Rating: 
Summary: Swinging in All Directions
Review: Yes, this is another book of political complaints and recommendations that has been written specifically for the election year market. As usual, most reviews will be based on each reader's personal agreement with Arianna Huffington's personal politics. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, and I'm probably about to do the same thing myself. So does this politicized tirade have any advantages over the avalanche of others that are currently available, from pundits of all political stripes and intelligence levels? Yes, some very specific advantages. Most importantly, Huffington positions herself as a "Progressive," leading to useful insights from outside the present two-party system.What's unique about this book is that Huffington usually (though not always) succeeds in saving us from yet another partisan whinefest, and she has plenty of vitriol for everyone. Here we have not the usual left vs. right arguments, but down-to-Earth insights for the mass public vs. the privileged few. The "Fanatics" of the book's title are the elite establishment Republicans that Huffington used to party with, especially the current administration, who by relentlessly controlling social thought, have miraculously convinced the public that they actually represent regular people rather than just the mega-rich and corporate campaign contributors. Meanwhile the "Fools" of the title are the Democrats that Huffington now supports in principle, but are too wishy-washy to be anything other than watered-down Republicans. Great column-sized vignettes outlining the sheer ridiculousness of the Bush Administration's policies make up about three quarters of the book, with Huffington's outstanding insights into the severe hypocrisy and lying involved, plus the real-world consequences. However, the tail end of the book is problematic as Huffington outlines what the Democrats can do to fix the situation. Her recommendations are correct and aligned with the great strengths of both the Democrats and the American people. However, her writing on this subject disregards short-term political realities and tends toward the idealism of a wishful, though certainly good, speechwriter - which appears to be Huffington's next career goal. [~doomsdayer520~]
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