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The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right
Before Barack Obama had even taken the oath of office after his historic victory, cadres of lobbyists, political hacks, oil tycoons, and right-wing politicians met to plan his political demise. The massive conservative infrastructure created by business groups beginning in the 1970s would not be sufficient, they concluded: in the age of Obama, something new—and bold—had to be done.
Written by the blogger who was the first to report on the lobbyists who brought us the Tea Parties, here is a groundbreaking exposé of the plans to make America conservative again. The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right dissects the rise of "“patriot" hate groups, touches on the role of New York City’s most celebrated billionaire in financing the fodder for Glenn Beck and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and exposes how former Bush operatives and current trade association heads have cleverly adapted to crush Obama and progressive reform.
For anyone interested in comprehending the new landscape of the conservative movement, here is an essential guide to the people, the money, and the strategies that make it tick.
Written by the blogger who was the first to report on the lobbyists who brought us the Tea Parties, here is a groundbreaking exposé of the plans to make America conservative again. The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right dissects the rise of "“patriot" hate groups, touches on the role of New York City’s most celebrated billionaire in financing the fodder for Glenn Beck and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and exposes how former Bush operatives and current trade association heads have cleverly adapted to crush Obama and progressive reform.
For anyone interested in comprehending the new landscape of the conservative movement, here is an essential guide to the people, the money, and the strategies that make it tick.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 15, 2016
Don't get me wrong. I'm not a ranting, raving, bleeding heart liberal. I was raised Republican even though politics was not a big point of dicussion in my family. When we went to my Grandmother's for holidays, it was great fun to watch my Dad tease her into her "FDR rant." But I cast my first vote against Richard Nixon. Not really FOR the Democrat - in fact, I can't even remember who he was...
But since then, especially after my distrust of Nixon was vindicated, the Republican Party and I have parted amicably. Or at least on my part it was.
But as the years went by, something started going wrong. My father left the party when Reagan came into office. He swore the Party was no longer the one he had grown up with. And my mother started asking serious questions about the man I supported - John Anderson.
And now, if I may be quite frank, the Republican party has gone to hell. Something has happened in those years to drive it right off the edge. And I am truly sorry to see that.
This book covers the reporting that Lee Fang has done on how the Right has become strong again in the past 10 years and how it has changed its tactics. He does a fine job of reporting and his finds are nearly as devastating as Watergate or the expose of the Koch brothers. (The fact that both of these scandals were Republican may be telling....) How the party changed from simple challenge to "liberal" legislation to outright refusal to consider any left-generated legislation or the idea of compromise is an interesting and, quite frankly, terrifying story.
This is not to say that the Democrats don't have their problems, and some of them are big. But the type of slander everyone, falsify information, and downright deny there is anything that is "true" (outside of what one thinks) is frightening.
Of course, every book of this kind should be read with a grain of salt. However, Fang meticulously lists his sources and has a good pedigree (The Nation, Boston Globe, NPR, and MSNBC).
Everyone on both sides of the divide should read this.
But since then, especially after my distrust of Nixon was vindicated, the Republican Party and I have parted amicably. Or at least on my part it was.
But as the years went by, something started going wrong. My father left the party when Reagan came into office. He swore the Party was no longer the one he had grown up with. And my mother started asking serious questions about the man I supported - John Anderson.
And now, if I may be quite frank, the Republican party has gone to hell. Something has happened in those years to drive it right off the edge. And I am truly sorry to see that.
This book covers the reporting that Lee Fang has done on how the Right has become strong again in the past 10 years and how it has changed its tactics. He does a fine job of reporting and his finds are nearly as devastating as Watergate or the expose of the Koch brothers. (The fact that both of these scandals were Republican may be telling....) How the party changed from simple challenge to "liberal" legislation to outright refusal to consider any left-generated legislation or the idea of compromise is an interesting and, quite frankly, terrifying story.
This is not to say that the Democrats don't have their problems, and some of them are big. But the type of slander everyone, falsify information, and downright deny there is anything that is "true" (outside of what one thinks) is frightening.
Of course, every book of this kind should be read with a grain of salt. However, Fang meticulously lists his sources and has a good pedigree (The Nation, Boston Globe, NPR, and MSNBC).
Everyone on both sides of the divide should read this.
