Rating: 
Summary: Thought provoking for those exploring US politics ...
Review: I became interested in Ariana Huffington's writing after hearing her on NPR's Left, Right and Center. Up until now I had always considered myself a Republican basically because my parents had voted Republican being in the upper middle class. This book appealed to me because I am one of those persons who could not begin to tell you what the Democratic versus Republican platform was and what it was that made me a "Republican? I get the feeling that there are many people like me out there ?college educated, relatively well off, great friends and family who haven't participated in the political process to the extent they should have and have an embarrassing low level of knowledge of current US politics. I also wonder if many of the Democrats there ?or the President Bush haters could articulate their position either. It's quite amazing how the most fervent liberals love to protest just for the sake of protesting but can't articulate a thing. I've run many of these types of people especially during my time in law school. In a way, this has the opposite effect b/c these protesters tend to be, at least in my experience, the most immature, the laziest and least knowledgeable. Sometimes I think that I would vote for Bush just to spite these people. Where can one go for legitimate debate and discussion of issues? For one, NPR's "Left, Right and Center?is a great show though incredibly left leaning nowadays and another great source is Ariana Huffington.
I've been searching for books on US politics ?basically "primers?to give me some background on what it is to be a Republican or a Democrat. There are some new books out there "History of the Democratic Party?and "History of the Republican Party?have recently been published but these are more historic books as well as a slew of "pop-politics?books, e.g. Al Franken, Ann Coulter. Also, reading about the official party platforms was so dry and boring. I've read both "Fanatics and Fools?and "How to Overthrow the Government?and have finally found an author that comes off as very intelligent, backs up her position (right or wrong) and provides a great foundation to explore politics, ask questions and actually do something.
One note, in "Fanatics and Fools", Ms. Huffington takes a position, i.e. Bush must not win. So, she's not objective. This book obviously will not sit well with Republicans. However, I do believe it is a great "primer?("How to Overthrow the Government?may be better but is a bit too "granola?feel goody for me) and a very timely book. Regardless of whether you vote Republican or Democrat, I thank Ms. Huffington for getting me motivated about participating in the political process. Though her overly snide manner can get tiresome at times (hey, we know you are intelligent and witty ?you don't have to lay it on so thick) as does her lofty righteousness, this is a well-written and thought-provoking book. If you are like me, it will help in your exploration of US politics. Ms. Huffington is a recent immigrant to the US so her appreciation and love of US democracy oozes out of her and should make all of us US citizen take note and realize what a great country we live in. As an oversees US citizen living in Korea, I just sent in my application for absentee balloting.
Rating:
Summary: Fun Facts
Review: I don't care if you are an extreme liberal or a very conservative Republican, you should read this book and here's a few reasons why:
1) Ms. Arianna Huffington knows what she is talking about- not only has she done her research and provides numerous statistics to back up her points and opinions, but she was a candidate in CA's Recall Race, so she has had one-on-one dealings and discussions with most of the people she talks about in this book
2) She talks about ISSUES not just people involved. For example, if you are from CA like I am, I bet you were thrilled when Governor Arnold Schwarzennegger wrote you a check for $200 on the car tax he repealed. At the time I was, too, but do you really know where that money came from? Arianna researched, and she tells you just what state budget cuts had to be made for that to happen.
3) She relates to people of many social classes, speaking about unemployment, health insurance, education, etc and how our government is failing us.
4) She has some great quotable quotes, and she writes with a sharp tongue and strong wit.
5) The book will make you think!
6) She asks for a change. Arianna was a Republican at one point in her political career, and while now she is very anti-Bush, the bottom line of this book is to get out and hound the government (ANY government- whether Bush or Kerry wins) for a change in society. You can pass blame around as much as you want, and Arianna shows a few places to put that blame, but in the end, if you're not actively working for a change, nothing will get done anyway.
Rating: 
Summary: Argumentum ad Hominum
Review: I find it interesting that in the pages I scanned through that I couldn't find a single fact. All I found was the fallacy of "Argumentum ad Hominum" (Argument against the Man i.e. "He's a schmuck therefore anything he says or does isn't valid") Now, granted, I didn't (couldn't) read the whole book so I don't know if she got into any actual facts that could be looked up and verified but just the fact that what I did read was so obviously skewed by emotion doesn't lend any credence with me of the facts. I am NOT a Republican but I do like my information to be clear, concise and to have the ability to be verified. I do not appreciate "scare" tactics or emotional string pulling. Let me decide what my emotions should be by giving me the FACTS!
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly Enjoyed This Book
Review: I have read Arianna's two previous books, and enjoyed them as well, but this one is a timely read that should be read by every voter in the country. Arianna has proven that she is an intelligent and independent voice in a media saturated with corporate influence and biased reporting. You can be sure you will hear the truth, and nothing but the truth from this true American patriot born in a foreign land. If we change the constitution to let foreign born run for President, Arinanna would be first on my list of candidates!
