Greenwald's new book: 'Great American Hypocrites: Toppling the Big Myths of Republican Politics'
By John Amato Tuesday Apr 01, 2008 7:00pm
We all helped Glenn's book reach #12 today when it was #212 yesterday. Go Blogoshere. It would be great to push him into the Top Ten list. Jane makes an excellent point: "Nobody rips the right like Glenn Greenwald. Since there's no Richard Mellon Scaife to buy boxloads of books and force it onto the New York Times bestseller list, you can help do it the democratic way by buying the book."
It would be great to move it into the top ten on Amazon. And I agree on this point all the way:
In a minimally rational world, a Republican presidential candidate like John McCain who has enabled all of that would have no chance. But -- in the absence of anything changing the way this works -- the establishment press will remove those considerations from its election coverage and the GOP's exploitation of bottom-feeding personality-based psychological, cultural and gender themes will predominate. In 2008, the GOP will dedicate itself single-mindedly to these same personality-based, manipulative electoral tactics because that is their only hope for winning.
There simply cannot be any greater priority than preventing a John McCain Presidency, one which would empower the same faction and continue the same policies that have been slowly though inexorably destroying this country, its institutions and political values. Understanding and neutralizing these tactics and the enabling media behavior is a prerequisite for preventing that...read on
Update: FDL makes a good point: Jane says:
The wingnut welfare queens have their books bought onto the New York Times bestseller list, and their ideas thus are able to penetrate much further than if they had to survive on their own merits. Please help us do the same for our team's very best, Glenn Greenwald -- without whose heroic efforts I have no doubt we'd have retroactive telecom immunity today.
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GREAT Cover!!!!
Tragic legacies indeed, but one we hope from which we can emerge stronger. Kudos, Glenn!
lol if Naomi Wolfe's book upset the Republicans this one should give them a heart attack.
Am I wrong or didn't Joe Conason already write this book?
Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Republicans keep writing the same books. It's called reinforcing one's message or, if you prefer, propaganda.
"The wingnut welfare queens have their books bought onto the New York Times bestseller list, and their ideas thus are able to penetrate much further than if they had to survive on their own merits"
Is that true?
I bought Glenn's Patriot book because of the buzz on the web and was disappointed. I don't care if the Rethugs blindly buy books Jane, think I'll check it out from the library.
That should have been a statue or st. ronnie, oh well. May try and get it when I can.
Sorry Glenn I'm not spending money I don't have.
Timmy D11 @ 5:
I imagine backers of Hannity and Coultergeist have their contracts paid for and distribute the POS books in order to spread the propaganda easily, because who would really spend more than a dollar on those? It's in the same realm as those spamverts that say 'ANN COULTER'S COLUMN: FREE TO YOUR EMAIL BOX!'
$20 trillion in debt, $53 trillion in worthless IOU's, all of the capital marketplaces are teetering, and the nation is bleeding red ink at the rate of $1.43 billion per day.
Guess where all that money went?
The Cons may be hypocrites but when it comes to sucking money and wealth into higher and righter places these guys have no equals.
As much as anything else, presidential campaigns are won and lost by the media narratives that rightly or wrongly come to define a candidate. In the case of Repubican nominee John McCain, the seemingly unshakable narrative of the political "maverick" could not be further off the mark. At almost every turn, McCain in his eternal quest for the White House has reversed long-held positions, compromised core principles and swallowed his pride in order to curry favor with both the leading lights of the conservative movement and right-wing Republican primary voters. The untold story of campaign 2008 is simply that of John McCain's transformation from maverick to prostitute.
For the details, see:
"From Maverick to Prostitute: The Untold Story of John McCain."
AngryOne @ 11:
That reminds me, Cliff Schecter's book 'The Real McCain' is coming soon!
Didn't this guy already right a book, how much money does he plan on making off the ignorance of america?
To suggest that Senator McSame is bad therefore all of his opponents are good is a logical fallacy. It ignores the possibility that any of his rivals may or might consider some of the same ideas he proposes. Your opinion ignores the possibility that regardless of who takes the oath of office in 2009, the Presidency will continue to be owned by the same interests that own it today. Oh and be sure to buy the book because Republicans have goosed sales of their books - that makes it ok.
AngryOne @ 11:
As long as Americans aren't in the streets demanding real change or going on strike and shutting down commerce the Cons don't care about this kind of stuff.
2nd term Bush is enough proof of that.
You've got that right!
Truckers Clog New Jersey Turnpike in Price Protest (Update3)
April 1 (Bloomberg) -- Truckers clogged the New Jersey Turnpike and other highways today, slowing traffic to as low as 20 mph (32 kph) as part of a nationwide protest against surging diesel fuel prices, a spokesman for the highway said.
