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Kitty Kelley, author of exhaustive and highly unflattering biographies of Frank Sinatra, Jackie Onassis, and the British royal family, among others, has never received much cooperation from her subjects. Likewise, none was given for The First Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty, and it's not hard to understand why. In the book, the family that has produced two presidents as well as an assortment of other politicians, businesspeople, and a number of lesser-known black sheep is portrayed as a powerful empire that leverages wealth and influence to grow ever stronger while stringently covering up numerous instances of drug abuse, infidelity, poor judgment, and scandal. While charges about George W. Bush, including that he snorted cocaine at Camp David while his father was president, garnered the most attention upon the book's release, Kelley's history goes back several generations, detailing the rise to power of Senator Prescott Bush and his son, the first President Bush. Those seeking a salacious peek at the inner sanctum of a wealthy and powerful family will not be disappointed by The First Family--Kelley always delivers on that count--and will likely devour allegations of Barbara Bush's sour temperament, George H.W. Bush's long-standing affair with aide Jennifer Fitzgerald, and George W. Bush's obnoxious drunken frat boy days that stretched, according to Kelley, well into adulthood. Those seeking a rock-solid and airtight indictment of the Bushes, however, will be disappointed, since Kelley leans on anonymous sources and rumors for some of the juicier bits. Interestingly, although it tells the stories of a family built on politics, The First Family mostly avoids the subject, clearing the decks of all political substance in order to put the style on wider display. --John Moe
Book Description
They have wielded enormous financial power and dominated world politics for more than half a century. They have been appointed to positions of great power and have been elected as governors, congressmen, senators and presidents. They have shaped our past and, with our country at war under the leadership of their number one son, they are, more critically than ever, shaping our future.
As the Bush family has risen to dominance, so too they have been master orchestrators of their own public image, acting and operating under the shield of privacy their money and status have always afforded them. Until now.
Number One bestselling author and investigative biographer Kitty Kelley has closely examined the lives of Jacqueline Onassis, Nancy Reagan, Frank Sinatra, and the British Royal family. Now the First Lady of unauthorized biography reckons with the first family of the United States—and the result is at once a rich and shocking history and a very human portrait of the world’s most powerful dynasty.
An important work on wealth, power, and class in America, The Family is rich in texture, probing in its psychological insight, revealing in its political and financial detail, and stunning in the patterns that emerge and expose the Bush dynasty as it has never before been exposed. Ms. Kelley takes us back to the origins of the family fortune in the Ohio steel industry at the turn of the last century, through the oil deals and international business associations that have maintained and increased their wealth over the past hundred years. The book leads us through Prescott Bush’s first entrée into government at the state level in 1950s’ Connecticut, to George Herbert Walker Bush’s long and winding road to the White House, to his son’s quick sweep into the same office. Along the way, we see the complex relationships the Bushes have had with the giants of the century—Eisenhower, Nixon, Joseph McCarthy, Kissinger, Reagan, Clinton—as well as the often ruthless methods used to realize their goals.
Perhaps most impressive—and surprising—is the way the book delves behind the obsessively protected public image into the family’s intimate private lives: the matriarchs, the mistresses, the marriages, the divorces, the jealousies, the hypocrisies, the golden children, and the black sheep.
At a crucial point in American history, Kitty Kelley is the one person to finally tell all about the family that has, perhaps more than any other, defined our role in the modern world. This is the book the Bushes don’t want you to read. This is The Family.
Customer Reviews:
The Bush Family at Home.......2007-10-16
If you are a conservative Republican, this book is definitely not for you (although there is a lot of interesting historical background on the Bush clan). For the rest of us, Kitty Kelley has taken us inside the Bush camp, be it Texas or Maine, to show us what really goes on in the family. She shows the legacy of Senator Prescott Bush (the grandfather and probably most likable Bush) through George HW Bush and his climb through mediocrity to the presidency on to W, whose failing oil business was propped up by Saudi money. Surprised? There is lots of dirt here, some big stuff, some small, but I guarantee it will keep your interest.
