I must admit, Mr. Spiegelman did an excellent writing job, the prose flows naturally and it’s a very easy read. The book might be too inside for the average reader and not enough for the political junkie, yet is amusing, light, marginally interesting and an interesting biographical account of the phone jamming incident in New Hampshire in the 2002 elections. But let’s back up. What is this book really about?
Wah, Wah, Wah, I have not read such oh woe is me bullshit in a long time. Other than some interesting stories about minor campaigns in NJ that only locals would know about, it is a confession, a cry for pity, and a hoodwink to the book buyer. It is interesting to note that Mr. Raymond takes one of his political tactics, basically distorting the truth, and applies it to the title of his book to mislead the consumer to buy it. The book is not about rigging elections at all. It is about a rich scion, heir of the Underwood Typewriter fortune, without any moral compass, playing the media: telemarketing, direct mail, print, radio and TV, to manipulate voters to elect his candidate without any consideration of the circumstances.
If you are expecting a book like David Brocks, “Blinded by the Right,” forget it. David Brock names names, makes a full confession and apologizes, and apparently very sincerely as he has worked very hard since the release of that book to expose corruption in our government, most notably through his website www.mediamatters.org. Mr. Raymond labels his book in a way such as the progressives and liberals would bite and buy it. But he does not apologize, does not show any contrition whatsoever, in fact he never even repudiates the Republican Party. Granted, he has no love for the people running the party today, calling them “knuckle Draggers, Hayseeds, Jesus Freaks, Yahoos, and Gun Loving Ideologues.” He also exposes or explains the intramural animosity between the Northeast Republican Party and the Ruling Southern Party. But never at any point does he repudiate the party and actually as a parting shot makes a remark as to all politicians being the same.
The reason why the book was written at all does not appear until chapter twelve, page 165. Basically the majority of the book is filler. Amusing or enjoyable filler but filler just the same. This man is angry, angry at the people running the Party, angry he got caught, and angry that Democrats would raise such a stink over some people not winning an election because of his phone jamming tactics in New Hampshire. He is angry he had to spend his own money on his defense, angry he had to spend 90 days in a country club jail, poor baby. Angry at the person he knew as the main culprit, but it probably went much higher, had his defense paid for to the tune of $3,000,000. Angry he did not have enough dirt on these guys to make the same deal himself. Is he sorry? Yes, sorry he had to pay for the defense and spend 90 days in jail. But is he really sorry, no. The profits from this book will cover his legal bills and more. He never states, nor gives the impression that if he had not been caught he would not still be running GOP Marketplace.com or done anything differently.
Finally, he likes and admires Halley Barbour, and does not have one negative thing to say about that despicable bayou bloodsucker. Not your everyday knuckle dragging Republican, really?
Book Review: Confessions of a Republican Operative; How to Rig an Election, by: Allen Raymod, with Ian Spiegelman. 240 pages.
I must admit, Mr. Spiegelman did an excellent writing job, the prose flows naturally and it’s a very easy read. The book might be too inside for the average reader and not enough for the political junkie, yet is amusing, light, marginally interesting and an interesting biographical account of the phone jamming incident in New Hampshire in the 2002 elections. But let’s back up. What is this book really about?
Wah, Wah, Wah, I have not read such oh woe is me bullshit in a long time. Other than some interesting stories about minor campaigns in NJ that only locals would know about, it is a confession, a cry for pity, and a hoodwink to the book buyer. It is interesting to note that Mr. Raymond takes one of his political tactics, basically distorting the truth, and applies it to the title of his book to mislead the consumer to buy it. The book is not about rigging elections at all. It is about a rich scion, heir of the Underwood Typewriter fortune, without any moral compass, playing the media: telemarketing, direct mail, print, radio and TV, to manipulate voters to elect his candidate without any consideration of the circumstances.
If you are expecting a book like David Brocks, “Blinded by the Right,” forget it. David Brock names names, makes a full confession and apologizes, and apparently very sincerely as he has worked very hard since the release of that book to expose corruption in our government, most notably through his website www.mediamatters.org. Mr. Raymond labels his book in a way such as the progressives and liberals would bite and buy it. But he does not apologize, does not show any contrition whatsoever, in fact he never even repudiates the Republican Party. Granted, he has no love for the people running the party today, calling them “knuckle Draggers, Hayseeds, Jesus Freaks, Yahoos, and Gun Loving Ideologues.” He also exposes or explains the intramural animosity between the Northeast Republican Party and the Ruling Southern Party. But never at any point does he repudiate the party and actually as a parting shot makes a remark as to all politicians being the same.
The reason why the book was written at all does not appear until chapter twelve, page 165. Basically the majority of the book is filler. Amusing or enjoyable filler but filler just the same. This man is angry, angry at the people running the Party, angry he got caught, and angry that Democrats would raise such a stink over some people not winning an election because of his phone jamming tactics in New Hampshire. He is angry he had to spend his own money on his defense, angry he had to spend 90 days in a country club jail, poor baby. Angry at the person he knew as the main culprit, but it probably went much higher, had his defense paid for to the tune of $3,000,000. Angry he did not have enough dirt on these guys to make the same deal himself. Is he sorry? Yes, sorry he had to pay for the defense and spend 90 days in jail. But is he really sorry, no. The profits from this book will cover his legal bills and more. He never states, nor gives the impression that if he had not been caught he would not still be running GOP Marketplace.com or done anything differently.
Finally, he likes and admires Halley Barbour, and does not have one negative thing to say about that despicable bayou bloodsucker. Not your everyday knuckle dragging Republican, really?