Losing America: Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant Presidency

by Robert C. Byrd

A ringing call to action by one of the country's longest serving and most respected legislators. In the months and years following September 11, Senator Robert C. Byrd has viewed with alarm what he considers to be a "slow unraveling of the people's liberties," when all dissenting voices were stilled and awesome power swung suddenly to the president to fight a "war on terror." This path violates historic American principles―it shows no regard for the balance of powers or the role of the Congress; it invades our privacy; and it eliminates public participation in and understanding of government. Swept along, we have entered a war without proper consideration and rushed dangerous legislation through Congress.  Now is the time to regain the Constitution, to return to the values and processes that made America great. Byrd does not shrink from speaking the truth to an ever more aggressive and imperial White House. Byrd has written a new postscript for the paperback edition.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Robert Carlyle Byrd was a United States Senator from West Virginia, and a member and former Senate Leader of the Democratic Party. Byrd was a senator from January 3, 1959, until his death, and was the longest-serving senator, as well as the longest-serving member in congressional history. He was the Dean of the Senate from 2003 to 2010. He was also the oldest member of the current Congress at the time of his death (Strom Thurmond was the oldest to serve in Congressional history), and was the first person to serve uninterrupted for half a century as a senator.

Byrd was President pro tempore of the United States Senate from 2007 to 2010, a position that put him third in the line of presidential succession, behind Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He also held this post previously from 1989 to 1995, briefly in January 2001, and from June 2001 to January 2003.

Byrd held a wide variety of both liberal and conservative political views. He also held many leadership positions: Senate Conference Secretary, Majority Whip, Minority Leader and twice Majority Leader.

Reviews

[Gregg Wingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Decision 2016 floating in the air I cannot help reflect on the late Senator Robert C. Byrd's "Losing America: Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant Presidency". Not as good or abstract as his "The Senate of the Roman Republic: Addresses on the History of Roman Constitutionalism" which he originally delivered as a series of addresses from the Senate, "Losing America" focuses not on the general hazard of the growth of presidential but specifically on the abuses by George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress in the aftermath of 9/11.

Senator Byrd explains how the rhetoric of the War on Terrorism was utilized to silence resistance to the Presidential agenda not only in arena of foreign policy but in domestic policies and, perhaps, most critically in budgetary matters. A strong constitutionalist, the Senator feels that the balance of powers between the branches of the Federal government is not just a function of our organizational structure but most importantly a guarantor of our individual freedoms. In his own words, the Capitol "...houses the people's branch, the sacred temple of free and open debate....the vessel of liberty that has safely carried us through every storm." In contrast, his disdain for Bush II is undisguised: "George W. Bush, a child of wealth and privilege...did not pay his dues....offered no vision..." Senator Byrd guides us through the collapse of governance that was born in these years and still haunts our country to this day. One of the few senators to oppose the invasion of Iraq and the Patriot Act, he gives us an inside look at the politics of Washington and the Congress. He also correctly warns of the dangers of special interests and their money on elected officials.

Senator Byrd was certainly the last of the great American orators and it is especially wonderful that this book includes eight of his speeches from the floor of the Senate. Much of his wisdom and love of his country and the institution that he dedicated his live to are captured in this little volume. Born impoverished in the West Virginia coalfields, the Senator's life is the embodiment of the American dream of democracy and liberty for all.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Senator Byrd of W. Virginia realized that after 9/11 our country was enduring an unraveling of the people's liberties. The way down this path violates historic American principles. He documents how the Bush administration has operated under a cloak of secrecy with little regard for the balance of powers or the role of Congress. He shows how this makes no attempt to educate the public or build consensus; it invades our privacy, shows little regard for our environment, does not deal with the realities of people who have to work for a living. He informs us how we have entered a war without proper consideration under a new and dangerous doctrine - how we have a White House that favors the rich, lavishes tax cuts on big businesses, and pushes through unfair tax legislation. Losing America is a call to action by one of our country's most respected legislators and warns us of the sinister agenda of this power seeking administration. Senator Byrd embodies what our Founding Fathers expounded when this country was started - we'd do well to have more government leaders like him.