While the Bushes (and their attendant spin machine) have tried to paint Kitty Kelley in the most unflattering of ways (or ignore her book altogether), no law suit was ever filed based on the truthfulness of the book (although it was threatened, of course). Kelley is the biographer of many who would rather not be placed under the microscope (such as the British Royal family, Jackie Kennedy, and Elizabeth Taylor), and her forte is the cocktail gossip that many would not give credence to. Several of the more startling suggestions, notwithstanding, however, I found that the tiny details were more interesting than the "big scoops." For example, at the Maine family compound, one will not find any books, unless they're in the suitcase of Laura Bush. Imagine: a presidential dynasty that doesn't read? Think of the implications of that!
Kitty Kelley has examined her subjects well, and most will find the resulting book very interesting indeed. The historical background on the Bushes' relations with the Saudis is just one area that helps explain their foreign policy approaches. Much like the more carefully examined Kennedy clan, family relations are key to the Bush family, and the matriarch (Barbara, in this case) rules with an iron fist. Although some may dismiss all this as idle gossip, I found "The Family" endlessly fascinating. It isn't often that common citizens can get a sneak peek inside a presidential dynasty.
some people have too much power.......2007-06-13
this family has far to much power & should be reined in there dangerous
The Family: Dysfunctional in its quest for relevance .......2007-01-03
How did so many people get duped by this tedious, biased and speculative gossip rag of a book? Granted, considering the current President's track record, he's an easy target to grill. I was hoping to get some genuine insight into abuses of power or executive privilege on the Bush's part. Maybe even a little investigation and evidence behind how nepotism and shady corporate deals may have allowed some unfair political advantages.
Instead, we read about allegations of domestic abuse, driking binges and infidelity on Dubya's part, with NO substantiations behind it and nothing that hasn't been already presented by others. Cheap shots are at the forefront, like regurgitating the Larry Flynt charge that GW had an affair with a woman who later had an abortion. Or about how the First Lady supposedly smoked (and sold!) marijuana in college. Yet the claim of having hundreds of sources interviewed for the book doesn't lead to anything severely damaging or with any basis in fact.
At least Michael Moore had an actual copy of the National Guard document with James R. Bath's name on it in "Fahrenheit 9/11". He did his homework and sought proof that could turn into something sacrosanct. Kelley leans too heavily on repetition of weak claims and personal bias to convince the reader that what's being read deserves more attention than the latest Britney Spears teaser on the cover of Star magazine. If nothing else, Kelley succeeds in drawing attention away from issues like Bush's handling of the war in Iraq (which gets about 1% worth of book content in its 700+ pages). Instead, the author uses amateurish gossip fodder as if she's writing a Bob Woodward expose.
Yet another example of how a biographer succumbs to tabloid journalism in an effort to shift the public's opinion and carry out personal vendettas.
A Chilling Portrayal of the Bush Family.......2006-12-12
I usually wouldn't rate a book until I read at least 3/4 of it. But in this case, I just read the 20-page introductory "Author's Note", and thought that, in itself, was very chilling. The secret nature of the Bush family is is beyond what you would normally expect of a wealthy, high-profile family. My impression of Kitty Kelley is that she is an enormously courageous person to undertake a book of this nature. It would have been easier to write about the Mafia than the Bush family.
If you are not familiar with Kelley's work, you might be tempted to judge this book by the cover, which is bright (in red, white, and blue)and seems to project am upbeat, happy, patriotic story about the Bush dynasty.
But the book is very sobering. I have read the first five chapters, and highly recommend it. But beware .... be prepared for the truth: America is being run by an elistist with ties to secret societies that have nothing but contempt for the poor or average American citizen.
It's All About Power.......2006-06-30
For the Bush Dynasty it's not about:
Service, Making the world a better place, Making a positive difference, Defending your beliefs or values.
For the Bush Dynasty it's all about:
Power, Influence and Money.
This book is a scary story about all that is wrong with American politics. It's also about the evils of Elitism. To understand Bush's America you have to understand the Bush Family. This book is fair and balanced in it's study of the Bush Family...but it's also truthful and therefore damning of the Bush Dynasty.
Book Description
From the First Lady of unauthorized, tell-all biography, this is the first real inside-look at the most powerful–and secretive–family in the world. From Senator Prescott Bush's alcoholism, to his son George Herbert Walker Bush's infidelities, to George Walker Bush's religious conversion, shady financial deals, and military manipulations, Kitty Kelley captures the portrait of a family that has whitewashed its own story almost out of existence.
