Fleeced: How Barack Obama, Media Mockery of Terrorist Threats, Liberals Who Want to Kill Talk Radio, the Do-Nothing Congress, Companies That Help Iran, and Washington Lobbyists for Foreign Governments Are Scamming Us ... and What to Do About It

by Dick Morris, Eileen McGann

Here are the facts:

The United States has released 425 terrorists from Guantánamo, at least 50 of whom have returned to the battlefield to fight our troops.

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both say they're fiscally responsible. But each has called for $1 trillion in tax increases over the next ten years—and dressed them up as tax cuts!

Mainstream Media has been given marching orders from the Society of Professional Journalists: never refer to "Islamic terrorists" or "Muslim terrorists." And they are obeying! Whenever our brave agents disrupt a terror plot, The media dismisses the culprits as a gang of idiots—lulling us into a false sense of security.

If the liberals win the 2008 election, they will cripple talk radio—forcing stations to give equal time to left-wing programs, and insisting that liberals play a key role in station management.

Up to a quarter of all state pension funds in the United States are invested in companies that are helping Iran, Syria, North Korea, or the Sudan—for a total of nearly $200 billion.

The Do-Nothing Congress is still doing nothing—and the worst offenders are the presidential candidates Clinton, Obama, and McCain, who never show up for their day jobs as senators . . . except to pick up their $165,000 paycheck!

Is it any wonder that Americans feel fleeced at every turn?

As more and more critical problems develop that need national attention, the White House and Congress appear to be AWOL.

Who's calling the shots instead?

Big business, big government, big labor, and big lobbyists. And their self-serving agendas are doing nothing to help the ever-increasing number of American people who are losing their homes, paying credit card interest rates higher than 25 percent, and finding their jobs increasingly outsourced to foreign countries.

In this hard-hitting call to arms, Dick Morris and Eileen McGann reveal the hundreds of ways American tax-payers are routinely fleeced—by our own government; by foreign countries like Dubai that are gobbling up American interests and spending millions to influence government decisions and American public opinion; by Washington lobbying firms that are pushing the agendas of corrupt foreign dictators on Capitol Hill; and by hedge-fund billionaires collecting huge tax breaks courtesy of the IRS.

With their characteristic blend of sharp analysis and insider insight, Morris and McGann call offenders of all kinds on the carpet—and offer practical agendas we all can follow to help turn the tide.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Political Science, Economics

337 pages, Hardcover

First published June 24, 2008

About the author

Dick Morris, the President of Vote.com, was President Clinton's chief strategist and advisor in the 1996 campaign. He has handled the campaigns of a large number of American politicians including Trent Lott, William Weld, Pete Wilson and a whole lot of others. He's now a commentator on the Fox News Channel and writes a weekly column in the New York Post. He has written four recent books: Behind the Oval Office, The New Prince, Vote.com and Power Plays.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel bad listing this book as "read" since I didn't finish it. I got it from the library and since it was new it had to back in two weeks and I couldn't renew it. The part about how foreign countries get American lobby groups to represent them was interesting and he does accuse both dems and repubs of bad deeds. The best parts are the pot shots at the Clintons, who he used to work for.

[Delene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't care what political side you are on republican or democrat, conservative or liberal. I find this book quite interesting on how our government is working right now which scares the daylights out of me. I read one reviewer say that he took this book as a grain of salt. I don't take it as a grain of salt. But there is one thing we need to learn is that we all need to get involved with the workings of our government.

We need to hold them accountable and be responsable. Do those words sound familiar. We not only need to vote but we need to write our congressmen and senators. We can do so much to clean out the wrong.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while traveling on vacation. I liked a previous book I had read by Dick Morris. This one was loaded with thought-provoking information about how the American people are paying for all sorts of expenses that are (or boarder on) fraud. Some things most of us know about but he included a lot of areas that were new to me and would likely be for others. Reading this book can make you angry but it is interesting the way he tells you what is happening and also eplains how it is being done. Some parts of the book seemed to drag or have redundancies but still well worth the time to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wonders why some people seem to have a golden touch while others struggle to get by.

[Ash Higgins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has one star because I can't figure out how to give it none.

It's a screed full of unverfiable speculation, thrown in some facts and here and there some bold faced lies for good measure, which essentially makes it not only a waste of time, but also the kind of thing you feel compelled to disagree with.

[Courtney Nicholls · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a quick read. I think Dick Morris knows his stuff.I try to consider both sides of political issues but certainly tend to be conservative. If you are not familiar with Dick Morris you should read this. If you are very liberal you'll not like it.

