Subjects:  1. General    2. History & Theory - General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Constitution: government & the state    7. Liberalism & centre democratic ideologies    8. Political Science / History & Theory    9. Political structures: democracy    10. Politics | Political Theory   

Subjects:  1. Constitutions    2. Film & Video - General    3. General    4. History: American    5. Media Studies    6. Military - General    7. Political Science    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    10. Reference    11. Films, cinema    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    13. USA   

Reviews (25)

A Clear Understanding
As a student preparing to take the LSAT and begin Law School, I am very glad this book was recommended to me.This book gives an in depth history to the constitution.Before reading The Tempting by America I never really looked too far into the Constitution other than when it was required for an American Government course.I also never really sought the true meaning and interpretation of laws and different rulings in certain cases.Mr. Bork's explanation and theory helps to understand the history of the Constitution and shows the reader that it actually goes beyond assumptions and opinions.There are many false assumptions linked to the Constitution and Mr. Bork puts those assumptions into perspective and shows why they are simply assumptions rather than facts.
Deceptively Tempting
Bork's Tempting of America is really three short books combined together: a (conservative) history of constitutional law; a defense of his theory of "original understanding"; and, a memoir of his confirmation battle. This review focuses on the second. Essentially, Bork argues that the only way to constrain judicial policy-making is to force judges to ground their decisions in the original understanding of the provision at the time of enactment. Unfortunately, while compelling in the abstract, roughly 20 years of originalists on the Court (primarily Justice Thomas, though also Scalia and Rehnquist also) has demonstrated that it is simply another tool to reach a justice's policy preference. Justices simply emphasize the history that supports their position (see federalism cases) or simply ignore the history when it happens to run counter, almost totally, to their preferred policy (affirmative action, takings). Thus, rather than being a constraint on judicial activism, originalism is simply another way for conservatives to engage in activism while pretending to be morally superior to the liberal activists.
Magnificent Work
This is simply a superb book.There isn't much else to say!If you want to understand what is going on in the battles over SC nominees, read this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. Constitutions    3. General    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Political Science / Constitutions    9. Social Sciences    10. USA   

Reviews (2)

Betrayal: German Churches and the Holocaust by Robert P. Ericksen
The Twisted Cross is the topic in "Betrayal: German Churches and the Holocaust" by Robert P. Ericksen. A lot of research has been done about the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSGWP) and its infamous swastika symbol. All of the work failed to make the biggest news-breaking discovery about the swastika symbol. Although the swastika was an ancient symbol, the noted cryptologist and symbologist Dr. Rex Curry (author of "Swastika Secrets") discovered that it was also used sometimes by German National Socialists to represent meshed "S" letters for their "socialism."
Chilling expose of Anti-semitism in the Church
Half a century after the Holocaust, surely it is time for those of us who are Christian to face, acknowledge, and examine the truly horrifying streams of anti-semitism that have been part of even "main stream" Christianity for so long. This is a virtually untold historythat will shock almost all readers who think of themselves as Chritians,and it should. It is probably the least well known aspect of the ThirdReich, and raises very sensitive issues about Christian theologies (andtheologians) which have been unable or unwilling to learn from thishistory. From the startling photograph on the cover, to the last page, thisbook is a powerful wake-up call! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1933-1945    2. 20th century    3. Antisemitism    4. Christianity and antisemitism    5. Church and state    6. Europe - Germany    7. Germany    8. History    9. History: World    10. Holocaust    11. Judaism And Christianity    12. Military - World War II    13. Religion    14. Religion - Church History    15. Religion, Politics & State    16. Christian institutions & organizations    17. Christian theology    18. Constitution: government & the state    19. Europe    20. European history: Second World War    21. Judaism    22. Racism & racial discrimination    23. The Holocaust   

Editorial Review

Federalist accounts of U.S. history are like fluoride in the water: no strong taste or odor, its something you grow up ingesting in order to strengthen the civic faith of America's citizens. But forget about Valley Forge, "I can not tell a lie," and all the other federalist propaganda you soaked up in civics class and consider for a moment that George Washington was a bald-faced liar and a poor military leader, that Benjamin Franklin was the true "father of his country" who fought with crypto-monarchists Alexander Hamilton and John Adams to preserve republican institutions, and that the Constitution drafted in 1787 was a sorry compromise of the revolution's ideals and an inadequate basis for republican government. Read more

Reviews (27)

An eye-opening political thriller...
Can historical source material make for an exciting and engaging read? This book answers that question in the extreme affirmative. It contains documents mainly from the 18th century, but it reads like a political thriller. It also provides valuable peeks into the formation of the United States as we know it today. Magma hot controversy surrounded that formation. The press on all sides fervently spewed accusations that seem nearly heretical even today. Did John Adams want to be king? Was George Washington a bumbling and incompetent general? Did the French win the revolution for us, thanks to the diplomatic powers of Benjamin Franklin? Was Thomas Jefferson an atheistical French sympathizer? In light of these claims, Who is really the "father of our country?" Many unconventional opinions see light in this book. Some cherished political figures get shredded to bits, sometimes by their own words and sometimes by the words of others. In the end, no one is safe from abuse. Not even Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Shocking claims await on almost every page.
All The News?
It pains me to give American Aurora a relatively negative review, as the book was entertaining and well-prepared. I must do so, however, because the book offers only part of the story. James Thomas Callendar is one of the most amusing characters of early American history -- the forefather of folks like Walter Winchell and Matt Drudge, the first American "scandalmonger," as William Safire calls him. But he was motivated by money and personal pique, embracing and denouncing Washington, Adams, and Jefferson in turn to sell papers and whenever he felt one had slighted his ambitions. American Aurora focuses only on the period of the Alien and Sedition Acts and Callendar's campaign against Adams. The book makes Callendar out to be a John Peter Zenger-caliber hero of free expression, ignoring the fact that Callendar once praised Adams, and would later tarnish Jefferson -- Callendar's hero in American Aurora -- and breaking the story of Sally Hemings. This is a fun read. Too bad it's not the whole truth.

Imagine that !
It's hard to imagine how a twenty-fifth 5-star review can do any more to convince anyone to read this book... But I will try!Read more

Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. Aurora general advertiser    3. Constitutions    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History - U.S.    7. History: American    8. Journalism    9. Press    10. Press and politics    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. History / United States / Revolutionary Period (1775-1800)    14. History of specific subjects    15. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    16. USA   

Subjects:  1. Constitutions    2. Europe - Great Britain - General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations    6. English law: constitutional & administrative    7. Political Science / Constitutions    8. Political structure & processes    9. Wales   

Reviews (3)

Mr. Davis delivers again!
Mr. Davis' well-earned reputation for writing excellence on the War Between the States shows yet again in this treatise on the early days of the Confederacy, the REAL reasons for secession, and the personalities who played pivotal roles in the birth of this brief-lived nation. If you get the chance to hear Mr. Davis lecture on this subject at a Civil War Round Table meeting, go. His speaking skills are as exceptional as his writing.

Confederate government in Montgomery
William C."The writing Machine" Davis has a very readable style that is so fluid you read without realizing it! He is a very interesting writer in that he brings color to history. Davis performs wonderfully on describing the factions existing within the legislative congress that created the confederacy. He draws from the letters of a great deal of the political giants of the provisional Confederate government and also uses a chronological approach to portray events of the creation of the Confederate government in Montgomery, Alabama. He concentrates mostly on the legislative events in the first few months of 1861; although, he descriptively and almost in detail paints a verbal portrait of the view of Montgomery. This book is definitely a good buy for someone wishing to learn about the Southern Confederate Constitutional convention!