Customer Reviews:
I thoroughly enjoyed this on a number of levels.......2007-01-21
For those of us who detest the Bushes, there is really no need to look for new reasons to hate. Having said that, I'm glad I read this book because it was enjoyable and cathartic while also serving as food for thought.
It's really an anatomy of the mindset behind conservatism, as the Bushes come across not as instigators of the ugly sort of "conservatism" that now holds sway, but rather as a symptom. The current brand of conservatism that has plunged the USA into such a miserable state is based on the idea of life as a zero-sum game: an unending series of battles that necessarily require a winner and a loser. In this world view, there is no such thing as compromise for the greater good, so it is essential that one be on the winning side.
Consistently throughout "The Family" we see the Bushes taking this stance as a means of becoming and remaining the ultimate victors. From the senior Bush's radical stand against the Civil Rights Act as a means of catapulting himself into the redneck center of Texas politics to his son's co-opting of the religious right to win backing among those he would be leaving economically disadvantaged, the naked cynicism of Bush maneuvering is masterful in that it is completely detached from any sort of a moral compass and instead driven by a keen understanding of people's fears of The Other.
One amazing thing about "The Family" is that it comes across not only as an expose of the Bushes' ugliness but also as an convincing analysis of how they utilized the power of myths and images that easily resonate with Americans. We see exactly how truly despicable people are no more than a crystalization of all that is wrong with America.
Kelley's Latest Low Blow.......2005-09-25
There's not one nice thing said of any member of the Bush family here. Nope, not ONE nice thing. Across eighty-plus years and a couple dozen Bush figures, Kelley can't uncover a single deed by any of them that in her view merits her penning a single gracious compliment. No mention with any flattery (is there or did I miss something?) of former President Bush's service during World War Two, when the man might easily have stayed in college, no reference to how the current President's grandfather (eventually) opposed McCarthyism, no note conceded to the first President Bush's position among the top five Presidents of last century when it came to foreign policy, not EVEN a kind word for the charms of Millie, the White House Dog!
But...I can't help but come back to one thing about this insomnia-curing exercise in gossip, and that is IF these things are true, then no matter how rude it might be to say all this, isn't it a valid exercise in journalism (stretching the word a bit) to print this?
True tales or outright lies, I cannot like Kitty Kelley. She strikes me as one who glees in other people's troubles and mongers their problems and less flattering moments before all the world. She reminds me a lot of the sort Theodore Roosevelt was talking about a hundred years ago when he cited those types who do nothing on their own but are the first to sit back and criticise and mock those who do make an attempt at something.
Bottom line is this. Most Bush foes will like this book, and most Bush fans will be outraged. Even I, who have little love for our current President, think this is trashy tabloid reporting at its most mercenary. Yet...I also suspect there's more truth here in Kelley's character-bashing than the sometimes ruthless Bush family would like to admit.
Poisonous mix of 95% fact plus 5% rumor-presented-as-fact .......2005-09-02
Imagine someone wrote a book about you, and after talking to everyone who hates you, compiled a list of every flaw and every mistake, intermingled with rumor and gossip presented as fact. This is the approach that Kelley takes, and while it does make for an entertaining book that's hard to put down, one feels a need to take a shower after reading it.
A lot of Kelley's dirt is material of which even loyal Republicans were aware: We all accept that George W. is inarticulate, stubborn, and although he might have a high IQ, he's not an intellectual. Everyone knows about his history with alcohol and his checkered past as a businessman - points Kelley pounds at viciously and incessantly. More damning is her accusation that George W. had been cheating on his wife with a Midland prostitute who was threatened by CIA agents, and that he has a history of using cocaine. Is this true? Who knows? Kelley seems very thorough in her sourcing, but one gets the sense that she'd say it even if the source lacked credibility. Even when Bush does something positive, Kelley tweaks her wording to put the worst possible spin on the event, not realizing her book would have more credibility if she showed more evenhandedness.
Prescott Bush, George Sr., and George W. each get roughly a third of the book. (Does anyone really care about Prescott?) As well, the women of the Bush family receive the Kelley treatment - Barbara, Laura, and the twins are all presented in a very negative light.
