Rules for Patriots: How Conservatives Can Win Again

by Steve Deace

Time is running out on American exceptionalism. The light of liberty is flickering. At no point since we still had the Redcoats on our shores has freedom been more imperiled. This time it's not an invading foreign power that threatens us, but our own government gone wild― unhinged from its Constitutional limits.

Many great books have been written about what we should believe and why, or why the Left's beliefs are flawed, but never before has a book been written that shows how to do what we believe.
Until now.

The Left has its playbook, Saul Alinsky's infamous Rules for Radicals. Now the good guys have theirs. Endorsed by a who's who of the conservative movement, we present Rules for Patriots.

Genres: Politics, American, Philosophy, Nonfiction

220 pages, Hardcover

First published February 25, 2014

Reviews

[Angela Wenell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book that includes the sentence, "Charlie Sheen called, and he thinks that's called winning" is not your run-of-the-mill "If I can just make it through the next three pages I can finish this chapter" political book. Thoughtful, smart, relevant, applicable. So often books on politics are wrapped in centuries old quotes from political theologians that require modern interpretation, but not this book. Steve Deace provides specific and useful tools for not only those involved in politics on a daily basis but also for any American wanting to more effectively communicate the conservative perspective to their liberal friends and neighbors. It isn't the usual philosophical argument about why conservatism is superior to liberalism, but a prescription on how to win the argument. Communicated in a way that will keep you entertained, Deace provides a blueprint for recapturing the culture as well as gaining ground in the political arena. Fantastic book every liberty-loving American wanting to re-instill into our culture the principles of our founders should read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. Highly recommend it

[Dave Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent read. this book is a must read for all conservatives, libertarians, and republicans. great insight in how to hold politicians to a higher standard. filled with humor and great analogies. highly recommend. this is the playbook to take back the republic.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am originally from central Iowa and I remember listening to Steve Deace on a small sports talk radio station even before he did his political commentary on WHO. I have always agreed with Deace on politics and I am an evangelical Christian. I have had this book for years and finally got around to reading it. If you are familiar with Steve's voice you can almost hear him when you read it. I have also enjoyed his podcasts discussing politics over the years.

This book was written in 2016 prior to Trump being elected President. I would be interested in an update as to where Steve thinks the Republican party is now. We have warriors like Ted Cruz and Mike Lee still. We also have Tucker Carlson and Candace Owen who are outside of politics currently but I believe are people who would be good Republican leaders following Steve's 10 Commandments. Trump seems to have followed some of Steve's 10 Commandments but not others. Trump was never religious and he hurt himself with his Tweets and his mannerisms but he said what he thought and was always on the offensive. He certainly wasn't a Republicrat. He did do what he said he was going to do and he stuck up for his base. Trump was really a mix and was very unique.

The left-wing has moved even further left it that is possible. Biden, the most progressive President we have had is now viewed as a moderate to the Libtards. Will we have a conservative Christian Republican President in our future or will society and the Democrats move even further left. Will the Republicans make a stand again without Trump or are we back to the Republicrats Steve talks about in the book?

I will not be running for political office but the 10 Commandments Deace sets out will help me have discussions with friends and family who question the conservative thought process.

[Rodney Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Deace doesn't pull any punches in "Rules for Patriots." He boldly attacks those who claim to be conservative while simultaneously selling conservative issues, and their constituents, down the river. He abhors the "be reasonable" patronizations of politicians with big claims and little action. He despises the fact that, too-often, a vote for a Republican candidate is a vote for slowing down the race for the abyss rather than stopping it or, heaven-forbid, reversing it.

The book is a good read and a good reminder for conservatives who need a kick-in-the-pants reminder that there are far too many RINO's and Republicrats in the Republican party. We must ever be vigilant to defend our families and communities from those who would steal our freedom and insert themselves between us and our children.

[Paul Huxley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's normally a good thing to have a self-narrated audiobook - you get a sense of the author's character and personality. This is no different, but unfortunately suffers from some editing mistakes occasionally.

The book itself has some excellent insights along the way, with some great analogies - they're with the price of admission but are more like the cherry on the top of the cake, which is a bit less remarkable.

