What do you think?
Rate this book
Big Agenda: President Trump's Plan to Save America
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERDonald Trump’s victory in the 2016 election was more than a historic upset. It was the beginning of a major political, economic, and social revolution that will change America - and the world.One of the nation’s foremost conservative commentators, New York Times bestselling author, and a mentor to many of Donald Trump’s key advisers, David Horowitz presents a White House battle plan to halt the Democrats’ march to extinguish the values America holds dear.Big Agenda details President Trump’s likely moves, including • First wave of executive orders - restoring Guantanamo, Keystone XL, nixing amnesty• Surprising judicial appointments - Supreme Court and the federal judiciary• Radical changes to federal rules & regulations - Obamacare, EPA overreach, and a New Deal for black AmericaWith the White House and Senate in GOP hands, and a Supreme Court soon to follow, President Trump will have a greater opportunity than even Ronald Reagan had to reshape the American political landscape while securing the nation’s vital security interests abroad.“No president since FDR and his famed ‘100 Days’ has the chance Donald Trump has,” Horowitz argues.But he writes that the GOP and Trump must recognize they are not fighting policy ideas, but an ideology - a progressive one with a radical agenda to stop Trump in an effort to reduce America’s power and greatness.Big Agenda is a rallying cry and indispensable guide for how to claim ultimate victory for the conservative cause.Horowitz writes, “One battle is over, but there are many more to come. This book is a guide to fighting the opponents of the conservative restoration. It identifies who the adversaries are - their methods and their motivations.It describes their agenda - not merely the particular issues with which they advance their goal, but the destructive goal itself. And it lays out a strategy that can defeat them.”
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2017
480 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
About the author
David Horowitz
187 books338 followersDavid Joel Horowitz was an American conservative writer and activist. He was a founder and president of the David Horowitz Freedom Center (DHFC); editor of the Center's website FrontPage Magazine; and director of Discover the Networks, a website that tracks individuals and groups on the political left. Horowitz also founded the organization Students for Academic Freedom.
Horowitz wrote several books with author Peter Collier, including four on prominent 20th-century American families. He and Collier have collaborated on books about cultural criticism. Horowitz worked as a columnist for Salon.
From 1956 to 1975, Horowitz was an outspoken adherent of the New Left. He later rejected progressive ideas and became a defender of neoconservatism. Horowitz recounted his ideological journey in a series of retrospective books, culminating with his 1996 memoir Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey.
Horowitz wrote several books with author Peter Collier, including four on prominent 20th-century American families. He and Collier have collaborated on books about cultural criticism. Horowitz worked as a columnist for Salon.
From 1956 to 1975, Horowitz was an outspoken adherent of the New Left. He later rejected progressive ideas and became a defender of neoconservatism. Horowitz recounted his ideological journey in a series of retrospective books, culminating with his 1996 memoir Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
March 5, 2017
I snatched up Big Agenda: President Trump's Plan to Save America by David Horowitz with the hope of learning more about President Trump's goals and methods for mending America. The book contains more than just President Trump's plan and in addition exposes Democratic corruption. My review is pertaining to the book and not my political views.
In general, The book is divided into 3 parts and concludes with the 100 day plan...
Part 1 talks about challenges for President Trump in dealing with the opposition including Republican "Never Trumpers", and the progressive movement. It also talks about race and hate among the Democratic party. I found the description of the Democratic party's "character assassination" to be compelling. Most of what you see and hear in the media portrays President Trump as being the ultimate hateful and racist person. He reminds readers that Democrats and progressives are just as hateful against their political adversaries.
One statement made by Hillary was that Trump was a racist for requesting Obama to produce his birth certificate to prove he was an American citizen. Yet, this was something Hillary herself attempted to expose during the primary fight with Obama in 2008. His writing is very argumentative.
Horowitz also discusses Hillary's actions which were conveniently "overlooked" by so many during the 2016 election. Here is one example of his bold writing:
Hillary Clinton violated the espionage laws; she broke her oaths of office; she lied to congress and the FBI about her illegal server, which exposed classified secrets to America's enemies; she lied to the general public to hide what she did and repeated her lies over the course of a year; she lied about the number of illegal, unsecure handheld devices she used, and she destroyed or "lost" all of them to hide what she had done; she obstructed justice-a felony-by destroying her emails days after Congress had subpoenaed them and warned her not to destroy them; she lied to the American public and the world about the deaths of four American heroes, including an ambassador who was her friend and whose demise came about as a result of circumstances in which she had played a significant role; she lied to the mothers of the dead over their coffins. Yet through all this disgraceful and criminal activity, which would have disqualified anyone else as a presidential candidate, not a single Democratic elected official-not one- said, " This is a bridge too far, I can't go along with her on this." Not one.
This blunt statement above is an example of the way David Horowitz boldly lays it all out on paper. If you're a person who loves a good argument pertaining to claims against President Trump and his character, part 1 may be your reading destination, although part II contains more additional accusations about Democrats including but not limited to Hillary.
Part II outlines the agenda. The need to stop the progressive movement, repair Obamacare, issues with the environmental movement, and radical Islam to name a few. Part II also discusses more controversial Democratic corruption.
Part III includes strategies for change and leads into the conclusion that addresses Trump's battle plan and the first 100 days in office. If you just wanted to see the specific goals of Trump in early presidency, you could easily just skip to the conclusion and presumably be satisfied.
I personally liked the book because of the way Horowitz writes. It's easy to understand and isn't overly pompous as you might expect it to be. His writing to me is bold, powerful, insightful and convincing. I'm glad I read it and I'm looking forward to reading more works from this author.
Now, we can discern as the next four years unfold...
4****
In general, The book is divided into 3 parts and concludes with the 100 day plan...
Part 1 talks about challenges for President Trump in dealing with the opposition including Republican "Never Trumpers", and the progressive movement. It also talks about race and hate among the Democratic party. I found the description of the Democratic party's "character assassination" to be compelling. Most of what you see and hear in the media portrays President Trump as being the ultimate hateful and racist person. He reminds readers that Democrats and progressives are just as hateful against their political adversaries.
One statement made by Hillary was that Trump was a racist for requesting Obama to produce his birth certificate to prove he was an American citizen. Yet, this was something Hillary herself attempted to expose during the primary fight with Obama in 2008. His writing is very argumentative.
Horowitz also discusses Hillary's actions which were conveniently "overlooked" by so many during the 2016 election. Here is one example of his bold writing:
Hillary Clinton violated the espionage laws; she broke her oaths of office; she lied to congress and the FBI about her illegal server, which exposed classified secrets to America's enemies; she lied to the general public to hide what she did and repeated her lies over the course of a year; she lied about the number of illegal, unsecure handheld devices she used, and she destroyed or "lost" all of them to hide what she had done; she obstructed justice-a felony-by destroying her emails days after Congress had subpoenaed them and warned her not to destroy them; she lied to the American public and the world about the deaths of four American heroes, including an ambassador who was her friend and whose demise came about as a result of circumstances in which she had played a significant role; she lied to the mothers of the dead over their coffins. Yet through all this disgraceful and criminal activity, which would have disqualified anyone else as a presidential candidate, not a single Democratic elected official-not one- said, " This is a bridge too far, I can't go along with her on this." Not one.
This blunt statement above is an example of the way David Horowitz boldly lays it all out on paper. If you're a person who loves a good argument pertaining to claims against President Trump and his character, part 1 may be your reading destination, although part II contains more additional accusations about Democrats including but not limited to Hillary.
Part II outlines the agenda. The need to stop the progressive movement, repair Obamacare, issues with the environmental movement, and radical Islam to name a few. Part II also discusses more controversial Democratic corruption.
Part III includes strategies for change and leads into the conclusion that addresses Trump's battle plan and the first 100 days in office. If you just wanted to see the specific goals of Trump in early presidency, you could easily just skip to the conclusion and presumably be satisfied.
I personally liked the book because of the way Horowitz writes. It's easy to understand and isn't overly pompous as you might expect it to be. His writing to me is bold, powerful, insightful and convincing. I'm glad I read it and I'm looking forward to reading more works from this author.
Now, we can discern as the next four years unfold...
4****
October 5, 2017
This is a good and simplistic explanation of the last Presidential election cycle and the plan that won it. It's more about the present division depth and the "why" of its hatreds. And also what the two parties have become. Not what they were a decade ago. Not at all.
