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Saving General Washington
An edgy work of political journalism that debunks conservative contentions tying the right-wing political agenda to the visionary ideas of America's founders, while reclaiming the progressive legacy of the Founding Fathers.
Modern Republicans have made a smart bet. They're wagering that Americans have gotten so far from their own history that a timely grab could put a "Founding Fathers" stamp of approval on the party that brought us policies as fundamentally un-American as the PATRIOT Act, as well as the war in Iraq.
But the more you learn about the Founding Fathers, the more broad and powerful parallels emerge between their practical--and revolutionary-political ideas and the modern progressive movement. The Founders loved reason and strenuous debate, not the quashing of dissent. They believed in checks and balances, and certainly not an imperial presidency. There were no "deferments" from the Colonial army. There were no "Schooner Ship Vets" to bail them out by making George Washington look like a deceptive medal hound.
With wryness and a touch of understated outrage, J. R. Norton reintroduces a generation (or two) to their Founders, men who were more dangerous and exciting than Che Guevara, Joe Strummer, and 50 Cent combined. We had toughies killed in politically motivated gunfights (Hamilton) and presidents who were also frontline heroes of war (Washington). Nowadays, the politicians who claim fraternity with these men are pampered oil heirs appointed to the presidency by the Supreme Court, leaders who spend "working weekends" on their ranches in the midst of a war-not to mention a massive natural disaster. We have draft-dodgers in the House and adulterers in the Senate and most want to alter the Constitution to take rights away from their own citizens (via the Federal Marriage Amendment). Saving General Washington sets our current political leaders in stark relief against the men who designed this "last best hope of earth," showing us just how far we've departed from the brilliant ideas and core values America was built on--and inspiring us to take up the mantle of the Founders again.
Modern Republicans have made a smart bet. They're wagering that Americans have gotten so far from their own history that a timely grab could put a "Founding Fathers" stamp of approval on the party that brought us policies as fundamentally un-American as the PATRIOT Act, as well as the war in Iraq.
But the more you learn about the Founding Fathers, the more broad and powerful parallels emerge between their practical--and revolutionary-political ideas and the modern progressive movement. The Founders loved reason and strenuous debate, not the quashing of dissent. They believed in checks and balances, and certainly not an imperial presidency. There were no "deferments" from the Colonial army. There were no "Schooner Ship Vets" to bail them out by making George Washington look like a deceptive medal hound.
With wryness and a touch of understated outrage, J. R. Norton reintroduces a generation (or two) to their Founders, men who were more dangerous and exciting than Che Guevara, Joe Strummer, and 50 Cent combined. We had toughies killed in politically motivated gunfights (Hamilton) and presidents who were also frontline heroes of war (Washington). Nowadays, the politicians who claim fraternity with these men are pampered oil heirs appointed to the presidency by the Supreme Court, leaders who spend "working weekends" on their ranches in the midst of a war-not to mention a massive natural disaster. We have draft-dodgers in the House and adulterers in the Senate and most want to alter the Constitution to take rights away from their own citizens (via the Federal Marriage Amendment). Saving General Washington sets our current political leaders in stark relief against the men who designed this "last best hope of earth," showing us just how far we've departed from the brilliant ideas and core values America was built on--and inspiring us to take up the mantle of the Founders again.
- GenresPolitics
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 24, 2007
Smart, relevant, hilarious.
January 7, 2008
This is a must read for those interested in American political history.
February 13, 2008
My boy Jim Norton's book on the founding fathers vs. the Bush administration.
Great work. And ahh helped!
Great work. And ahh helped!
September 27, 2012
If you're a Democrat, you'll love it. Republicans will hate it. It's propoganda.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews