2020 or: My Name is Jesus Christ and I'm Running for President - Softcover

Cooper, Mr. Timothy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0961991437 ISBN 13: 9780961991432

Publisher: Americus Press, 2015

Synopsis

Anything can happen in American politics. Especially these days.Timothy Cooper’s novel, “2020 or My Name is Jesus Christ and I’m Running for President” paints a hilariously envisioned America caught up in presidential politics. In actuality, however, it tells the metaphoric and prophetic tale of the rise of Donald Trump in a carnival campaign for American hearts and minds.Here Jesus returns to Earth only to find himself pitted against his satanic stepbrother in an all-out contest for the U.S. presidency; indeed, for the very soul of America. Sound vaguely familiar?And who will win? Well, God only knows; but it's bound to be unlike any political race you’ve ever seen. Ever.And likely will again.Here Goodreads readers weigh in on 2020:"I absolutely loved this book! It was hilarious and at the same time non-heretical. The author did an amazing job portraying a Christ that is non-political in a time when we need a Christ to be involved in our political process."Jesus is not a Republican. Jesus is not a Democrat. Jesus is ... Jesus, and he's got MY vote!" -- Pat Gent, GoodreadsGary Patton from Goodreads also says of 2020, “The thesis of this book will not be liked by Christians. But, Jesus' actual Followers will love it and be empowered by it!”Others have said...“A fantastic read!” –-Bob Lynne, Goodreads.com“If this novel is ever understood it will be deemed a great book.” –-Dean Paul, Goodreads.com

About this title

Review

A political sendup skewers the presidential campaign process.Human rights advocate and author Cooper's (World One, 1990) opus echoes the current state of contemporary unrest inWashington, D.C., and the world at large. In the book's preamble, dejected Democratic National Committee ChairmanJerry McClellan concedes his position in the aftermath of the 2004 presidential election, in which "George W." emergedvictorious and swiftly turned the country's political canvas a Republican shade of red. Dejected, mourning America'sill-fated future, and "happy to have a safe place to hide," McClellan takes up temporary residency in a used bookstore,dusting off a copy of a novel titled My Name Is Jesus Christ and I'm Running for President, agreeing that "Jesus Christwould make for the perfect moral values candidate in 2008!!!" Cooper's ambitious literary undertaking becomes a novelwithin a novel as readers follow McClellan as he devours the anonymously authored story of Jesus' campaign for the2020 presidency. Cooper's serpentine narrative finds the son of God descending from the heavens into Los Angeles onChristmas Eve in 2019 on the first stop of his "Born Again Comeback Tour," which soon becomes his 2020 campaignfor president of the United States. While definitely not for religiously sensitive audiences, the author's eccentric andoften hilarious satire depicts Jesus as a deity who also embodies an Everyman. He pops vitamin B12 and D pills, attendspsychotherapy sessions to process the trauma of his crucifixion, and rubs hand cream into the scars of his stigmata.Meanwhile, alternately narrating in first person, is Jesus' hypercritical, hard-drinking, cocaine-snorting older stepbrother,who tunes into a remote live-feed to watch the Messiah's every move from a Mexican safe house. Commenting that thecharged atmosphere surrounding the deity's revival is "a bit like watching daytime soaps," the stepbrother sees Jesusbeing interviewed by the media about his intentions throughout his Second Coming and beholds the spectacle of areceiving line of Hollywood celebrities like Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, and Bono. Both ArnoldSchwarzenegger and Nancy Pelosi make feverish pitches to become Jesus' disciples. Jesus is soon persuaded by thepeople to run for presidential office as a Democrat, but his stepbrother steps in as the opposing Republican candidate in aheated race complete with debates, Arab terrorists, and Stephen Colbert. This melodrama more closely resembles awhirlwind kaleidoscopic fever dream than a campaign trail chronology. By incorporating both first-person narratives ofJesus and his malevolent stepbrother, the novel becomes a unique and humorous political caricature parodying thecountry's electoral process, its numerous hypocrisies and mudslinging behaviors, and (if thinly veiled) Donald Trump'scabinet selection process. The rousing tale's drawbacks, which include its meandering exposition and numeroustypographical errors ("River Jordon"; "Long Ranger's"; "Katherine Hepburn"), will perhaps be forgiven by readersenthralled by Cooper's creatively inspired grasp on the concept of farcical political lampooning.A rambling, curious, convoluted entertainment tailor-made for fans of political fiction who want a fantastical, vividlyrealized escape from the bizarro reality of contemporary government. - Kirkus Reviews

Edition details

• Publisher: Americus Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0961991437
• ISBN 13: 9780961991432
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 555