The title isn't the core of the book, maybe about 1/2. But much of where the electorate were in mindset and why change was required. Not just change from progressive liberal policy of elitist worldview, but from the insular and weak Republican "norm".
There are pages and pages of reference to specific data. Not only to one "side's" whole piece philosophy or the other's. I especially liked the sociologist's study (Harvard's LIBERAL Orlando Patterson) about the true evaluation of racism in the present USA. But many, many other research materials and not all from governmental or educational lens are in the mix and footnotes listed. Pages and pages by number and also an index.
A great part of this is tied to reaction to/for past Democratic Party use of the Adversary, Agenda, and Strategy aspects of Alinsky tactics and techniques. How they played out in the last decade, and how they will be answered. Contrary to the more widespread quote- and with this present obstructionist and name calling tirades - that now is the time "when they go low, we go lower". All of this much opposed to an earlier time when Republicans lacked the will to win, being too nice. And they were.
It covers all the usual Politics 101 for this last 4 years, IMHO. Especially the expressed anger of divisions that have become the ultimate core of the Democrat Party platform or plan. Identity politics which really have nothing to do with the working people that they supposedly champion. Nor the economics of those who strive to maintain even the semblance of a steady livelihood for themselves and their families.
The best chapters were the most truthful and simple. Like the one that cores the ultimate Democratic Party Achilles Heel. One which festers more and more every day. The fact of the condition of the inner city ghetto that has been ruled by Democratic party politics for over 100 years and is now in crime and in education stats imploding to feral. This is true for my city and at least 10 others. Possibly more. This weekend in Chicago within Morgan Park the star was a woman who ran over another woman (only 17 this victim) with a Jeep and crushed her into a tree. Then backed over her repeatedly 3 times. What has the family or the school taught to be producing this constant daily mayhem? At more money per student than twice some of the rural regions in this country. More than my smaller town by 1/2.
This is NOT propaganda in this book, but what happened and why it happened. And how the world view of Hillary Clinton was well expressed in her speeches, and what so many Middle Americans, of class and of economics- thought of her stereotypical groupings. Trump won because of the plan he voiced in the manner that he voiced it. And that he did not condescend to the "deplorables". Nor categorize them by viscous names that are untrue to their very components.
It's worth reading for the name calling and identity politics obstructionist strategies themselves- how they are listed and described. And what/why they accomplish in the use of their words for "feeling" and what their realistic fall out truly is in progress or actions which occur.
It's easy read. Those who have posted that it is only opinion have not read the book. It is very little opinion and much more like a course in understanding revolutionary agitation using Alinsky methods to divide and conquer. Plus you can find out how when/why as Bill Clinton left office Hillary clearly states (several times too) that they are "broke" but then in 2015/2016 they are worth more than $100 million dollars. And how and why that came about too.
It also encompasses why so many people heard and wanted an agenda that would rid much of Washington's corrupt and self-serving structures that now exist and expand every year. And especially those bureaucratic fields (IRS, NSA, EPA) that violate and injure average American citizens so frequently while constantly and consistently making exceptions for themselves.
The title isn't the core of the book, maybe about 1/2. But much of where the electorate were in mindset and why change was required. Not just change from progressive liberal policy of elitist worldview, but from the insular and weak Republican "norm".
There are pages and pages of reference to specific data. Not only to one "side's" whole piece philosophy or the other's. I especially liked the sociologist's study (Harvard's LIBERAL Orlando Patterson) about the true evaluation of racism in the present USA. But many, many other research materials and not all from governmental or educational lens are in the mix and footnotes listed. Pages and pages by number and also an index.
A great part of this is tied to reaction to/for past Democratic Party use of the Adversary, Agenda, and Strategy aspects of Alinsky tactics and techniques. How they played out in the last decade, and how they will be answered. Contrary to the more widespread quote- and with this present obstructionist and name calling tirades - that now is the time "when they go low, we go lower". All of this much opposed to an earlier time when Republicans lacked the will to win, being too nice. And they were.
It covers all the usual Politics 101 for this last 4 years, IMHO. Especially the expressed anger of divisions that have become the ultimate core of the Democrat Party platform or plan. Identity politics which really have nothing to do with the working people that they supposedly champion. Nor the economics of those who strive to maintain even the semblance of a steady livelihood for themselves and their families.
The best chapters were the most truthful and simple. Like the one that cores the ultimate Democratic Party Achilles Heel. One which festers more and more every day. The fact of the condition of the inner city ghetto that has been ruled by Democratic party politics for over 100 years and is now in crime and in education stats imploding to feral. This is true for my city and at least 10 others. Possibly more. This weekend in Chicago within Morgan Park the star was a woman who ran over another woman (only 17 this victim) with a Jeep and crushed her into a tree. Then backed over her repeatedly 3 times. What has the family or the school taught to be producing this constant daily mayhem? At more money per student than twice some of the rural regions in this country. More than my smaller town by 1/2.
This is NOT propaganda in this book, but what happened and why it happened. And how the world view of Hillary Clinton was well expressed in her speeches, and what so many Middle Americans, of class and of economics- thought of her stereotypical groupings. Trump won because of the plan he voiced in the manner that he voiced it. And that he did not condescend to the "deplorables". Nor categorize them by viscous names that are untrue to their very components.
It's worth reading for the name calling and identity politics obstructionist strategies themselves- how they are listed and described. And what/why they accomplish in the use of their words for "feeling" and what their realistic fall out truly is in progress or actions which occur.
It's easy read. Those who have posted that it is only opinion have not read the book. It is very little opinion and much more like a course in understanding revolutionary agitation using Alinsky methods to divide and conquer. Plus you can find out how when/why as Bill Clinton left office Hillary clearly states (several times too) that they are "broke" but then in 2015/2016 they are worth more than $100 million dollars. And how and why that came about too.
It also encompasses why so many people heard and wanted an agenda that would rid much of Washington's corrupt and self-serving structures that now exist and expand every year. And especially those bureaucratic fields (IRS, NSA, EPA) that violate and injure average American citizens so frequently while constantly and consistently making exceptions for themselves.
November 12, 2017
I did not know what to expect beginning this book some weeks ago. Did not read it in one session either. And almost forgot to add a review on GR.
I expected a Trump story from a former Democrat and was hoping for an interesting view on the current situation on American politics. It surely was a totally different angle than I expected.
It was soon clear that the author used Trump as a springboard for his own ideas and only at the end concluded with the first 100 days of the new administration. The rest of the book explains the recommendations the author makes to the new administration in addressing the communist(now called 'progressive') agenda of the left and provide ample information for his arguments.
The author explains the real meaning of the American Constitution as a birth certificate for every citizen and how it differentiate America from the rest of the world. He also explains why millions of people try to enter America and not swim through shark-infested seas to reach Cuba or China, or even apply for refugee status in their millions in other Communist countries, for that matter.
To understand the author's arguments, I went on to find more information on David Horowitz.
A staunch Democrat and supporter of Communism until the 1970s, the author was born to card-carrying Communist parents. Publishing numerous books in his career as a Leftist and since around 1973 as an apponent, it is clear that the author brings a very different, and certainly highly interesting, insight to the new dispensation in America. His journey from left to right can be read in the National Review article .
This book explains why Trump won the election. There is so much that can be said about the content of the book, but I will refrain. The weak points of both warring parties are discussed.
The author is a prolific writer and certainly adds much needed dialogue to the American debate. I will read more of his books, since I find his insight into world politics valuable and needed, despite the nature of his openly anti-leftist philosophy. His honesty is refreshing.
I expected a Trump story from a former Democrat and was hoping for an interesting view on the current situation on American politics. It surely was a totally different angle than I expected.
It was soon clear that the author used Trump as a springboard for his own ideas and only at the end concluded with the first 100 days of the new administration. The rest of the book explains the recommendations the author makes to the new administration in addressing the communist(now called 'progressive') agenda of the left and provide ample information for his arguments.
The author explains the real meaning of the American Constitution as a birth certificate for every citizen and how it differentiate America from the rest of the world. He also explains why millions of people try to enter America and not swim through shark-infested seas to reach Cuba or China, or even apply for refugee status in their millions in other Communist countries, for that matter.
To understand the author's arguments, I went on to find more information on David Horowitz.
