Homegrown Democrat - Garrison Keillor

[Roland99]

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=fm6Aipv9vE&isbn=0670033650&itm=1
The radio storyteller speaks his partisan piece in tender prose that will bring a tear to the eye of those of his fans (and perhaps a larger audience) who feel betrayed by their government. "Something has gone wrong with the Republican Party," Keillor writes. "Once, it was the party of pragmatic Main Street businessmen in steel-rimmed spectacles who decried profligacy and waste, were devoted to their communities, and supported the sort of prosperity that raises all ships." Now, he writes, "it's the No. 1 reason why the rest of the world thinks we're deaf, dumb, and dangerous." Keillor reclaims and brandishes the banner of liberalism—"the politics of kindness"—for Americans wondering what they can do to help make the nation a better, safer place for everyone

I just finished reading this book.

As a Republican since I was 18, I found a few issues in the book where Garrison generalized against all Republicans. But, I can safely say I will not be returning to the Republican party until they can either pull their heads from their Bibles and tell the neocons to fuck off.

In the meantime, Garrison gets to the root of what the Democratic party should do. Remember its own roots. Liberalism is a good thing. This also plays into last night's Uncommon Knowledge on PBS where David Kennedy and George McGovern both state that liberalism is not dead, it's just wavering in search of someone to lead it back to power. JFK, RFK, MLK were all assassinated that took the wind out of the Democratic Party. I would dare to add John Lennon to that list, too. (Interesting that no conservatives are assassinated, eh? Only the peacemakers...what's that tell you?)

I highly recommend this book to everyone up here and stop being afraid of being called a liberal. Bush turned me into one and I couldn't be happier!!

[jackster]

1. roland ...

I think I love you!!!!

:loveya:

GREAT POST!

[On the Road]

2. Garrison Keillor Talked about the Liberals at a County Fair in Minnesota

They were on display on one of the barns at 4PM. You could go and see them and even touch them. Highly educational.

And last inauguration he commented that Bush was being sworn in by Rehnquist, "one of the five people who elected him."

I don't know of anyone able to blend humor and sadness more whimsically.

On the other hand, Keillor is capable of amazing outrage on occasion. Witness his screed (as he described it) after Norm Coleman was elected to the Senate:

http://www.salon.com/politics/feature/2002/11/07/minnesota/index.html

[Roland99]

4. Either I read that before or it was mentioned in the book

Seemed very familiar.

[CBHagman]

3. Just finished reading it myself.

The book has anger, passion, joy, humor, and a good deal of patriotism. As much as anything else, it is a celebration of the ordinary people of this country -- the immigrants, the union members, the schoolteachers and professors, the cleaning staff, the wait staff. It is both affectionate and a bit of a kick in the pants!

[Roland99]

5. It was inspiring!

[flobee1kenobi]

6. If at all possible

Get the audiobook!!!!!!
I read the book, then found the audiobook, and the audio is better.
I know its the exact same words, but anyone who has listened to his radio show knows that he may just be the greatest storyteller since Twain.


-little known fact
The monolouge in "a prarie home companion" is made up, on the fly, every show

I'm starting to think that his book was made in the same way

[Roland99]

7. Hey...good point!

I was reading the book and trying to put his voice to it but I read rather fast so it didn't always work.

:)

[Roland99]

12. Link to the audiobook

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?endeca=1&isbn=1565119282&itm=1


I keep forgetting they put them on CDs nowadays. ;)

[Comicstripper]

13. Is the monologue really improvised?

That's pretty impressive.
Garrison Keilor should run for President in 2008.
Actually, that gives me an idea. Keilor for Senate? He'd win in a landslide!

[Famine]

8. Conservatives were shot and shot at

Reagan and George Wallace were both shot, just didn't die. Jerry Ford had two assassination attempts made on him. JFK started the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War so he is not exactly a peacemaker.

[PaganPreacher]

10. Left, right, and center, they have all been targets.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the target of an assassination attempt on February 15, 1933. Chicago mayor Anton Cermak died of a gunshot wound sustained in that attack.

Two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to kill Harry Truman on November 1, 1950. Three police officers were wounded in the attempt, which resulted in the death of one of the assassins, and the wounding of the other.

February 1974: A man named Smuel Byck attempted to hijack an airliner, to fly it into the White House and kill Richard Nixon. He was shot and killed by police. http://www.scoopy.com/assassinationofnixon.htm

John Hinckley stalked Jimmy Carter in 1979, before shooting Ronald Reagan in 1981. He was arrested at the Nashville airport with a gun, while Carter was visiting the city. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/peopleevents/pande02.html

On October 29, 1994, Francisco Durran fired a rifle at the White House, with the intent to kill Bill Clinton. Rounds from that rifle struck the side of the White House.

Assassins come in all shapes, sizes, and political affiliations. Their targets can be found on all points of the political matrix.

The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[ArtVandaley]

14. In '63, JFK realized it was a mistake and planned to pull out

After he was re-elected. There are white house tapes of him saying this.

[OnionPatch]

9. That was a good book

He was able to talk about who we are and how we are the heart of America as much as any conservatives.

[katinmn]

11. I loved it. Makes you proud to be a liberal!

[formernaderite]

15. I'll proudly declare myself a "Keillor" democrat"...

...wouldn't it be great if he ran for Senate?

[truebrit71]

16. I read it when it first came out, and have lent it to several Democratic..

..friends who have been a bit down in the mouth...they all read it and to a one all of them loved it...

...very easy to read, and is in fact hard to put down....

I highly recommend this to one and all...