"We all agree with the Taliban."--Rush Limbaugh, October 9, 2009
America's primary international enemy--Islamic radicalism--insists on gove...
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Jun 24, 2011
Jorge
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American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right by Markos Moulitsas
"American Taliban" is an appropriately titled book. It's a book about how the American right resembles the theocratic views of the Islamic radicals. In an irreverent and yet informative way Markos Moulitsas provides a recent history and progression of how the American far right is in essence no different than the Islamic radicals that they themselves claim to be opposed. More...
"American Taliban" is an appropriately titled book. It's a book about how the American right resembles the theocratic views of the Islamic radicals. In an irreverent and yet informative way Markos Moulitsas provides a recent history and progression of how the American far right is in essence no different than the Islamic radicals that they themselves claim to be opposed. More...
Sep 12, 2010
Justin
rated it: 
Nothing I really didn't already know, being a liberal political junkie for many years now, but it was great to see all the examples of "Oh, I can't believe they did it" compiled all together in one place. It would have been nice if the analysis went a little further than it does, or maybe even some suggestions on how we can move forward, but all in all, a quick and worthy read.
What bugs me is the people who decried the book, without reading it, saying things like "com More...
What bugs me is the people who decried the book, without reading it, saying things like "com More...
Aug 26, 2010
Dave
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As I was reading this book, I found myself struggling with how I ultimately felt about it. In some chapters, it was a stunning and enlightening exposé on the ridiculously absurd policies held by the extreme right of the political spectrum. But in other chapters, it resorted to simple and immature mockery.
One of the arguments of the book is how civil discourse in this country has been compromised by ignorant citizens, complicit mainstream media, and impotent politicians -- which is a More...
One of the arguments of the book is how civil discourse in this country has been compromised by ignorant citizens, complicit mainstream media, and impotent politicians -- which is a More...
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Jan 11, 2011
K
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This book offers a solid comparison of the tactical and ideological similarities between the Islamic Taliban and the American political Right-wing. That said, there is an inflammatory tone that may turn off moderates and will likely prevent the people who would benefit most from understanding the similarities (namely those on the political Right) from absorbing any of the points made and conclusions drawn. But this is not a book for moderates and right-wingers: this is a book for the Left to h
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Jul 28, 2011
I had the pleasure of meeting Markos a few months ago at a talk he gave about this book. The event was organized by a group I volunteer for. He wrote a message in the book for me, addressing it to my DailyKos handle. I've finally read the book and I thought that Markos deftly proved his point about the danger of rightwing extremism and the fact that we must all take it more seriously. The seriousness of the subject matter was nicely balanced by touches of biting of humor. Markos shows how patent
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Sep 10, 2010
Susan
rated it:
Got an eBook passed to me from a Twitter chum.
Admit I skipped some of it because I found some the details, well boring in just a few spots and hard to read (too painful) in others. But the majority was readable and it went fast.
I think I have a problem with the word "Taliban" used generically as I do with what the term "conservative" means in my mind still, compared to what it really means today. I guess it's because I don't want to believe that zealots wo More...
Admit I skipped some of it because I found some the details, well boring in just a few spots and hard to read (too painful) in others. But the majority was readable and it went fast.
I think I have a problem with the word "Taliban" used generically as I do with what the term "conservative" means in my mind still, compared to what it really means today. I guess it's because I don't want to believe that zealots wo More...
Sep 16, 2010
Adr
rated it:
Burned through this book in days. It highlights the ideological (and methodological) similarities between the totalitarianist fringe of Islam and the Christian right in our own country. It's told with a fair amount of pith and a great many examples; it is most powerful when it asks you to guess if a give quote was made by a member of the US Right or the Taliban. Penned by the founder of the Daily Kos blog, it is unlikely to win any converts to progressive causes, but nevertheless is an unexpe
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Dec 30, 2010
Alchymyst
rated it:
Nothing earth-shattering or particularly new, if you are a liberal who's been paying attention for the past few years, but not a bad read. My two problems with this book are: 1) since it is written by a blogger, it occasionally becomes just a mocking rant (somewhat expected, obviously) and 2) I am not sure if I am comfortable with calling the extreme right 'American Taliban' -- it seems like stooping to their level of calling Obama 'Hitler' (that said, Moulitsas shows that those people are distu
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Jan 28, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
I'm a bit conflicted about this book. On the one hand, I like Kos's writing, and I read Daily Kos, well, daily. Sometimes I write a diary, too. But I feel that the central metaphor of the book, the whole "radical right=Taliban of America" bit, was just tacked-on and not much use. On the gripping hand, it was a witty, sarcastic take-down of the radical right. Maybe this would have done better without the Taliban comparisons, since I was horrified enough at the outrageously stupid opinio
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Feb 16, 2011
Elyssa
rated it:
Liberals like myself will find little new information in this book, but it is well structured and the examples of the flawed reasoning of the radical right are strong. The main limitation of the book is the writer's snarky writing which could be alienating to more moderate voters. I think if he toned that down, the book would be much more effective.
Oct 21, 2010
Randall
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Markos Moulitsas (of Daily Kos) explains "how war, sex, sin, and power bind jihadists and the radical right." His examples of the parallelism between jihad terrorists and radical rightists are frightening and prove once and for all that we can't defeat the terrorists by adopting their weapons.
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Oct 29, 2010
Terry
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Surprisingly hacktacular, given that Markos' strength as a blogger is that he usually keeps it fair yet aggressive. It's sad too because I enjoyed his last two books (which were more about strategy than ideology) and frankly I agree with his central point. It's okay in points, but for anyone who gets the concept already, it's not essential.
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Aug 11, 2011
A partisan bitching about their political opposition and how evil/wrong/stupid they are!
Yawn!
If he had a sense of humor, maybe. But Moulitsas? I just don’t think I could stomach it.
Yawn!
If he had a sense of humor, maybe. But Moulitsas? I just don’t think I could stomach it.
Sep 16, 2010
Dane
rated it:
Now THIS is a good left-leaning book. Objective to the point of criticism of both sides of the aisle, and a fresh take on a somewhat taboo subject. Good stuff here.
Sep 10, 2011
Shiloh
rated it:
Obviously liberal leaning but its got a lot a truth and is an easy read.
Mar 10, 2011
Jim
rated it:
Plenty of good information and some humor, but I wish this was a little less rabid, and a little more objective. The presented evidence is very strong, but the hyperbolic style puts me off and lowers my trust. A worthwhile read, nevertheless.
Nov 18, 2010
Deana
rated it:
The fact that Moulitsas is a blogger is apparent in his rambling conversationsal style. Even though I agree with the points that he is making the delivery is not persuasive and verges on a rant. I wish there were 3.5 stars because it is somewhere closer to that in my apprasial.
Mar 09, 2011
Jarad
rated it:
Good read. A rehash of all of the absurd, Right-wing extremists and their plots to control society.
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