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Summary: Puts It All in Perspective
Review: Bovard provides us with the big picture regarding the policies of the Clinton Administration, whereas the media has only looked at certain things in isolation. Coming in the wake of the Danforth Commission on Waco, which claims to absolve the government of any fault in the death of the Branch Davidians, Bovard devotes a chapter of his book to the incident. Like many people at the time of the conflagration, I was one of those Americans who thought, "Well, they were a bunch of religious fanatics, whattaya expect?" Therefore, it should be rather sobering to read in "feeling your pain" that BATF agents could have arrested Koresh at any time when he went into town prior to the raid, and that at one point Koresh even invited the ATF to come and inspect the compound, but they refused the invitation. Instead, they opted for a military raid to be covered by the media to bolster the agency's image in the minds of the American people. A lost tv cameraman inadvertently tipped the Davidians off, but knowing this, the ATF tried to storm the compound anyway. The rest, as we know, is history.Civil libertarians should be troubled by the attempts of the administration to limit privacy over our internet commmunications and in banking. The book also gives a good summary of why the military intervention in Kosovo was such a blunder. Interestingly, I just read in the paper this morning that an American serviceman pleaded guilty to raping and murdering an ethnic Albanian girl in Kosovo. Is this what Clinton meant by a humanitarian intervention? Other areas covered include the War on Drugs, agricultural policy, HUD abuses and gun control efforts. I had recently read Bovard's previous book, Freedom In Chains, which I gave 5 stars. One of the weaknesses of "feeling your pain" is that Bovard recycles some of the same material. There are even entire paragraphs that look like they were cut and pasted from "Freedom". But since some of the issues he looks at were the same, I suppose we cannot expect him to reword everything he said. This book also differs from Freedom In Chains thematically. Whereas "Freedom" examined the concepts of freedom and liberty and the conflict between liberty and statism in a philosophical framework, his current work looks at how the Clinton Administration's policies have curtailed or threatened to curtail our liberties in a number of policy areas. While some of Bovard's detractors may dismiss "feeling your pain" as just another Clinton bashing book, Bovard acknowledges that the Republicans would not have had a much better track record on many of these issues if they controlled the White House. This book is a must for anyone who wants ammunition to argue with a die hard Clinton partisan.
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Summary: Another log for the Slick Willie bombfire!
Review: Conservatives will love it and the liberals will cringe. Political junkies will love it too. Enjoy this quick read.
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Summary: Finally, Clinton-Gore Minus Lewinsky!
Review: I can't believe it! Someone finally braved his way through the moronic smokescreen that was "Monicagate" to see the Clinton-Gore years plainly. A great book on the Clinton years that relies on fact, not innuendo.
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Summary: A devastating indictment
Review: I first became acquainted with James Bovard through his book "Lost Rights, the Destruction of American Liberty." That book formed the basis of countless hours of discussion on my radio talk show. "Feeling your Pain" is even better! Bovard has focused on the excesses of one administration --- the anti-rule-of-law years of the Clintonistas. If you have a friend or acquaintance who feels that government is benign -- or who would rather watch pro-wrestling than spend one moment actually discussing politics and government ... then see if you can get them to read just one page from "Feeling your Pain." After they manage to peel themselves off the ceiling they'll become newly aware of the threat present by an Imperial Presidency. Neal Boortz END
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Summary: This book rules
Review: I have read "Lost Rights" and I thought this book was much better.
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Summary: The whole thing right before you very eyes.
Review: I have read over 10 books on the Clinton administration and each one of them has been excellent, this book is another in that line, The author's fact based, well documented approach to the subject matter is nothing short of amazing. In the Clinton spin machine the author breakdown the myths told by the liberal biased and based press to take a look into the most scandal ridden administration in American History, going far beyond the lies, obfuscations and demagoguery you have read and heard. From Ameri-Corps, IRS, affirmative action, FEMA, drugs and drug warfare, free trade, HUD and welfare to the farmers, disabilities, the 2nd amendment, Waco and Ruby Ridge, Janet Reno and Louis Freeh, Kosovo and impeachment, you are given explanations, facts and inside information. You'll read about the scandal after scandal that has plagued the White House, this society and how you have been lied to and what the affect has been and will be. The author holds nothing back and his direct approach is a simply a breath of fresh air.