December 27, 2018
One of the best young investigative reporters of the present decade, Fang currently writes for The Intercept. (more here: https://theintercept.com/staff/leefang/) "The Machine" draws from his work covering Congress, right-wing Republicans and climate deniers, esp. the Kochs. He was one of the first to expose Koch front groups' role in setting up the Tea Party (see "The True Story of the Tea Party" - chapter 1) after Obama's election in 2008. (This was one of the best books about the Kochs' political operation before Jane Mayer published her masterful book, "Dark Money.")
He also reports on other parts of the Koch/conservative infrastructure, including the State Policy Network (see https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php...), ALEC, and many of the front groups set up to kill Obamacare (their word, hi-jacking the issue) and other policies. Steve Bannon (p. 191) and others still around are in here, too.
All of these groups, with their strategies, operate like a "machine" to sabotage the progressive agenda that came with Obama. It wasn't all Mitch McConnell filibustering, but the financial and political infrastructure built to back them up and create a fanatical populist that arguably led to Trump's election and the unleashing of even more destructive and dark forces.
The only unfortunate thing about this book is that the publisher's decided not to add an index of names etc. in the back, making it more difficult for journalists and historians to draw from.
He also reports on other parts of the Koch/conservative infrastructure, including the State Policy Network (see https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php...), ALEC, and many of the front groups set up to kill Obamacare (their word, hi-jacking the issue) and other policies. Steve Bannon (p. 191) and others still around are in here, too.
All of these groups, with their strategies, operate like a "machine" to sabotage the progressive agenda that came with Obama. It wasn't all Mitch McConnell filibustering, but the financial and political infrastructure built to back them up and create a fanatical populist that arguably led to Trump's election and the unleashing of even more destructive and dark forces.
The only unfortunate thing about this book is that the publisher's decided not to add an index of names etc. in the back, making it more difficult for journalists and historians to draw from.
December 27, 2018
One of the best young investigative reporters of the present decade, Fang currently writes for The Intercept. (more here: https://theintercept.com/staff/leefang/) "The Machine" draws from his work covering Congress, right-wing Republicans and climate deniers, esp. the Kochs. He was one of the first to expose Koch front groups' role in setting up the Tea Party (see "The True Story of the Tea Party" - chapter 1) after Obama's election in 2008. (This was one of the best books about the Kochs' political operation before Jane Mayer published her masterful book, "Dark Money.")
He also reports on other parts of the Koch/conservative infrastructure, including the State Policy Network (see https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php...), ALEC, and many of the front groups set up to kill Obamacare (their word, hi-jacking the issue) and other policies. Steve Bannon (p. 191) and others still around are in here, too.
All of these groups, with their strategies, operate like a "machine" to sabotage the progressive agenda that came with Obama. It wasn't all Mitch McConnell filibustering, but the financial and political infrastructure built to back them up and create a fanatical populist that arguably led to Trump's election and the unleashing of even more destructive and dark forces.
The only unfortunate thing about this book is that the publisher's decided not to add an index of names etc. in the back, making it more difficult for journalists and historians to draw from.
He also reports on other parts of the Koch/conservative infrastructure, including the State Policy Network (see https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php...), ALEC, and many of the front groups set up to kill Obamacare (their word, hi-jacking the issue) and other policies. Steve Bannon (p. 191) and others still around are in here, too.
All of these groups, with their strategies, operate like a "machine" to sabotage the progressive agenda that came with Obama. It wasn't all Mitch McConnell filibustering, but the financial and political infrastructure built to back them up and create a fanatical populist that arguably led to Trump's election and the unleashing of even more destructive and dark forces.
The only unfortunate thing about this book is that the publisher's decided not to add an index of names etc. in the back, making it more difficult for journalists and historians to draw from.
August 27, 2020
Gives details to a known issue
May 4, 2014
I begin at the end of Fang's field guide.
From a letter to Washington from Jefferson, the latter said,"Though the day may be at some distance, beyond the reach of our lives perhaps, yet it will certainly come, when a single fiber left of this institution will produce an hereditary aristocracy, which will change the form of our governments from the best to the worst in the world." Jefferson admired France for its rich culture and institutions, but feared the ability of a powerful upper class to accrue inestimable power.
This is what Fang explores: the decades-long building of power and influence by fabulously rich and connected people, who, in the name of freedom and individuality, seek to eviscerate public education, the environment, fair democratic process, the right to vote, immigration, and controls on carbon resource/pharmaceutical/and other supremely profitable industries.