I bought the 2005 Anchor paperback (although not from Amazon), and the binding fell apart despite gentle handling. I bought a replacement copy, and once again, the binding fell apart and chunks of pages fell into my lap.
Easy but interesting........2005-09-01
I'm not American, so had never even heard of Prescott Bush, let alone many of the other characters in this book. And yeah it's pretty gossipy and Kitty Kelley is obviously no fan, but if (like me) you just want an easy to read overview of the Bush family that doesnt get too bogged down in American politics, I say this is for you. I read every word and came out knowing far more about right wing American politics than I knew before. Let me tell you, it wasnt the Bushes that shocked me, (scratch the surface of any family and you're bound to find pay dirt) it was the ratbag right wing fundamentalists that really gave me the creeps.
Oooooh, scary.
From someone who actually read it..........2005-08-14
I'm not really surprised by the number of people who gave this book one star just because they assumed it attacked their beloved President. Perhaps had they read it they might have learned something new.
There is a lot to be admired about the Bush family. Machiavellian at many times, rarely humble ever, this thorough study of the last four generations of business leaders and politicians presents a 'warts and all' picture of one of America's most powerful families. While any political biography may present a portrait of unethical behavior and personal screw-ups, it doesn't take much digging to find that the Bush family has more than most. Whether it's Prescott Bush's theft of a Native American skull as a part of a fraternity requirement or George W's sabotage of political rivals, the fluid values of this 'whatever it takes' group have never been clearer. Forget duplicity; their drive to get what they want spans the entire spectrum. From changing rivalries (Prescott was a founder of Planned Parenthood until a political rival called him on it and he changed his stripes for political gain) to country-club insularity to attempted destruction of naysayers (think Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame, for starters), the lengths to which this true dynasty will go knows no bounds. Their ability to climb the ladder of advancement is a force to be reckoned with, and for that I recommend this book. Ethical persons will use it as a cautionary tale; others will use it as a road map.
A survey of Americans has shown that George W. Bush is someone many people would love to have a beer with; I'm sure he's a fun guy to hang out with, but even his friends from Yale are appalled that this shockingly mediocre class clown and former chief party animal has the most powerful job in the world. He does not take advice from anyone, including his father. Surprisingly little space is devoted to the current President; however, it is hard to go more than five pages without a head-shaking episode involving one family member or another, and page after page it becomes astonishingly clear that the apple has not fallen far from the most twisted branches of the family tree.
The Bush family vehemently refused to cooperate with Ms. Kelley in researching this book, and have a history of blacklisting those who do. It's a shame, because in keeping mum it only serves to give a silent endorsement to the charges (as they might say) presented in a very thorough and comprehensive way. Still, history will show that in the end, the record stands, and regardless of the author's reputation for dirt-digging, its sources cannot be repudiated.
Product Description
Recorded on 24-CD's.
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The family : the real story of the Bush dynasty
Kitty Kelley
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Customer Reviews:
Best Book on Corsair variants I have read........1999-08-26
A great airplane deserves great books and Kenzey has produced one here. Best on the subject I have encountered and I have a pretty good collection of Corsair material. A must for serious history buffs or modelers.
Book Description
In the wake of an election seen by many as a triumphant victory for “moral values,” political commentator and one-time seminarian Bill Press launches a counteroffensive against the so-called religious right.
For decades, Press argues, conservative preachers such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson—joined by most Catholic bishops—have defined religion so narrowly that Democrats and liberals have been pushed outside the fold. According to their narrow gospel, God put George Bush in the White House to deal with gays, guns, and abortion—and those who don’t agree are on the sure road to hell.
Bill Press says it’s time to take religion back: “Who gave this gang the inside track on religion, anyway? The way I read the Gospels, Jesus was as liberal as Paul Wellstone. He sure as hell wouldn’t have been a registered Republican. One other thing’s for sure: if Jesus ever came back to earth, there’s one gang he wouldn’t hang out with; and that’s this phony bunch of pious, puffed-up preachers who wear religion on their sleeves.”