[Dachokie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it for the Credit Card Section Alone ..., December 17, 2008

As I read these reviews, I cannot help but noticing that most of them reek of political rhetoric in one sense or another. I guess that is what makes me wonder whether a good number of the reviewers have even read the book! Yeah, Morris is a former Clinton hack who appears on the FOX network ... so what. What's lost in the mix is that Morris is smart, informed and most of all ... FAIR. The only side this book leans to is that of the consumer ... whether Democrat, Republican, liberal or conservative ... I feel this book is beneficial to all.

Aside from his guesswork as to what an Obama Presidency would bring in chapter 1 ... the rest of the book is devoted to how the average American is duped by the government (and its lack of governing) in almost every aspect of life. But, the first chapter is important in that Morris believes an Obama Administration will institute policies that may have a negative effect on Americans. Since the book was published before the field was even narrowed down to two candidates ... Morris' book has, so far, proven prophetic. only time will validate chapter 1 of this book ... but the rest of the book is where the meat and potatoes are.

"Fleeced" covers a wide range of topics from the way our government is influenced (or even controlled to degree) by countries that hate the United States to Congress getting paid for a two-minute workday to the media deciding how much (or little) it wants Americans to fear terrorism. The topics are interesting and Morris presents them in an appealing, easy-to-digest manner ... there are plenty of juicy incriminating inserts/charts that that disclose names and dollar amounts. Where Morris separates himself from the rest of the modern-day muckrakers is that he is not content with merely complaining ... at the end of each chapter/topic he suggests what can be done to fix or improve things.

Worth its weight in gold, however, is the chapter on credit card issuers fleecing the public. As a former banker, I found this to be one of the most honest, informative and blistering attacks on an entity that has become fat from eating off the gullible, ignorant and desperate American consumer. Anyone that owns a credit card (most of us) can learn something by reading this chapter alone. At the end of the chapter, you're even told what you can do to fight the credit card issuers ... really good stuff.

If your looking for the book to bash one political party in favor of another, this won't be it. Morris is clearly on the side of the American citizen in this one ... and he doesn't hesitate to tell you that both parties in government are guilty in screwing you over.

[Ray · Rating 1 out of 5]

While you can't fault everything in the book, and while the author does criticize both major political parties to some extent, the clear purpose of the book, put out during the Presidential primary campaign season, was to swing voters to the authors conservative views. Like many in talk radio, he's got strong opinions as seen through his conservative perspective, and you'll hear his side of the argument as to how the NY Times is too liberal, how Iraq will become a terrorist haven and how the economy will collapse if Obama is elected, etc. Morris is a political consultant, who's worked for both parties as well as on foreign election campaigns, and he's currently is involved in conservative media activities. With the 2008 election concluded, there's not much purpose in telling the readers how the Country will suffer if Obama gets elected. It's over. The best use of this book now might be to re-read it four (or eight) years from now, and see how good (or bad) a prognosticator Morris was in his doom and gloom view of a possible Democratic Party victory.

[Ronald Wise · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one of the first and longest-lasting Obama-bashing books to make the New York Times best seller list, where it appeared for fifteen weeks before the election, and made a brief re-appearance after the election. For me it was probably a lot easier to read, knowing the outcome of the election. Actually only one chapter was spent talking about how high Obama would raise taxes if elected, and they speculated that Obama's election might even trigger a financial crisis! Each chapter was focused on some issue on which the authors thought they might raise some blood pressures — making some real stretches of logic in some of them. Though more fact-based than Bill O'Reilly or Anne Coulter, Morris & McGann provided some actual trustworthy information (I think...), but were not as amusing as the other two.

[Ridley Sandidge · Rating 1 out of 5]

In the name of being informed and polite I read this book. It was given to me as a gift by a conservative quasi relative who I'm quite sure didn't read it but heard it being plugged by Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh etc. It reminded me quite a bit about of all the above 3. They are all stuck in the 1950s, socially, politically and progressively. Their knowledge of facts or anything not looped on Fox News shows their ability to think as deep as a baby pool. Lucky for us they, and most importantly their narrow-mined, racist views are dying off with them and THAT makes me sleep very well as I think of future without them.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like books that make me think a little about the things going on around me. This one opened my eyes to several things about government and politics that I was oblivious to before. In the same breath, however, I acknowledge how we should not base our opinions on the opinions or speculations of others. We should seek to look at government from all angles to make wise and informed decisions come election time.
Thank you.
I now step down from my soap box.

[Curt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Listened to this one on audiobook...it was painful. Although it was entertaining to hear after the fact some of the crazy predictions that were being made about how bad our country would be if President Obama were elected. The topics he went on rants about that I am familiar with had lots of inaccuracies and poor logic, so I can only imagine what was missing from the topics I'm not as familiar with.

[Bryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

When reading Fleeced I came to the conclusion that the author got his inspiration by tracking the most run stories on Fox News. The book is very cynical tone, it would be best described as a hate everything book. I believe it encompasses the feelings that most people have today. The feeling is a general disgusted attitude towards government, banks, and large businesses.

[Marci · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read an online version of this book and while I have my doubts about Obama, this author was extremely antagonistic. He made claims in such a way that made me doubt their veracity. I admit that most political situations are over my head, but this book felt offensive and if the things he is saying are true...a little bit scary.

[Jjean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This does a good job of identifying a lot of the problems that we are facing today.....Explains why many things I did not know affect the choices we make in the policital world......author "Nailed It".

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very similar to Outrage and Catastrophe; as a result, it felt as if I was simply re-reading the same material. In spite of the deja vu, I still enjoyed the book. Considering it is a political science book, the subject matter is rather dated. Still a worthwhile read.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book. It is sad how the government and banking industry is just fleecing the average American!

[Smunch · Rating 2 out of 5]

WOW. Well talk about your rabid xenophobic hard-core right wing American literature (little surprise that it was a best seller in the states). Not hugely shocking as well in the section of people who also viewed this book viewed Hitler's Mein Kampf. hmmm maybe amazon is selling it as a packaged deal?

That being said I did enjoy the book immensely, like I enjoy watching documentary on an American survivalist who found the one kilometre of space in the states that is safe from natural disaster as well as the impending UN invasion of the United States as it’s surrounding mountain form a natural fortress that can be easily defended. Its the American little quirks and eccentrics that makes them so entertaining.

It was a nice change of the politically liberal books that I tend to read. The conservative opinion in the states certainly doesn’t mess around with things called subtlety or finesse. It did have some interesting information and the many (mostly really) outlandish and offensive to sense or reason or basic intelligence statement made it quite amusing to read hence the two stare. I do think it rachel maddows and bill o'reilly should have some sort of chat show/view type of show together or better yet morning show! How brillant would that be!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book I reviewed low because I didn't like the characters. Maybe I should go back and rerate the book-- because I sure DIDN'T like the characters in this one!! This book forecast the gloom and doom if Obama won the election, then the gloom and doom if Hillary won, and last but not least, the gloom and doom if McCain won. Did we have a choice??? I guess as to what gloom and doom we could live with.
It went on the explain how we were being scammed by the government- especially congress, Democrats, Republicans alike, the last 3 administrations, the Press, foreign companies, lobbyists, Dubai, credit card companies, lenders and mortgage officers, teacher unions, hedge funds, FEMA, Halliburton & Cheney, Wall Street, toy makers like Disney, movie industry, and last but not least Bill Clinton. No one was ignored in this book!
It's enough to keep you awake at night! The prediction of how the stock market would react if it appeared like Obama was going to win came true exactly as written. I can only hope the other predictions do not come true or we are in worst trouble than we think!!!

[Reads with Scotch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this yesterday, a lot of good information. Some of it is difficult to research on your own but for the most part, Dick Morris places web addresses or sights resources that are easily found via Internet. He tears into everyone in the political spectrum, so if you can’t handle hearing someone tear up your perspective candidate of choice then I suggest you go read some Sunday comics instead. He hits on some topics that are near and {should} be dear to everyone, Most of the time resulting in anger.

I was particularly upset, but the fleecing of teacher by the Unions.

Does the Housing crash confuse you? Want to learn the nuts and bolts of it. And why Congress is doing nothing to change the way lenders and mortgage brokers do business.

Want to know why McCain is an ass?

Want to know why Billary is an ass?

Want to know Why Obama is an ass?

You can find a well thought out point of view here.



I would have liked to have more searchable resources, as it stands it took quiet a bit of time researching his sources.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a person who likes to be well informed of the things that are going on in the world, and chooses not to listen exclusively to the biased main-stream media, there are very few surprises in this book. I enjoyed it, but because I had hoped to be shocked by some of the things I learned, I was disappointed. Morris predicted almost exactly what Obama would do with regards to the big-spending (oops, i mean stimulus) package, but anyone who actually listened to the words that came out of his mouth during his campaign shouldn't be surprised by it. Morris talked of being fleeced by high interest rate credit cards and the sub-prime loan nightmare and teacher's unions being against merit-based pay for teachers, among other things. But sadly, there was not much here that I didn't already know (or at least suspect) and I think the majority of people who didn't already know it wouldn't have the slightest interest in reading about it.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does a good job of identifying a lot of the problems that are high priority today, but it only does a so-so job of the responsible parties. Let's be honest, the Republicans are responsible for a lot (but not all) of the lax laws, rules, and regulations for big business and financial firms, but this book ascribes that to the Democrats...

