BuzzFlash Reviews

BUZZFLASH REVIEWS

John Dean is a man who went through an epiphany as a result of Watergate, and, in response, has become one of the most astute commentators on how "authoritarian" Republicans, as he calls them, are violating the law.

Dean still considers himself a bit of a conservative, in that he believes in the rule of law, the Constitution, the balance of powers, privacy, freedom and the Declaration of Independence. In that sense, BuzzFlash is conservative too.

Isn't it odd how things have come full circle: to believe in the American Constitution is to be a true conservative? So liberals, progressives and independents have become conservatives, and the Busheviks who call themselves "conservative" have become radical followers of a cult that believes itself above the law and the decisions made by voters, legislators and the courts.

Dean, with a combination of personal reflection and legal analysis, incisively debunks the notion that the architects of Bushevism (our word) are conservative. They are anything but.

The victim of their demagoguery, egomaniacal nature, and bent toward dictatorial rule is democracy.

John Dean is a free thinker, beholden to no one. He has a truly unique perspective, considering his position as legal counsel to Nixon during the Watergate period.

You know that "Conservatives Without Conscience" is going to be a good read from the page of quotations that leads the book off. Among them is this one: "If you think [the United States] could never elect an Adolf Hitler to power, note that David Duke would have become governor of Louisiana if it had just been up to the white voters of the state." (Said by Professor Bob Altemeyer.)

You won't agree with everything John Dean writes -- and he wouldn't want you too. Because he cherishes the energetic debate guaranteed in our Constitution -- and that comes with democracy.

On his book tour (and in his book), Dean noted a study that estimated that at least 23% of Americans (mostly white male Republicans we assume) would follow an authoritarian leader no matter what the impact on our freedoms and our Constitution. That's nearly a quarter of the American population who are, basically, brown shirts. These people, plus an additional number of fundamentalists (and there is presumably a large cross over) form what is assumed to be around a 30 -- 32% "base" for Bush. These are the people who would support him for president if he were mummified and had horns on his head.

In "Conservatives Without Conscience," John Dean takes us on a tour into a world of authoritarian GOP "leaders" (best exemplified by Cheney) who have no compassion, but are driven by a thirst for authoritarian power. They believe in the "Stern Daddy State" -- and when you sit down to their dinner table, they make the laws and mete them out. You challenge them at grave peril

These are the "Conservatives Without Conscience" -- and right now they have the keys to our nation. Their only rule of government is that they are the rule of law and subject to no external accountability.

John Dean, once again, does a great service to democracy by using his intellectual powers to expose the "cancer" that is still on our presidency, vice-presidency -- and his indeed infected all three branches of government.

As of the writing of this review, "Conservatives Without Conscience" is number one in book sales on Amazon.com.

BUZZFLASH REVIEWS