Rybit
02-01-2008, 05:51 PM
Dana Milbank writes that politics is the art of the ego in Homo Politicus. A sensible review of this book which I read states: "Congressional egos [are] like an exercise in finger painting by kiddies run amok in the absence of grownups."
Given the policies of today's administration and the year 2008, many of us have left feeling immeasurably hopeless that common sense will ever be restored in future Congresses. As the same reviewer on Amazon wrote, "This book comes at an unusual time; public confidence in the presidency and Congress is at depressing lows. Thoughtful Americans are looking for reasons. It makes this intelligent and thus devastating look at the 'greasy details' of politics very appropriate for 2008."
Which begs the question: Do we really intend to vote for this egomaniac again?
Some highlights of this book: The oft-flung word "bipartisan" is designed to appeal to people outside what Milbank calls the "Homo politicus tribe." So, the positive-sounding phrase, "I hope we can work together in a bipartisan way," actually means, "I need to pick off one or two votes from the other side to ram this thing through the Congress," Milbank tells Renee Montagne. "'Frankly...' means the thing I am about to say to you is false," he says. "That's sort of the code we use among ourselves in the land of Homo politicus."No matter your political allegiances, I suspect this will be an entertaining read. It's good to know that when a politician says frankly it means that they're going to be telling a half-truth. And if they're saying bipartisan, try to pick some out from the other side.
Given the policies of today's administration and the year 2008, many of us have left feeling immeasurably hopeless that common sense will ever be restored in future Congresses. As the same reviewer on Amazon wrote, "This book comes at an unusual time; public confidence in the presidency and Congress is at depressing lows. Thoughtful Americans are looking for reasons. It makes this intelligent and thus devastating look at the 'greasy details' of politics very appropriate for 2008."
Which begs the question: Do we really intend to vote for this egomaniac again?
Some highlights of this book: The oft-flung word "bipartisan" is designed to appeal to people outside what Milbank calls the "Homo politicus tribe." So, the positive-sounding phrase, "I hope we can work together in a bipartisan way," actually means, "I need to pick off one or two votes from the other side to ram this thing through the Congress," Milbank tells Renee Montagne. "'Frankly...' means the thing I am about to say to you is false," he says. "That's sort of the code we use among ourselves in the land of Homo politicus."No matter your political allegiances, I suspect this will be an entertaining read. It's good to know that when a politician says frankly it means that they're going to be telling a half-truth. And if they're saying bipartisan, try to pick some out from the other side.