Fire-Breathing Liberal: How I Learned to Survive (and Thrive) in the Contact Sport of Congress

by Robert Wexler, David Fisher

There’s a reason The Nation, America’s leading progressive magazine, named Robert Wexler the country’s “Most Valuable Congressman.” It's the same reason right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh refers to him as “disgusting.” It's because for the last twelve years Wexler has been Congress’s most outspoken liberal -- taking on George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Alberto Gonzales, General David Petraeus, and, when necessary, even his own party. In Fire-Breathing Liberal, Wexler brings readers onto the floor of the House and puts them at the center of some of the last decade’s biggest controversies. He passionately describes how he defended Bill Clinton from impeachment and how he stood up against the Bush brothers when the “butterfly” ballots in his Florida district wrongly decided the 2000 presidential election. He also offers an honest and brutal assessment of the Iraq war and explains why he has become a leader in the movement to impeach Vice President Cheney. And, with warmth and wit, Wexler shares some of the funniest stories from the corridors of Congress, including how he became The Colbert Report ’s most talked-about guest. This is a remarkably candid first-person account of recent political history that shows government as it has rarely been seen -- by a Democrat in the middle of the storms.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Tony]

The Hon. Wexler writes, June 9th 2008:



Our campaign for accountability for the Bush administration is making legitimate progress.



I am pleased to announce to you that the House Judiciary Committee has met my public call for Scott McClellan's immediate testimony with action:



Today, Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers officially invited Mr. McClellan to testify under oath on Friday, June 20th at 10AM.



After all of our hard work pushing for impeachment hearings for Vice President Cheney – the McClellan hearing provides our cause with a legitimate opportunity to showcase the crimes and violations of this Administration for the American people, the mainstream media, reluctant members of the Democratic party, and sensible Republicans. This hearing provides us our first genuine opportunity to enter the public consciousness and change the dynamics that have prevented true accountability for Bush and Cheney.



Mr. McClellan was a major figure in the Valerie Plame/CIA scandal, as well as a leading propagandist for the Bush White House's deliberate attempts to hide the true costs of this war from the American public. As such, Mr. McClellan will testify under oath (and be subject to perjury charges should he lie) and be asked about the following matters:



1. What role did President Bush, Vice President Cheney , and key administration officials take in the effort to reveal the identity of covert CIA agent Valeria Plame Wilson – thus destroying her network and putting lives in jeopardy?

2. What role did President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and key administration officials take regarding the firing of U.S. Attorneys or political reasons?

3. What role did President Bush, Vice President Cheney, key administration officials take in conspiring to blatantly break U.S. and International laws prohibiting the use of torture?



I call on Mr. McClellen to immediately accept this invitation and testify under oath as he previously agreed to while being interviewed on national television.



During the hearing I will have roughly five short minutes to question Mr. McClellan and undercover the illegalities committed by this Administration – which is why it is critically important that every representative on the Judiciary Committee hears your voice. Please let them know that you demand answers to these questions.



Nor should it stop there: Karl Rove has thumbed his nose to the Judiciary Committee's subpoena – joining Harriet Miers, Joshua Bolten and Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff David Addington as the only Administration officials in history to claim Congress has no power to even bring them before a committee to be questioned.



I have called for Karl Rove to be held in inherent contempt and for the other renegade officials to appear as required by their subpoenas, or be forced to do so by the House Sergeant of Arms.



What the Judiciary's request of McClellan proves is that if we stay vigilant – if we call loudly and repeatedly for accountability - that we become very difficult to ignore.

[Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super convincing indictment of the Bush-Cheney era; a major player in advocating for voting reform after the debacle of 2000 (hanging chads, butterfly ballots anyone)?

I'd never heard of him, but Wexler is a powerful voice, strongly fighting for core progressive values. He starkly outlines the strong-arm tactics of the GOP from Newt Gingrich onwards (apparently the Republicans of Congress during the Clinton administration fired Congressional dining workers and replaced them with outsourced labor, just because they could) to the machinations of Bush and Cheney.

