Conservatives Without Conscience

The first thing you must understand about this book is it's title. On first blush, it would probably appear to the average reader to be a vitriolic attack on conservatives in the line of Coulter's attacks on liberals. But you would be quite (if understandably) mistaken. No, Dean's title takes off from the title of Barry Goldwater's famous book, "The Conscience of a Conservative" (in fact, Dean dedicates his book to Goldwater, who was actively working with Dean on this new book until he died). Dean is still a conservative, yet he can read the writing on the wall at least as well as anyone and knows how dangerous and ultimately anti-American the authoritarians within the ranks of conservatism have become and how they're riding higher and higher on that dubious vehicle into American despotism. This book is above all a rational, scientific book with Dean adopting the role of Carl Sagan in popularizing the too-little known political social science involving authoritarianism, which is predominantly conservative (Stalinism was, social-scientifically speaking, conservative authoritarianism, regardless of the labels one applies to its other elements). It desperately needs to be read by all who wish to be politically aware and those who wish to examine their consciences. Sociology has much to tell us about this complex subject, and John Dean is a direct witness to how conservative authoritarianism can lead us to disaster. It even explains the strident negative reviews here: conservative authoritarians always take particularly great umbrage when their personalities and attributes and characters are examined honestly and scientifically, for as social scientists have discovered about them, they realize they can't stand up well to scrutiny without inward or outward deception.

John Dean's latest book manages to question his own former political ideals years after they have evolved into something reminiscent of authoritarian rule. For those of you who complain just to say "conservatives are always right and liberals are always wrong," you aren't going to like this book because you are clearly not an open-minded and intelligent person. I consider myself to be conservative, but I promise you that the facts stated in this book will not offend anyone. As a matter of fact, this really is Dean's most scientific and unbiased book to date. Bottom line: for you intellectuals and open-minded people, you will find this a fascinating read. For those of you who are going to bash anything that perhaps challenges your own personal beliefs, avoid this book. But don't give it a poor rating just because you are a conservative.

In his book, "Conservative Without Conscience," John Dean employs his distinctive knowledge and understanding of Washington politics to examine the conservative radical Republican leaders - from Capitol Hill to Pennsylvania Avenue to K Street and beyond. The author not only highlights specific right-wing-driven GOP policies but also probes the conservative mind-set, identifying recurring qualities such as the unbridled viciousness toward those daring to disagree with them, as well as the big business favoritism that costs taxpayers billions. Dean identifies specific examples of how court packing is seeking to form a judiciary that is activist by its very nature, how religious piety is producing politics run amok, and how concealed indifference to the founding principles of liberty and equality is pushing America further and further from its constitutional foundations. To not give away the details, this is a perfect book for those who want to know what's happening at the top levels of the Republican Party. The author presents his text to show what the current right-wing authoritarian is thinking when conflated with the dominating personalities of the conservative leadership that could take the United States toward its own version of fascism. This is a MUST READ book for those who want to learn more about the United States Republican Party and its effect to our society. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Still known as one of the figures in the Watergate cover up, John Dean is an unlikely hero for this liberal. However, the central thesis of his latest book argues that the GOP has been hijacked by extremists who ingeniously pose as moderates. They've taken the `middle America' strategy pioneered by Nixon himself to dangerous extremes--and are doing much worse than Watergate if not stopped. While parts of the book possibly do come across as self-pity (since he is still trying to salvage his reputation across the political spectrum, of course he would attack an unpopular president) I am also familiar with the `Goldwater conservatism' which is talked about in the book. The late Arizona Republican Senator, once considered Mr. GOP and the standard bearer of the `New Right' actually was a staunch libertarian, something which has gone over the head of his political descendants--rushing to claim the title, but not the accompanying issue positions and duties. Unlike Goldwater, they are rushing to the side of social conservatives, who want to fight for freedom abroad by denying it to Americans at home. Therefore it also is quite possible this book is Dean telling the truth--and desperately hoping the audiences will heed his message before any further damage is inflicted upon the country. Other people could write `exposes' of the Republican Party, but they would not carry Dean's historical weight. Specifically because of who he is--and yes, what role he played in American history, Dean is qualified to write a no-holds barred critique of the current Republican Party's internal problems and the external consequences.