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A great read for anyone interested in current politics. Webb emphasizes the responsibility for all citizens to help the nation as a whole. In A Time to Fight, Senator Jim Webb writes a summary of the current state of America, using his experience as a Marine, journalist, Secretary of the Navy, and Senator. His account brings up many follies of 21st-Century America, but it is not an entirely pessimistic book.
The only other one that liked it was from Canada and enjoyed finding out how and what a Senator does in the US Senate. It was a bit boring for me. We discussed the book at my book club, the lady that had picked it was from Virgina, so she probably had an interest in it.
I recommend this book to anyone in the U.S. P.S. who would have an interest in the history of their country. Have spent 8 hours a day reading it,the first book to be read by me in 20 years(am a disabled Brit/vet) before which I was an avid reader.Have now got 10 books on the Ulster-Scots so will be reading for quite a while and I hope to start Jim Webb`s "A time to fight" tomorrow.My interest in the Ulster-Scots comes from having ancesters who left here(Londonderry) around 290 years ago,unfortunately all trace of them have gone. Gardiner Mitchell.
"Reclaiming a Fair and Just America" seems to be "restoring the policies of the Democratic party" or "reversing everything Bush".I'll recommend the book for the military and foreign policy discussions, with the usual caveat that he's writing from hindsight. Webb's discussion and comments on the military and foreign policy were overall interesting and raise some questions, but much of the book (outside his auto-biographical discussions) is a rant against the Bush administration and promotion of traditional Democratic party positions. Like others I had hopes for new ideas from this book and was disappointed. Sen.
There's no doubt that Webb is a fine thinker/writer/warrior yet his first book as a politician is a bit premature. He proudly disclosed his non affiliation with defense contractors despite serving in the DoD and as SecNav under Pres. He had boxed while at Annapolis, fought in Vietnam and has written two nonfiction books with "fight" in the titles. Our country's problems have been well discussed and documented by everybody and anybody.
Is that's all there is to the "fight."If you want to read a narrative that I believe is Webb's finest work, try his novel "A Country Such as This." That's the real Webb. Reagan yet his disgust at those who stood on the sidelines and protested the Vietnam War can still be felt. According to Webb in the final chapter, he wrote, "There are leaders among us.to that group I would say, quite simply, that your country needs you." He basically asked Americans to stay engaged in the politics of our country. I will look for a more cogent political book from him down the road. Huh. Clearly Webb enjoys fighting.
What then we as Americans must do now. The Democrats are fortunate to have Webb on their side. Naturally, I was expecting new ideas for a national "fight" instead of a rehashing of Webb's exploits and observations as a Marine officer, journalist, world traveler and political appointee which I had read while skimming through his book about the Scots-Irish. While Webb did not shy away from bashing CEOs for making oodles of money, he offered limited solutions.
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