He tracks alot, through his own research, as well as that of others.
This is an exploration of the "radical" right and its quest to control at the federal and state levels. It is an expose of the marketing tactics, development of think tanks/front groups and manipulation of politicians (and voters) using media, the law, and outright intimidation.
It is a terrifying book, but one that must be read by people of all stripes. In yet again another era of incivility and crass materialism and ignorance, there remains a crying need to educate oneself beyond the boundaries of Fox News and unexamined Internet sites.
The story of the Koch family and its work over decades to shore up the ramparts of profit is a centerpiece for Fang's work. The interweaving of sources and resources for so many uber-rich individuals and families is more than instructive. It's crucial to read and think and research the rise of so-called "conservative voices" in order to figure out real face and mask.
I'm not naive. I know that politics of any sort are run by "operatives" with "agendas." However, the malignancy of right-wing plutocrats and pundits is just plain damning.
From a letter to Washington from Jefferson, the latter said,"Though the day may be at some distance, beyond the reach of our lives perhaps, yet it will certainly come, when a single fiber left of this institution will produce an hereditary aristocracy, which will change the form of our governments from the best to the worst in the world." Jefferson admired France for its rich culture and institutions, but feared the ability of a powerful upper class to accrue inestimable power.
This is what Fang explores: the decades-long building of power and influence by fabulously rich and connected people, who, in the name of freedom and individuality, seek to eviscerate public education, the environment, fair democratic process, the right to vote, immigration, and controls on carbon resource/pharmaceutical/and other supremely profitable industries.
He tracks alot, through his own research, as well as that of others.
This is an exploration of the "radical" right and its quest to control at the federal and state levels. It is an expose of the marketing tactics, development of think tanks/front groups and manipulation of politicians (and voters) using media, the law, and outright intimidation.
It is a terrifying book, but one that must be read by people of all stripes. In yet again another era of incivility and crass materialism and ignorance, there remains a crying need to educate oneself beyond the boundaries of Fox News and unexamined Internet sites.
The story of the Koch family and its work over decades to shore up the ramparts of profit is a centerpiece for Fang's work. The interweaving of sources and resources for so many uber-rich individuals and families is more than instructive. It's crucial to read and think and research the rise of so-called "conservative voices" in order to figure out real face and mask.
I'm not naive. I know that politics of any sort are run by "operatives" with "agendas." However, the malignancy of right-wing plutocrats and pundits is just plain damning.
September 16, 2015
Lee Fang in his book, The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right , approached this "field guide" through subject-specific chapters titled:
1. The True History of the Tea Party
2. Coordinating the Message
3. The Koch-Fueled War on Obama
4. Reform Hits its Wall at K Street
5. A Social Media Facelift for Conservatism
6. Taking it to the States
I thought his chapter on Social Media was one of his best. He writes about the origins of modern conservative media, mainly Fox News and the heavy subsidies that had to be provided for Fox to stay afloat because of terrible ratings before Bush II made it the go to place for interviews and exclusive stories. In Chapter 4 he also discusses thoroughly the changes to campaign regulation and the astounding influence of Super Pacs and 501c4s, or a newly common type of non-profit organization that can engage in lobbying and political campaigning.
1. The True History of the Tea Party
2. Coordinating the Message
3. The Koch-Fueled War on Obama
4. Reform Hits its Wall at K Street
5. A Social Media Facelift for Conservatism
6. Taking it to the States
I thought his chapter on Social Media was one of his best. He writes about the origins of modern conservative media, mainly Fox News and the heavy subsidies that had to be provided for Fox to stay afloat because of terrible ratings before Bush II made it the go to place for interviews and exclusive stories. In Chapter 4 he also discusses thoroughly the changes to campaign regulation and the astounding influence of Super Pacs and 501c4s, or a newly common type of non-profit organization that can engage in lobbying and political campaigning.
September 2, 2015
"Who's Who" guide to the modern conservative movement in America. The book's strongly one-sided, wears its bias on the cover, and is a little repetitive after awhile, but it's still full of information and a useful starting point if you're interested in behind-the-scenes of the Republican party's strategy and PR.
May 30, 2013
Great book for those who want to understand who is really behind our politics. Lot's of money.
June 25, 2016
Chilling and excellent.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews