The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship Has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America - Hardcover

Brownstein, Ronald

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1594201390 ISBN 13: 9781594201394

Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The, 2007

Synopsis

A respected political commentator presents a large-scale analysis of the forces that have contributed to the bitter partisan divides in today's political arena, drawing on historical factors while citing such elements as congressional rule changes, a rise in special-interest pressure groups, and a vastly changed media environment. 50,000 first printing.

About this title

About the Author

Ronald Brownstein is national political correspondent and columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He has been named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of both the 1996 and 2004 presidential elections. The author or editor of five previous books, he appears regularly as an analyst for CNN and on other television programs such as Meet the Press and Charlie Rose.

Reviews

Starred Review. With this intelligent and expansive book, Los Angeles Times political correspondent and columnist Brownstein dissects the hyperpartisanship that he believes has unnecessarily inflamed our differences and impeded progress against our most pressing challenges. The first half of the book examines the roots of this hyperpartisanship, beginning with the 1896 election of William McKinley, which the author argues ushered in four decades of fierce partisan division. The 1938 resurgence of the Republican Party marked the start of the age of bargaining, with presidents and legislators crossing party lines to govern through consensus. The author believes both parties became more ideologically consistent during the 1960s, resulting in a sorting out of the electorate that eventually led to today's partisan divisiveness. This thorough history lays the groundwork for Brownstein's incisive analysis of the contemporary Republican and Democratic parties. He resists blaming any one party or president for the state of contemporary American politics, instead attributing partisan divisions to interest groups, changes in congressional rules and practices and the realignment of the parties and electorate. This sophisticated though lengthy book lays out a complex history with lucid precision, painting a damning portrait of contemporary politics that's sure to provoke and captivate readers interested in American politics and history. (Nov. 1)
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Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1594201390
• ISBN 13: 9781594201394
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 496