How the Republicans Stole Christmas is also Press’s fervent call to Democrats and liberals to reclaim religion and return it to its basic principles of social justice, charity, and tolerance. Press argues that the Right didn’t just steal religion, the Left let them have it, offering no resistance as conservatives dictated what’s right and what’s wrong. But on today’s social issues, according to Press, religious conservatives have gotten it all wrong. They have turned Jesus from a loving Messiah who championed the poor and dispossessed into a cold-blooded advocate for the rich and powerful. Press does not confine his criticisms to so-called Christian leaders; he uncovers the same wrong-headed tendencies in other faiths and among nonbelievers, who even today cling to the Old Testament as an appropriate code of behavior.
Customer Reviews:
Which Political Party is Morally Correct?.......2007-03-29
Bill Press has written many books about politics and the theme of religion is a frequent occurrence in his writing. There is a good reason for this: Press spent many years in a seminary and he has a degree in theology. He knows a great deal about the Bible, its meaning, its contradictions, and its use/abuse by political leaders throughout the ages. And he wastes no time in this book going for the jugular; showing how Republicans- particularly those aligned with the Religious Right- have taken liberty with the Bible; seeking out passages and making narrow interpretations that fit their own ideology while completely ignoring the obvious messages about social issues that run contrary to the official party platform.
This book is a debunking type of book that clearly shows how Republicans often use Biblical quotes to support any number of their pet causes, like killing, hatred and/or phobia of people who enjoy certain lifestyles, and giving special breaks to rich people. Press doesn't just let his opinion suffice as a means of persuasion. He includes dozens of statistics along with specific passages from the Bible that show a different point of view, providing evidence that what the Bible says isn't as black and white as Republicans and Religious Right leaders would like you to believe.
One of the many things I like about this book is that the author fully admits that there are some Republican beliefs about Christianity that are more difficult to refute than others. With topics like abortion, the death penalty, and others it is very clear where Jesus stood on these issues (abortion is never mentioned in the Bible; killing is strictly forbidden except in self- defense). But with others, it takes more time and effort to show that the Bible isn't necessarily on the Republican side. One example is the issue of alternative lifestyles. Religious Right members like to point to certain, specific Bible verses that seem very condemning of homosexuality and Press admits that some of these do, indeed, seem very straightforward. But he then snaps back with other verses that, based on interpretation, seem to suggest that the Bible is indifferent toward homosexuality.
This book dedicates much of its space to the use of bible talking points to back its case but this isn't just a book about the Bible. It is also a book about religious freedom and the importance of church/state separation. With an issue like school prayer, for example, there is no direct biblical evidence to support or condemn. This is where the issue turns into a church/state argument and Press is firmly on the side in favor of church/state separation. Religious freedom and the anti- establishment clause have served both church and state very well and Press believes that this separation has actually helped churches grow and thrive.
When this book isn't taking on the Republicans over Biblical interpretation, it is taking on ministers and religious leaders who have made a pretty penny at the expense of their congregations. This is the focus in chapter seven and while the book doesn't spend as much time on this subject as the others, it is apparent how disgusted the author feels when ministers use religion to take money from poor people and fatten their own wallets. The book mentions a few specific individuals who are at the forefront of this swindle, and shows how many of them have sought to relieve themselves of guilt by looking for ways to Biblically and morally justify their selfish actions
Press takes time at the end of the book to recommend ways in which Democrats can regain the moral advantage they once held with the public and some of his suggestions will surprise die- hard liberals. He feels that Democrats are too uneasy talking about religion and this has been translated into indifference by Republicans, who have then exploited this as a means to gain support among the devout. Many Democrats feel that religion is a subject to avoid talking about because it is either too personal or they fear it is too divisive. Press feels this is a mistake, and he encourages Democrats everywhere to talk more openly about their faith in order to shake off this image that has been placed on them by Republicans; an image that many have equated with apathy, indifference, and even hostility toward all things holy.
"How Republicans Stole Christmas" is a very good analysis of certain issues often touted by Republicans as having a sound basis in the Bible and why their interpretations are often way off the mark. The book is written in an often humorous way and while it tends to get straight to the point, it keeps the tone on a respectable level. Press has strong opinions, but he refrains from name calling and he has no problem admitting that some Republican claims are stronger than others or that his own Democratic Party has made many mistakes in handling the subject of religion. It all makes for a solid piece of reading material and one that Democrats should take seriously if they hope to reverse the political damage inflicted by the Religious Right and restore themselves as the party for the moral and righteous.
