Politics Lost: How American Democracy Was Trivialized By People Who Think You're Stupid (edit title)

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Liked It Rated 4 stars “We've really gotten to a sad place, in our national politics, haven't we? Joe Klein helps explain how we got there--and points out that we are partly to blame ourselves for allowing it to get so "dumbed down."” see full review » see other reviews »

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  • Rated 0 stars

  “I very much like Joe Klein's writing style. Skip the first half of this book and go right to the last half. It's quite good.”

  Ellen K wrote this review Tuesday, June 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 3 stars

  “Time Magazine writer Joe Klein may be best known for being the "Anonymous" author of "Primary Colors" (a fictionalized account of Bill Clinton's run for the Presidency), but that's by no means all that Klein has written of value.
  
  Klein's book "Politics Lost" is a fascinating look at his view of some of the problems in the American political process. To this end, the sub-title of the book "From RFK to W: How Politicians Have Become Less Courageous and More Interested in Keeping Power than in Doing What's Right for America" offers a good preview of his feelings on many elected officials... and the political consultants and handlers who shape those officials.
  
  One thing of particular interest in the book is Klein's mention of Robert F Kennedy's speech (overviewed and available in this NPR story) the night of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Kennedy's unrehearsed (and now famous) speech to a largely black crowd on this extremely emotional and volatile night is held up by Klein as an example of the best that political leaders can and should offer the public.
  
  While Klein has garnered a good amount of attention for his books, he is also well know for his frequent commentaries (named after the famous "Man in the Arena" quote from Theodore Roosevelt) in Time Magazine.
  
  review also posted on my blog at:
  http://liketowritestuff.blogspot.com/2008/08/politics-lost-other-writings-by-joe.html
  ”

  Dave S wrote this review Wednesday, June 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 4 stars

  “We've really gotten to a sad place, in our national politics, haven't we? Joe Klein helps explain how we got there--and points out that we are partly to blame ourselves for allowing it to get so "dumbed down."”

  Steve wrote this review Saturday, December 29 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No