
Summary: Well Done
Review: I am not a big fan of Bernie Sanders at all. I can not support him in any way because he is too radical for my taste as a Moderate Democrat. But this book was very well written. The writing clearly reflects something that he went through as a member of the US House. But I did notice that Bernie accuses everyone for America's problems. It's always someone else's fault. He never mentions his failures which are important to understand as a public official, and what he has really done. I found Bernie to complain almost all the time, but on the other hand, it was very well written, interesting and informative in vermont politics. I enjoyed it, but the more I read it, the more I liked the Republican caniddate that was running against him in 1996.

Rating:
Summary: This book converted me to Sanders fandom
Review: I was skeptical of Bernie Sanders prior to reading this book. While he is the lone Independent in the House, his behavior to my knowledge, had rarely been independent. For example, he has refused to support Ralph Nader in his runs for office, despite sharing his views much more than the Democratic Party slime who have run since Sanders' 1990 election to Congress. Furthermore, the Progressive Party of Vermont that sprung up around Sanders' political activities has had less than 100% (to put it mildly) of Sanders' backing when it might "offend" the Democratic elites that he depends on for political clout.

However, with all that out of the way, I found this book to be incredibly enjoyable and informative, and I have come away from it realizing that while he may not be perfect, Bernie Sanders is unquestionably the best and most independent member of Congress.

This book provides a lot of insight into the inner workings of campaigning and the actual business of Congress-- from a perspective outside the two major parties. It also contains a platform for restoring America to its past greatness-- a platform that would win national support if not for the corporate stranglehold on the "free press" and the peonage of the two party electoral dictatorship to these same corporate interests-- and this is a subject explored at some length as well.

I still cannot understand how Sanders can expect people to support him when he refuses to support any non-Democrats-- but despite his age, I am still hopeful for a Sanders For President run in 2008.

One more thing: Sanders is a self-described socialist, though I have never been able to discren any truly socialist notions from his platform positions. The ignorant conservatives who do not understand the differences between liberalism, populism, progressivism, socialism, communism and social democracy, anything this side of fascism is "socialist"-- but to the educated, few could rightfully call what Sanders advocates anything beyond social democracy. I can't wait for Sanders to retire so that he might write a little more about what socialism means to him without fears of political repricussions.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book by the only Independent in the Congress!
Review: OUTSIDER IN THE HOUSE is an interesting and intriguing book by the only Independent in the Hosue of Representatives, and the only Independent *ever* elected to four consecutive terms!How did formerly conservative Vermont elect a democratic socialist as its Representative in the House? This book will tell you. How did Bernie Sanders first get elected Mayor of Vermont's largest city? What did he tell Bill Clinton when they met? What does it feel like to see your Congressional colleagues gutting welfare? What is the 52-member Progressive Ccaucus, and why did Bernie Sanders help found it? This book answers all these questions in a fast-paced narrative which weaves together Sanders'most recent re-election campaign (targeted by the Republican leadership, the NRA, and corporate America, he managed to win by 23 points!), his fights on Capitol Hill, and a brief history of the most successful progressive political movement in modern America. And if that is not enough, the book concludes with a clear-eyed look at America's major problems -- and presents reasonable ways of addressing each of them. Highly recommended. [Of course, you might consider that this review was written by the book's co-author, Huck Gutman....] Still, I think you will like it, and be energized by reading it. Our purpose in writing it, after all, was to give people hope: it is really possible to take on the corporate powers and big money interests, and beat them at the electoral game.

Rating:
Summary: Very enlightening
Review: Sanders does a few wonderful things in this book - first off, he shows what socialists truly believe - I now realize that, while I don't agree with them, I got a false impression of their views from the mass media. The book also gives a detailed account of how hard it is to make it as a third party candidate in America, and does so without becoming dull at any points. Finally, Sanders covers a wide range in issues in this book. Overall, very interesting for anyone even remotely interested in American politics.