The book I was asked to write.......2007-03-22
For almost twelve years now I have been publishing a web site that has been showing many people that Jesus was as far from the G.O.P. as Bethlehem, PA is from the original Bethlehem, and that Jesus would be the kind of "liberal" who in the past fought for equality and justice for all kinds of people, like women, people of color, laborers and the handicapped and who today embrace the unpopular causes of those who are imprisoned, immigrants, gays, and those whom our military likes to call "collateral damage" of wars which many agree are not even moral.
Bill Press has done an outstanding job of putting on paper many of the arguments that I make on the web. He's got name recognition that I will probably never have. But I urge any who appreciate his views to explore and to recommend my 200+ page web site, which you can find by Googling "Liberals Like Christ".
While you are at it, Google "Republican corruption" and you will find that, of the 1,700,000 sites that it will provide the very first one suggested is my page on that subject which I have been improving for years. Check it out and you will see why it has been in that first place for at least six months.
Biblical Evidence that the Religious Right is Wrong!.......2006-11-25
Press, who attended seminary and is well versed in Biblical scripture, hits the nail on the head with his detailed descriptions of how the religious right has used religion to manipulate Republican voters and to try to convince people that being a Democrat is a sin. Press points out in a calm, literate way how the Republicans have tried to corner religion and what we can do to take it back.
He cites biblical scripture that evangelists use to put their spin on topics and explains what the verses really mean. (Granted, you can put 50 ministers in a room with one verse of scripture and you will get 50 different interpretations.) Topics included here range from abortion to stem cell research to homosexuality to the war in Iraq. There are several more relevent topics covered.
This book is a good tool that Democrats can use to combat right wingers who cite scripture to promote an agenda of intolerance. It gives plenty of Bible verses, and will allow you the knowledge to stand up and say, "I think the Bible meant this when it says this..." I liked the hardcover title better, "How the Republicans Stole Christmas," but I think more people will take it seriously with the new paperback title. This is a very relevent book to read and it contains useful information to remember considering the times we live in.
Liberals dig their own grave without Republican help regarding religion.......2006-04-15
The Democrat Party has for years been considered by many average voters as less tolerant for people of faith.
It didn't used to be that way. During the Cold War, Kennedy and Johnson and the rest of the Democrats stood up to the atheists running the USSR and never apologized for doing so.
Things have changed, and to the Democrats' loss.
It is not George Bush going apoplectic when someone says "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays." How many Republicans are trying to root out school prayer and ban the Pledge of Allegiance? Who is it that looks down on people who go to church and support the Ten Commandments?
It sure isn't Bob Dole or Dick Cheney.
The reality that Bill Press needs to address is what can the Democrats do to make themselves credible in religious-based issues. Senator Joseph Lieberman should be his model of choice, for it was Lieberman who stood alone when he publicly denounced President Clinton over his affair and subsequent lying regarding Monica Lewinsky. Religious values and morality were written all over his speech. And no Democrat dared to condemn him for it.
Overall great read! Only a few problems..........2006-03-22
In "How the Republicans Stole Christmas," Bill Press argues that the religious right hold a tyranny over "moral values" issues. The Republican Party is indeed commonly associated with such themes as anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality, themes that strike at the core of millions of conservative Christians across the U.S. It seems that in this day and age the Republican Party takes center stage when any issues that tie into religion are mentioned, issues that appear across such a vast number of topics that if someone isn't up to date on the topic he/she can quickly get lost. Luckily Mr. Press organizes his chapters in such a way that a reader can take a look at the table of contents and skip ahead to a chapter that is more interesting or in some cases more applicable to themselves. I, being both a future scientist and a non-Christian, particularly enjoyed the section on Stem Cell research and the chapter on God in the Classroom. I found them to be very effective in combating the various methods conservatives use to promote their "moral values" in these departments. Press is also helpful by utilizing quotes from evangelical leaders (or at least very loud evangelicals) to prove where absolutist thinking can lead to. It was shocking to know that some of the most "godly" men in America were so downright cutthroat and close-minded.