[Will Byrnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Byrd’s primary theme is that the executive has removed much if not all of the power of the purse from Congress, and this way lies tyranny, and that it has done so dishonestly. He also chides the member of Congress who have allowed this to happen, who have allowed themselves to be bullied by fears of Republican administration name-calling. He sees dark days ahead.

This is a cogent, pointed position that merits our attention.

[Jerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

If someone were to tell you they were reading a book subtitled Confronting a reckless and arrogant presidency you’d probably think it was written by a right-winger, rather than a short-sighted beltway insider who can’t see out of the beltway box to save his own reputation.

All political memoirs should be read after the pendulum shifts. Senator Byrd begins his book decrying the lack of background on the current president:

Presidential leadership requires much, much more than an expensive pollster and God-given charisma… gifted speechwriters… are not enough… [His] power has been wielded with arrogance, calculation, and disdain for dissenting views.

[Kylene Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a disturbing book. I was not surprised by much in the book but it was interesting reading an "insiders" view on this dangerous administration. I am sending this book to my mom who expressed an interest in reading it. She is not a bookcrosser but I will encourage her to pass it on to someone else that wwould enjoy reading this. Thanx again for sharing with me. It was a faster read than I expected once I got into it. It was my bedside read but I wanted to finish it before I mailed packages to my mom in Denver so brought it to work tonight.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book was written ten years ago, it gives good insight into how the balance of power has been manipulated by the president and his advisors along with the idea that elected officials must always vote along party lines or be considered disloyal.

[SDestinie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now reading Obama's 2007 book and he cites Senator Byrd several times. Great dedication.

[Oktay Yagiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOSING AMERICA – Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant Presidency

Senator Robert C. Byrd
W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York, 2004
269 pages
ISBN 9 780393 059427

Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia has been serving as a Congressman for fifty-three years, forty-seven of them as a US Senator. He is the author of a four-volume history of the Senate, the author of The Roman Senate which is a compilation of his speeches (or rather, his discourses) from the Senate floor about how the line-item veto threatens to divest the US Senate of its control over the purse. He is currently the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee (as the Chairman of which he has served for many years), has been the Senate majority leader for a number of terms, and has twice been President Pro-Tempore of the Senate.

Senator Byrd is an intrepid defender of constitutionalism, and his Losing America is a passionate defense of the ideals of the old republic vested in the articles of the US Constitution. This book reads like the Federalist Papers and alerts all who are concerned over the ominous threat to American democracy posed by a “reckless and arrogant administration” composed of conservative ideologues. It is an alarming account of the Bush administration’s handling of domestic issues and its conduct of foreign policy. The book is not, however, a partisan treatment of the Republican politics. It is as derisive of the congressional Democrats, as it is of the Bush administration, for being complicit in rushing through what he calls the “Unpatriotic Act”, which puts civil liberties at risk.

Byrd’s most vehement attack is directed at the Bush Administration’s hasty decision to go to war with Iraq and of the Congress’ swift enactment of the Iraqi Resolution. He is ardently defiant of the Bush doctrines of “preemption” and “unilateral action” dominating US foreign policy. He stands up passionately (and sometimes alone in doing so) for Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution that stipulates the essential role of the Congress in formulating and implementing foreign policy.

Like his former book, The Roman Senate, Senator Byrd invokes names and episodes from the Roman legislature and his favorite name seems to be that of the Roman Senator Helvidius Priscus, who was victimized by the tyrant Vespassian for being an outspoken defender of the Senate’s powers and prerogatives. Byrd, however, is more than a defender of the Senate’s political rights. He is a respected legislator and an intrepid spokesman for civic liberties. For me, he is, above all, a staunch supporter of Turkey in Washington, a considerate friend, my esteemed neighbor, and a man of wisdom with whom I have the occasional privilege of exchanging ideas on national and world politics and Turkish-American relations.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the subject matter held within this book is pretty spot on, it's been a problem that has been brewing for a long time. Although President Bush has carried the power of the Executive branch on to the next level, he alone is not to blame. For example, congress gave the president the ability to wage a war - it's THEIR responsibility to declare war and raise an army, the president is the commander in chief. Likewise, the system of Government we hold dear and are taught to embrace from a young age in this country stresses checks and balances - and there just isn't a lot of that going on. The other thing that detracted from the value of this book was the author himself. I can't really get behind a former Klu Klux Klan member who refused to serve his country as a soldier in a time of war (WW2) because he couldn't get past his own color based prejudice.

