By Rowan Wolf, Uncommon Thought Journal
Note: there is a drive to move this book to the top of Amazon.com on September 1, 2009. I highly encourage folks to buy one or more copies at Amazon where it is currently $13.57 - 2 or more will give you free shipping.
I recommend David Swanson's Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union without reservation. This book accomplishes two critical things. One, it clearly documents the power grab and crimes of the Bush administration. Two, it provides a field manual for a social movement to put the people (us) back within the balance of powers.
David Swanson (co-founder of After Downing Street, creator of ProsecuteBushCheney, and Washington Director of Democrats.com) is the author of Daybreak. The book is an excellent documentation of the theft of our democracy. Swanson presents a thoroughly documented analysis of the creation of the imperial presidency. This grounding is fundamental for citizens to have the tools to counter the blather that passed as news and neo-con talking points for eight years - and continues now as the talking heads try to block any investigation of those crimes.
David Swanson also provides suggestions and strategies for an activist citizen's movement to (1) address the undermining of the Constitution and balance of powers, and (2) to return citizen voice and power to the ruling of our nation.
One of the issues that people across the political spectrum should agree on, is the long term threat that the powers stolen by the Bush presidency will pass from President to President unless they are challenged. Swanson (and most in the impeachment movement) are aware of this as well. There is a consistent effort to paint those who want thorough investigations - with prosecution where warranted and legislative remedy where needed - as wanting "revenge," or having "political" interests, or just "Bush Bashers." However, we know and Swanson makes clear, the stakes are much higher - the future of any functioning democracy in the United States.
This book is more than a "read it" book. Swanson has created a reference manual for activists. Daybreak is chock full of organizational strategy and mechanisms. It provides a vision of what a citizen involved democracy in the United States could look like - and how to get there.
My recommendation: Get it, read it, share it. Kudos and thanks to David Swanson.
