View Full Version : Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right by Bernard Goldberg
I am really taking a chance here by posting a book review that has nothing to do with anything that you all may be reading. You see Corrine asked me to change the forum by allowing any book to be discussed here instead of in the Entertainment Forum. Realizing that I am sort of a political junkie I often times read political books that are passed on to me because I am to cheap to buy them. I am a big patron of the local library but hey my uncle passed this one on to me.
Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right: How One Side Lost Its Mind and the Other Lost Its Nerve by Bernard Goldberg is a fascinating read about the political climate in America. He bashes the Democrats as crazies and the Republicans as wimps. He explains how liberal is not representative of the democrats as being conserative sure doesn't mean you are representative of the republicans. Goldberg has an extensive background in journalism and has written three previous bestselling books that are good but this one is his best. You may not agree with him but he will make you think. This is a very fast read and I highly recommend it if you are so inclined to read political books. Examples of some chapter titles that I love: "Donkeys to the Left of Me...Pigs to the Right"; "How the Religious Right (and the Loony Left) Turned Barry Goldwater into a Liberal"; "We Don't Need No Stinking Principles"; (And at the risk of being censored by Corrine, my personal favorite chapter title) "Just My Luck: I'm on One Side and They Lose Their Minds...I Go to the Other Side and They Lose Their (fill in the blanks ______). Enjoy, you can finish in a day or two.
Corrine
06-26-2007, 02:05 AM
". . . here I am, stuck in the middle with you." Oh, sorry. It's just that the title made me think of that old song. Love that song. :)
woman4life
06-26-2007, 05:36 AM
LOL. I thought the exact same thing when I saw the title of this thread.
middletree
06-26-2007, 08:34 AM
LOL. I thought the exact same thing when I saw the title of this thread.
I think that's what the author wanted you to think of. You and me are in the middle, and the extremists who get all the press are on the fringes, and don't represent the rest of us.
Question:
Without looking anywhere for the answer, who sang the song?
Bonus points for the name of the singer in that band. He had some solo hits, as well.
jabob
06-26-2007, 10:50 AM
Stealers Wheel (don't know the lead singer)
Corrine
06-26-2007, 10:52 AM
I always think of Joe Walsh, but I know that's not right. I'll think about it and get back to you. I know I know, it's just not accessible right now. ;)
middletree
06-26-2007, 11:41 AM
I always think of Joe Walsh, but I know that's not right. I'll think about it and get back to you. I know I know, it's just not accessible right now. ;)
No Googling allowed.
Stealer's Wheel is correct. The singer had one more major solo hit in the US, and another minor hit. All in the 70's
middletree
06-26-2007, 02:07 PM
OK, here's the answer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgwETZKNPZc
Whoa! Does that take me back! Oh the memories of that time....I knew a boy who lived on Baker Street...;) ... NOT in the Biblical sense, though...
Does he sound a bit like Rich Mullins?
Oh,yeah, btw, I'll look for that book, Tim......sorry for the hijack...:o
MarkLee
06-26-2007, 02:41 PM
Yeah, dude! Gerry Rafferty rules! I've been leading an (unsuccessful) movement within Third Day for us to cover "Baker Street". Don't hold your breath ;)
middletree
06-26-2007, 03:17 PM
Yeah, dude! Gerry Rafferty rules! I've been leading an (unsuccessful) movement within Third Day for us to cover "Baker Street". Don't hold your breath ;)
Mark, here's some ammo to help you make your case:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YG1JHomTLo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO29flS8VPA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmJ_2qcTOeE
Jars of Clay doing Baker St. He's substituting the sax for some other instrument...not sure what, though.
middletree
06-26-2007, 03:18 PM
Whoa! Does that take me back! Oh the memories of that time....I knew a boy who lived on Baker Street...;) ... NOT in the Biblical sense, though...
If I'm not mistaken, Sherlock Holmes lived at 212 Baker St.
