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Rome Wasn't Burnt in a Day: The Real Deal on How Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Other Washington Barbarians are Bankrupting America
Here's the Real Deal! The same Washington politicians who took control of Congress by promising to balance the federal budget are now bankrupting America by launching the biggest spending spree in the history of the United States. With big-spending Democrats at their side, President George Bush and his "conservative" Republican Congress have controlled the government's checkbook while the national debt has skyrocketed past seven trillion dollars. That's right, $7,000,000,000,000. How has the party of Reagan become the party of big- government spending? Now former Republican congressman Joe Scarborough delivers a scathing indictment of Republicans and Democrats alike in the same informed, hard-hitting, and entertaining style fans of Scarborough Country have come to admire. Having had a ringside seat during his four terms in the House of Representatives, Scarborough gives the inside scoop on how Washington really works and on the spending orgy the Republicans have fueled the last ten years. The story begins with Newt Gingrich's Contract with America and the Republicans promising to balance the budget and reform Washington. It culminates with a Republican president continually rubber-stamping pork-filled appropriations bills that squander taxpayer dollars. That is, unless you think it's necessary to spend millions of dollars on research into "alternative salmon products" in Alaska, or the study of crickets in Utah, or of sea turtles in Hawaii. Sadly, these instances merely hint at the gross spending by Congress.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Joe Scarborough
17 books31 followersCharles Joseph "Joe" Scarborough (born April 9, 1963) is an American cable news and talk radio host, lawyer, author, and former politician. He is currently the host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, and previously hosted Scarborough Country on the same channel. Scarborough served in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001 as a Republican from the 1st district of Florida. He was named in the 2011 Time 100 as one of the most influential people in the world.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he is the son of George F. Scarborough, a businessman, and has two other siblings. When his father died in May 2011, his life story appeared in the Congressional Record and in Politico's Playbook. Scarborough even wrote a eulogy op-ed online.
Joe Scarborough graduated from Pensacola Catholic High School in Pensacola, Florida. He received a B.A. from the University of Alabama in 1985 and a J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1990. During this time he wrote and produced CDs with his band, Dixon Mills, and taught high school. He was admitted to the The Florida Bar in 1991, and practiced law in Pensacola.
Scarborough's most famous case was representing Michael F. Griffin, the accused killer of abortion doctor David Gunn, in early to mid-1993. He made several court appearances for Griffin. "There was 'no way in hell I could sit in at a civil trial, let alone a capital trial,' he claims now, referring to the prospect of prosecutors seeking the death penalty against Griffin." Scarborough assisted Griffin in choosing a trial lawyer from the many who offered their services, and he also shielded the family from the media exposure, pro bono.
Scarborough also helped to raise his political profile and made numerous contacts by assisting with a petition drive in late 1993 to oppose a 65 percent increase in the City of Pensacola's property taxes.
In 1994, Scarborough won the Republican Party primary for Florida's 1st congressional district, which came open after eight-term Democratic incumbent Earl Hutto announced his retirement. In the general election he defeated the Democratic candidate, Pensacola attorney Vinnie Whibbs, with 61 percent of the vote. Whibbs was the son of well respected, former Pensacola mayor, Vince Whibbs. The win was not considered an upset, since the 1st was traditionally a conservative district. The district had not supported a Democratic candidate for U.S. president since 1960. While Democratic candidates continued to win most local offices well into the 1990s, they tended to be conservative even, by Southern Democratic standards. It had been widely believed that Hutto would be succeeded by a Republican once he retired.
Scarborough was reelected with 72 percent of the vote in 1996. In 1998 and 2000, he was opposed by only a write-in candidate.
Scarborough supported a number of pro-life positions while in Congress, including the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, that made it a crime to harm a fetus during the commission of other crimes, though he did not vote for the passage of the final bill.
Scarborough sponsored a bill to force the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations after a four-year transition and voted to make the Corporation for Public Broadcasting "self-sufficient" by eliminating federal funding. He also voted for the "Medicare Preservation act of 1995," which cut the projected growth of Medicare by $270 billion over ten years, and against the "Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996," which raised the minimum wage to $5.15. Scarborough had a conservative voting record on economic, social, and foreign policy issues, but was seen as moderate on environmental issues and human rights causes, including closing the School of the Americas and Lori Berenson.
