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2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Book Review, LEFT TURN ONLY Feb 01, 2010
By Lois C. Hamilton
"Love to Read"
Brad Parker's book LEFT TURN ONLY will open your eyes to what progressive thinking people, both inside and outside the Democratic Party, must do to help return this country and its government to a Democracy once again and how we got to this place where so many American people are suffering and dying, not prospering.
He tells us how we must take the Progressive Movement from outside of the Democratic Party to inside the Democratic Party to become the Progressive Majority needed to drive the CHANGE so desperately needed by the American people and to revive our Middle Class.
Brad issues a call to action to all of us who want to make our country a better place for the working class family and to reinvigorate the Liberal Ideal that "Democrat" once stood for, propelling the Democratic Party forward and enhancing the Party's social relevance to the majority of the working & middle class people. "There is no justifiable neutral position in this search for the soul of the Democratic Party", he tells us.
As he describes the political power movement in this country from the Republic of our Founding Fathers to its current domination by the corporate elite and the Robber Barons of Wall Street, Brad's writing helps to light a fire in the belly of the disenfranchised American people, now losing their jobs and homes in record numbers, and provides us with great ideas as to how we can transfer the Democratic Party once again into the party of the PEOPLE, instead of the party of the entrenched ruling elite.
Progressives and Liberals, he says must "Step Up. Show Up & Speak Up because Now is the Time, This is the Place and We are the People." Pragmatic and insightful, Brad's book is a must read for people who care about their country and their fellow Americans and a handbook for political activists, interested in taking a working role in making our country a better place for ALL of us.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Want to know where America needs to go? READ THIS BOOK Dec 11, 2009
By Wayne M. Williams
For years the Democratic Party and it's leadership have begged and cajoled its rank an file members to give money to the party and their candidates. They have asked citizens to give them their votes based on hopes and dreams while little of value has happened but a slowing of the slide of America its only minor result. This book explains what was happening, why it arrived and who is responsible for the failure of the Party and it's candidates to reverse the direct of the nation.
But even of more value, "Left Turn Only" provides real solutions with real specific ideas for fixing a broken party or starting one anew.
The real bull in the china shop of our nation is "Crony" the corporate capitalistic clown who buys first the Republicans, and now the Democrats. Both have failed, and the Democrats have failed to establish real progressive ideals within the Culture of the party, which now feeds at the same troff of financial payouts for playing the corporate game of greed against the better interests of the public.
If you really want to know what happened and how to move our nation forward... READ THIS BOOK. It is Progressive thought, idealism and vision at its best.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Great Ideals, but Limited Nationwide Appeal Apr 02, 2010
By Alexander R. Clayton
After hearing Brad speak on Lila Garrett's "Connect The Dots" many times, I was really looking forward to reading
this book. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what I was hoping it would be.
While well intentioned and full of progressive passion, ideals and ideas, the first portion of the book is really only meant for Dems, especially California Dems (CDP), and most particularly, the Progressive Caucus wing of the CDP. It's one of those "you have/had to be there" things, which works against his whole premise of inclusiveness. I understand Parker is speaking from his own experience, which is interesting, but for a large part this is really a very local politics book for LA County Dem insiders, and thus, has limited appeal beyond that scope.
Also, Parker seems blind to the fact that so much time and energy are wasted by all the jockeying within the CDP and efforts to work within a convoluted party system with so many ridiculous and arcane bylaws and rules. He never gets into why doing what he and his fellow progressives do within the CDP is better than forming a separate party, working with Greens (and others) or simply creating a movement. This inside look at how "party bidness gets done" (to channel Molly Ivins) illustrates exactly what turns many people off from party politics, especially in light of the two party stranglehold that has corrupted our country.
There is also some weird punctuation in this book, which may only be a personal pet peeve, but it is annoying at times. Semi-colons are often used instead of colons or commas, and a number of places that need commas are not punctuated at all.
On the positive side (and there are a lot of positives), Parker has tremendous passion for progressive ideals and isn't afraid to rankle insiders and outsiders with his views. He's truly a grassroots leader with guts. Much of what is written here is from speeches he's given and articles he's written, so as the subtitle correctly states, this book is more about dispatches than a detailed, organized progressive plan. And there isn't much he's related that I haven't heard before, but a bit of it may be new and illuminating to others. I found the final section (Progressive Economics) to be the most interesting, insightful and useful and think it would be especially helpful for those without a strong background in economics.
Overall, this is a good read for those with a progressive bent and those expanding their horizons, but it relies too heavily on anecdotes, jeremiads, haranguing of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) and faith in reforming the largely corporate Democratic Party from the inside.
4 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Democracy in America for the new era. Nov 08, 2009
By Saydi
Rather than a soapbox rant of idealism and knee jerk reactionary diatribe, Brad Parker's writing is a chronicle of the American political landscape as experienced from the front lines. Oft reminiscent of de Tocqueville, insightful and stirring. This book is the chronicle of our struggle to see the democratic experiment fulfill it's potential. It pulls no punches. A manifesto for progressive thinkers that is an intellectual call to arms in the face of cynicism and quid pro quo politics as usual. Parker pulls back the curtain on the wizard and reveals a circus of lobbyists, fundamentals and snake oil salesmen. Through the collection of essays, shines a sensitivity and optimism that rallies us to educate ourselves, stand up and be counted and most of all, PARTICIPATE. Reader beware, one read through this book will inspire you to not only think but act. See you in the trenches...
2 of 4 found the following review helpful:
The Rise of Progressive Politics on the West Coast Nov 02, 2009
By Margie Murray
"paintergal"
This book details the rise of progressive politics and the powerful grassroots movement in California. The author of the book is one of the major leaders of the movement which is now sweeping the country. The book takes on not only the neo-cons but also the corporate hold on both parties. It is a book for people who care about taking the country back from corporations and the extreme right wing.
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