Not Just Another Fawning Fan Review 2010-07-22

Reviewer: David Abraham

This book gets four and a half stars average. Boy do we live in different universes!

Let me admit up-front that I am a leftist, a Communist-Socialist-pinko-Marxist-Far-Left-Liberal-Democrat. No, actually I am an independent thinker who preaches capitalism with appropriate regulation and progressive taxation. In his book Liberty and Tyranny, Mark R Levin makes the Conservative case, no not really, he makes HIS Conservative case, by suggesting that his is the politics of Liberty and the other guy's politics is the politics of Tyranny (on page 2 he equates "non-conservatism" with tyranny; check it out). Who is this other guy who goes to the polls and votes, with malice aforethought, for tyranny? Why, not Liberals, not Democrats, not Socialists and not even Communists. Who then? Why Statists of course, and neo-Statists and Enviro-Statists. In the grand tradition of Ayn Rand whose bogeyman was the "Collectivist." So, who is this statist? He is the guy who wants to subjugate American citizens to the state, the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-taxing, all-imprisoning state. Well, none of my Left-Wing friends would recognize this chap, this Statist. Why we don't recognize him is because he does not exist, he is a straw-man, a paper-tiger, an invention of the author who embodies all evil and who the author probably wishes you to understand to be Liberal Democrats. But the author is too cowardly to call them by their name.

Here is a direct quote, a truly remarkable statement, page 123: "But the technology most despised by the Enviro-Statist (Liberal?) is the automobile because it provides the individual with a tangible means to exercise his independence through mobility." This is not a quote out of context, his whole book is made up of stuff like this that is just unbelievable. Do you KNOW anyone who believes such a thing, who HATES automobiles BECAUSE they offer INDEPENDENCE??? If you DO know folks like this, this book is for you, you will love it, you share with Levin a contempt for those tens/hundreds of millions of Americans whose politics is not the same as yours. If you think that this statement is preposterous, then this book has nothing but head-shaking moments to offer you, you should stay away, you should not encourage the author to write more such books.

I can't resist one more dig: in his last chapter, A Conservative Manifesto, page 201, Levin says: "No judicial nominee should be confirmed who rejects the jurisprudence of originalism." Two things I am sure of: Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, Washington, even Adams would not be sympathetic to this book; and they didn't have nuclear bombs, TV, radio, the internet, airplanes, automobiles, plastics, Saran Wrap and next-day mail service back then. This original-thinker thinks that nothing important has changed in 225 years.

By the way, the book is utterly without humor or wit. So if you enjoy such niceties, more reasons to stay away.

Don't waste your time!

Cogent & Well Explained 2010-07-21

Reviewer: tcalger

Mark Levin has penned a spirited defense of what it means to be a conservative in 21st Century America. Written with precision, but unlike so many conservatives (or any political writer!) Mark writes with passion and is fiercely loyal to the principles upon which the country was founded. Well worth reading.

Levin 2010-07-20

Reviewer: Mary Syron

Mr. Levin is right on with his assessment of conditions in the US these days. Pretty informative.

What people need to know about the political spectrum 2010-07-16

Reviewer: Brenden Burnham

What I enjoyed most about this book is the explanation of what it means to be right. Often, people associate Fascism with the far right and it is not so. This book explains that as a people we need to seek LIBERTY and vote towards liberty for EVERYONE, not a select few or a select class. We have the right to succeed and the right to fail. This is the price of liberty. Without liberty we have no options to choose success or failure. If you wish to understand conservatism and the founding father's intent read this book. If you need a way to explain why you believe in true Conservatism this book will help you. If you have read this book and agree with the message of liberty for all then send it to a friend. I have bought an extra copy to hand out. Do your party to prevent tyranny.

The loss of freedom in America 2010-07-12

Reviewer: Clifford R. Felice

This book is a must read for every American. It exposes the shifting of power from the citizens to the state. The historic lessons explained in this book clearly show how we are going down the path of socialism, and liberty is being sacrificed in exchange for total control by the state over every aspect of our lives. This book should scare you into taking action to halt this journey to serfdom.