A staunch Democrat and supporter of Communism until the 1970s, the author was born to card-carrying Communist parents. Publishing numerous books in his career as a Leftist and since around 1973 as an apponent, it is clear that the author brings a very different, and certainly highly interesting, insight to the new dispensation in America. His journey from left to right can be read in the National Review article .
This book explains why Trump won the election. There is so much that can be said about the content of the book, but I will refrain. The weak points of both warring parties are discussed.
The author is a prolific writer and certainly adds much needed dialogue to the American debate. I will read more of his books, since I find his insight into world politics valuable and needed, despite the nature of his openly anti-leftist philosophy. His honesty is refreshing.
February 16, 2017
Once again, David Horowitz has written a fantastic book. Horowitz is bold and straightforward, outlining the methods and ideology of the Democratic party. He cites detailed examples, including evidence and references. I found myself shocked and enraged at the depth of Democratic machinations. Horowitz concludes the book with a section on what the Republican party should be doing to offset the lies and unjust accusations of the liberal progressives, and ways in which Republicans should be taking note of and supporting President Trump's agenda. This is definitely a "must read" book.
March 25, 2017
I saw this trash being advertised during Lawrence O'Donnell tonight during one of the breaks (I bet Lawrence was blanching). It's laughable thinking that this propaganda got published and that it's blatantly being advertised on the news channels. There's no way in hell I'm reading this shit. And MSNBC and any one who is advertising it really should be ashamed of themselves for advertising this shit. Oh, and Trump and Putin bots don't bother commenting. You'll be blocked and deleted.
June 18, 2017
This would have been a pretty bad book pre-Russia investigation, because if this is what passes for fact in republican land, it's probably hard to fight that kind of belief system. It is much like trying to debate a religious person by presenting them with scientific evidence. They cannot and will not ever take it in. In fact, their beliefs often become stronger.
Post Russia investigation, this book is simply one that a very small number (and growing smaller each day) of loyal Trump supporters can appreciate. You could file it under, "Now that's a face only a mother could love."
Post Russia investigation, this book is simply one that a very small number (and growing smaller each day) of loyal Trump supporters can appreciate. You could file it under, "Now that's a face only a mother could love."
February 15, 2017
The publisher sent me a review copy (I didn't request it). I thought it was a good opportunity to learn a different view.
There's very little substance or evidence to support Horowitz's idea. Just the conclusions. Very "Post-truth" book. In that sense, this book was helpful to me to learn them.
There's very little substance or evidence to support Horowitz's idea. Just the conclusions. Very "Post-truth" book. In that sense, this book was helpful to me to learn them.
February 10, 2017
Muslims would have prevailed in America if Trump did not win
The author is the founder of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and an aggressive conservative strategist. In this book he narrates how Donald Trump won the election. Trump posted a moral victory over the Republican Party that failed to fight the destructive agenda of the left that threatened America’s future. The progressive movement divided society into two groups; the oppressive white males, Christians and heterosexuals, and oppressed groups like African Americans, Muslims and illegal immigrants.
While addressing a possible presidential run at the Iowa Freedom Summit, Trump criticized Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush as potential 2016 presidential candidates. At that time no one but Iowans knew that Donald Trump is the man who will defend liberty and freedom from liberals, encroaching Sharia and Muslim dominance. Conservatives were justifiably worried that America’s decline was reaching a point of no return, and it is time that they had to do something, says author David Horowitz.
The book concludes with a battle plan for the first 100 days of Trump administration that includes restoring Guantanamo Prison, defunding sanctuary cities, promoting energy independence, nixing illegal immigration amnesty, attacking IRS malfeasance, and dismantling the failed Obamacare.
The author is the founder of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and an aggressive conservative strategist. In this book he narrates how Donald Trump won the election. Trump posted a moral victory over the Republican Party that failed to fight the destructive agenda of the left that threatened America’s future. The progressive movement divided society into two groups; the oppressive white males, Christians and heterosexuals, and oppressed groups like African Americans, Muslims and illegal immigrants.
While addressing a possible presidential run at the Iowa Freedom Summit, Trump criticized Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush as potential 2016 presidential candidates. At that time no one but Iowans knew that Donald Trump is the man who will defend liberty and freedom from liberals, encroaching Sharia and Muslim dominance. Conservatives were justifiably worried that America’s decline was reaching a point of no return, and it is time that they had to do something, says author David Horowitz.
The book concludes with a battle plan for the first 100 days of Trump administration that includes restoring Guantanamo Prison, defunding sanctuary cities, promoting energy independence, nixing illegal immigration amnesty, attacking IRS malfeasance, and dismantling the failed Obamacare.
April 7, 2017
A very easy and enlightening book. I found the title misleading though. It is not so much about Trump's plan to save America as it is about the Democrat's plan to destroy it. A plan that has been in effect for many years now and would definitely have destroyed it had Clinton been elected instead of Trump. This book exposes the truth behind just why the Republicans have allowed and continue to allow the Democrats to get by with their liberal agenda. They are scared of them! They are scared the Democrats will bad mouth them and tell lies about them and they won't get elected! Well they don't deserve to get elected! Our elected officials need to stand up for what is right and quit bowing down to political correctness! I really don't understand how so many reviews here can say that the book is just opinion and not backed up by fact. I guess they didn't notice the 14 page bibliography in the back of the book!
March 27, 2017
This is a quick read. Horowitz paints a devastating, but accurate picture of the progressive agenda and the ultimate goal of the Democrats who are now led by extreme leftists who disavow capitalism, like Obama, Sanders, Warren and Clinton, by race baiters like Waters and Cummings, and I believe by corrupt talking heads like Maddow, Sharpton, and Brzezinski. He details the destructive results of their policies and condemns the tools that they use to acquire their power, in any way they can.
He presents not only the agenda he has designed for the Republicans during the Trump Administration, to take back America and return it to its rightful place of respect in the world, but he lays out the corrupt agenda of the liberals, including their corrupt behavior. He clearly defines the criminality of Hillary Clinton, so long ignored by the Justice Department and what has become a corrupt media that is inspired by their own opinions rather than by what is news and, obviously, the truth. He alludes to the existence of collusion between the Executive branch of Obama, and the Departments of Justice and the IRS. Horowitz has very accurately identified all of the current problems facing the newly elected President who has been called many heinous names, even as he is accused of being the name caller.
He places a great deal of blame for the Democrats’ move to the extreme left on the policies and philosophy of Saul Alinsky, a community organizer like Barack Obama, who wrote a book called “Rules for Radicals”, and George Soros, a wealthy civil activist who has sought, for years, to influence American politics to move to the extreme left using non-profit organizations like his moveon.org. Former President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton view those men as their mentors. Alinsky’s polices encourage the demonizing of anyone that disagrees with their agenda, and it seems to be working for the progressives as evidenced by their angry protests and rallies against the President and his followers.
He accurately identifies the problems of the Republican Party and their lack of a common purpose, a common stand on issues which is the lifeline and lifeblood of the Democrats. They are unified, right or wrong because they believe that the ends justify any means, while the Republicans do not. They will follow their platform like lemmings and not break ranks. Hillary Clinton said that when “they go low, we go high”, but that is an oxymoron in her playbook and in the policies of her followers who march in lockstep with her.
Even when the GOP controls all of the branches of government they cannot seem to come together, as the donkeys can, and remain loyal to their party, they cannot, even though they know that the Progressives want to place the power in their own hands so they can rule and will do anything they can to disrupt the current government and are able to disrupt it in their weakness because they remain united as the Republicans divide into disparate groups fighting each other instead of promoting the policies they ran on and promoting the ultimate goal of greater justice and freedom for all Americans as they make America great again. They are, once again, snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory and helping the Progressives accomplish their goal of regaining power and continuing to bring America to its knees, in the eyes of the rest of the world.
Is there any way to defeat the far left that lies while they are actually lying themselves, cheats while they cheat openly, name call while accusing others of name calling, calling others sexist while covering up sexual deviants within their own ranks, screaming racism as they only give lip service to the needs of those less fortunate, as they feather their own nests, as they deny the history of their own party which was and still is, steeped in racism and sexism?
Horowitz suggests that the “deplorable right” examine and concentrate on, the big picture and go fearlessly into the fray to combat the goals of the hypocritical left, but he has not presented any viable way for them to do it. History has proven that they will seek their own level, and that level has not been a very high bar in the past. They are too conciliatory and afraid of ramifications, afraid of losing their jobs, and so they fail in the performance of their duties. Let’s hope that they will suddenly decide not to go “gently into that good night”, to coin a phrase, for it will surely be the death knell of the party.