Although I enjoyed the overall concept of this book and even the chapter by chapter ideas, the phrasing and hyperbole did seem very much out of context. Press writes as if he is talking to a friend who does not completely agree with him. He has a tendency to go on a tangent here and there and lose sight of the cold, hard facts that could make him seem a little more professional. It should be made very clear that if one is to read this book that it is very biased. Mr. Press starts a Republican beating and does not stop, and while I may agree that some important Republicans in government need a swift kick, I did not like the tone in which Press makes his statements.
"How the Republicans Stole Christmas" is not simply a Republican bashing book though. After finishing it the reader sees that the true purpose was to inform democrats of ways to combat extremely right leaning Republicans and to, in a sense, "take back Christmas." Press seems to have great insight into a way to bring morality and religion back to the center line and that is for Democrats to not be afraid of talking. He uses Clinton and Kennedy as examples of how the Democrats have been mishandling the issue of religion by taking the safe route: not bringing it up. Unfortunately, the Republicans have brought it out onto the table and now is the time for the left to speak up on their religious values and prove that the right is not always so right, says Press.
The only problem that this reader sees with Press' argument to help Democrats is that he seems to point his book only toward Christians on either side. As a non-Christian, it seems at times that Press disregards the 15-20% of Americans who do not label themselves under the majority religion. Press argues that it is Christian Democrats who must fight Christian Republicans which leaves others not of the faith on the side-lines hoping that one or the other will win. I would like to have seen more talk on the views of minority religions as well, especially on the topic of God in the classroom, a concern that is more than just propriety to those not of the majority faith.
Overall, Bill Press did a wonderful job getting his point across and attempting to show Democrats a way out of the hole they seem to be sitting in. I would recommend "How the Republicans Stole Christmas" to anyone who would not take the hyperbole as literal and who find the issue of church and state interesting and relevant. If anything it is important for the public to understand the full breadth of what is going on so that come election time they can make a decision that is not self-centered but takes into account the views of others.
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Comparative Anatomy Of The External And Middle Ear Of Palaeognathous Birds (Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology)
J. MATTHIAS STARCK
Manufacturer: SPRINGER-VERLAG
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Binding: Paperback
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Book Description
This volume presents a broad comparative anatomical approach towards the functional morphology of the middle ear of palaeognathous birds (ostrich, rhea, tinamous, emu, cassowary, kiwi) and basal neognathous birds. It presents the most complete and thoroughly studied source of material on this field. For the first time it became possible to develop exact images of "non-structures" like the air-filled spaces of the avian skull by using non-invasive CT-techniques, computer-aided 3D-reconstruction, and morphometry, and to evaluate their functional importance for sound transmission and amplification through the middle ear. A series of air brush drawings represent detailed three-dimensional images of middle ear structures and the pneumatic spaces of the octic region of the skull.
Books:
- The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant
- The Pursuit of Victory: The Life And Achievement of Horatio Nelson
- The Real Jimmy Carter: How Our Worst Ex-President Undermines American Foreign Policy, Coddles Dictators and Created the Party of Clinton and Kerry
- The Skills to Pay the Bills: The Story of the Beastie Boys
- The Tender Land: A Family Love Story
- The Unwanted: A Memoir of Childhood
- The Valachi Papers
- They Found the Secret
- Traveling Music : The Soundtrack to My Life and Times
- Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano's Story of Life in the Mafia
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Quantitative Conservation Biology: Theory and Practice of Population Viability Analysis
- New Complete Works of Josephus, The
- From El Greco to Goya: Painting in Spain,1561-1828
- Intuitive Light: An Emotional Approach to Capturing the Illusion of Value, Form, Color and Space
- Mastering Digital SLR Photography
- History: Fiction or Science
- Means of Ascent
- American Windsor Furniture: Specialized Forms
- Natural Affairs: A Botanist Looks at the Attachments Between Plants and People
- The Myxophyceae of North Carolina,
The Royals (not for sale in the UK)
Jackie Oh!
American Dynasty : Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush
His Way: An Unauthorized Biography Of Frank Sinatra
Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President
