I was reading Joshua Green’s Devil’s Bargain when the news broke that Trump had fired Steve Bannon. Now that I’ve finished the story of Bannon and Trump’s relationship, I can confidently predict that Steve Bannon will continue to raise hell in the coming months. Joshua Green shows how Bannon’s background in the military and at Goldman Sachs prepared him to espouse the “nationalist” vision that he ultimately sold to Trump during the Presidential campaign. With the help of Dark Money and mysterious billionaires and Russian hackers, Bannon helped pull off the most astounding Presidential campaign upset in modern political history!
Steve Bannon, like many of the Trump Inner Circle, is a quirky guy. He’s made movies, built an Alt-Right media empire, and planned to “farm out” the war in Afghanistan to private defense contractors like Blackwater (Bannon’s firing put the kabosh on this nutty idea). We haven’t heard the last of Steve Bannon. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Preface ix
1 “It Will Take a Miracle” 1 (22)
2 “Where’s My Steve?” 23 (26)
3 Bildungsroman 49 (18)
4 “A Dangerous Way to Look at the World” 67 (26)
5 Nobody Builds Walls Like Trump 93 (26)
6 The Alt-Kochs 119 (18)
7 A Rolling Tumbleweed of Wounded Male Id and Aggression 137 (24)
8 “The Traffic Is Absolutely Filthy!” 161 (18)
9 “Honest Populism”. 179 (20)
10 Burn Everything Down 199 (26)
11 “The FBI Has Learned of the Existence …” 225 (12)
Afterword: Kali Yuga 237 (6)
Acknowledgments 243 (6)
Notes 249 (16)
Index 265
The title speaks volumes. Really a sad time for this country. I’ve heard people cheer that 45 finally fired him, but I think he’ll keep working for him with an even scarier agenda.
They have empowered the alt right, and all the hate groups. Few in the GOP have called out the orange one for his lack of a stand on racism. Not sure what the supreme court will do. I think we may well be headed toward a severe split in this country, as the orange one’s supporters are still (mostly) behind him. He’s convinced them the media is fake, though he’s the one that coined alternative facts.
I know people are also feeling cheery at the thought of impeachment, but I tend to feel grateful he’s in office as he hasn’t been able to take action on many things (health care destruction for one). If he were impeached, pence would have an easier time with the gop agenda.
Maggie, Steve Bannon saw a “path to victory” for Trump when no one else did. The guy was a visionary even though his vision is hellish.
I believe Bannon’s influence on Trump will not fade away. In the meantime the poor excuses for protoplasm in the Donald’s administration will continue to poison the atmosphere while stoking Trump’s fragile ego. John Kelly will try hard to bring some order to the chaos but, as we’ve seen, Trump himself will effectively thwart Kelly’s efforts. I’m one of those who think Trump will eventually resign, but the country will still continue its downward slide as some of our worst elements continue to be emboldened.
If only the Democrats would stop thinking politics and start focusing on ways to help the average American…
Jerry, you’re right. Trump and Bannon will be talking on their phones. The Democrats seem clueless.
If you’re reading books like this, no wonder you needed to go see GIRLS TRIP!
Pass.
Jeff, I was just following the old dictum: Know your enemy. Joshua Green provides a lot of information about the Trump Campaign that I didn’t know.
How can people be so heartless. I will never understand how the making of huge amounts of money became the American obsession.
Patti, people with billions of dollars can change the politics of a nation. We’re seeing it happen in the U.S.
Thanks for this info!
Though I won’t read it, too scary for me – this was enough:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/18/steve-bannon-returns-breitbart-donald-trump
Wolf, Dark Forces are active all over the world.
We’re clearly living in the twilight of American sanity. To quote one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs, “it’s not dark yet, but it’s gettin’ there.”
Michael, I’ll go with the line from Dylan’s ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER: “There must be some kind of way outta here…”
“We haven’t heard the last of Steve Bannon.”
Isn’t that what the bad guys say at the end of B-Movies?
Dan, Steve Bannon vowed to “crush” his enemies in the White House. We’ll have to see how this all plays out. It reminds me of GAME OF THRONES. Treachery!