He presents not only the agenda he has designed for the Republicans during the Trump Administration, to take back America and return it to its rightful place of respect in the world, but he lays out the corrupt agenda of the liberals, including their corrupt behavior. He clearly defines the criminality of Hillary Clinton, so long ignored by the Justice Department and what has become a corrupt media that is inspired by their own opinions rather than by what is news and, obviously, the truth. He alludes to the existence of collusion between the Executive branch of Obama, and the Departments of Justice and the IRS. Horowitz has very accurately identified all of the current problems facing the newly elected President who has been called many heinous names, even as he is accused of being the name caller.
He places a great deal of blame for the Democrats’ move to the extreme left on the policies and philosophy of Saul Alinsky, a community organizer like Barack Obama, who wrote a book called “Rules for Radicals”, and George Soros, a wealthy civil activist who has sought, for years, to influence American politics to move to the extreme left using non-profit organizations like his moveon.org. Former President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton view those men as their mentors. Alinsky’s polices encourage the demonizing of anyone that disagrees with their agenda, and it seems to be working for the progressives as evidenced by their angry protests and rallies against the President and his followers.
He accurately identifies the problems of the Republican Party and their lack of a common purpose, a common stand on issues which is the lifeline and lifeblood of the Democrats. They are unified, right or wrong because they believe that the ends justify any means, while the Republicans do not. They will follow their platform like lemmings and not break ranks. Hillary Clinton said that when “they go low, we go high”, but that is an oxymoron in her playbook and in the policies of her followers who march in lockstep with her.
Even when the GOP controls all of the branches of government they cannot seem to come together, as the donkeys can, and remain loyal to their party, they cannot, even though they know that the Progressives want to place the power in their own hands so they can rule and will do anything they can to disrupt the current government and are able to disrupt it in their weakness because they remain united as the Republicans divide into disparate groups fighting each other instead of promoting the policies they ran on and promoting the ultimate goal of greater justice and freedom for all Americans as they make America great again. They are, once again, snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory and helping the Progressives accomplish their goal of regaining power and continuing to bring America to its knees, in the eyes of the rest of the world.
Is there any way to defeat the far left that lies while they are actually lying themselves, cheats while they cheat openly, name call while accusing others of name calling, calling others sexist while covering up sexual deviants within their own ranks, screaming racism as they only give lip service to the needs of those less fortunate, as they feather their own nests, as they deny the history of their own party which was and still is, steeped in racism and sexism?
Horowitz suggests that the “deplorable right” examine and concentrate on, the big picture and go fearlessly into the fray to combat the goals of the hypocritical left, but he has not presented any viable way for them to do it. History has proven that they will seek their own level, and that level has not been a very high bar in the past. They are too conciliatory and afraid of ramifications, afraid of losing their jobs, and so they fail in the performance of their duties. Let’s hope that they will suddenly decide not to go “gently into that good night”, to coin a phrase, for it will surely be the death knell of the party.
February 9, 2017
Based all on opinion not facts..... what a joke
May 14, 2017
MUST READ for anyone who wants to defend US freedom for years to come
This book is well-written and the pace as smooth as silk. Each chapter is laid out in a straightforward, logical manner, giving enough "backstory" to help the reader understand implications of the each topic the book discusses.
From the media disinformation campaign, to Obama's covertly scandalous and very destructive 8 years, to the democrats' oppressive reign on black Americans, you will have a thorough overview and understanding of how it is all part of the globalist progressive agenda to make America a third-world hellhole.
You will get mad, but you will also be inspired to jump on the true Republican train and Make America Great Again!
Note for Christian readers - as bearers of Christ 's name we can no longer sit idly by and watch the US be taken over by people who seek to do people harm. Jesus said "know the signs of the times," " be gentle as doves and shrewd as serpents," and most importantly "stay awake!" I believe we have been called to such a time as this! American Christians do a lot of good in the US and internationally. If we let power-hungry globalists (and it's always about $) turn us into a socialist nation--there will be nothing left to share here or abroad. How many humanitarian and:or missionary endeavors have you seen coming out of Venezuela? Cuba? Mid East? Exactly. Neither will there be a future for our children or grandchildren. Most detrimental, it will be a death to the largest part of Christ's earthly body. I know the end will come one day, but we don't get to guess when that is or give up the good fight. That means standing up for Christ until He returns. Fill your jars of oil and Stay awake. Vote. Get involved and know what's going on in your local, state, and fed govts.
This book is well-written and the pace as smooth as silk. Each chapter is laid out in a straightforward, logical manner, giving enough "backstory" to help the reader understand implications of the each topic the book discusses.
From the media disinformation campaign, to Obama's covertly scandalous and very destructive 8 years, to the democrats' oppressive reign on black Americans, you will have a thorough overview and understanding of how it is all part of the globalist progressive agenda to make America a third-world hellhole.
You will get mad, but you will also be inspired to jump on the true Republican train and Make America Great Again!
Note for Christian readers - as bearers of Christ 's name we can no longer sit idly by and watch the US be taken over by people who seek to do people harm. Jesus said "know the signs of the times," " be gentle as doves and shrewd as serpents," and most importantly "stay awake!" I believe we have been called to such a time as this! American Christians do a lot of good in the US and internationally. If we let power-hungry globalists (and it's always about $) turn us into a socialist nation--there will be nothing left to share here or abroad. How many humanitarian and:or missionary endeavors have you seen coming out of Venezuela? Cuba? Mid East? Exactly. Neither will there be a future for our children or grandchildren. Most detrimental, it will be a death to the largest part of Christ's earthly body. I know the end will come one day, but we don't get to guess when that is or give up the good fight. That means standing up for Christ until He returns. Fill your jars of oil and Stay awake. Vote. Get involved and know what's going on in your local, state, and fed govts.
September 10, 2017
Only a few pages are devoted to "the Big Agenda". Most of the book is demonizing Democrats. This book was written prior to Trumps first 100 days, and the book lists what he will accomplish in the first 100 days. What a joke!
August 4, 2021
Big Agenda: President Trump’s Plan to Save America by David Horowitz looks at Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 election as more than a historic upset, rather the beginning of a major political, economic, and social revolution that will change America — and the world. One of the nation’s foremost conservative commentators, New York Times bestselling author, and a mentor to many of Donald Trump’s key advisers, David Horowitz presents a White House battle plan to halt the Democrats’ march to extinguish the values America holds dear.
Written shortly after the 2016 election, Big Agenda details President Trump’s likely moves, including his:
• First wave of executive orders — restoring Guantanamo, Keystone XL, nixing amnesty
• Surprising judicial appointments — Supreme Court and the federal judiciary
• Radical changes to federal rules & regulations — Obamacare, EPA overreach, and a New Deal for black America
“No president since FDR and his famed ‘100 Days’ has the chance Donald Trump has,” Horowitz argues. But he writes that the GOP and Trump must recognize they are not fighting policy ideas, but an ideology — a progressive one with a radical agenda to stop Trump in an effort to reduce America’s power and greatness.
The author writes, “One battle is over, but there are many more to come. This book is a guide to fighting the opponents of the conservative restoration. It identifies who the adversaries are — their methods and their motivations. It describes their agenda — not merely the particular issues with which they advance their goal, but the destructive goal itself. And it lays out a strategy that can defeat them.”
Written shortly after the 2016 election, Big Agenda details President Trump’s likely moves, including his:
• First wave of executive orders — restoring Guantanamo, Keystone XL, nixing amnesty
• Surprising judicial appointments — Supreme Court and the federal judiciary
• Radical changes to federal rules & regulations — Obamacare, EPA overreach, and a New Deal for black America
“No president since FDR and his famed ‘100 Days’ has the chance Donald Trump has,” Horowitz argues. But he writes that the GOP and Trump must recognize they are not fighting policy ideas, but an ideology — a progressive one with a radical agenda to stop Trump in an effort to reduce America’s power and greatness.
The author writes, “One battle is over, but there are many more to come. This book is a guide to fighting the opponents of the conservative restoration. It identifies who the adversaries are — their methods and their motivations. It describes their agenda — not merely the particular issues with which they advance their goal, but the destructive goal itself. And it lays out a strategy that can defeat them.”
