About this title: An intimate, investigative portrait of how the purveyors of the politics of personal crisis and redemption brought down the GOP--and why they're still calling the shots for the party
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardback
Publisher: Perseus Books Group
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9781568583983ISBN:1568583982
Description: A crackling, investigative expos of the new generation of conservative leaders who will call the shots in the post-Bush GOP, "Republican Gomorrah" reveals how the politics of personal crisis and redemption unites them. read more
"Incredibly insighful. Reminds me to read Eric Fromm again - the psychologist who studied the rise of facism in Germany. This book explores the sick culture of the religious right and how they've taken over the Republican party. Why is it ok to repent for visiting prostitutes and not gay sex? It all falls into place. And the child beating, what does it lead to? The answers are here."
"Fascinating. Blumenthal ties so many threads into a coherent picture of what the Republican party is now. While I am a liberal, we need sane conservatives, and it looks like we may have to do without for a while"
"In college a friend of mine, who was an ardent Calvinist, told me to read Rousas John Rushdoony, but I never got around to it, and forgot about him. Until I read Blumenthal. According to Blumenthal, he current mindset in the conservative right began with Rushdoony, a son of an fugitive from Armenia, who believed in setting up a state based on Jewish law. For example, he advocated stoning adulterers and homosexuals. Not a compassionate Christians. From his writings other people got ideas about reforming America according to their ideas of Christian ethics.
Blumetenthal starts with Rushdoony and goes through a series of Christian politicians up to and including Sarah Palin. He cites James Dobson as being the person who controls the religious right. Politicians have to pay tribute to Dobson before they can move up in the ranks. He tried to tell Bob Dole what his priorities should be, and Dole walked out on him.
These people are not evil people, but for the most part, just ethical and political bumblers. Consequently, the Republican Party is being run by a bunch of narrowly focused people who think if Americans ban abortions and make sure gays don't marry, God will bless our country."
"This book should be a wake-up call for America about the colossal mess we've gotten ourselves into by being too tolerant and politically correct. We've treated any looney philosophy that calls itself a religion as respectfully as if it made sense. We've stood in silence while cheats and liars and con artists get elected to public office again and again, protected and forgiven by the powers that be so long as they make a good show of repentance. We've permitted religious extremists like James Dobson and Pat Buchanan--savage, Old Testament, fire-and-brimstone, Christian ayatollahs--to deliberate with Congress and the White House as though they'd been voted into power.
Republican Gomorrah is a courageous, meticulously researched, and thoroughly depressing piece of journalism. It's also the best argument for separation of church and state since Thomas Jefferson first penned the phrase over two hundred years ago."
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