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The Human Zoo/August 24, 2011
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Notes from around The Human Experience...
CAPSULE BOOK REVIEW: Presidential Leadership: 15 Decisions That Changed the Nation, By Nick Ragone: Fun with books like this is their subjectivity. Certainly Ragone could write a book about 15 more presidential decisions that changed this country that left out the 15 in this book and the second book would still be a book of substance. Others, of course, the tedious types who you usually just want to choke, might get their jollies quibbling over what was and was not included in a book of this sort, but that is of no particular consequence. Personally, we are pleased to wallow in the author's subjectivity.
Ragone did his work and this book is a great history lesson. From Washington personally suppressing the Whiskey Rebellion to Jackson smacking the nullifiers around to Theodore Roosevelt creating a new nation where only a Colombian province had once existed in order to get the Panama Canal built, the book is a either a fun review of stories you are already familiar with or a rather thorough introduction if you're not as up on your history as you should be.
WTF? We're not surprised there was a dearth of earth-shattering presidential decisions from the latter part of the 20th century. Johnson is in there for his civil rights efforts and Nixon for going to China and Ford made it for pardoning Nixon. Absent though are presidents Carter, both Bush's and Clinton, though Obama is in there for his healthcare efforts, though those are being shot down in the courts right now and was included more its potential, kind of like Obama's Nobel Prize, which was more or less a Rookie of the Year award.
We Digress/Get Your Official Writer's Shack Policy Right Here: Obama's healthcare plan should be shot down. The purpose of government is to provide for the liberty of its citizens not mandate everyone buy health insurance.
Oh Jesus H/Stop Us If You've Heard This Before: We're not surprised by the absence of most late 20th century presidents.
We've whined about this fairly regularly: this country really hasn't been led since Kennedy, we've been managed. Johnson tried, but was hindered both by the sheer folly of trying to eliminate poverty, but also by Vietnam. Nixon was a crook. Ford had no chance, especially after he pardoned Nixon. Carter wasn't up to the challenge. Reagan had some merit, but himself was the most managed president in history, which set a precedent this country still has yet to recover from. The first Bush was ineffective which we found kind of surprising because based on another book we've been reading George H. W. Bush has more or less been running the country since he was in prep school anyway. There was always something with Clinton. Bush II wasn't smart enough to be elected alderman much less president. Obama issues some pretty good rhetoric but he is either unwilling or unable to show any real leadership.
Back On Message: In fact, someone whose only substantive frame of reference for the US presidency is from Carter on through today may well read about Washington, Jefferson, both Roosevelts, Andrew Jackson, Harry Truman and company and ask themselves "What the hell happened? Where the hell's our leadership?"
Standard Internet Disclaimer: Though Gaylon is rather well read he is not Einstein for Pete's sake and is not a professional book reviewer. Reviews are based on his own personal tastes, are completely subjective and not measured against established literary standards. He has a habit of re-reading selected favorites and books that were published as early as the 20th century.
We Interrupt This Program For A Word From The Ratings Department: Following Is The Official Writer's Shack Capsule Review Rating scale:
EX - Excellent; as good as the medium can produce in every respect.
VG - Very Good. Well worth your time.
GD - Good. More or less worth your time.
AR - All Right. Not completely without merit.
SP - Nothing of substance; a steaming pile, utterly without merit.
Standard Internet Disclaimer: Though Gaylon is rather well read he is not Einstein for Pete's sake and is not a professional book reviewer. Reviews are based on his own personal tastes, are completely subjective and not measured against established literary standards. He has a habit of re-reading selected favorites and books that were published as early as the 20th century.
Final Rating: VG. Ragone's research is impressive, his writing rather scholarly without being stuffy. If US history and/or the presidency does not interest you all that much, you may want to pass, but anyone with more than a passing interest in these subjects will enjoy Presidential Leadership: 15 Decisions That Changed The Nation.
MORE GREAT MOMENTS IN BILL VEECK: A few days after sending a midget to the plate for his St. Louis Browns, Veeck leaves the decision making for that day's ballgame against the Philadelphia A's to about a thousand fans sitting behind first base on this date in 1951. He gives cards that say 'yes' and 'no' and the fans use them to vote on strategy and whatnot throughout the game.
It works, too, with the Browns winning. The A's got three in the first, but so did the Browns, who also added single runs in the third and the eighth. With the win the Browns move to within just eight-and-a-half games of the A's in the race for seventh place in the American League.
Thanks For The Memories: Pluto is downgraded from full planet status by the wizards at the International Astronomical Union on this date in 2006.
SMH: We've never understood this. Pluto had been a full-fledged planet since its discovery in 1930 and seven decades later it's not good enough anymore?
We don't like to throw our power and influence around too often here, but Pluto still enjoys full planet status here at the Writer's Shack.
Thought For The Day: …you are deluded by men who are either deceived themselves or wish to deceive you. President Andrew Jackson, the Nullifcation Proclamation, December 11, 1832.
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: The last trivia question is withdrawn. It was poorly worded. We regret, though are not particularly surprised by, this.
Today's Stumper: Who was the St. Louis Browns manager in 1951? - Answer next time!
Comments? Recipes? Complaints? Email the Writer's Shack here!
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