February 7, 2017
My rating could easily be misleading. The low rating is not because the book wasn't good. It was! Three days is fast for me to read a book. I can only read one that fast if I am enjoying it. No that was not the reason for my low rating. My low rating is because the title of the book is highly misleading.
When I ordered the book from Books-A-Million I thought it was going to be about what President Trump had in mind to do during his time in the White House. Alas! It was not so! Trump is only mentioned in passing a few times until you get to chapter 12 of part three of the book (one of the last two chapters of the book). And truthfully, Horowitz does not really get around to what, specifically, Trump should do until the conclusion of the book which deals with his first 100 days in office. The rest of the book is basically David Horowitz painting the Democratic Party as evil, progressive liberals whose goal is to destroy the country while making themselves wealthy. The Republican Party is a lackadaisical, do nothing party who is more afraid of being called names and being seen as NOT politically correct than they are concerned with stopping the evil progressive Democrats in their tracks.
His book is almost entirely concerned with what the Democratic Party is doing to destroy American values and what Republicans need to do to turn things around and restore America to what it once was.
I read the whole thing in just a few hours spread out over three days because I had other things that had to be done besides just read. While the book was interesting and held my attenttion the whole time I was reading it, this book is NOT about President Trump and how he plans to fulfill his campaign promises, specifically how to "Make America Great Again." So I give the book two stars for being interesting but take off three of five stars for false advertising.
I can't really recommend this book.because is basically consists of Horowitz taking all of the lies and accusations the Dems make against the GOP and turning them back on the blue donkeys saying "Nuh Uh! I am not! You Are!!!"
So much for this book being enlightening in any way!
When I ordered the book from Books-A-Million I thought it was going to be about what President Trump had in mind to do during his time in the White House. Alas! It was not so! Trump is only mentioned in passing a few times until you get to chapter 12 of part three of the book (one of the last two chapters of the book). And truthfully, Horowitz does not really get around to what, specifically, Trump should do until the conclusion of the book which deals with his first 100 days in office. The rest of the book is basically David Horowitz painting the Democratic Party as evil, progressive liberals whose goal is to destroy the country while making themselves wealthy. The Republican Party is a lackadaisical, do nothing party who is more afraid of being called names and being seen as NOT politically correct than they are concerned with stopping the evil progressive Democrats in their tracks.
His book is almost entirely concerned with what the Democratic Party is doing to destroy American values and what Republicans need to do to turn things around and restore America to what it once was.
I read the whole thing in just a few hours spread out over three days because I had other things that had to be done besides just read. While the book was interesting and held my attenttion the whole time I was reading it, this book is NOT about President Trump and how he plans to fulfill his campaign promises, specifically how to "Make America Great Again." So I give the book two stars for being interesting but take off three of five stars for false advertising.
I can't really recommend this book.because is basically consists of Horowitz taking all of the lies and accusations the Dems make against the GOP and turning them back on the blue donkeys saying "Nuh Uh! I am not! You Are!!!"
So much for this book being enlightening in any way!
March 25, 2017
From leading conservative commentator David Horowitz comes Big Agenda: President Trump’s Plan to Save America. However, despite the title, it’s not really about Trump. Rather, it’s an analysis of the current political climate, the strategies employed by, and beliefs of, the Left, and what must be done to counteract their agenda to reshape America into a socialist state. And throughout, Horowitz uses Trump as an example of the type of bold, confrontational politician that is needed in the Republican Party in order to win the culture war. Especially well-written, the book does an impressive job at outlining the issues in a clear, easy-to-understand manner, and makes a compelling argument for the need for action. Smart and insightful, Big Agenda: President Trump’s Plan to Save America is a revealing look at the challenges that the conservative movement faces.
October 7, 2020
Objectively: garbage. Again, this was a gag gift but it felt like a timely read with the election approaching. The actual “agenda” of the right was saved for the Conclusion chapter. The rest was a poorly written trashing of the left. A quote: “The number of African American lives damaged or destroyed by Democratic policies alone would exceed the wildest dreams of any Klansmen.” My favorite part was the one-paragraph-long chapter entitled “The Goal and the Path.” Can’t wait to chuck this in the donate pile.
May 30, 2017
Excellent book outlines in graphic detail the home grown enemies of America. Its not for nothing that the oath that elected officials and military personnel take includes defense against enemies foreign and DOMESTIC!
We are at a crossroads. The sad thing is that the Republicans themselves are partly to blame for their feckless fight against the progressive anti freedom democrats.
Everybody should read this highly informative book.
THANK GOD FOR TRUMP!
We are at a crossroads. The sad thing is that the Republicans themselves are partly to blame for their feckless fight against the progressive anti freedom democrats.
Everybody should read this highly informative book.
THANK GOD FOR TRUMP!
February 7, 2017
Clear indictment of the progressive left and what must be done to stop the further crumbling of the American dream. How we will make America great again and secure our nation for future generations. Well written, worth reading.
February 6, 2017
More of a story of how politics got to the state it is in today. Interesting but not riveting.
August 17, 2020
I found this book in a trash pile and figured I couldn’t pass an NYT bestseller...
Even if the reader is pro-Trump or well Right of center, I still can’t understand how this book could earn a high rating given it is almost entirely a summery of grievances, mindsets, and criticisms emanating from the author and Trump’s GOP (virtually all of which most readers will already be familiar with) and is not anywhere near “President Trump’s Plan to Save America”, which is tucked in the last six pages of the conclusion in the form of shallow paragraph-long descriptions of what policies and changes Trump has in mind. Trump’s quotes are dispersed throughout the book, but seldom in any meaningful policy or planning sense, so the book’s subtitle is incredibly misleading.
As much as I hate blaming easy targets and generalizing about political groups’ radical tendencies given these things are part of the polarization problem, I have to raise factual issues, and do not feel my evaluation is a mischaracterization given the ongoing amount of support the President continues to hold culturally, politically and in his party.
First, the book is riddled with nonfactual claims, gross overstatements, misleading assertions, selected statistics, and fallacies throughout. I literally highlighted an average of three per page. Given the author’s notoriety I was certainly hoping for...better.
Second, most of the author’s claims have not aged well at all as many of his complaints with the prior administration have been carried on or doubled down on by Trump and his administration. These overwhelmingly deal with corruption, executive overreach, division, ideology taking over, lies, popular will, etc., which is strange given the myriad signs these same things would happen throughout the campaign trail.
This hypocrisy and short-sightedness is ironically summed up by the very first paragraph, which claims Trump’s election put an end to a “presidency that divided the American people, eroded American sovereignty, diminished American power, and undermined a constitutional foundation that had made America prosperous and great.” Yikes.
There was one good chapter highlighting the ideologically extreme background and/or training some heavy hitters on the Left come from, and another about how much of the Left is willing to overlook and appropriate shockingly immoral and ‘un-American’ things for the sake of political correctness and under the guise of inclusivity. Sadly, these were the only ones that raised issues of concern with reasonably factual basis, and even more alarming is the extent to which most of these concerns could be said of the Trump or the GOP itself.
I was hoping for a much more policy-(or even reality-) based argument for or layout of Trump’s policies but this was mostly ideological drivel made without concessions or moderation of bias with a misleading title and a self-defeatingly large penchant for hypocritical blame-gaming, so I’ll have to look elsewhere.
Even if the reader is pro-Trump or well Right of center, I still can’t understand how this book could earn a high rating given it is almost entirely a summery of grievances, mindsets, and criticisms emanating from the author and Trump’s GOP (virtually all of which most readers will already be familiar with) and is not anywhere near “President Trump’s Plan to Save America”, which is tucked in the last six pages of the conclusion in the form of shallow paragraph-long descriptions of what policies and changes Trump has in mind. Trump’s quotes are dispersed throughout the book, but seldom in any meaningful policy or planning sense, so the book’s subtitle is incredibly misleading.
As much as I hate blaming easy targets and generalizing about political groups’ radical tendencies given these things are part of the polarization problem, I have to raise factual issues, and do not feel my evaluation is a mischaracterization given the ongoing amount of support the President continues to hold culturally, politically and in his party.
First, the book is riddled with nonfactual claims, gross overstatements, misleading assertions, selected statistics, and fallacies throughout. I literally highlighted an average of three per page. Given the author’s notoriety I was certainly hoping for...better.