While in Congress, Scarborough received a number of awards, including the "Friend of the Taxpayer Award" from Americans for Tax Reform; the "Guardian of Small Business Award" from the National Federation of Independent Busine
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he is the son of George F. Scarborough, a businessman, and has two other siblings. When his father died in May 2011, his life story appeared in the Congressional Record and in Politico's Playbook. Scarborough even wrote a eulogy op-ed online.
Joe Scarborough graduated from Pensacola Catholic High School in Pensacola, Florida. He received a B.A. from the University of Alabama in 1985 and a J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1990. During this time he wrote and produced CDs with his band, Dixon Mills, and taught high school. He was admitted to the The Florida Bar in 1991, and practiced law in Pensacola.
Scarborough's most famous case was representing Michael F. Griffin, the accused killer of abortion doctor David Gunn, in early to mid-1993. He made several court appearances for Griffin. "There was 'no way in hell I could sit in at a civil trial, let alone a capital trial,' he claims now, referring to the prospect of prosecutors seeking the death penalty against Griffin." Scarborough assisted Griffin in choosing a trial lawyer from the many who offered their services, and he also shielded the family from the media exposure, pro bono.
Scarborough also helped to raise his political profile and made numerous contacts by assisting with a petition drive in late 1993 to oppose a 65 percent increase in the City of Pensacola's property taxes.
In 1994, Scarborough won the Republican Party primary for Florida's 1st congressional district, which came open after eight-term Democratic incumbent Earl Hutto announced his retirement. In the general election he defeated the Democratic candidate, Pensacola attorney Vinnie Whibbs, with 61 percent of the vote. Whibbs was the son of well respected, former Pensacola mayor, Vince Whibbs. The win was not considered an upset, since the 1st was traditionally a conservative district. The district had not supported a Democratic candidate for U.S. president since 1960. While Democratic candidates continued to win most local offices well into the 1990s, they tended to be conservative even, by Southern Democratic standards. It had been widely believed that Hutto would be succeeded by a Republican once he retired.
Scarborough was reelected with 72 percent of the vote in 1996. In 1998 and 2000, he was opposed by only a write-in candidate.
Scarborough supported a number of pro-life positions while in Congress, including the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, that made it a crime to harm a fetus during the commission of other crimes, though he did not vote for the passage of the final bill.
Scarborough sponsored a bill to force the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations after a four-year transition and voted to make the Corporation for Public Broadcasting "self-sufficient" by eliminating federal funding. He also voted for the "Medicare Preservation act of 1995," which cut the projected growth of Medicare by $270 billion over ten years, and against the "Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996," which raised the minimum wage to $5.15. Scarborough had a conservative voting record on economic, social, and foreign policy issues, but was seen as moderate on environmental issues and human rights causes, including closing the School of the Americas and Lori Berenson.
While in Congress, Scarborough received a number of awards, including the "Friend of the Taxpayer Award" from Americans for Tax Reform; the "Guardian of Small Business Award" from the National Federation of Independent Busine
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 15, 2020
Straightforward insight into our ballooning deficit
Joe provides first hand insight into the failure of the Contract with America. Our elected officials have mortgaged our countries future because of their unwillingness make the difficult vote to restore fiscal sanity in Washington.
Joe provides first hand insight into the failure of the Contract with America. Our elected officials have mortgaged our countries future because of their unwillingness make the difficult vote to restore fiscal sanity in Washington.
January 6, 2021
Good overview of the back-slapping spending in DC with some decent reform solutions
April 27, 2012
I’ve been a fan of Joe Scarborough since he moved to the mornings on MSNBC. He’s got the substantive knowledge (after time spent as a back-row Contract with America congressman), a license to (constructively) criticize Republicans (from a conservative standpoint) on the famously liberal MSNBC, and perhaps most importantly a softened edge leading an ensemble during the kinder, gentler morning hours. Rome Wasn’t Burnt in a Day is hurt in part because it was written by the old, fire-breathing Joe of Scarborough Country.
