Governor Ed Rendell explains why America's leaders rarely call for sacrifice for the greater good—to avoid making any sacrifices themselves!
Rendell has seen job security become the primary consideration of any person with power in America—their own job security! Most politicians and bureaucrats can see no further ahead than the next election, sometimes no further than the next press conference. Americans are rarely afraid of sacrifice and hard work when they mean building a better future, but when was the last time you heard of a leader of anything making a sacrifice for the greater good? The people can only win when they make it clear to the powers that be that making the right choices, even the hard ones, is the key to winning the next election.
Introduction 1
1 The Wussification of America 5
2 “We’re Mad as Hell and We’re Not Going to Take it Anymore!” 11
3 “I Wear Blue, Take Me Too!” 21
4 Only a Smart Jewish Lawyer Can Turn This City Around 29
5 The Truth about Waste, Fraud, and Abuse 35
6 “Fast Eddie, We Are Ready!” 47
7 What’s a Nice Jewish Boy Doing Holding Hands with Louis Farrakhan? 57
8 “We Don’t Cover Plane Landings!” 63
9 “Harper Valley PTA” 69
10 Animals I Have Known 83
11 How to Get Uninvited to a Christmas Party You Were Never Invited To 91
12 How My Love Affair with Philadelphia Made Me Governor 99
13 Lobbyists’ Rule: No Money for School 105
14 “Behold the Turtle” 111
15 How Two Young Non-Wuss Pittsburgh Women Stared Down the Haitian and US Governments 117
16 Sports and Politics 127
17 “Like a Sturgeon” 137
18 “Hillary, Hillary . . .” 143
19 Change We Can Believe In: How the Best Communicator in Campaign History
Has Been Badly Outcommunicated as President 151
20 “Know When to Fold ’Em” 159
21 Please, Please Don’t Honor Me 167
22 Build, Baby, Build: “Infrastructure,” the Least Sexy Word in the English Language 173
23 Stand and Defend: There Are Some Things Worth Losing For 183
24 “The Charge of the Wuss Brigade!” 193
25 Does Government Create Jobs? 197
26 Is Honesty the Best Policy? 203
27 The Top Ten Reasons Why Most American Politicians Are Wusses 209
28 How to Get Our Democracy Back on Track—Electoral Reform 217
Conclusion 225
Acknowledgments 231
Index 233
Anonymous
Posted January 3, 2013
This man doesn't pull his punches, as he talks about the waste and wrong doings of politics. It's refreshingly great.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 21, 2012
I do not read that many books unless they are tech manuals or Tom Clancey books. But as for Mr Ed Rendell. I heard about him while I was overseas. But to read about what he has done. Was incredable. After all Philadelphia is one city that if you mess up they let you know.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 10, 2012
If you know rendell as a no nonsense straight shooter, you will like this book. He keeps the pace fast and light, but i learned a lot.
Anonymous
Posted July 5, 2012
And for those not familar with his style, he is witty, open and does not hold back even though it may not be the popular thing to say.
In a world where politics has become much ado about saying what is percieved as appealing to the electorate and the pundits & less about the truth, it is very refreshing.
Not often you hear a politician saying he made a mistake!
Anonymous
Posted December 24, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted November 9, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Governor Ed Rendell explains why America's leaders rarely call for sacrifice for the greater good—to avoid making any sacrifices themselves!
Rendell has seen job security become the primary consideration of any person with power in America—their own job security! Most politicians and bureaucrats can see no further ahead than the next election, sometimes no further than the next press conference. Americans are rarely afraid of sacrifice and hard work when they mean building a ...