Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 224
•
Trim: 6¾ x 9
978-0-7425-4036-1 • Hardback • December 2005 • $94.00 • (£72.00)
Matthew R. Kerbel is professor of political science at Villanova University and author of five books on politics, the mass media, and the presidency, including If It Bleeds, It Leads: An Anatomy of Television News and the textbook American Government: Your Voice, Your Future. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and he worked as a radio and television newswriter for outlets that included the Public Broadcasting Service in New York City.
Chapter 1 Introduction: Merging Message, Electoral and Organizational Strategies
Chapter 2 1: Getting Off the Road to Nowhere
Chapter 3 2: Explaining George Bush's Victory in 2004 (It's Terrorism, Stupid!)
Chapter 4 3: Moving Beyond the Gender Gap
Chapter 5 4: Solving the Values Dilemma
Chapter 6 5: Seeking the Common Good
Chapter 7 6: Crafting Policy and Message
Chapter 8 7: Closing the 527 Loophole
Chapter 9 8: Communicating a Progressive Philosophy
Chapter 10 9: Teaching Progressives to "Speak American"
Chapter 11 10: Fire the Consulants!
Chapter 12 11: Powering Up Internet Campaigns
Chapter 13 12: Blogging for Political Change
Chapter 14 Conclusion: Blueprint for a Progressive Era
Chapter 15 Taking Action: Talk Back and Fight Back!
We have a new generation of progressive activists on the rise, and this book brings us many of its newest, brightest stars, unafraid to take on existing orthodoxies as they seek to build an effective movement for the 21st century. You may not agree with everything in this book—I didn't—but it's uniformly compelling and thought provoking.
— Markos Moulitsas, Daily Kos
Any Democrat in need of an encouraging shot in the arm or Republican wanting a warning shot across the bow would be well advised to read this book. Hardly a pop-culture infused, political self-help book, this is a serious book by serious people—pollsters, political scientists, journalists, policy analysts, and even a blogger and Internet maven. Get This Party Started explains what did and did not happen in the 2004 presidential election, why, and what progressives should do next.
— Charlie Cook, The Cook Political Report; political analyst, NBC News
The Democrats managed to turn 48 percent of the popular vote in 2004 into a free fall in just one year. This book has it all for Democrats and progressives of all stripes who are tired of being on the losing side: recipes that include just the right amounts of organization, new technology, messaging, and conveying the heart and soul of the party. The authors hope to restart the party. This book promises to at least restart the debate.
— John Zogby, president/CEO, Zogby International
It is great to see progressives offering new ideas for the America we all want, a beacon of freedom where all people have the chance to live the American Dream.
— Senator John Edwards
From historic deficits to an attack on Social Security to handouts to drug companies, this country cannot afford Republican Washington any longer. Let's get this party rolling.
— Senator Tom Daschle
Who says progressives don't have any good or new ideas about how to advance their cause? Get This Party Started: How Progressives Can Fight Back and Win provides ample documentation that progressives have both. I urge all those concerned about conservative domination of American politics to read this book and, even better, to act on the many excellent recommendations they will find in it.
— Ruy Teixeira, coauthor of The Emerging Democratic Majority and America's Forgotten Majority: Why the White Working Class Still Matter
This book features a lot of information from some tough, smart, and often young people about how to get our side in shape to take on bullies again, both at home and abroad: say what you believe, tell the truth, organize, trust local people, pay attention to the American people, don't talk down to voters, get outside of Washington, and don't be afraid to talk about moral values, because ours are closer to mainstream American values than the values of the right wing. Above all, fight.
— Howard Dean, from the foreword
Mathew Kerbel presents leading Beltway and grassroots voices in Get this party Started: How Progressives Can Fight back and Win Craft the message, plot the campaign, plan a better world, and—like a good soldier—fight as if your life depended on winning.
— Barbara Meade; Capitol File