See this is the language the Cons understand.
TonyT @ 6:
It's not what you think, TonyT.
Individual Rethugs don't buy those books one at a time. People like Grover Norquist, or groups like the RNC, buy up tens or hundreds of thousands of copies of those right-wing scrawls and distribute them. A lot of times they buy the books and donate them to libraries- and take a write-off on their taxes!
"The wingnut welfare queens have their books bought onto the New York Times bestseller list, and their ideas thus are able to penetrate much further than if they had to survive on their own merits."
Does that imply that some non individual entities are buying the reichwingnuts books in large numbers, maybe just trowing them out, just to get the books bumped up on the bestseller lists?
Because that would be the only explanation I could think of why Jonah Fuckberg's Liberal Fascism would even have gotten more than two copies sold.
Andy K Jong Il @ 18:
Not to be argumentative, but is this "fact" or "fiction"? Where or what is the source
of such?
A.J.Joe @ 19:
Probably using the 90's "units shipped" standard. Not units sold to end users and taken out the door. At this point they probably just put a book on the number one list even though the book hasn't even left the warehouse yet depending on who the author is and how much they can pay knowing the way things work these days.
Does anyone know for a fact how the New York Time's Best Sellers list is actually ascertained? You'd think it was based upon books sold nationwide , but that assumption may not be totally accurate.
Glenn Greenwald is the best Bullshit Countermeasure that the progressive community has to offer the country. He's an asset, and represents the kind of journalism this country needs a LOT more of.
I pre-ordered his book this morning. I could have asked someone (else my wife) to gift me a copy, since it's being released on my birthday, but I'd rather make sure he gets the Amazon ranking.
Go Glenn!
Doggiebobo @ 20:
Well, there's this. And this. And, iirc, Eric Alterman discussed it in this book.
L.A. Confidential @ 21:
:Okay. If that's true, it would leave me a whole lot more cynical about how throughly propaganda is permeated. It has annoyed me to no end that certain right wing books has risen to the top of the lists without me having the slightest idea who would buy and read such drivel.
I want more info on that subject!
Andy "George W. Bush has never been elected. The ‘Machine’ took it and gave it to him." K Jong Il @ 24:
thanks
A.J.Joe @ 26:
The first "this" is from Oct. 2003, so maybe/perhaps the procedure has changed. The
second "this" is over 400 pages in length,(with index), but few of us(at least me) are
going to read that many pages to find examples of how "book reviews" are unreliable.
The Alterman piece did not contain any specific reference to bulk buying or other means
of "pumping up" a book so that it would appear on the NY Times list.
I did google "New York Times Best Seller List" and found that it is, in reality, a trade
secret as to how a book is added to or remains on the "best list". It implies that one
of the primary factors used by the NY Times is to contact/survey numerous retail
and wholesale book outlets throughtout the country and based upon "sales", a book
may or may not be on the list.
I have yet to talk to a person of average earnings who votes Republican that can really explain why without starting from a completely fictional point of reference. Once you expose that fiction they will come up with an alternative that is equally as false. If it is what the Democrat will do if elected or what the Republican has done and will do or has said they will do most of the time their reason has no basis in fact. This is noting new I have been having this argument for about 40 years.
Great Salon column. I sent the link to my email list. Only about 50 people, but good progressives. Urged them to read the column and pre-order the book if it sounds interesting to them (and reminding them about the mass-order tactic used by wingnuts described in the column). Hope others have done the same...
"Why even put up with it when you can get the facts elsewhere? I'm a lucky man. I've got… it's not just Condi and Andy [Andy Card, former chief of staff], it's all kinds of people in my administration who are charged with different responsibilities, and they come in and say this is what's happening, this isn't what's happening."
Timmy D11 @ 5:
It's the only thing that explains Ann Coulter.
#28 - I feel your pain. You literally can't argue/reason with hardcore Repubicans. I've given up. The best weapon is just mocking them and not trying to convert them.They're just wired wierd. But the good news is that it has to do with generations, and the young kids today (even many of the young Evangelicals) are not wired in the same way. They can be reached, talked to and often persuaded. Unless, of course, they think the whole world turns on abortion and gay marriage. But even there it's not the hardcore
position of the wingnuts.
Doggiebobo @ 27:
Why would they quit doing it? Nothing about it is illegal, and not that many people seem to care that it's ever happened. The rabid right has never been the majority in this country, but they like to say that they are. Why would they stop propagandizing in '03 or '04?
chris @ 13:
Looks like no one out there is cruel enough, immature enough or bored enough to respond to this comment. So I'll do it. Hmmmm.... I'm at a loss for words. Let me just say: Great comment, chris! Write on!