I think the most important thing it's given me is an understanding of the strength of feeling about the GOP's betrayal of conservatism - you can get a real sense of why Trump won the nomination and then the presidency.

Deace is surely right in the majority of what he says, and has sparked useful thoughts in my grey matter.

[Ryan Darnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very pointed suggestions for “true conservatives” to retake the party, and if followed, could create something akin to the Reagan Revolution. However, Deace’s ideology is too rigid and bellicose for many young conservatives, let alone those in the silent majority.

[Debbie Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This how we do it!

The republican party must be taken over by those that will fight against the uni-party and the progressives to restore the principles the country was founded upon. It must start at the street level. FIGHT AMERICA!

[Donna McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time to go on offence.

if you ever believed in the promise of America, read this book and become a cultural warrior before it is too late.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! Truth telling that is obvious but needs to be told. Written in simple yet powerful terms!

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read many overtly political books, mostly because they tend to whip up partisan fervor and too often involve shrill sophistry and reductionist demagoguery (even when I agree with the perspective). Fortunately, Rules for Patriots is not partisan, but rather about conservative principles and strategies. Indeed, with regard to partisanship, Steve Deace spends most of his time discussing how to defeat "Republicrats"--his term for establishment Republicans who campaign as conservatives but govern as liberals. He articulates his 10 Commandments, sort of as a parallel list to complete with Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" that the left has used so successfully in the last 8 years. The principles are simple and catchy: "Never attack what you're not willing to kill"; "Never accept the premise of your opponent's argument"; "Reverse the premise of your opponent's argument and use it against him"--things like that.

Deace writes clearly and passionately about conservative principles and articulates solid strategies for how to win elections. It got a bit repetitive and probably could have been trimmed down by 10-15%, but overall this is a useful book for somebody who already affirms conservatism but wants to better understand its political execution.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I know the word “politics” turns most people off, but the decisions made by Washington D.C. and our local school boards matter. If you’re tired of how politics are in our country, then it’s time to change them. One of the first steps is knowing what to do. Steve Deace’s Rules for Patriots is that first step. If you don’t read any other book this year, forget the rest and read this one. This book is a rebuttal to Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals—which Alinsky dedicated to Lucifer—and Deace explains how we take America back from the radical left and backstabbing Republicans. He explains such topics as how to identify a Republicrat (a politician who tells people he’s conservative but votes liberal) and how to respond to a hot-button an issue such as abortion). The message of this book is so poignant I think I will read it again this year, too.
https://amusingstone.wordpress.com/20...

[Craig Adamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite radio show host wrote this book, so hard to go against the content. I've been hearing the formulation and execution of the book for several years. The author lays out the premise for change and the plan to execute change... or to execute those who pretend to be Conservatives. I mean that pejoratively of course. I don't think it would hurt to shoot them first and ask questions later based on the number of betrayals we have witnessed while blaming Barack Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton for all our woes. The Republicans in the Senate and House, along with the pseudo-conservatives we have appointed to the courts as judges for life and the below average candidates who have run for president... including GW Bush have paved the way for Progressivism to rule the last 30 years.

Now we just need to find leaders who believe and act on these values and we need to support and vote for them after we find them. A hardcore playbook for hard times.

[Daniel Alders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Deace here accomplished what few conservatives have seemed to "get" over the last 25 years. Ronald Reagan isn't coming back, and we shouldn't try to return to the days of Reagan either. What we need is to capture the principles that gave us a conservative leader like Reagan, recognize and note his mistakes, and move *forward.* We need new leaders with strong convictions. Leaders who won't take the bait that moderate Republicans and Democrats offer up on a regular basis. We need leaders who know what they believe and why, and Deace outlines how we can identify and raise up leaders of this caliber.

This was a great read, an easy read, and an encouraging read.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Positive, constructive and in your face

With so many either believing the left is undetectable, or that we have to be like them to beat them, it was inspiring to read a plan that let's us take it to them and be true to who we are and what we stand for. Bravo.

[Darin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant discussion on the effectiveness of the conservative message while at the same time not sacrificing our Christian theology and morality. Lots of great ideas in here...more people need to read this one.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fine thinking.