Well-written account of founding of Confederate Government
I read this book this past year not having anything more than a general idea of Confederate history although I am a lawyer and very interested in U.S. constitutional legal history.I thought Prof. Davis did an excellent job of telling the story of the people and political forces which resulted ultimately in the writing and issuance of the Confederate Constitution.Davis's writing style is engaging, fast paced yet informative.The story "flowed," and the book was a "page turner."I felt he "got inside the head" of the principals of whom he wrote.I found that I particularly liked and was interested and intrigued by the figure of Alexander Stevens ("Little Aleck").Davis's book made me want to read more about the Confederacy and about this remarkable Southern politician who served as the South's vice president ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1861-1865, Civil War    2. Causes    3. Confederate States of America    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History - U.S.    7. History: World    8. Politics and government    9. Secession    10. U.S. History - Civil War And Reconstruction (1860-1877)    11. United States    12. United States - Civil War    13. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    14. Constitution: government & the state    15. History / General    16. USA    17. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. 4th Amendment    2. Constitution.    3. Constitutional    4. Constitutions    5. Criminal Law - General    6. History    7. Law    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    10. Searches and seizures    11. United States    12. United States.    13. Constitutional & administrative law    14. Courts & procedure    15. Jurisprudence & General Issues    16. Political Science / Law Enforcement    17. UNITED STATES_CONSTITUTION    18. USA    19. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. International organization    3. Political Process - General    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Public Policy - General    8. Sovereignty    9. World politics    10. Constitution: government & the state    11. Political Science / Public Policy   

Subjects:  1. 1930-1997    2. 1960-1997    3. Central Intelligence Agency    4. Congo (Democratic Republic)    5. General    6. Mobutu Sese Seko,    7. Political History    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. U.S. Government - Intelligence Agencies    12. United States.    13. Angola    14. Constitution: government & the state    15. Defence strategy, planning & research    16. Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)    17. International relations    18. Mobutu Sese Seko    19. USA    20. c 1960 to c 1970    21. c 1970 to c 1980    22. c 1980 to c 1990    23. c 1990 to c 2000   

Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. Great Britain    3. Policy networks    4. Political Process - General    5. Political planning    6. Politics - Current Events    7. Politics and government    8. Reference   

Subjects:  1. 1991-    2. General    3. Government - Comparative    4. Political Ideologies - Democracy    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics and government    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Post-Communism    10. Russia (Federation)    11. Social conditions    12. Constitution: government & the state    13. Political Science / General    14. Russia   

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Constitutions    3. Freedom of expression    4. Freedom of religion    5. Freedom of speech    6. History    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Political Science    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Sources    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. American history    14. Constitutional & administrative law    15. History, American    16. International Law    17. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / United States / General    18. Political control & freedoms    19. USA   

Reviews (1)

Very good introduction to state constitutions
A surprising number of people are unaware that their state has a constitution. I once had a friend who asked me if Rhode Island had a constitution, which shocked me since he was an intelligent law studentwho had lived in Rhode Island for years. When the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court legalized gay marriage, many people asked me whether the US Supreme Court would reverse or uphold that decision and I had to explain why the US Court could not hear the case, to many confused looks. Tarr provides an excellent history of state constitutions through analysis of trends over each of the last three centuries. This analysis demonstrates that the standard dismissal of state constitutions because they embrace "legislation" rather than "great concepts" is illegitimate because state constitutions have had to adapt to different requirements and necessities than the federal constitution has had to deal with.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Government - State & Provincial    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Constitution: government & the state    7. Law / Constitutional    8. Political Science and International Relations    9. Political science & theory    10. USA   

Reviews (4)

clarifies isses
I should have writen this years ago. I was an administrrative law judge for a stte agency. This can be described as a judicial role in a government (bureucratic) agency.(This has been described as, for the citizen dealing with the government,"where the rubber meets the road".) Most often the bureaucratic pressures overcome the judicial aspect which we brag about to the public. This book can help analyze the issues and alternatives that come up every day. As far as I know no political science scholar nor management expert has commented on these problems.nigel wright schenectady NY nwright@nycap.rr.com