[Karen Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A valuable, and scary, look at the early years of the GW Bush presidency. The tax cuts from his first budget are now coming home to roost and the results can been seen in the disastrous state of our present economy. Also detailed are the rush to war in Iraq, and the rights that were taken away in the name of homeland security. And how did Bush and his administration know their were chemical and biological weapons in Iraq? Because the US sents apalling amounts of the stuff to Iraq during the Reagan and GHW Bush administrations. Right up to ten days before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait!
Byrd knew his history and the Constitution, though he did tend to blow his own horn.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed re-reading this book. One of my heroes, Robert Byrd (Senior Senator from West Virginia) wrote this in the midst of the Bush Presidency. It breaks down the Patriot Act and other unconstitutional acts carried about by the Executive Branch and pleads for a return to the traditional system of checks and balances. Senator Byrd proves prophetic the second time around as many of his predictions involving the economy, etc... have come true. Not the most current of books to pull off the shelf, but a good book none-the-less. Senator Byrd knows his shit.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book by one of the elders of the US Senate. He clearly articulates the sins of the Bush administration. He talks about the USA Patriot act, the war in Iraq, the appropriations process, tax cuts and a number of other such items. The bottom line is that Byrd thinks that Bush is reckless and arrogant and most of all utterly incompetent. Byrd is very well-spoken and states his position clearly.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think al gores the assualt on reason was amazing (or even just good) then this book should blow you away. I wish we could clone this man and make him a massachussetts senator. This book is insightful to how this republic works. his speaches, in the back of the book, are moving in ways that obama's can only dream to be. Read it.

[Austin ReBrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Byrd proves his wisdom as one of America's greatest senator's. His words,written in the middle of the Bush Era, establish a conservative Democrats views on the President. Byrd warned against many of the Bush policies, especially the tax cuts, stating they would bankrupt the nation. Byrd's colloquial elegance is one to be admired.

[Deena Scintilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great review of the Constitution and government structure from an articulate statesman. Sadly, "Losing America" confirmed many of my ideas that I had early on during the last administration regarding the bastardization of our "law of the land". The ones who should read this book will most likly never pick it up.

[Tommy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing flashy here. Sen Byrd is a classy guy, as much as you can be as a resident of Capitol Hill. I respect his understanding of our history and why we must respect the values established in the Constitution, which is the dominant theme of the book.

[Mike Moskos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this mostly to learn about Robert Byrd. But, it is more political screed against the huge power grab of George W. administration than anything else. It would probably would have been far more interesting if read right after it were published.

[Linda]

certainly gave me a different perspective from some of my thinking and knowledge. I thought it extremely interesting. But honestly, why not take a picture of the roses and then donate them to hospitals, retirement homes etc, instead of using tax payer money to fly them to the Byrds on vacation.

[Precia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. If you need a refresher as to why we have three equal branches of government to produce checks and balances, then this book is for you. What a statesman Senator Byrd was and scholar of the US Constitution. We need more of this kind of leadership today, more than ever.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Byrd is a very good writer, and his subject matter is eye opening. If every American had read this before they voted in the Bush-Kerry election, the U.S. would be on a very different path.

[ElizabethJar · Rating 3 out of 5]

damn good book, helped me in my quest to figure out what the hell happened the past 8 years in congress, presidency, ie, were we all asleep at the wheel? according to byrd, possibly

[Gerry Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great writing about the missteps of George W. Bush.

[columbialion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad testimony to the incivility of the Bush era Senate, by it's senior member.

[Thom Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back-jacket endorsements from Howard Dean, A. M. Schlesinger, Jr., M. K. Albright, James Mcpherson, and Z. Brzezinski.

[Mark Kliesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book by an fascinating figure