Second, most of the author’s claims have not aged well at all as many of his complaints with the prior administration have been carried on or doubled down on by Trump and his administration. These overwhelmingly deal with corruption, executive overreach, division, ideology taking over, lies, popular will, etc., which is strange given the myriad signs these same things would happen throughout the campaign trail.
This hypocrisy and short-sightedness is ironically summed up by the very first paragraph, which claims Trump’s election put an end to a “presidency that divided the American people, eroded American sovereignty, diminished American power, and undermined a constitutional foundation that had made America prosperous and great.” Yikes.
There was one good chapter highlighting the ideologically extreme background and/or training some heavy hitters on the Left come from, and another about how much of the Left is willing to overlook and appropriate shockingly immoral and ‘un-American’ things for the sake of political correctness and under the guise of inclusivity. Sadly, these were the only ones that raised issues of concern with reasonably factual basis, and even more alarming is the extent to which most of these concerns could be said of the Trump or the GOP itself.
I was hoping for a much more policy-(or even reality-) based argument for or layout of Trump’s policies but this was mostly ideological drivel made without concessions or moderation of bias with a misleading title and a self-defeatingly large penchant for hypocritical blame-gaming, so I’ll have to look elsewhere.
February 1, 2018
I am generally a moderate conservative and would consider myself sympathetic to conservatives and Trump supporters. However, with even this "bias", I found myself extremely disappointed. The book has ton of fighting words to portray the Democratic party. While that's expressive, I did not appreciate the blatant non-partisan tone, which makes observing complex political issues much more difficult and is fostering the "tribal" mentality.
While this wasn't a main issue, the main problem was the lack of research. Therefore, the lack of legitimate informations.
I have had experience reading conservative texts such as books by Sowell with well researched evidences from published books and trusted scholar researches. In contrast, I was extremely disappointed when I've found some of Horowitz's citation referencing informations from Wikipedia and even a conservative YouTube channel--Prager U. The arguments that Horowitz now appears less credible and just outright assertions.
His references are actually so weak that on page 117, Part III, chapter 6, his citation for "an entire series of texts designed for teacher instruction and punished by the Columbia Teachers College is devoted to 'teaching social justice' in mathematics and other unlikely subjects" was an amazon link. No author or publisher listed. It appears that it's a URL of an Amazon search of "teaching social justice mathematics". Are you frickin kidding me??????!!!!
My guess is that Horowitz was in a rush to publish this book after the Trump's victory. Either way, I'm actually shocked that this type of book has a such a high rating. Whatever is your political belief, I hope people judge the book based on its actual worth--the quality of its information.
While this wasn't a main issue, the main problem was the lack of research. Therefore, the lack of legitimate informations.
I have had experience reading conservative texts such as books by Sowell with well researched evidences from published books and trusted scholar researches. In contrast, I was extremely disappointed when I've found some of Horowitz's citation referencing informations from Wikipedia and even a conservative YouTube channel--Prager U. The arguments that Horowitz now appears less credible and just outright assertions.
His references are actually so weak that on page 117, Part III, chapter 6, his citation for "an entire series of texts designed for teacher instruction and punished by the Columbia Teachers College is devoted to 'teaching social justice' in mathematics and other unlikely subjects" was an amazon link. No author or publisher listed. It appears that it's a URL of an Amazon search of "teaching social justice mathematics". Are you frickin kidding me??????!!!!
My guess is that Horowitz was in a rush to publish this book after the Trump's victory. Either way, I'm actually shocked that this type of book has a such a high rating. Whatever is your political belief, I hope people judge the book based on its actual worth--the quality of its information.
May 21, 2017
Already out of date, this is the author’s version of how Trump will make America great again by putting forth an agenda that will overturn much of what transpired during the Obama years. The author rails against progressive reforms, Obama and the Clintons, as well as numerous other “enemies” of true conservatism. He speaks highly of Trump as if he is a supporter of those philosophies as opposed to just being a reality TV personality with no political experience. It is obvious that this book was written before Trump took office. It would be interesting to see how the author feels now that Trump’s campaign is being accused of things far worse than anything Clinton did and how little Trump has accomplished in his first 100 days. Trump certainly has fallen far short of the promises made at Gettysburg, despite having a Republican Congress to enact whatever legislation that party supports. One had only to look at the healthcare fiasco. Despite having seven years to come up with a plan, the Republicans found themselves unable to come up with one that the public truly supports as of this date. This book is a simple, quick read with no real new information but lots of one-sided views.
May 28, 2017
Great guide to action
Unlike other books that compare the left vs right, this one is very specific about how to make the needed changes for our country. Horowitz does a excellent job in reviewing Trump's campaign statements and relating them to the current agenda.
Unlike other books that compare the left vs right, this one is very specific about how to make the needed changes for our country. Horowitz does a excellent job in reviewing Trump's campaign statements and relating them to the current agenda.
April 15, 2017
Read it & make sure leaders follow it!!
August 9, 2018
David Horowitz writes an extremely partisan book where he tries to explain what is wrong with the democrats, how to “bring the war” to them and finally how Trump will “make America great again”. There is no attempt at any sort of objectivity and very poor attempts to make his analysis look empirical and researched. This is not academic, it is a rant and it will be considered garbage by any liberal or conservative with a shred of decency or honesty. It is not so much down to whether argument A or B is right or wrong. If you are writing a book on so many different topics you are bound to accidentally say something that makes sense or rather use someone else’s good point. That is why I will ignore the aspects where Horowitz has a point in criticising the democrats (positive discrimination gone mad, sanctuary cities…) and focus on why this book should simply be ignored unless your goal is to assess the level of intelligence on this end of the political spectrum. This book must be considered in its entirety with all its hypocrisies, lies, manipulations and rage.
There are different aspects in this book that make it garbage: lack of perspective, poor use of data and outright lies. Lack of perspective and objectivity is one of the first that jumps out of Big Agenda’s pages. It opens with a multitude of traits or characteristics that are attributed to Democrats and are supposed to prove the evil of that party and the Liberal movement. Every single one of those can in fact be attributed to conservatives alike and are simply the everyday demagogy of politics human hypocrisy. Democrats lie. Big deal. Some democrats have been found to make money off their political careers. Wow. Democrats have a weapon to control political discourse called political correctness. Outrageous. The list goes on, but Horowitz never realises that the exact same charges can be bought not only against establishment conservatives but also the new Trump-style conservatives. Lies? Conservatives dragged their country in a pointless war that paved the way for ISIS based on an outright lie that they manufactured (WMDs). Political correctness? Conservatives use patriotism in the same way to shut down debate. They also have the communist card that Horowitz likes so much. I feel the whine around political correctness stems out of jealousy that it is not as effective as using patriotism or the commie insult. This lack of perspective becomes laughable when Horowitz addresses the “deplorables” comment and how Liberals have hatred in their heart and are constantly insulting. The pages that follow include comments where Horowitz openly insults the intelligence of Liberals: “they will call you xenophobic, if they know the word” and this is just one example of many. How he does not perceive his own hypocrisy is beyond me. There are many other examples of such childish accusations but the culmination of it all arrives when he addresses electoral tactics the Democrats use. They are apparently vicious, personal and will not stop at anything to achieve their goals. How someone who follows American politics can make such a claim is insane. John Kerry or John McCain would both have an interesting take on this particular accusation.
Use of data in this book would exhibit number 2 in how Big Agenda is a poor attempt at making a point. To be honest, this does not seem to be something Horwitz feels he needs to do. He is in his echo chamber and any single statistic he puts forward will be gobbled up by his fans. I still thought it would be interesting to take a few examples. In one instance, Horowitz tries to make the case against white privilege and systemic racism. I will not argue here whether it exists or not. I honestly don’t care, I’m not American. He uses one simple statistic: democrats will point that 40% of inmates are blacks when they only make up for 13% of overall population. Horowitz, with his gotcha approach says this is no proof. He prefers to look at arrests as a proportion of who is committing these crimes and with those statistics, 37% of arrests are blacks. This would mean that it makes sense for blacks to make up 40% of prison population. The problem is that this statistic is just as poor as the one Democrats use. It could mean that black commit more crimes, but it could also mean police only arrest blacks committing crimes which would in fact make the case that systemic racism does exist. We would need to dig deeper to see why these numbers are so. Do a two second internet research and you find that in some cases blacks are disproportionality targeted. Drug use is about the same between whites and blacks (slightly higher for whites). Yet blacks are more likely to be arrested for drug related crimes. Not only this, they are likely to be handed heavier sentences than whites. Again, I do not care if there is systemic racism in the USA and this disparity in data might have an explanation that is not tied to systemic racism. The point here is that Horowitz uses data poorly and has the gall to mention that an empirical approach to political debate should be a key focus for conservatives as Liberals apparently do not use data. Horowitz is clearly not leading by example.
