Devil’s Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency Book Review

To those who politics are to the left or vote on the Democratic ticket, the one-two punch of Donald Trump and Steve Bannon was unnerving and terrifying. Donald Trump, the political neophyte who somehow won the 2016 Presidential Election was previously known as a reality show star and a real estate business mogul with a big ego, a big mouth and a very thin skin. Steve Bannon was previously known as the executive at Breitbart News who was and is still open and unapologetic in his right-wing and racist beliefs.

How these men came together to create a new era in American politics and history is detailed in Joshua Green’s new book, Devil’s Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency.Based upon six years of interviews and research, the book details how these came together to take down Hillary Clinton and ensure that they would be in The White House.

This book is a must read for any modern student of politics and history. Exceptionally researched and easily read, this book tells the story of a hijacked Democracy and how two men conspired to use the basic democratic principles to claw their way to the top.

I absolutely recommend it.

Advertisement

Mr. Darcy’s Proposal Book Review

Proposing to one’s (hopeful) future spouse is never easy. The question is, how does one frame the proposal? Does one try to convey the unending love and respect that one has for their beloved or does one use their income and societal status as temptation while basically insulting the one they love? In Pride And Prejudice, Fitzwilliam Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth Bennet is unfortunately the latter.

Writer and Janeite Susan Mason-Milks imagines a different narrative for the second half of Pride and Prejudice in Mr. Darcy’s Proposal. Just before Mr. Darcy is to propose to Elizabeth while she is staying with Mr. and Mrs. Collins in Huntsford, she receives a letter from home. Her father is extremely ill and may not be long for this world. Knowing full well that her cousin and her father’s heir, Mr. Collins may turn her, her mother and her sisters out of Longbourn as soon as her father is cold in his grave, Elizabeth accepts Mr. Darcy’s proposal.

While Mr. Darcy is thoroughly in love with his bride to be, Elizabeth initially sees this marriage as a marriage of convenience. She respects him and acknowledges that he is an honorable man, but she is not in love with him. Will this marriage become one for the ages or will it be in name only?

I wanted to like this book, I truly did. The initial chapters were fine. But then, the editor in me started to speak up. When I am reading a book, I don’t want to be thinking about the writing and editing choices that I would have made. I want to just enjoy what I am reading. That in a nutshell, is the problem with this book.

Do I recommend it? Maybe not.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Breast Cancer And Healthcare

Late last week, Seinfeld and Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced via her twitter account that she has breast cancer.

My thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family as she battles this all too common disease.

Her announcement reminds me and should remind all of us how sadly precarious the health insurance system in America is. While she is one of the fortunate who has access to reliable medical care, many women in her same situation are not as fortunate. The fact that some Republicans continue to waste time, effort and tax payer dollars on repealing Obama care, in spite of the fact that there are millions of American citizens living and potentially dying from disease because of the lack of healthcare is heartbreaking.

The fact that we are one of the wealthiest countries in the world and we cannot provide universal healthcare to all citizens is disgusting. We have to open our eyes as a nation and face reality. Otherwise we maybe cutting off our nose to spite our face.