Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics

Even though the book is targeted toward Democratic party folks, all 3rd parties and activists who come from every point on the political spectrum can feed off this book equally. Crashing the Gate champions outsiders, grassroots efforts, common sense, and a model of a true Democratic Republic that the Bush Republicans have trashed in favor of a Unitarian Executive that uses Congress and our Elections Process as footstools. Crashing the Gate will make you cry, make you think, and then get you motivated to remove the D.C. insiders that are cashing in on politics at the expense of our freedoms!

My copy of Crashing the Gate arrived on a Saturday afternoon. I picked it up late that night and found it hard to put down - and ended up staying up till 5AM. Other reviews have pretty well laid out the topics covered. I'd add that the historical information on the Conservative movement and the rise of left wing netroots via the Dean Campaign was interesting, a lot of it I knew, but a lot of it I didn't. The strongest portion of the book (which I went back and read a second time) was the section on Media consultants and their roll in the failure of Democratic politics. Not because it tells us who to blame, but how we might do better. The thing that hit home for me is that the Republicans have a huge advantage over us in advertising because they have figured out that a political ad that pulls on emotional strings is much more effective than trying to layout a policy position or quote statistics. I think Jerome and Markos nailed that.

... as evidenced by some of the reviews below. And for good reason. Crashing the Gate is an incisive and compelling critique of both parties, and a manual for change within the Democratic party. While Markos and Jerome don't mince words, the book is very well written and thought provoking, but hardly revolutionary, unless you've kept your fingers in your ears and your hands over your eyes for the last six years. Needless to say, the Republican Establishment is none too pleased and frantic to shut them up. Even more reason to check out what Markos and Jerome have to say. This isn't a book to read at a single sitting. The content is practical and makes perfect sense, yet so dense with information that all but the most fervent of political junkies will have some catching up to do. I highly recommend CTG to anyone who is alarmed by the state of our once great nation. This is citizen-based politics at its best, populism for the 21st Century and a guidebook for all of us who want our nation back. Kudos to the authors!

But after reading this outstanding evaluation of what ailes the Democratic Party, it is pretty hard to see what was so good about the last 30 years. The authors do a very good job of laying out exactly what is wrong with the Party. My anger over the leaches pulling the Party down grew as I turned each page. I am even more dtermined than ever and plan to redouble my efforts to reform this party. The only drawback to the book is the almost complete lack of any discussion of solutions. These were peppered throughout the book as a contrast to the very real bad things going on in the party. Perhaps the authors would consider allowing several movers and shakers who are accomplishing things out there in the hinterland to add a chapter or two in the second edition to give us some sort of blueprint of how things get done.

It's a great look behind the curtains of Democratic politics. It's not so much about the Republican problems - or at least that material is covered in so many books these days - but it details the peculiar weaknesses of the Democrats. I wish there were a few more details about how to cure these ills, but they are pretty obvious: more shoe leather, more Internet fund raising, etc. Great for those who are "inside-politics" junkies, as well as those who aspire to be part of the netroots and the next wave of political power.