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Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating insights into the American political process
Review: I admit it. I am a Simon fan. I had the opportunity to meet Paul Simon when he was a Senator at one of his "Illinois Breakfasts" in Washington. Basically, the Illinois Breakfast was a weekly meeting in the Senate office building where folks like me from Illinois could meet their Senators. I remember introducing myself. I said, "Senator I am from Bloomington, Illinois. You know, the Lucca Grill (a famous Democratic hangout). Well, Paul turned to Carol Mosley-Braun and said, "Carol, I want to introduce you to the Williams' from Bloomington." After that we went and watched the U.S. Senate in action, and Paul Simon spoke on the Senate floor. I felt proud that Paul Simon was representing the State of Illinois. Senator Simon's book has numerous personal insights, especially regarding his impressions of fellow Congressman and world leaders. I also thought his chapter on Religion was one of the most thought provoking essays on religion that I have read. In his chapter on International Figures he states, "You can judge the extent of democracy in a nation by the number of pictures of "the leader" (whatever the formal title) in evidence everywhere." You know, he's right, but I never thought of it. I beleive I heard recently that Paul Simon recently underwent heart surgery. Hey, Paul. Get well. You need to write more books.
Rating: 
Summary: A book about the gun-grabbing former Illinois Senator
Review: I have had the opportunity to deal with Paul Simon in a student/teacher relationship. Let me assure anyone who has read or is interested in reading this book that Paul Simon is as sincere as he sounds. Readers who carry the standard stereotypes of politicians should be made aware of the fact the former senator is indeed as high moraled as anyone could be as a leader of our country. He has battle for what he believed to be right instead of what would get him re-elected. It is absolutely refreshing to see a political figure who genuinely wants to make a difference and improve the nation and the world. When the founding fathers set up the framework for this country they had men like Paul Simon in mind to run the "great experiment." Paul Simon is not just a great politician, but an amazing man.
Rating:
Summary: As sincere in reality as he is in his book
Review: I have had the opportunity to deal with Paul Simon in a student/teacher relationship. Let me assure anyone who has read or is interested in reading this book that Paul Simon is as sincere as he sounds. Readers who carry the standard stereotypes of politicians should be made aware of the fact the former senator is indeed as high moraled as anyone could be as a leader of our country. He has battle for what he believed to be right instead of what would get him re-elected. It is absolutely refreshing to see a political figure who genuinely wants to make a difference and improve the nation and the world. When the founding fathers set up the framework for this country they had men like Paul Simon in mind to run the "great experiment." Paul Simon is not just a great politician, but an amazing man.
Rating:
Summary: A book about the gun-grabbing former Illinois Senator
Review: Read this boook, and peruse his liberal voting record, and then you will be glad that he's gone.
Rating:
Summary: A great book written by a great Senator
Review: The name "Paul Simon" comes with it an aura of respect and admiration from both political parties in Illinois. Paul Simon was a principled liberal and a true blue Democrat, working on both sides of the aisle to get things accomplished in congress yet being standing for core Democratic ideals, like workers rights, social programs, and civil rights for all Americans. He was first elected from the Deep South of Illinois, a traditionally conservative area, as a state legislator and then a US Representative after having made a reputation for himself as a fighter of corruption with his work as a newspaper publisher and editor. He was elected to the US Senate during the Reagan landslide of '84, defeating Republican Senator Chuck Percy, a former liberal Republican who had campaigned on "100% support for the Reagan program". Simon didn't shy away from unpopular votes he made in the house, like his vote against the Reagan tax cut and instead defended his position and attacked Percy for being wishy washy himself. Simon gave the image of a principled Democrat who stood for core Democratic ideals and was willing to work hard and independently for what he stood for, and his hard work, strong record, and dedication led him to victory in 1984 when Ronald Reagan carried Illinois by 600,000 votes. Simon ran for President in 1988, having made a good showing but having lost because of a lack of funds. He would have made a fine president, in my opinion. His speech for his announcement of his candidacy presents a point that has cemented my belief in a Democratic party - "The tradition of fighting for decent jobs for all Americans and long-term care for seniors, the tradition of leveling with the American people and having pay-as-you-go government, the concern for quality education for everyone, the tradition of standing up for human rights - these are traditions I embrace, not just with this speech but with my whole heart. Those who tell us to abandon these traditions are telling us to abandon our soul and our chance of winning. I'm pleased that there is a Republican Party, but one Republican Party is enough. You can't win an election by standing for nothing." In reading the account of this great man, I have renewed hope in what my party stands for. It is true that we are going through a tough time right now and that men like Paul Simon in congress are fewer than before, but the mere fact that people like him can exist in our political system is enough to give me hope for the future. We need more men like Paul Simon. Simon is truthful and covers many political bases in his book, from Presidents to the media. In it, Simon dispels all possible doubt from his reader of his reputation as an even handed and principled politicians. Simon never shied away from unpopular issues if he believed in them, Simon never let himself get overly partisan and never let politics get in the way of serving the people. I can say that my only dissapointment is that this man isn't serving us anymore, becuase now in these troubled times do we need his leadership the most.
