The Daily Report Bump

Embedded combat journalist Bing West has written a new book about the successful strategies the US military has employed in Iraq.  As he explained to Stephen Colbert, the Sunni Muslims have taken sides with the US because they align themselves with “the strongest tribe”.  Of course this raises a number of questions.  Such as “What does that mean for the Shi’a?”, “Isn’t this giving away secret military intelligence?”, and “Why does this guy think it is okay to refer to the people of a modern civilized nation as a tribe?”  Perhaps the book holds the answers.

The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq
Bing West
ISBN: 978-1-4000-6701-5
Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9781400067015.html

An exciting and timely book about the world’s largest country and the Olympics’ most ostentatious host, China.  Philip Pan explained to Jon Stewart that the government is still very authoritarian, but its economic success has largely legitimized its power.  Although China is experiecing greater growth than the world has ever seen, they still remain somewhat below the level of “superpower”, and many Westerners feel that the Party and the lack of civil liberties are their greatest obstacles.  I have yet to see any hard evidence that China is really as bad as it sounds - their surveillance is similar to the UK’s, and the US has proved that press freedom does not always lead to an informed nation.  In focusing on China’s lacks, many have overlooked their successes - this book promises to do both, and I am looking forward to the read.

Out of Mao’s Shadow: The Struggle for the Soul of a New China
Philip Pan
ISBN: 978-1416537052
Website: http://www.outofmaosshadow.com/the-book/

Selfishness, rudeness, and solipsism have become the norms of human behavior - at least according to author Dick Meyer.  Sounds like a fascinating topic.  Unfortunately, Stephen Colbert led this guy around like a guy walking his dog.  Some people can’t stand up to Colbert’s interview style, and unfortunately for them, it really gets in the way of their book reports.  Mr. Meyer would be better suited to a more relaxed and focused interview program, in which he could really discuss his poignant anecdotes without being interrupted.

Why We Hate Us: American Discontent In the New Millenium
Dick Meyer
ISBN: 978-0-307-40662-0
Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/dickmeyer/

Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) is a Cuban immigrant who now sits on the US Senate.  He recounted stories about living through the Cuban missile crisis to Jon Stewart during his appearance.  The Daily Show doesn’t get too many Republican congressmen on the show, so I assume this McCain backer is fairly moderate.  As you might have guessed, he’s all for deep-water drilling, as long as it doesn’t negatively impact Florida’s tourist economy.

A Sense of Belonging: From Castro’s Cuba to the US Senate, One Man’s Pursuit of the American Dream
Senator Mel Martinez
ISBN: 978-0-307-44937-5
Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780307449375.html

Jane Mayer visited The Colbert Report to discuss her book about the war on terror.  Her thesis seems to be that the war on terror has been poorly conducted, and American decisions in that war have undermined the Constitution and basic ethics.  Well, yeah.  She deftly sidestepped Stephen’s attempts to force her into untenable defenses, staying on message and speaking with conviction the whole time.

The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War On Terror Turned Into a War On American Ideals
Jane Mayer
ISBN: 978-0-385-52639-5
Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780385526395.html

Pulitzer winner Ron Suskind shared a few choice stories with Jon Stewart tonight, some of which should lead to impeachment.  Unfortunately, Iraq has already happened, and nobody wants to play the blame game anymore.  Still, Suskind thinks that straightening up and flying right is the only way to regain the moral authority that allows America to crusade for just causes.  Personally, I think the problem is not that our moral authority is lacking, but that our moral authority is seen as a balance for atrocity.  We are talking about war here!

The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope In the Age of Extremism
Ron Suskind
ISBN: 978-0061430626
Website: http://www.ronsuskind.com/thewayoftheworld/

Jorge Ramos is one of the most famous newscasters in America, the voice of the news in the fastest growing ethnic community in the world.  He’s actually more popular in Los Angeles and New York than the local news national affiliate teams, even though his show is only on cable.  But he’s no Esteban Colberto.  He actually seems to be interested in the Latino struggle in America, and thinks the explosion of the Lation population (both legal and illegal) is a good thing for everyone.  His book is more of a personal story than a journalistic effort.  Hey, at least it’s in English.

The Gift of Time: Letters From a Father
Jorge Ramos
ISBN: 978-0061353109
Website: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061353109/The_Gift_of_Time/index.aspx

Stephen Colbert doesn’t win Peabody Awards because he’s handsome.  He wins them because he argues like a drunken brick wall against things he actually believes.  Tonight was no exception.  He almost convinced author and anti-conservative Thomas Frank that the government was a business, and should be run like one.  His pronouncement that voters were basically shareholders was both preposterous and oddly reasonable.  Only someone who can see exactly how ridiculous such ideas are will understand this show.  Which puts The Colbert Report in a class above the rest.