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: I just finished this book and found it very informative.
It does seem like the Republicans should be scared.
I also read some of the negative reviews on this book and wonder if the reviewers even read the book. Yes, some parts were humorous, but it also made me mad. As a Republican I am ashamed at all the things we as Republicans are trying to get away with. How dare we put our selfish and immoral interests above the common good? Why are we as Republicans becoming common thugs?
This is not a very objective and individualist way to be. In order to be a good person we must help our society better itself. I hope many people read this book and learn what is actually happening to this great country. It seems the Republicans have stopped being objective... I hope this book will bring change. I prefer to remain anonymous, but really, with the Bush administration, you can never know...
Rating:
Summary: Proof Anyone Can Get Into London School of Economics
Review: I've met the type before: pompous blowhards who let it slip that they've attended the LSE. Well, (setting aside the intellectual sins of the Webbs and other silly fabians) it turns out that LSE will take just about anyone willing to pay full tuition, which is how they subsidize the students they really want to recruit. In return, these rich kids get to blather on forever about that scintillating course on The Rise of the Working Class or some such nonsense they took and which they beleive entitles them to tell you their opinion on any subject, no matter how poorly thought out that opinion is. Ms. Huffington is an exemplar of this sort, and I had only to scan this book at the local bookstore to confirm my opinion that she's another long-winded blather machine, spitting out empty rhetoric and cheap slogans for the zealots who cling to her every idiotic word, hoping they too can appear sophisticated and cosmopolitan even as they get drunk on populist punch. Egads, if we had the kind of populist movement Ms Huffington purports to want, it would make the mob murder of Leo Frank (see Tom Watson, Agrarian Rebel) seem like a garden pic-nic. In fact, Ms. huffington is the mirror image of President Bush - another rich dumb bunny, but she really seems to believe she knows something profound, whereas as least W knows he ain't all that smart. Take a pass on this book and read some Evelyn Waugh.
Rating:
Summary: Republicans are scared!!
Review: Look at the one-star reviews. Clearly not having read the book, they now attack her as a 'liberal' who has slid up to the DNC. Arianna has moved more to the left, but she has no love for Dems. Any thinking person would realize this. Of course, this excludes neocons. A great book that dishes well-deserved fact-based mud on the faces of thieves, fanatics and fools. GWB being all of the above. Witty, irreverant and wise. And its Zsa Zsa, not Zha or however the neocon moron wrote it below.
Not to mention, I don't recall hearing her greek accent while READING her book. Moron.
Rating:
Summary: Much better Anti-Bush books out there!
Review: Look, I'll probably be accussed on being pro-Bush, but the simple fact is that this book is boring and not well thought out. (note: I'm mostly independent). The book feels random and some of the points in this book prove many of the Republicans have a point about Liberal leaders being shrill and emotional. There are many low blows in this book, especially the Rush Limbaugh attacks. It seems awfully hypocritical of her to attack his alleged drug addiction. Even Publishers weekly (above review) points out how many of her attacks are simply tasteless (using premature babies as campaign donors??) Overall, though she can be funny at times, this book does nothing to enlighten and tries way too hard. There IS NO GAME PLAN as the title indicates. At least people like Sean Hannity lay out their thoughts, are funny, and have a plan. I guess my biggest complain is that most of this book seems to have been "borrowed" from other Anti-Bush books. Again, even the Amazon review above says: "...most of which have already been covered in myriad other anti-Bush books."
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Naderites & All Other Bush Shills...
Review: Okay, first I'll admit that I rated this book so highly because I have a signed copy. Nevertheless, it still deserves four stars because like other reviewers have commented she brings it to both the 'fanatics' and their NASCAR dad followers that swallow the Leave No Tax Cut Behind tripe, and the 'fools' who may one day locate or purchase a spine. Here advice to the Naderites doesn't go far enough though. For any so-called Green, consumer advocate, or protester voting for Nader, why don't you just affix your Bush-Cheney bumper sticker already?
Rating:
Summary: Her book is as irritating as her shrill voice
Review: Politics invites strange bedfellows. It even bridges the chasm of shizophrenia. First Arianna is a conservative and now she morphs into a falming liberal. The philosophies she espouses now comport with those of the liberals she blasted most recently in her previous book. It's amazing. The women not only has a grating to the ear accent but her writing and ideas grate as well. Talk about a moving target, her adherence to ideals in this book are 180 degrees the other direction of what they were merely 2 years ago! It appears the writer has lost her identity. Not only was her social identity shattered during her divorce, her political and ideological beliefs were literally erased and replaced with leftist extemist views shared by indivudals she previously attacked for years. I do not recommend this book other than to demonstrate the wily ways of a political chameleon.
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