Rome Wasn’t Burnt in a Day was timely when it was written in 2004 and its timely today (in 2012). Scarborough is an old-fashioned deficit hawk—the kind whose hawkishness on the debt doesn’t evaporate as soon as his favored party is in power. It’s chum for a fellow deficit hawk such as myself, although there is sadly little substance behind it. Scarborough is pretty sure deficits make interest rates rise, but he’s not exactly sure how. He’s preaching to the choir, but I would like to see some numbers, such as Pete Peterson provides in spades in his anti-deficit book Running on Empty. Similarly, the best parts are of Scarborough venting the frustrations of the famously feisty freshmen Republicans swept into office by Gingrich’s Contract with America, not any analysis of that Congress’s policies. He has a lot more criticisms to throw around than solutions.
As is expected of this sort of popular politics book from a public figure, its heavy on anecdotes. Many are quite enlightening, from the big M machine that runs University of Alabama student government politics to what it’s like for a back-row congressman to meet the president. A congressman (ANY congressman) is officially an Important Person, but he’s hardly in the stratosphere of the leader of the Free World. It didn’t help Scarborough that both Clinton and the younger Bush have a charisma that could knock down a bull at a dozen paces. They would be Scarborough’s first recruits were he tasked with begetting a super-fraternity for the ages (he would make Clinton his social chair and Bush his rush chair). Scarborough has a lot to say about fraternities. Have bad experiences and talk about it in the section of your book covering your college years—I’m ok with that. But if sneering references toward frat boys seep into your entire book the problem may not be entirely theirs.
Rome Wasn’t Burnt in a Day was timely when it was written in 2004 and its timely today (in 2012). Scarborough is an old-fashioned deficit hawk—the kind whose hawkishness on the debt doesn’t evaporate as soon as his favored party is in power. It’s chum for a fellow deficit hawk such as myself, although there is sadly little substance behind it. Scarborough is pretty sure deficits make interest rates rise, but he’s not exactly sure how. He’s preaching to the choir, but I would like to see some numbers, such as Pete Peterson provides in spades in his anti-deficit book Running on Empty. Similarly, the best parts are of Scarborough venting the frustrations of the famously feisty freshmen Republicans swept into office by Gingrich’s Contract with America, not any analysis of that Congress’s policies. He has a lot more criticisms to throw around than solutions.
As is expected of this sort of popular politics book from a public figure, its heavy on anecdotes. Many are quite enlightening, from the big M machine that runs University of Alabama student government politics to what it’s like for a back-row congressman to meet the president. A congressman (ANY congressman) is officially an Important Person, but he’s hardly in the stratosphere of the leader of the Free World. It didn’t help Scarborough that both Clinton and the younger Bush have a charisma that could knock down a bull at a dozen paces. They would be Scarborough’s first recruits were he tasked with begetting a super-fraternity for the ages (he would make Clinton his social chair and Bush his rush chair). Scarborough has a lot to say about fraternities. Have bad experiences and talk about it in the section of your book covering your college years—I’m ok with that. But if sneering references toward frat boys seep into your entire book the problem may not be entirely theirs.
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October 24, 2009Joe Scarborough is a moderate Republican who gives a great diatribe about the ridiculous spending frenzy this country has been on, even under the rule of supposed fiscal conservatives. He warns us that we're not guaranteed the position of economic super-power, especially if we continue to squander our money on ridiculous, wasteful government programs. This book details his progression from a wide-eyed freshman in Congress looking to change Washington to a more-seasoned, even bitter political commentator, who is fed up with the abuses and corruption in both parties' leadership.
February 15, 2015
This is one of those haunting screeds seen regularly by a political figure who either stepped out or failed. Scarborough lasted all of six years as a congressman and then checked out on his way to Big Media. It's bitter stuff: Scarborough lavishes venom in several directions at once, but is equally contemptuous of Democrat and Republican leadership. Nor does it "end" happily. Let's say the man is entirely disillusioned.
August 6, 2016
I expected this book to be better than it was. It was useful in that it gave an explanation in layman's terms about what happened and the major players in each battle he faced in Congress. I wouldn't really recommend it unless you are extremely interested in Republican congressional politics.
November 10, 2008
Great insight into how corrupt Washington is. Sadly demonstrates how far America has fallen and how the 2 major parties control policy and politicians
April 4, 2012
Joe S. is great and this book is just a quick, clear snapshot of why Washington DC is
drowning our country.
I hope the choir starts voting congress out quickly.
drowning our country.
I hope the choir starts voting congress out quickly.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews