Invasion of the Party Snatchers: How the Holy-Rollers and Neo-Cons Destroyed the GOP

I saw Victor Gold stumping for his book on some television show or other -- probably The Daily Show. I ordered the book simply because I now and then like to buy books from certain authors for no other reason than to give them money; authors whose opinions I share, authors I admire, authors who look nice in a particular colour -- my tastes are catholic. And, nothing says "You go, girl!" like sending money to a publisher. Anyway -- I bought Victor's book because he appeared touchingly in need of some validation. That was it, really. Then the book arrived and I actually read it. Well - I had forgotten so much about the Good Old Bad Old Days and Victor reminded me of it all... Goldwater Republicans! Wow! Hadn't heard that term in, oh, way too long! But reading about Barry and his merry men from Victor's adoring perspective brought it all back. I was a bleeding heart liberal in those days; got Clean For Gene and all that... I had also cleanly forgotten one of our arch-nemeses, Barry Goldwater, in the years of ever increasing bad craziness since then. I find myself thinking these days that the old style conservatives were much worthier foes than this new lot of what Victor styles "neo-cons". As Victor outlines in his pithy little book, the old school cons were logical and consistent and abhorred arguments based on "gut feelings" or anything that might smack of fuzzy thinking. I miss 'em, bless their hearts. I miss people who would quote chapter and verse of the Constitution to back up their political views rather than the current lot who quote much other chapters and verses. In short, I found Victor's book interesting and definitely worth the lamp light. If you're old enough to remember Barry Goldwater, read this book for the hope it holds out that one day the left's Loyal Opposition will recover their aplomb and once again become worthy intellectual sparring partners. Or, just buy it 'cause Victor's a charming old git and you want to give him some money. Either way.

Did you know that as recently as a decade ago the Republican Party used to stand for limited goverment and a non-intervention foreign policy? Since WW2 it has been the Democrats who have started almost every war and failed nation building attempt while the Republicans have ended most of the wars. But as Victor Gold describes in this book the Republican Party has been hijacked by the Neo-Conservative movement using the events of 9/11, and now are the 'Party of War'. The Neo-Conservatives are actually a left wing socialist movement with a militant foreign policy. There is nothing conservative about them. They have voted for endless spending and debt, they have increased the scope and size of government into the everyday life of people. These are things people usually associate with the Democrats. Victor Gold also spends some time in this book describing how the Republican Party has also come under assault from the evangelical religious movement.

funny but also appalling. Over the past few years, I've been upset at various issues and events (including, of course, the news about the war in Iraq). The author's involvement in recent history (going back to Goldwater) means this book gives valuable historical context that makes me even more upset at what's been going on. The book is a good read, and a good way to learn the story behind the story in recent GOP (and Democratic, for that matter) American politics, and I wish some of these events had made bigger news when they happened.

Vic Gold has seen it all and is the eternal truth teller. Washington has become the court of Louis XIV--decadent, depraved, disgusting and the GOP had been led by the nose into this sordid culture. The once honorable party of Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater, whose organizing principle was less government and more freedom is now dominated by soulless, gutless access sellers who call principled conservatives "sexists and elitists" but whose main job is to convince Republican lawmakers to do un-Republican things. The party is dominated now by these feather merchants and screaming blonde bimbos. The Republican Party has reached its "thermidor", Gold is right. The only way to save this village is to destroy it. Gold's book is a landmark, and a must-read for all-principled Conservatives. Gold's book is not for those who should recognize themselves in its pages, the unthinking and uncritical--incapable of the necessary introspection to right this ship.