Rating:
Summary: A great book written by a great Senator
Review: The name "Paul Simon" comes with it an aura of respect and admiration from both political parties in Illinois. Paul Simon was a principled liberal and a true blue Democrat, working on both sides of the aisle to get things accomplished in congress yet being standing for core Democratic ideals, like workers rights, social programs, and civil rights for all Americans. He was first elected from the Deep South of Illinois, a traditionally conservative area, as a state legislator and then a US Representative after having made a reputation for himself as a fighter of corruption with his work as a newspaper publisher and editor. He was elected to the US Senate during the Reagan landslide of '84, defeating Republican Senator Chuck Percy, a former liberal Republican who had campaigned on "100% support for the Reagan program". Simon didn't shy away from unpopular votes he made in the house, like his vote against the Reagan tax cut and instead defended his position and attacked Percy for being wishy washy himself. Simon gave the image of a principled Democrat who stood for core Democratic ideals and was willing to work hard and independently for what he stood for, and his hard work, strong record, and dedication led him to victory in 1984 when Ronald Reagan carried Illinois by 600,000 votes. Simon ran for President in 1988, having made a good showing but having lost because of a lack of funds. He would have made a fine president, in my opinion. His speech for his announcement of his candidacy presents a point that has cemented my belief in a Democratic party - "The tradition of fighting for decent jobs for all Americans and long-term care for seniors, the tradition of leveling with the American people and having pay-as-you-go government, the concern for quality education for everyone, the tradition of standing up for human rights - these are traditions I embrace, not just with this speech but with my whole heart. Those who tell us to abandon these traditions are telling us to abandon our soul and our chance of winning. I'm pleased that there is a Republican Party, but one Republican Party is enough. You can't win an election by standing for nothing." In reading the account of this great man, I have renewed hope in what my party stands for. It is true that we are going through a tough time right now and that men like Paul Simon in congress are fewer than before, but the mere fact that people like him can exist in our political system is enough to give me hope for the future. We need more men like Paul Simon. Simon is truthful and covers many political bases in his book, from Presidents to the media. In it, Simon dispels all possible doubt from his reader of his reputation as an even handed and principled politicians. Simon never shied away from unpopular issues if he believed in them, Simon never let himself get overly partisan and never let politics get in the way of serving the people. I can say that my only dissapointment is that this man isn't serving us anymore, becuase now in these troubled times do we need his leadership the most.
Rating:
Summary: Great autobiography by one of our greatest public servants
Review: With all of this messy and ugly trouble going around with the Clinton Administration(Chinagate, Monica, Paula, Kathy Willey, Travelgate, Whitewater, Filegate, Hairgate, etc.), I think we all know, despite what we may say, that Clinton should not have been nominated by the Democrats in 1992. When I look over the Democratic field, 3 names of potential great persons pop up: Mario Cuomo, Bill Bradley and Paul Simon(with nods to the late, great Paul Tsongas, Senator Bob Graham, VP Gore, NC Gov. James Hunt and the late, great Governor of Florida, Lawton Chiles). Paul Simon is an outstanding American, a proud progressive in the FDR/Truman mold(can you believe those two were once on a ticket - what a vote that must have been!), a decent man and a committed humanitarian. He shows himself to be a fine man of Christian faith and ethics. He has great integrity, as he has shown in his stands on the need for a balanced budget, entitlement reform and health care reform, despite what the press and polls say. In this book, Simon shows just how great he is. I may not necessarily agree 100% with the Senator, but as both a proud American and a proud Democrat, as well as a person who is sick and tired of the lack of integrity in the White House and politics in general, I think that Simon is great. Two thumbs up for Simon! By the way, if Senator Simon is reading this, I loved 'Let's Put America Back to Work.' It's a great read on an idea nobody talks about anymore - get the word out on the WPA! Well, anyway, we should've put America back on the road to integiry in public office and put Simon in the White House in 1992. The least we can do is read his book!
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