Has anyone read, "American Theocracy"....

[CoffeeCat]

I'm thinking that this is going to be a pretty heavy, depressing read. My husband just gave it to me for my birthday and I haven't started it yet.

I like to mentally prepare before I jump into the foray of evil and discombobulation that is the * administration.

If anyone has any opinions, or if you would like to share your reactions to this book--I'd love to listen!

:)

[BlueEyedSon]

1. looks great to me!

[Misskittycat]

2. I read several pages while waiting for a Costco prescription to be filled.

It seems to be extremely well written -- scholarly. The section I read was about the history of fundamentalism in America. Looks like a long slog, but also looks well worth the read.

[CrispyQ]

3. There's one comment here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=209x3603

[AlCzervik]

4. Not yet but i picked it on sunday for my flight to London

everytime i go on vacation i end up reading one his books, when i went to Las Vegas i read "American Dynasty"

[newportdadde]

5. Saw Russert interview the author this weekend.

It was kind of interesting, he seemed to be an oldschool conservative.

[Hamlette]

6. I'm about 75% through it

it is depressing. I keep repeating to myself my favorite Clinton quote: "There is nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America." Maybe we can overcome. My personal greatest fear is religious crazies. Maybe there will be a backlash. The worst part about our oil obsession was his stats/theory that you can't win a nation election unless you support cars/oil consumption. It is just too important to key areas needed to win the electoral votes. Another depressing part was that todays fundamentalist religious nonsense is a reaction to losing Scopes/the 60s. You try to show how stupid religion is, religious types fade back for a time, regroup and come back as the Taliban (my words). He's not sympathetic to the 60s for pushing religion out of the public square, which is the only think I disagree with him about.

[WiseButAngrySara]

10. My greatest fear is evil self interest and greed masquerading as religion

and 'moral values', so perfectly exemplified by the BFEE. I heard him interviewed on C-Span and on the Russert Show; the book is on my 'to read' list.

[LibertyLover]

7. Just got it yesterday

and started it last night. I haven't gotten far (having a 3 year old will do that to your reading time) but so far it is fascinating and depressing, all at the same time.

[Redbear]

8. I've just started it.

It is pretty heavy stuff. So far, it seems to not just address the evil and discombobulation, but also addresses the why.

[reichstag911]

9. Just met Phillips last night...

...and got a few signed copies of the book. During the Q&A after his talk, someone asked him whether he thought Bush's religiosity was "sincere" -- in the sense of does Bush really believe his own self-righteous crap, or is it a cynical ploy to capture the fundie constituency? -- and he seemed uncertain. When I got up to him to get the book signed, I simply expressed my opinion, based on my extensive reading, that Bush struck me as someone who is "sincere" in his "belief," but that he is also a delusional wet-brain. He smiled and concurred on "sincere" and "delusional" being two excellent adjectives for describing Chimpy.

[WiseButAngrySara]

11. IMHO, B* feigns his religion, just like everything else this administratio

does. All appearance.


"And nothing is more important for the Prince to appear to have than the quality of religiosity"

Machiavelli (and Rove) The Prince

[reichstag911]

12. I really think he believes it;

it's the only thing he can hang on to, knowing his entire life has been a failure. At least God still loves him (ahem). Unlike just about any other field of endeavor, what does being a "successful" adherent of a religion require? Just that you really, really believe in the unseen and unproveable. You know, like Rummy's competence, Dick's wisdom, Condi's geostrategic brilliance, Brownie's heckuva job,....

[AlCzervik]

13. yup, Faux Piety.

[MadHound]

14. I'm about halfway through it now

And absolutely love it. Phillips puts facts and figures behind what we've all suspected for awhile now, the evil convergence of the oil industry, Republican politics, and the RW fundies. He also gets into how "Southernized" America has become, and how that will continue.

Sure, it can be a bummer in some areas, but overall, it is a great read, and I highly reccommend it. I also truly hope that Democratic leaders on a national level read it too, and adjust their strategy accordingly.