Sometimes he talks about the good that legislators do, that are often not covered by the media. One is his interest in foreign affairs, wherein he fought on behalf of his heavily Jewish West Palm Beach constituency to advocate for Jewish rights in the Middle East.

Written at a quick, brisk pace, always engaging writing.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. Quite amusing, even in the parts I disagreed with him, it was a thoroughly amusing book exposing the inner workings of congress. His discussion about why he wanted to be on the judiciary committee, as well as back-room discussion about how you get such a seat, was very interesting. Him answering foreign dignitaries about the President was very revealing, and his personal take on the hanging chads in the 2000 election (it was his district) are al very interesting, well written, and thoroughly absorbing.

Call me a wonk all you what, my favorite parts were the civics lessons. How government really works from the inside. For example, did you know that for the 2 minutes before every vote the traffic lights between the Capital Building and the congressional offices across the street all go red? That way congressmen can literally stall to the last moment and then race across the street without getting run over. Or that they have cubicles for outgoing congressmen are right out of some sitcom? I found that stuff highly enjoyable. I even started a conversation about this stuff with some friends over beer. Yeah, I got blank stares and then they changed the conversation. :(

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. Quite amusing, even in the parts I disagreed with him, it was a thoroughly amusing book exposing the inner workings of congress. His discussion about why he wanted to be on the judiciary committee, as well as back-room discussion about how you get such a seat, was very interesting. Him answering foreign dignitaries about the President was very revealing, and his personal take on the hanging chads in the 2000 election (it was his district) are al very interesting, well written, and thoroughly absorbing.

Call me a wonk all you what, my favorite parts were the civics lessons. How government really works from the inside. For example, did you know that for the 2 minutes before every vote the traffic lights between the Capital Building and the congressional offices across the street all go red? That way congressmen can literally stall to the last moment and then race across the street without getting run over. Or that they have cubicles for outgoing congressmen are right out of some sitcom? I found that stuff highly enjoyable. I even started a conversation about this stuff with some friends over beer. Yeah, I got blank stares and then they changed the conversation. :(

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a typical genre for me to read, but I got this one as a gift and thought I'd give it a quick read. It's the experiences of one member of the US House and one of its most liberal members. Wexler is by turns encouraging and depressing, comical and serious, self-deprecating and self-promoting, self-absorbed and outwardly focused. He's a loud-mouthed know it all and interestingly humble at the same time. He harangues and criticizes the opposition, yet professes and demonstrates his willingness to reach across the aisle. Yeah, he's all of these things as he gives an insider's view of how Congress works. It's a easy afternoon read for those who want to have a dose of reality with their civics lesson. Probably nothing you didn't already know or at least suspect. But without the cynicism and pessimism of popular thought about government.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. If you're liberal, if you ever wondered what a congressman does with his time, and if you have followed national politics over the last several years you should enjoy this book. Congressman Wexler (no longer a congressman) had the fortune or misfortune to be elected to a district that became red hot during the period of Bush v Gore. He was involved in a number of things that were unique to his time in office and later would become significant historical events. The conversational approach he used to write this book made me feel like I was sitting on a couch visiting with a friend as he told me about the more interesting aspects of his time spent as a Congressman representing Floridas 19th district.

[Varoon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting insofar as it gives you a glimpse into Wexler's background and what drives him. Unfortunately, it's short, somewhat dumbed-down, and contains almost no substantive policy discussion. Some amusing anecdotes, but that's about it.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just when I was over how Bush stole the election, I am all pissed off again. Wexler's chapter on the Florida ballot problems offers new insight into the total ineptitude of the election officials and judicial system to make things right. The rest of the book could use some punching up.

[Candace Lynn Talmadge · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a humorous and engaging manner, this book teaches readers how laws originate and about the legislative process. A good read for anyone who wants to understand Congress better.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW!

[Bookworm2471 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I <3 Wexler!

[Leeann H · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic, great insider-view of the actual workings of congress. i now understand a lot more of what was going on politically during my coming-of-age, hanging chads, etc.