• It’s Even Worse Than It Looks

  • How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism
  • By: Thomas E. Mann, Norman J. Ornstein
  • Narrated by: William Hughes
  • Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (375 ratings)

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It’s Even Worse Than It Looks

By: Thomas E. Mann,Norman J. Ornstein
Narrated by: William Hughes
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Publisher's summary

Hyperpartisanship has gridlocked the American government. Congress' approval ratings are at record lows, and both Democrats and Republicans are disgusted by the government's inability to get anything done. In It's Even Worse Than It Looks, Congressional scholars Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein present a grim picture of how party polarization and tribal politics have led Congress - and the United States - to the brink of institutional failure.

In this revised edition, the authors bring their seminal book up to date in a political environment that is more divided than ever. The underlying dynamics of the situation - extremist Republicans holding government hostage to their own ideological, antigovernment beliefs - have only gotten worse, further bolstering their argument that Republicans are not merely ideologically different from Democrats, but engaged in a unique form of politics that undermines the system itself. Without a fundamental change in the character and course of the Republican Party, we may have a long way to go before we hit rock bottom.

©2016 Thomas E. Mann & Norman J. Ornstein (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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Saw this coming

It seems it all got even worse since this writing. Just when the authors thought the worse case scenario had already happened. Great learning opp for me but also a sad commentary that even when they act against the interest of their constituents they will still win office. What a sad state we are in here in the US.

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12 people found this helpful

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Obama era drama

detailed reporting on the Washington hyper drama with a partisan slant. Sure the R's have grosser style but the goal of both parties is the same and that is to keep the votes that they buy. They have different styles and the media which is the arena that exists only to drive a consumer economy will exploit any and all drama and at the same time worship ceaselessly any and all power which includes any high office. Exploiting negative emotion seems to be an arena that is left to the R's because in our society (especially with Obama in the White House) negative emotions from the working class or any complaining from lower-middle class is actually quite taboo in mainstream media. We're supposed to be living the American dream, everybody get's their own home.

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It's even worse than they say

You left out a lot. Some of the most egregious actors are the media. News outlets like the New York Times and MSNBC have profound effects and they have essentially become tools of the corporations who own them to strategically influence politicians and the public. this is a major part of the story that you completely ignore. I I feel like it's a crucial part of both the agreement and the explanation.

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Great perspective on the current US situation

Very good look at the political skew by deliberate non-partisans. Listen if you keep asking yourself how did we get here.

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Great book!

This is an important book that should serve as a wake up call to all of us.

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Interesting Read, However?

This book revealed no new info about the GOP's ( or the DNC's) political philosophy that any non-Kool Aid drinking, sheep, drone didn't already know about our two party electorial system. Want real change? Vote 100% non-incumbent in all future US elections.

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This book has become more relevant with time

This book has become more relevant with time, not less. More clear, more true, like written tomorrow about the events in the papers today. God help us.

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A good summary of US politics before Trump destroyed everything

This is a blow-by-blow rundown of how US politics deteriorated into the morass it is today. The authors insist their research is unbiased very credibly but this is not for Republicans, who even by 2012 had lost the ability to think or act rationally. Much of the work is a steady Chinese torture of deplorable actions by the GOP which is not fun to hear. I was sad to learn how long this has persisted and now have no faith that we will ever recover anything like responsible government. Recommended, despite all that.

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Prescient book

Listening to this book in 2021, it is remarkable how prescient it was in telling how we ended up with Trump as President and 1/6, among other things. Read the book to see how that foundation was laid.

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Sadly the book is still very relevant

This book provides an even handed and very well documented analysis of the fracture in our nations politics. Excellent reading for anyone that has a pragmatic political bent. Unlike many critical analyses, the authors provide a realistic set of potential corrections

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