There are numerous other examples of poor use of data. He says for example that the most violent cities in the US are almost all democrat and this is supposed to be proof that liberal policy is causing this violence. Horowitz might want to investigate correlation and causality when considering statistics. He uses various sets of data to criticise economic recovery under Obama in a particularly dishonest way. More food stamps, high unemployment etc… All true claims but put all this into a post-2008 context and how Trump is faring after his own election and you notice this is BS.
A few other examples of ridiculous claims:
• Democrats as friends and sponsors of Islamist regimes. Did Horowitz write this before Trump went dancing with swords in Saudi Arabia on his first official state visit?
• Islamophobia as a word invented by the Muslim Brotherhood. This makes no sense from a translation perspective or etymological perspective
• Obama is responsible for ISIS. He had a part to play, sure, but it all started with conservatives starting a war based on a lie. Iraq as a secular dictatorship and Saddam was mostly ruthless against Islamists.
• Obamacare is a threat because the government will hold your private health data. Typical conservative paranoia. Funny how when the same risk applies to law and order, conservatives are not so worried about the government holding your data (Patriot Act).
• Obama abusing executive orders. He is not even close to be the president that used that most to bypass government.
• America as least racist country in the world. Who managed that study and how?
• After having complained about positive discrimination, he calls for public university positions to be based on some sort of political conviction. Sounds a lot like positive discrimination to favour republicans.
• Republicans are too polite “to poke the hornet’s nest”
There are different aspects in this book that make it garbage: lack of perspective, poor use of data and outright lies. Lack of perspective and objectivity is one of the first that jumps out of Big Agenda’s pages. It opens with a multitude of traits or characteristics that are attributed to Democrats and are supposed to prove the evil of that party and the Liberal movement. Every single one of those can in fact be attributed to conservatives alike and are simply the everyday demagogy of politics human hypocrisy. Democrats lie. Big deal. Some democrats have been found to make money off their political careers. Wow. Democrats have a weapon to control political discourse called political correctness. Outrageous. The list goes on, but Horowitz never realises that the exact same charges can be bought not only against establishment conservatives but also the new Trump-style conservatives. Lies? Conservatives dragged their country in a pointless war that paved the way for ISIS based on an outright lie that they manufactured (WMDs). Political correctness? Conservatives use patriotism in the same way to shut down debate. They also have the communist card that Horowitz likes so much. I feel the whine around political correctness stems out of jealousy that it is not as effective as using patriotism or the commie insult. This lack of perspective becomes laughable when Horowitz addresses the “deplorables” comment and how Liberals have hatred in their heart and are constantly insulting. The pages that follow include comments where Horowitz openly insults the intelligence of Liberals: “they will call you xenophobic, if they know the word” and this is just one example of many. How he does not perceive his own hypocrisy is beyond me. There are many other examples of such childish accusations but the culmination of it all arrives when he addresses electoral tactics the Democrats use. They are apparently vicious, personal and will not stop at anything to achieve their goals. How someone who follows American politics can make such a claim is insane. John Kerry or John McCain would both have an interesting take on this particular accusation.
Use of data in this book would exhibit number 2 in how Big Agenda is a poor attempt at making a point. To be honest, this does not seem to be something Horwitz feels he needs to do. He is in his echo chamber and any single statistic he puts forward will be gobbled up by his fans. I still thought it would be interesting to take a few examples. In one instance, Horowitz tries to make the case against white privilege and systemic racism. I will not argue here whether it exists or not. I honestly don’t care, I’m not American. He uses one simple statistic: democrats will point that 40% of inmates are blacks when they only make up for 13% of overall population. Horowitz, with his gotcha approach says this is no proof. He prefers to look at arrests as a proportion of who is committing these crimes and with those statistics, 37% of arrests are blacks. This would mean that it makes sense for blacks to make up 40% of prison population. The problem is that this statistic is just as poor as the one Democrats use. It could mean that black commit more crimes, but it could also mean police only arrest blacks committing crimes which would in fact make the case that systemic racism does exist. We would need to dig deeper to see why these numbers are so. Do a two second internet research and you find that in some cases blacks are disproportionality targeted. Drug use is about the same between whites and blacks (slightly higher for whites). Yet blacks are more likely to be arrested for drug related crimes. Not only this, they are likely to be handed heavier sentences than whites. Again, I do not care if there is systemic racism in the USA and this disparity in data might have an explanation that is not tied to systemic racism. The point here is that Horowitz uses data poorly and has the gall to mention that an empirical approach to political debate should be a key focus for conservatives as Liberals apparently do not use data. Horowitz is clearly not leading by example.
There are numerous other examples of poor use of data. He says for example that the most violent cities in the US are almost all democrat and this is supposed to be proof that liberal policy is causing this violence. Horowitz might want to investigate correlation and causality when considering statistics. He uses various sets of data to criticise economic recovery under Obama in a particularly dishonest way. More food stamps, high unemployment etc… All true claims but put all this into a post-2008 context and how Trump is faring after his own election and you notice this is BS.
A few other examples of ridiculous claims:
• Democrats as friends and sponsors of Islamist regimes. Did Horowitz write this before Trump went dancing with swords in Saudi Arabia on his first official state visit?
• Islamophobia as a word invented by the Muslim Brotherhood. This makes no sense from a translation perspective or etymological perspective
• Obama is responsible for ISIS. He had a part to play, sure, but it all started with conservatives starting a war based on a lie. Iraq as a secular dictatorship and Saddam was mostly ruthless against Islamists.
• Obamacare is a threat because the government will hold your private health data. Typical conservative paranoia. Funny how when the same risk applies to law and order, conservatives are not so worried about the government holding your data (Patriot Act).
• Obama abusing executive orders. He is not even close to be the president that used that most to bypass government.
• America as least racist country in the world. Who managed that study and how?
• After having complained about positive discrimination, he calls for public university positions to be based on some sort of political conviction. Sounds a lot like positive discrimination to favour republicans.
• Republicans are too polite “to poke the hornet’s nest”
Read
October 26, 2017The book overall organized the arguments and information. The book(obviously) has a strong bias toward Trump. The author needed to be more objective when talking about the presidents policies. He should've have showed the downsides of each of Trumps policies. The book covers many tpics, but doesn't really focus on one specific one. He does shift from one topic to another almost on an instant, the book shifts a lot from one topic to the next.
March 26, 2018
This books title is spot on.....the Big Agenda of this book was to further his agenda. He contradicts himself over and over...he has no facts to substantiate his claims. .....Subtitle witch hunt.
It's rather comical to be reading this now, as things unfold...
Don't waste your time on this...find a more honest, open minded and non partisan author. This is sub par writing.
It's rather comical to be reading this now, as things unfold...
Don't waste your time on this...find a more honest, open minded and non partisan author. This is sub par writing.
July 21, 2017
I consider my politics to be fairly liberal/left of center. I picked up this book from the library to get a different point of view, hoping that it would surprise me with cogent arguments and ideas. Unfortunately, none were to be found here.
The book is a fairly standard circle-jerk of anti-left ranting -- it really isn't pro-Trump so much as it is anti-Democrat. This is unfortunate, because amidst all of Horowitz's ranting about how progressive ideals are terrible and every person with left-wing views is brainwashed, I was kind of hoping to know what he considers to be a viable alternative. Horowitz does a lot of armchair psychoanalysis about what he thinks progressives believe. His assumptions are without nuance or charity, or indeed, any understanding at all. Most of his argument relies on pure speculation.
Horowitz starts off with the assumption that you already agree with him that Obama was a tyrant and that there's a vast left-wing conspiracy to turn the U.S. into a communist dictatorship, and provides just enough half-truths to appeal to your confirmation bias and reinforce your suspicions.