Corrine
06-26-2007, 06:40 PM
Yeah, dude! Gerry Rafferty rules! I've been leading an (unsuccessful) movement within Third Day for us to cover "Baker Street". Don't hold your breath ;)
I'd rather hear Third Day cover "Stuck in the Middle With You" or whatever it's actually called. I've always loved that song.
(Um, weren't we supposed to be talking about some book? ;) :D )
imperfect
06-26-2007, 07:10 PM
Sorry Tim. Just one more thing about Stealer's Wheel. That is the first slide song I learned last summer. That's probably why Dr. Mark digs it too.
Ok onto the book. Indeed Timbo. One of my best friends works for the Sojourner's http://www.sojo.net/ and I feel the pressure to smart up!
I am in the middle myself. I consider myself conservative but not liking the direction that the Republican party is going. So what do I do?
Jars of Clay doing Baker St. He's substituting the sax for some other instrument...not sure what, though.
Don't leave out the sax!!!!!!:eek:
If I'm not mistaken, Sherlock Holmes lived at 212 Baker St.
This guy wasn't quite "Sherlock Holmes".....couldn't get a clue.....;)
Yippy
06-26-2007, 08:14 PM
Don't leave out the sax!!!!!!:eek:
That is NOT how I first read this...;)
Now I have that song stuck in my head.:P
That is NOT how I first read this...;)
Yippy, Yippy, Yippy.....shame on you......:P .........me, too... ;)
Jason
06-26-2007, 09:27 PM
*innocently listens to John Tesh's CD Sax on the Beach*
Sorry Tim. Just one more thing about Stealer's Wheel. That is the first slide song I learned last summer. That's probably why Dr. Mark digs it too.
Ok onto the book. Indeed Timbo. One of my best friends works for the Sojourner's http://www.sojo.net/ and I feel the pressure to smart up!
I am in the middle myself. I consider myself conservative but not liking the direction that the Republican party is going. So what do I do?
Ok, so we have gone through "Baker St." to get to the middle of the road. ;) I sort of thought to be funny, but anyhow, What to do. Good question, no easy answers. I truly believe that a person who does not stand up for something falls for just about anything. Andrew Jackson stated "One man with courage makes a majority." Also thanks for the link.
middletree
06-27-2007, 11:37 AM
I truly believe that a person who does not stand up for something falls for just about anything. While that is true, I have often observed many of those firmly on the right or the left assume that one who is in the middle is not standing up for anything.
Yippy
06-27-2007, 02:14 PM
While that is true, I have often observed many of those firmly on the right or the left assume that one who is in the middle is not standing up for anything.
Which is totally annoying. It must be nice to have all your convictions firmly on one side. I have never been like that. I have noticed that those on the extremes don't listen and usually sound like bumper stickers. I am surrounded by those on the far left who only surround themselves with people who think like them and anyone else is considered an idiot. I have never felt comfortable in any political camp.:cool:
middletree
06-27-2007, 03:18 PM
Which is totally annoying. It must be nice to have all your convictions firmly on one side. I have never been like that. I have noticed that those on the extremes don't listen and usually sound like bumper stickers.
Perfectly said.
I am surrounded by those on the far left who only surround themselves with people who think like them and anyone else is considered an idiot.
I have the same surroundings, and when I turn on Christian talk radio or even at church, I have a bunch of people on the right who not only are convinced that God agrees with the entire Republican party line, but anyone who doesn't is delusional.
Debbie
06-27-2007, 09:46 PM
LOL. I thought the exact same thing when I saw the title of this thread.
Me too :D ! Good discussion.
imperfect
06-28-2007, 07:16 AM
Ok, so we have gone through "Baker St." to get to the middle of the road. ;) I sort of thought to be funny, but anyhow, What to do. Good question, no easy answers. I truly believe that a person who does not stand up for something falls for just about anything. Andrew Jackson stated "One man with courage makes a majority." Also thanks for the link.