The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule
Thomas Frank
ISBN: 978-0805079883
Website: http://tcfrank.com/books/the-wrecking-crew/

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Jon Stewart talked about the beautiful irony of the hardcover version of his book about Democrats winning the election.  It featured a supportive blurb by then front-runner Senator Hilary Clinton (D-NY) on the cover.  Now that his book has been released in paperback, Schumer is backing Obama for president.  I assume the cover has been changed?  Check a bookstore to find out.

Positively American: How the Democrats Can Win In 2008
Senator Chuck Schumer
ISBN: 978-1594868139
Website: http://www.positivelyamericanbook.com/positively_american.htm

Stephen interviewed David Carr on The Colbert Report.  Carr used to be a crack addict, now he writes for the New York Times.  His new book has an interesting premise - look back at your own mistakes as an objective third party, and write the story of your life.  The temptation to fudge a few details here and there could turn such a project into a disaster, but Carr is apparently well-versed in temptation, and knew that the whole real story would just sound more honest.  The book actually came out today, so you can go find out if he was right.

The Night of the Gun: A Reporter Investigates the Darkest Story of His Life - His Own
David Carr
ISBN: 978-1416541523
Website: http://www.nightofthegun.com/

Lucas Conley made a short appearance on The Colbert Report to discuss his new book on product branding.  As a kind of joke, Colbert apparently had the appearance branded by Dr. Pepper, and swigged on a bottle of the famous soda during the interview.  This kind of ironic meta-humor is right up Colbert’s alley.  Conley himself insisted that his appearance was sponsored by Sunkist soda, and prominently featured a can of such, to great effect.  What you may not know, though, is that Sunkist is under licence to the Dr. Pepper Snapple group - the competing brands in the program were actually sub-brands of the same company.  Ironic irony and meta-meta-humor - the fun never stops on The Colbert Report.  Regardless, ironic and meta-humorous branding is still branding, and it is still a serious issue in the United States.

Obsessive Branding Disorder: The Illusion of Business and the Business of Illusion
Lucas Conley
ISBN: 978-1-58648-468-2
Website: http://www.brandingdisorder.com/OBD/The_Book.html

Just one title mentioned tonight, but it sure is a doozy.  Ben Wattenberg is an author and a PBS journalist, and his new book is about how neo-conservatism is actually a construct invented by the liberal left.  Which would be interesting, if it turns out to be true - or at least if Wattenberg manages to sell it in his book.  But that sorta took a back seat to his interview with Jon Stewart, who literally skewered him.  It wasn’t as great as the Douglas Feist interview a few months back, but it was still pretty good - a great example of why Jon Stewart really is a journalist with just as much integrity (if not more) as anyone else in the television news business.  Which says less about Stewart than it does about the other windbags working in media today.

Fighting Words: A Tale of How Liberals Created Neo-Conservatism
Ben J. Wattenberg
ISBN: 978-0-312-38299-5
Website: http://us.macmillan.com/fightingwords#

Big night - three books!  Starting with The Daily Show, Jon Stewart interviewed journalist Bill Bishop about his new book on political division.  His premise is that like-minded people are forming up cliques, which has a devastating yet predictable influence on national politics.  One can only assume that his solution is centrism.

The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart
Bill Bishop
ISBN: 978-0618689354
Website: http://www.thebigsort.com/home.php

The Colbert Report’s “Better Know a District” segment spotlighted New York’s 14th, home of the Upper East Side and parts of Queens.  Colbert talked with Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), and her new book was mentioned.  They didn’t discuss it much, but the gender income gap was mentioned.  For fun, on your own, compare and contrast this book’s title with the book Nancy Pelosi discussed on last night’s show.  Good times.  Available in an eBook format.

Rumors of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated: Why Women’s Lives Aren’t Getting Any Easier - and How We Can Make Real Progress for Ourselves and Our Daughters
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney
ISBN: 978-1594863271
Website: http://www.rumorsofourprogress.com/

And finally, Eric Roston talked about carbon.  What about carbon?  I don’t know, he never did say.  Something about a new paradigm for the 21st century?  He’s a DC-based science writer, but he mentioned at least three times that he isn’t a scientist.  I suggest reading a chapter before purchasing…

The Carbon Age: How Life’s Core Element Has Become Civilization’s Greatest Threat
Eric Roston
ISBN: 978-0802715579
Website: http://www.ericroston.com/