The Wrecking Crew
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on July 21st, 2008 4:41 am by HL
The Wrecking Crew 
Coming soon: The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule by Thomas Frank, the author of the bestselling and must-read book, What’s the Matter with Kansas?
In his previous book, Frank explained why working America votes for politicians who seem to favor the rich. Now, in his new book, Frank “examines the blundering and corrupt Washington those politicians have given us,” according to the book jacket.
“Casting back to the early days of the conservative revolution, Frank describes the rise of a ruling coalition dedicated to dismantling government. But rather than cutting down the big government they claim to hate, conservatives have simply sold it off, deregulating some industries, defunding others, but always turning public policy into a private-sector bidding war. Washington itself has been remade into a golden landscape of super-wealthy suburbs and gleaming lobbyist headquarters–the wages of government-by-entrepreneurship practiced so outrageously by figures such as Jack Abramoff.”
The bottom line: “It is no coincidence that the same politicians who guffaw at the idea of effective government have installed a regime in which incompetence is the rule.”
Is Obama Close to Picking His Running Mate?
Several weeks ago on Political Insider, I suggested the first week of August might be the best time to unveil running a running mate.
First Read: “If Obama plans to name his running mate before the Olympics, he’s probably got to be close to a decision, because he’d have to name the running mate in the week he returns from his overseas trip. Time’s running out for Team Obama if they want a big pre-Olympics VP rollout. So maybe he’s a lot closer than we all realize, and maybe these gym stops are well, you know…”