An excellent reference for understanding legal process
This book was a very pleasant surprise in my research on legal process.By resorting to pure models, Damaska presents clear contrasts between the adversarial or reactive justice system and the inquisitional or policyimplementing justice system.By focusing on the pure models, the impact ofchanges in justice systems become easier to analyze.Damaska has a uniqueability to make clear in a few sentences what was previously confused. Damaska does not advocate one justice system over another; he simplydemonstrates issues that may arise when pure models are altered. As someoneinvolved in the American legal system, Damaska has provided insight intothe philosophical workings of our legal system and with that insight,changes in legal procedure particularly are better understood.

An excellent reference for understanding legal process
This book was a very pleasant surprise in my research on legal process.By resorting to pure models, Damaska presents clear contrasts between the adversarial or reactive justice system and the inquisitional or policyimplementing justice system.By focusing on the pure models, the impact ofchanges in justice systems become easier to analyze.Damaska has a uniqueability to make clear in a few sentences what was previously confused. Damaska does not advocate one justice system over another; he simplydemonstrates issues that may arise when pure models are altered. As someoneinvolved in the American legal system, Damaska has provided insight intothe philosophical workings of our legal system and with that insight,changes in legal procedure particularly are better understood. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. Comparative Law    3. Courts    4. Justice, Administration of    5. Law    6. Law and politics    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Political aspects    9. Reference    10. Constitution: government & the state    11. Law / Civil Procedure    12. State governments   

Subjects:  1. History & Theory - General    2. International    3. Nationalism    4. Political Process - General    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Self-determination, National    9. State succession    10. Civil war    11. Constitution: government & the state    12. Human rights    13. Liberalism & centre democratic ideologies    14. Political Science / History & Theory    15. Politics | Political Theory   

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. General    3. Lawyers & Judges    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    6. Sociology    7. Constitution: government & the state    8. Constitutional & administrative law    9. FREEDOM OF SPEECH    10. HOLMES, OLIVER WENDELL, 1841-1935    11. Human rights    12. JUDICIAL PROCESS    13. Political Science / Civil Rights    14. UNITED STATES_SUPREME COURT    15. USA   

Reviews (14)

Unreliable
This book is not serious scholarship, it is merely an op-ed piece. The author, Michael Parenti does not provide any footnotes to back up his claims; strange coming from a scholar from Yale. No matter how much is said that conforms to my beliefs about politics it simply cannot be relied on as there is almost no evidence within.

Must read for All Americans
like the other reviewer said...yes, it's life changing! i first read about this book in college, and before that, I have never questioned about what I read in text books, in the news of our media...this book opend up my eyes to a different view of the world around us...no matter you are democrat, republican, hippis, conservatives, please read this book and it will forever remind you to keep an open mind and an open eye...because that's what it did for me! i recommend this to everyone, because it's thought provoking, it challenges you interllectually...I believe this book has created many new critical thinker of our time!

Life-changing
Young or old, democrat of republican, critic or patriot, this book will change how you view America and the world as a whole. Not a list of opinions by some political pundit, this book specializes in FACTS - and the facts are troubling. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1989-    2. Foreign relations    3. General    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. History - General History    6. International Relations - General    7. Politics/International Relations    8. U.S. Foreign Relations    9. United States    10. Constitution: government & the state    11. Cultural studies    12. History / General    13. USA   

Subjects:  1. China    2. Europe    3. Europe - General    4. International Relations - Diplomacy    5. International Relations - General    6. Political History    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. State, The    12. To 221 B.C    13. War    14. World politics    15. Constitution: government & the state    16. Political Science / General    17. Political economy   

Subjects:  1. Constitutional law    2. Constitutions    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Law    5. Politics / Current Events    6. United States    7. United States - General    8. Constitution: government & the state    9. Constitutional & administrative law    10. Political Science / Constitutions    11. USA