There's also a lot of Obama hysteria in this book, because it was written before the election. I hope people are beginning to see it really was a lot of hype, and Obama is really a pragmatic technocrat.

Finally, this book hashes over a lot of the Clinton connections etc., that have been discussed in much more detail elsewhere. I think that was extraneous here, and could have been left out.

Overall, I did sort of like the book, and they make some good points, but it has an obvious conservative bias.

[James]

This is probably the second in close to 200 audio books that I had to stop listening too. I think at the end of the first term of the Obam adminstration this book may be of interest. I started listening too it in June of 09. It has a lot of predictions of what is going to happen after the 08 election, where the economy is going, what is good, what is bad, etc. Through the first 2 CD's I listened as asked myself did that prediction happen, etc. However at the end of the 2nd CD and going into the 3rd, it just became noise and repeative banter. I was afraid that if I listened anymore, the caffeen effect I needed to stay listening would wear off. If Dick Morris is out there, buddy, good concept in the book, however, I'd rather wait until the end of 09/10/11 or 12 to see if you were on the mark.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this book really got me thinkingg... "and just what is it I can do to change this"...probably nothing. Good reporting on many subjects that concern all of us and he gives action agendas that I guess "he thinks" will bring about change in these areas...but honestly we are talking politics here and no matter what folks I honestly don't believe that any of the actions he recommends will bring about change in Washington. Good info but a bit depressing...I almost wished I hadn't read it just so I didn't know about things I CAN'T change. Great book if you really want to know how much worse the government is ripping us off (than we already knew). AND I believe he is another politician who is "getting his share"...hey I bought this book didn't I?

[Nita]

From the GoodReads interview with Dick Morris:

"For example, credit card companies are now charging incredible interest rates, as high as 30% for people who have committed very minor sins — like being a few days late in paying. In fact, sometimes credit card companies raise the interest rates just simply based on another creditor who is complaining that you're late in paying him. You can be perfectly on time in paying credit card A, but because you're late in paying credit card B, credit card A raises your interest rate by 8 or 10 points. Those kinds of practices are just outrageous, and they're the product of no government regulation at all."

OMG, why don't you cry about it. Here's an idea: don't like these policies? Stop using credit cards. _Wow!_ _Cash!_ _Revolutionary!_

[Ronda Panucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I learn so much! Many things confirmed that I already knew. Things will be getting difficult. But no matter what your affiliation, if we as AMERICANS work together, we will remain a nation of strength. I may not be in agreement with our new leader, but I have faith in our people. Come hell or high water, well will look out for each other. We are a nation of that finds it's heart beating from within. Are we being FLEECED???? You bet we are. The scary thing is that so many are blind to it. Regardless, AMERICA is the Land of the FREE and the home of the brave! GOD Bless AMERICA!!!! And God Bless ALL our young Americans who so poudly serve this country, that we may have the option to pubicly disagree..for the good of these UNITED STATES!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book - for conservatives and liberals alike. Written by Dick Morris, who was President Clinton's political consultant for 20 yrs. I especially enjoyed the chapters: "President Obama: What Would He Do?, How the Liberal Media Downplay Terrorism, The Liberals' Plan to Muzzle Talk Radio, The New Lobbyists: et al, The Plastic Fleece: Credit Card Company Abuse, Released from Guantanamo, They Kill Again and How the Teachers' Union Rips Off Its Members." The book is really eye-opening about all of the corrupt politics and abuse by those in pursuit of wealth. It is pro-US troops, pro-capitalism, but anti-abuse by big companies, do-nothing politicos in pursuit of their own well-being while supposedly working for the People of the United States.." A reader and a keeper on my bookshelf!

[Elizabeth Bienas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book that I believe every American should read. Some people may expect this to be a strong Republican view, but it's not. I've long though that although Dick Morris leans to the right now, he does a pretty good job of staying fair and objective. Morris does a good job of pointing out many things about our gov't that the average citizen would not know. Many parts of this book are eye-opening with regard to how our gov't and many companies actually work and how they fleece the average American. The part about credit card companies was especially enlightening.

[Aladdin Elaasar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Pharaoh Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the Obama Age

More about Obama

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Outrage, but still worth looking through. Again, Morris displays his lack of firm principles by drumming up whatever topics he feels will spark popular reaction, even if they are ideologically opposed to one another. Morris does know politics well, so he does often uncover relevant and interesting issues; one need only read them carefully given Morris' sometimes selective presentations.

[Jay Budzilowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was put out during the most recent presidential primaries...so its dated...and i didn't finish the first chapter...i should've checked that before i got it...There is a lot of "IF Obama is elected X will happen.." which is true in some areas...but a lot of it remains to be seen.....Dick Morris crafts his arguments well....I would have read the whole thing if we were still in the pre-Obama era.....