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Summary: Voter Required Reading
Review: I'll not bore you with a lot of verbage.This book should berequired reading for ALL voting adults.It is simply outrageous....
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Summary: The Real Case For Impeachment Is Made Here
Review: If even half of this remarkable, lucid book is true - and, knowing the author of "Lost Rights" and "Freedom in Chains," there is little question that "Feeling Your Pain" is a searingly factual indictment, and a frightening exposure of the havoc wreaked upon the Constitution and its protected citizenry by the Clinton Administration - Bill Clinton was impeachable for reasons having not a ... thing to do with sexual harassment suits, stained blue dresses, or a little perjury, suborning perjury, or obstructing justice to hide a little extramarital nooky in the Oval Office. And it is just as ... an indictment, if read very carefully, of a Republican Party which held control of Congress for most of the Clinton years and saw fit to do little more than turn around, bend over, and bleat, "Thank you, sir, and may I have another?" at nearly every turn of the Clinton ..., making them accessories to a thorough flouting of the Constitution and trampling of the rights and even lives of individual Americans and what remain of their rights and sovereignty. (I hardly need to say that it indicts a Democratic Party which aided and abetted the turns of Clinton's ... at every last turn, effectively letting him make a monkey out of a party which had already long gone ape in the fever swamps of Statism.) This book should be required reading for anyone who would dare to enter the voting booth on November 7.
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Summary: Propaganda and Soft Money
Review: In an election year when everyone is talking about banning soft money,publications like this add credence to the call. Every penny spent on this book is a contribution towards the political campaigns of right-wing conservatives. The saddest thing, from my perspective, as a conservative,is that so much of the book is untrue conjecture taken out of context to defame the hard work of a lot of federal employees. I am a Republican, a conservative and an employee of one of the federal agencies highlighted in this propaganda piece. I am writing this review as a matter of personal honor, not as an official response from the agency. I am insulted to be referred to indirectly, as a wet nurse for the federal government, out to spread unsolicited money. This attack, meant for President Clinton, timed to hurt Gore, is a slap in the face on a wide swath of dedicated federal employees from all political persuasions. We work hard to make a difference for the Americans who employee us. I can't say that everything in the book is totally untrue. However, in relation to my agency I can honestly say the book is not only way off track, but a collection concocted lies. This would lead me to believe that much of the book has taken a matter of record and swayed it to meet the goals of a political and idealogical agenda. It is also important to remember that the author considers himself a libertarian, and would therefore rail against anything that smacks of government. The author obviously did not study the history of the agency or the laws that set forth my agencies programs. These laws were signed by Presidents Reagan and Bush...Clinton's involvement in the Agency has little to do with the kind of programs we offer. However, I can tell you that the leadership he appointed to our Agency has made a great difference in the way we deliver our services. A difference in the positive. This book ignores the fact that many good people work in these government agencies with the intention of doing public service. It is sad when agendas and political and idealogical battles shade reality to create an image that is not true. Books such as this tear down American's confidence in their government, under the auspices of exposure. However, this book is meant to tear down a man and his Vice President by unleashing an attack on unwitting dedicated civil servants. Let's keep the politics within the confines of the official campaigns and keep the lies out of literature. Let's also call a duck a duck and admit that this book is a political tool meant to sway voters and effect an election. Timing is everything and this book just happens to be released when it can do the most good for a candidate. As a Republican, I am ashamed. As a Federal employee I am outraged. As an American, I am discouraged that we have come this far and stooped this low. You can read the book...just remember that fiction takes many forms and truth that is shaded becomes fiction in any form.
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Summary: A passionate argument for freedom
Review: James Bovard is a passionate man, as anyone who's ever spoken to him will attest. He is also- and this will surprise those who read the title of this book- he is a very non-partisan critic, too. Bovard's enemies are not Democrats, but statists- those peopel who would subjugate the rights of the individuals to those of the group. Readers of his other books, like "The The Farm Fisaco", will attest that Bovard has no more love for statist Republicans than he does for statist Democrats. This book is a good summary of what Bovard- and others- feel are the most aggredious offenses against personal freedom of the last eight years. Fans of Bovard will find familiar ground here, as will fans of books like Virginia Postrel's "The Future and its Enemies". But I would also recommend it to die-hard old school Democrats and ACLU card carrying civil libertarians, who may find themselves more in agreement with Bovard and than they might suspect.
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