Andy "George W. Bush has never been elected. The ‘Machine’ took it and gave it to him." K Jong Il @ 33:
I do not disagree...that is why I qualified my response with "maybe/perhaps"...and should have added "SNARK"
to clarify. Since the procedures used by the NY Times and I assume other book review orgnization, are
secret, you and I really don't have a good pulse on precisely what methodology is being used.
When that screed "The Closing of the American Mind" made it to the NY Times Bestseller list, it did so because right wingers found a list of the booksellers the Times queries for its list. So if anyone out there knows the list and can generate sales from those stores, maybe just maybe.....
Tucsonprogressive @ 34:
I was just posing a question, if no one here is smart enough to reply its not my fault, why does everyone here want to debate someone that had drank the same kool aid at them?
I recommend you pre-order it from your local independent bookstore. The owner is probably a progressive and needs your business more than Amazon. ;-)
chris @ 37:
keep talking, sparky.
chris @ 37:
Please, Chris, you must stop! You're use of biting satire and subtle comedic wordplay will be gave me a hernia from laughter! Could be maybe everyone here has too much ignorant to respond to write wingers at us!
"Pre-order your copy today."
Done. Without Glenn, telecoms would have retroactive immunity today.
I have his other two books and will read anything he writes.
You're the best, Glenn!
ive never ordered anything from Amazon. I prefer perusing a shelf of books.
But I just pre-ordered this book
Ceiling Cat help me :)
Actually, I was wondering about that this morning. What with the economy in meltdown, and new regulations coming out on the housing and credit market, I think we've finally seen the death of Reaganism.
Government can't solve the problem, government is the problem is now the problem.
pidomon @ 42:
I order from them all the time.
Where else am I going to find copies of books like The Lone Ranger, The Shadow, Secret Agent X and Phantom Detective?
Great title, hope it applies to the entire population of hypocrites in all 50 states.
Great, I just ordered two copies, one for me and one for my sister back in the States.
She is a republican who voted for bush but who now hates his guts with a passion.
So this is a great way for me to start my day, Thanks C&L for the button and thanks Glenn for the book.
BB is off to an early breakfast and then off for a week on Koh Samui for some beach time.
Sawadee Kop fellow commenter's.
L.A. Confidential @ 10:
Did you read this one today?
U.S. military in Iraq feels gouge of fuel costs
About $153 million a month goes to filling up jets, tankers, cargo in Iraq
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23922063/
Tucsonprogressive @ 40:
Thanks, Tucson, that made my day. Chris, reread the previous posts carefully to get in on the joke.
chris @ 13:
If you ask Bush, Rumsfeld, Condomhead Rice, Dickhead Cheney, etc, etc, you'll find they've made WAY more money off American ignorance than a bookwriter could dream of.
Good luck to Greenwald and his book, but this has been known to people who bother to read the newspapers and follow legitimate news for years. The fact that there are so many uninformed people depresses me. Let's hope they start paying attention, if not, were stuck with McCain for four more years. I shudder at the thought!
P.D. @ 50:
Now the Dem candidates are BOTH flip flopping on their commitment to bring home US troops.
Sounds like they are "rethinking" their strategy. Wow, I for one am shocked. Not.
Did anyone read publisher weekly review? Not so good..
Timmy D11 @ 5:
Just look at the list. Where you see flags beside the title, it indicates BULK PURCHASES of their books, rather than individual sales.
Hieronymus Braintree @ 4:
The truth is not propoganda.
Old Billy Hussein @ 48:
Chris doesn't have a clue. That's why he still supports his own economic destruction. It's write-up his alley.
Old Billy Hussein @ 48:
Now This Is Funny!
A fun thing to do in bookstores is to turn upside down or completely hide reich-wingers' books. Ann Coulter? You're going underneath Paul Krugman. Laura Ingraham? You're getting second fiddle to Glenn Greenwald. Neal Boortz? To the bargain bin with you!
Not only do facts have a liberal bias, but so does cogent, clever, illuminating and well-wrought political discourse in book form.
[Deleted. Thread spam-Sitemonitor]
D.G. Bowman @ 57:
A tactic I use when in the book stores, bury the right wing drivel. Although I feel a bit guilty given the significance of freedom of speech I also realize that if these quasi fascists prevail there ultimately will be no freedom of speech. Also when paying for ever increasing gas I comment to the attendant that it's "another good day for Bush and Cheney." If everyone on a daily basis did something publicly in their own personal lives to expose the sham of conservative ideology then the house of cards on which it stands will be undermined.
talk radio does the groundwork repetition for this kind of swiftboating, excuse making, and sets the flavor of the rest for the media. real democracy based on an informed electorate and bipartisanship is impossible without some kind of Fairness Doctrine or demonopolization for talk radio.
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