I so agree with Di here. Because I am not a robot to the Republican party my former fundamentalist Christian "friends" call me liberal and because I will always support the traditional family, pro-life and adoption causes, my liberal friends call me ignorant. I have been called a new age environmentalist because I recycle and shop local and organic.
I am not saying that the president isn't a Godly man. I do think he has surrounded himself with the wrong advisors...way too many unqualified cronies, kinda like NC's government. I am very open about who I vote for and why. I admit I re-elected the president but only because I didn't think Kerry could do any better. I still stand by the decision. The thought of voting another Republican into office doesn't appeal to me but voting for a candidate who supports the liberal social issues is not an option for me either.
The reason I love sojourners and the Huffington Post so much is that it isn't main stream media and gives me REAL insight into the candidates, their platform, and supporting records.
So here I am...stuck in the middle with...
I'll get that book Tim. I also have to clean up this NC government. It's smelly here. Corrupt.
middletree
06-28-2007, 08:50 AM
For someone named imperfect, you sure composed a perfect post.
imperfect
06-28-2007, 09:06 AM
For someone named imperfect, you sure composed a perfect post.
Well thanks!
Yeah, it's usally my mouth that gets me in trouble! :eek:
rossid
07-04-2007, 06:59 AM
JoC videos are classic.
I'm a conservative environmentalist who just commented yesterday about the tragedy of this election cycle. It was meant to point out what a waste the candidates seem to be. Michael Savage said last night that the southern Christians have taken over the conservative wing of the republican party.
imperfect
07-04-2007, 09:27 AM
JoC videos are classic.
I'm a conservative environmentalist who just commented yesterday about the tragedy of this election cycle. It was meant to point out what a waste the candidates seem to be. Michael Savage said last night that the southern Christians have taken over the conservative wing of the republican party.
Interesting. Can you send me that link?
I have been called a new age environmentalist because I recycle and shop local and organic.
So here I am...stuck in the middle with...
I'll get that book Tim. I also have to clean up this NC government. It's smelly here. Corrupt.I'm sort of stuck like you. I have recently brought forth, (in our community as a councilmember) new water conversation ideas to push being good stewards of what we have. I never understand why we sometimes get blasted for being an "environmentalist" and why it has such a negative connotation. I simply believe that being a good steward of resources is a prudent and good thing to do.
Anyhow, have you ever got the book? I think you might like it since it really does expose the Republicans as having lost their way once they came into power. He states that one of the only differences between Democrats and Republicans (in the area of spending) is that a Democrat wants to spend your money and raise your taxes, while a Republican only wants to spend your money. I find that humorous but with a whole lot of truth. Being a registered Republican (don't shoot me) I am stunned at the number of "pork" projects they have pushed through. The book really speaks to that issue.
imperfect
07-06-2007, 05:35 PM
I did I did.
You should have seen me today at Borders trying to find it.
First, I didn't know the author.
Then I got the title mixed up. Here is my innerself talking, "
"Crazies to the left, no the right...or No it's definitely left. The right's not crazy...what were they? Hmmmm"
By the time I found it I had my basket full of books.
Goodness, I started looking at it at the car and started laughing right off.
Dude's got some serious nerve to expose both sides like he does. I love it.
I have to admit, I am going to skip around the book cuz they are separate essays or so it seems.
I am starting it tonight.
Thanks so much for turning me onto this book.
I am also re-reading The God Chasers and gearing up to lead my church's discipleship program. YIPPPEE.
Ok...Tim what chapter are you on?
I'll catch up.
Peace out you sane and courageous earth loving brother!
Yippy
07-06-2007, 08:14 PM
YIPPPEE.
You rang?;)
(I love doing that...:cool: )
imperfect
07-06-2007, 10:03 PM
You rang?;)
(I love doing that...:cool: )
LOL...I have always loved your board name.
YES...I am stuck at home reading a political book while watching Live Earth. I must be getting old...
I can discuss any chapter. I am finished but have kept the book to refer to it. So wherever you might want to start I am there.
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