An example of the kind of half-truth I'm talking about: Conservative pundits like Horowitz love to point out that Hillary Clinton wrote her senior thesis on Saul Alinsky. This is true. They go on to say that Clinton and the Democrats have based their entire philosophy on the teachings of Saul Alinsky. This is not true. They always fail to mention that Clinton was very critical of Alinsky in her thesis, and disagreed with him on many vital points. (Also, she was 21 years old when she wrote it -- find me someone who, in their 60s, is still the exact same person they were when they were in college.)
Horowitz is especially guilty of the heuristic of Outgroup Homogeneity ("they are alike; we are diverse"). He points out ways in which Republicans and conservatives disagree with one another about things, and he's probably right; Republicans and conservatives are not a monolith. But he fails to realize that Democrats and progressives are not a monolith either; they often disagree among themselves about the ideas of people like Alinsky, and it's certainly not that case that every progressive is brainwashed or worships Alinsky as their lord and saviour.
If you are progressive like me and want to learn more about what the "other side" is thinking, I'd say, skip this book and find something better. Consider going to the subreddit /r/AskTrumpSupporters and reading the FAQs linked to in their sidebar -- whether you agree with them or not, they at least deal in facts and policies, rather than just making broad generalizations about their opponents.
If you're already a Trump supporter, all you'll get from this book is a paranoid rant that echoes views that flatter conservatives and Republicans and paint all progressives and Democrats as monolithically evil. It's a simple trite narrative, and it'll bore you to death, because you're probably heard it all before anyway.
If you want an easy-to-read book on political issues with a right-wing point of view, consider the "Politically Incorrect Guide" series of books -- they deal with issues (such as Capitalism, American History, Islam) from an irreverent right-wing point of view which drives me insane, but at least they cite sources more clearly than Horowitz does, and you have a better chance of actually learning something new. (Horowitz does provide an appendix with notes on sources, but most of them are opinion columns or otherwise unreliable sources, and since there are no footnotes or in-text citations, he gets away with sneaking in broad assertions without a source.)
There's a certain kind of person who will read this review and immediately get defensive, call me a communist or a cuck or a libtard or a left-wing snowflake, and tell me that I'm attacking American values. That's really not my point here. Mostly, what I want to get across is that, if you want a book from a conservative point of view, you should demand a hell of a lot better than this.
The book is a fairly standard circle-jerk of anti-left ranting -- it really isn't pro-Trump so much as it is anti-Democrat. This is unfortunate, because amidst all of Horowitz's ranting about how progressive ideals are terrible and every person with left-wing views is brainwashed, I was kind of hoping to know what he considers to be a viable alternative. Horowitz does a lot of armchair psychoanalysis about what he thinks progressives believe. His assumptions are without nuance or charity, or indeed, any understanding at all. Most of his argument relies on pure speculation.
Horowitz starts off with the assumption that you already agree with him that Obama was a tyrant and that there's a vast left-wing conspiracy to turn the U.S. into a communist dictatorship, and provides just enough half-truths to appeal to your confirmation bias and reinforce your suspicions.
An example of the kind of half-truth I'm talking about: Conservative pundits like Horowitz love to point out that Hillary Clinton wrote her senior thesis on Saul Alinsky. This is true. They go on to say that Clinton and the Democrats have based their entire philosophy on the teachings of Saul Alinsky. This is not true. They always fail to mention that Clinton was very critical of Alinsky in her thesis, and disagreed with him on many vital points. (Also, she was 21 years old when she wrote it -- find me someone who, in their 60s, is still the exact same person they were when they were in college.)
Horowitz is especially guilty of the heuristic of Outgroup Homogeneity ("they are alike; we are diverse"). He points out ways in which Republicans and conservatives disagree with one another about things, and he's probably right; Republicans and conservatives are not a monolith. But he fails to realize that Democrats and progressives are not a monolith either; they often disagree among themselves about the ideas of people like Alinsky, and it's certainly not that case that every progressive is brainwashed or worships Alinsky as their lord and saviour.
If you are progressive like me and want to learn more about what the "other side" is thinking, I'd say, skip this book and find something better. Consider going to the subreddit /r/AskTrumpSupporters and reading the FAQs linked to in their sidebar -- whether you agree with them or not, they at least deal in facts and policies, rather than just making broad generalizations about their opponents.
If you're already a Trump supporter, all you'll get from this book is a paranoid rant that echoes views that flatter conservatives and Republicans and paint all progressives and Democrats as monolithically evil. It's a simple trite narrative, and it'll bore you to death, because you're probably heard it all before anyway.
If you want an easy-to-read book on political issues with a right-wing point of view, consider the "Politically Incorrect Guide" series of books -- they deal with issues (such as Capitalism, American History, Islam) from an irreverent right-wing point of view which drives me insane, but at least they cite sources more clearly than Horowitz does, and you have a better chance of actually learning something new. (Horowitz does provide an appendix with notes on sources, but most of them are opinion columns or otherwise unreliable sources, and since there are no footnotes or in-text citations, he gets away with sneaking in broad assertions without a source.)
There's a certain kind of person who will read this review and immediately get defensive, call me a communist or a cuck or a libtard or a left-wing snowflake, and tell me that I'm attacking American values. That's really not my point here. Mostly, what I want to get across is that, if you want a book from a conservative point of view, you should demand a hell of a lot better than this.
March 13, 2017
I'm a collector of David Horowitz books, and for me this one is not up to his usual standard. It seems hastily thrown together and definitely overpriced. I like the outline--Part I: The Adversary, Part II: The Agenda, Part III: The Strategy. For those familiar with David Horowitz' work, the first two parts highlight key points about the roots, the nature, and the objectives of the hard Left. The chapters are like a few freeze frames from a docudrama. They capture essential features of the story that will hopefully invite deeper probing for those not already familiar with the larger narrative. Each chapter is supported with a half dozen or so footnote references. It is too thin to persuade anyone who is not already on board with David Horowitz' thinking. Some useful quotes could be extracted for quick reference, which might be helpful.
I thought Part III on Strategy would discuss how the Agenda of the Adversary is deployed. But instead it is about Strategies for OPPOSING the Agenda. Section III comprises half the content of the book, and offers more original material for Horowitz readers. For instance, see his discussion of "no fight" (push back) on pp. 90, 93, 112; failure to use the power of the purse on p. 114; and reversing the presumptions of moral virtue on pp. 77, 83, and 85.
Each of the three sections (the Adversary, the Agenda, the Strategy) needs a summary paragraph defining WHO is the Adversary, WHAT is the Agenda, and HOW will it be combated. The book opens with a brief chapter of Introduction ("Restoring the Nation to Greatness"), and closes with a brief chapter of Conclusion ("The Battle Plan: the First 100 Days"). The "Battle Plan" reads more like a wish list than "Strategy." We are seeing how swiftly initiatives on the wish list are delayed and derailed by the opposition. David Horowitz closes THE BIG AGENDA with three paragraphs of platitudes about rising up, confronting critics, defending liberty and the "last best hope" of freedom. He offers one half-baked "strategy" which is to retake the inner cities that testify to the failure of liberal policies. I think this is something President Trump would definitely like to do; but I don't think this book represents as subtitled: "Big Agenda: PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PLAN TO SAVE AMERICA."
I thought Part III on Strategy would discuss how the Agenda of the Adversary is deployed. But instead it is about Strategies for OPPOSING the Agenda. Section III comprises half the content of the book, and offers more original material for Horowitz readers. For instance, see his discussion of "no fight" (push back) on pp. 90, 93, 112; failure to use the power of the purse on p. 114; and reversing the presumptions of moral virtue on pp. 77, 83, and 85.
Each of the three sections (the Adversary, the Agenda, the Strategy) needs a summary paragraph defining WHO is the Adversary, WHAT is the Agenda, and HOW will it be combated. The book opens with a brief chapter of Introduction ("Restoring the Nation to Greatness"), and closes with a brief chapter of Conclusion ("The Battle Plan: the First 100 Days"). The "Battle Plan" reads more like a wish list than "Strategy." We are seeing how swiftly initiatives on the wish list are delayed and derailed by the opposition. David Horowitz closes THE BIG AGENDA with three paragraphs of platitudes about rising up, confronting critics, defending liberty and the "last best hope" of freedom. He offers one half-baked "strategy" which is to retake the inner cities that testify to the failure of liberal policies. I think this is something President Trump would definitely like to do; but I don't think this book represents as subtitled: "Big Agenda: PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PLAN TO SAVE AMERICA."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews