Blue Grit: Making Impossible, Improbable, and Inspirational Political Change in America,Books,Free Shipping,0143113224,

	Blue Grit: Making Impossible, Improbable, and Inspirational Political Change in America by Laura Flanders
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Product Details Binding Paperback Dewey Decimal Number 324 EAN 9780143113225 ISBN 0143113224 Manufacturer Penguin (Non-Classics) Number Of Items 1 Number Of Pages 256 Publication Date January 29, 2008 Publisher Penguin (Non-Classics) Availability Usually ships in 24 hours Product Description Noted political commentator Laura Flanders investigates the state of American politics from the bottom up With her trademark wit and indefatigable reporting, Laura Flanders, host of RadioNation and bestselling author of Bushwomen: Tales of a Cynical Species, reveals as only she can the state of progressive America today. All over the country, grassroots organizations are making a difference, and democrats of all stripes are doing what the national party has failed to do: engage new voters, advance progressive issues, and even run their own candidates for office—and win—in some of the most unlikely places. With a fiery polemic, assured narrative, and acute political commentary, Blue Grit is crucial reading for anyone interested in the future of the Democrats—and this country. Starred Review. Who are the members of today's Democratic party, and how does the party serve them? What are the differences in funding between Democratic- and Republican-led efforts? How do the parties react to movements within their base-and how does this affect the outcome of elections? Disgruntled Democrat Flanders-author, journalist and Air America radio host-explores the answers to these and other questions on a cross-country tour of the Democratic party and its (nominal) members. Highlighting progressive victories taking place outside the party establishment, Flanders presents the lessons Democrats in power could learn from their constituents 'if they were inclined to learn.' In-depth analysis of movements from Utah's liberals to South Dakota's recent, successful anti-abortion campaign provides insight not only into campaign leaders, but into the role of funding, media and old fashioned grassroots-style activism. Flanders (Bushwomen) brings to this work enough data, recent history and progressive ideas-as well as wit, style and acerbic charm-to make this required reading for anyone looking to make sure 'the Democratic party is finally serious' about a victory for progressives in 2008. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Blue Grit is a clarion call to progressive voters looking for a new direction. While many pundits continue to argue that the Democratic Party must race to the center in a desperate attempt to win back the White House, Flanders offers a compelling analysis of the strength of the modern progressive movement in America, showing us that the Democratic Party must not abandon its core progressive values and ideals, but capitalize on them to win. -- Donna Brazile Blue Grit is pure political tonic, a stirring call-to-arms for progressives who feel they've been left out in the cold by their alleged allies. Laura Flanders offers a galvanizing vision of political democracy as it was meant to thrive: in the lives and stories of ordinary Americans. -- Michael Eric Dyson, author of Debating Race In Blue Grit, Laura Flanders throws a verbal hand grenade into the Democratic 2006 election celebration. She makes it clear that Liberals are as unhappy with the Democratic Party as Conservatives are with the GOP. It seems to me that something important, maybe even historic is stirring in the political arena-stay tuned. -- Richard A. Viguerie Laura Flanders is a star burst of optimism -- people need that -- and Blue Grit is the perfect vehicle for spreading her message. Politics can be fun again AND progressive goals can succeed. There is a new crowd moving in on tired old politicians and they are stirring up a hopeful new politics. -- William Greider Laura Flanders' Blue Grit gives hope even to those of us who don't ordinarily go in for that sort of thing. -- Fran Lebowitz With her usual daring, flair and down home investigative style, Laura Flanders travels America and finds the progressive grassroots movement alive and kicking. Her book, Blue Grit, asks who owns the Democratic Party, 'the people in the suites or the people in the streets.' It is a crucial question, and this book is crucial reading.' -- Eve Ensler “ With this book as our guide, we can restore the promise of American life.” —Blanche Wiesen Cook, Ms. Magazine “ [Flanders] brings to this work enough data, recent history and progressive ideas—as well as wit, style and acerbic charm— to make this required reading for anyone looking to make sure ‘the Democratic party is finally serious’ about a victory for progressives in 2008.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) Noted political commentator Laura Flanders investigates the state of American politics from the bottom up With her trademark wit and indefatigable reporting, Laura Flanders, host of RadioNation and bestselling author of Bushwomen: Tales of a Cynical Species, reveals as only she can the state of progressive America today. All over the country, grassroots organizations are making a difference, and democrats of all stripes are doing what the national party has failed to do: engage new voters, advance progressive issues, and even run their own candidates for office—and win—in some of the most unlikely places. With a fiery polemic, assured narrative, and acute political commentary, Blue Grit is crucial reading for anyone interested in the future of the Democrats—and this country. Laura Flanders hosts The Laura Flanders Show, heard nationally. She is the author of The New York Times bestseller Bushwomen: Tales of a Cynical Species, among other books. Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist, and author of the international bestseller No Logo. Customers who bought this item also bought The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism The Assault on Reason The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army [Revised and Updated] American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America Customer Reviews for: Blue Grit: Making Impossible, Improbable, and Inspirational Political Change in America Rating - Wanders, But I Finished It I put this book down several times over a week and picked up another, but I finally finished it, and that brings it up from three to four stars. Here are my notes and some quotes, and I must say, given better organization and editing, this book probably deserve to earn five stars, but not in its current state. It is important to note that the author, in lamenting the total breakdown of the Democratic Party, did not anticipate ... Read More Rating - Has A Winning Strategy This book hits the nail on the head as to why the Republican party has been more successful than our Democratic party. According to Flanders, the Democratic Party organizes from the top down and only pays attention to it's strongholds. The party traditionally has little or no organization in the so-called Red States. Flanders shows that there are disenchanted voters in Red States and Red areas of Blue States. They are putting forth grass roots efforts ... Read More Rating - Campaigns not Candidates Blue Grit is what the Democratic Party needs. It's a little bit like soul it's a lot like grits. Whether they get it or whether they will ever get it is another story. The story that Laura Flanders tells in her prescient book is one that the fourth estate--fawning over Barack Obama's rout in Iowa--would have been well advised to read. They might have learned a thing or two: That progressive movements are not built over night and that they ... Read More Rating - More like Blue Snit. I just finished reading this book, and my take-away impression is that half the book is about brave individuals working alone or together in little three-or-four-letter-acronym political activist groups to advance "progressive" causes, and the other half is about what is wrong with the Democratic Party. The book is half blue grit, and half blue snit. It seems there's a split in the Democratic Party these days, and in this book Laura Flanders ... Read More see more reviews See all books by author Laura Flanders

Books : Blue Grit: Making Impossible, Improbable, and Inspirational Political Change in America