by Al Franken
First published 2014
Political satirist Al Franken dissects the machinery of Republican power in the wake of George W. Bush's narrow 2004 reelection. Franken argues that Bush defeated John Kerry through a calculated strategy of fear, personal attacks, and divisive social issues, then falsely claimed a broad mandate for his agenda. The author exposes how Republican leaders cynically exploited the Terri Schiavo case for political gain and attempted to dismantle Social Security using tactics borrowed from Vladimir Lenin. Franken reserves particular scorn for Tom DeLay, whom he characterizes as emblematic of congressional corruption. The book addresses both Bush supporters and liberals, promising conservatives a vision of bipartisan cooperation while simultaneously documenting what Franken sees as Republican betrayals of public trust. For liberal readers, Franken provides ammunition for their existing beliefs about Bush administration failures and congressional dysfunction. Franken closes with a darkly humorous apology to future generations who might discover this book among radioactive ruins, suggesting his warnings about nuclear proliferation and failed states went unheeded.
Genres: american, political-science, politics, 21st-century, political-thriller, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Period: 2004
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