Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Wilson baits the hook with a front section that Trump critics will enjoy (and that his supporters will be angered by. Then again, will any Trump supporters really read this? Sarcastic humor aside, Wilson's introductory section--the many ways Trump has damaged our country-- would read like an alternate universe to the narrative Trump & his GOP and media supporters tell.) Wilson makes it clear that--as a long--time Republican strategist-turned-#NeverTrumper--he isn't trying to change Trump supporters with this book. He's written it for Democrats--and he doesn't think they're going to like it. The first third of the book he describes--with sometimes biting humor--why Donald Trump has already put American democracy in danger, is promoting a dangerous white nationalism, and is a racist. Preventing him from having a second term should be a priority, Wilson argues, including for conservative Republicans like himself. To give you an idea, he describes Trump's first term as a "kleptocratic festival of crony capitalism, lobbyist giveaways, consumer-screwing protections for predatory lenders, environmental rapine, immigration cruelty, and fiscal insanity..." Yet this, he believes, is just "the warm up act. In the second [term]. all political restraints are off." The first third of the book expands on his thesis about the harm Trump has done and will continue to do: dangerous judicial appointees changing the courts (including the SC) for generations; destruction of the environment, irresponsible and ultimately harmful economic decisions, abuse of immigrants, destroying relations with America's allies while strengthening relationships with dictators and undermining the image of American ideals abroad. All this and more--"the madness, the narcissism, the eccentricities, the pathological lying, the delusions of both perssecution and grandeur...." The relentless bullying and attacks on anyone who criticizes or opposes him. The effort to suppress and intimidate a free press. No, Wilson is not a fan. And he makes no bones about how Trump is a terrible role model for young people learning that rudeness, disrespect for differences, bullying and even outright hatred of fellow Americans who are "them" vs. Trump supporters' "us". Trump may say he's done more than "any president in history" and boasts of his foreign policy. But Wilson disagrees, writing, "We're suffering from diminished credibility, influence and security in the world." Wilson knows that Trump supporters have already stopped reading, and Trump's critics have enjoyed Part 1. But this has only been a set-up. He is reinforcing and amplifying his message that Trump is a danger who must be defeated. Must not be reelected. It's up to Democrats to make that happen and Wilson, the political strategist, worries that Democrats will blow it. That's what this book is mainly about: Wilson's advice for defeating Donald Trump. He is not at all sure that Democrats will take it, including the controversial recommendation to not elect Bernie Sanders as he believes it would give Trump a win in "45 states" I don't want to give away too much of Wilson's book--Democrats really should think about his ideas, including the idea that--running against Trump--it's a mistake to emphasize politics, since that creates a vulnerability that the GOP is expert at exploiting (and usually can't be done unilaterally by a president anyway). He believes "Democrats are fighting a cult and a cult leader, and until they realize that the referendum against Trump is about TRUMP, he has the winning hand." In other words, it's not about exciting the base with new policies--its about talking about Democrats' policies in comparison with what Trump does. "This race must be a referendum on Trump, or the Democrats will lose." Who could deny that Democrats' messaging is notoriously weak, while Republicans like Trump know how to stay on the attack, keeping the message SIMPLE and knowing the importance of REPETITION--and doing it? Wilson thinks simple, fact-based messages are key to voter turn-out. Democrats may not agree with all that he says--it is hard to say new policies, idealistically presented won't be enough to win--but they should read this and really think about it. Wilson's got expertise in this--messaging--and Republicans often do it better than Democrats even when the messaging isn't true (like, as Wilson says, "I'll build a wall and make Mexico pay for it!") Democrats should read this. Hopefully, someone will give copies not only to the candidates, but also to Tom Perez.