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Confessions of a Former Dittohead
Everyone knows a dittohead. In addition to being devoted listeners of Rush Limbaugh, they’re also loud, judgmental, and sure they’re always right. One of the most common phrases you’ll hear them use is “if you only understood politics you’d be a Republican.” And from abortion to gay marriage to national defense to fiscal policy, Rush details for them how it only works the Republican way. Confessions of a Former Dittohead is the true story of how one average American turned away from the lies and distortions of Rush Limbaugh and the Republican Party to become a Liberal Democrat. Originally a diary on the popular website Daily Kos, this amazing book follows red-stater Jim Derych on a personal journey from the heart of conservative darkness to the light of liberalism, as he shares his observations and techniques with a progressive audience in the hopes of winning the battle over what George Lakoff describes as “framing.” In addition to showing how the accumulated experiences of his life—a friend who had an abortion, a gay college roommate, his time spent in the Young Republicans—turned him away from the Republican Party, Confessions also discusses the major political and social issues of our day—abortion, gay marriage, social security, evolution—in order to show how “dittoheads” think, and what liberals and progressives can do to change that thinking. An incredible personal and political story, Confessions of a Former Dittohead is the most important political book of the year. Jim Derych lives and works in Tennessee.
- GenresPolitics
200 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 22, 2024
THE JOURNEY OF A "LIMBAUGH CONSERVATIVE" TO DEMOCRAT
Author Jim Derych wrote in the Introduction to this 2006 book, "After the (2004) election was over... I wasn't very happy about it. I'd let Rush Limbaugh lie to me for 13 years, and I wanted to vent... If the Republican Party of today doesn't sicken you, then you're not paying attention... all I have to say is, I got duped. But now's the time for that to change."
He admits, "Maybe I was just tired of hating Clinton. After eight years, you just get tired of feeling angry all the time. But more to the point, I was trying to be honest about conditions pre-9/11. Had Clinton gone after bin Laden, the dittohead nation would've called it 'Monica's War,' just like they did when he kicked Milosevic out of Kosovo." (Pg. 45-46)
He was surprised when Sean Hannity on his program didn't contradict Rep. Harold Ford's assertion that tax cuts DON'T result in an increase of federal revenue: "I was annoyed. Why did Sean let that one go? Everyone knows tax cuts mean more money for government... under Clinton, the economy grew at an average annual rate of 3.7 percent ... and federal revenue grew by $870 billion... during the Bush presidency the economy has grown at an average annual rate of 2.52 percent, yet federal revenue is DOWN by $145 billion. This clearly shows that you can't cut your way out of debt." (Pg. 64-66)
About Iraq, he argues that Saddam "wasn't going to (revive his WMD programs) as long as UN sanctions were in place... We could have used the international community... without resorting to a go-it-alone war. There was no immediate danger..." (Pg. 88) He concludes on the note, "If you are a dittohead, maybe something that you read here will resonate... If that's the case, then I will have gone a long way toward atoning for the sins of my past." (Pg. 189)
Most conservatives will probably hate this book, but it is an interesting and heartfelt political "conversion" story, that is well worth reading.
Author Jim Derych wrote in the Introduction to this 2006 book, "After the (2004) election was over... I wasn't very happy about it. I'd let Rush Limbaugh lie to me for 13 years, and I wanted to vent... If the Republican Party of today doesn't sicken you, then you're not paying attention... all I have to say is, I got duped. But now's the time for that to change."
He admits, "Maybe I was just tired of hating Clinton. After eight years, you just get tired of feeling angry all the time. But more to the point, I was trying to be honest about conditions pre-9/11. Had Clinton gone after bin Laden, the dittohead nation would've called it 'Monica's War,' just like they did when he kicked Milosevic out of Kosovo." (Pg. 45-46)
He was surprised when Sean Hannity on his program didn't contradict Rep. Harold Ford's assertion that tax cuts DON'T result in an increase of federal revenue: "I was annoyed. Why did Sean let that one go? Everyone knows tax cuts mean more money for government... under Clinton, the economy grew at an average annual rate of 3.7 percent ... and federal revenue grew by $870 billion... during the Bush presidency the economy has grown at an average annual rate of 2.52 percent, yet federal revenue is DOWN by $145 billion. This clearly shows that you can't cut your way out of debt." (Pg. 64-66)
About Iraq, he argues that Saddam "wasn't going to (revive his WMD programs) as long as UN sanctions were in place... We could have used the international community... without resorting to a go-it-alone war. There was no immediate danger..." (Pg. 88) He concludes on the note, "If you are a dittohead, maybe something that you read here will resonate... If that's the case, then I will have gone a long way toward atoning for the sins of my past." (Pg. 189)
Most conservatives will probably hate this book, but it is an interesting and heartfelt political "conversion" story, that is well worth reading.
October 11, 2007
Can you see a theme to early '06? Lots of politically charged non-fiction books on my shelf back then! This one is personal and fun since I recommended and commented in Advisorjim's first diary on Daily Kos in early 2005.. Jim Derych started posting first on the blog with his diary series "confessions of a former dittohead". As things will do, his writing evolved and readers suggested that he contact a publishers and put all the postings together as a book. One commenter connected Jim with a publisher and the rest is history. It was so much fun to witness all this unfold! Of course I had to read the book. It's easy to read if you lean left politically. Might be hard for Limbaugh fans to make it through though :-)
Currently reading
March 7, 2009Totally relevant to anyone who grew up with a Dittohead parent. I will never understand how Rush is now the ideological figurehead for the Republican party. It kind of makes my head hurt.
Read
June 14, 2011Hilariously written and only slightly scary that somebody this smart could fall for Rush's bullshit.
May 18, 2010
This is quick and easy, like reading comics in a newspaper. Or a diary blog.
With politics!
With politics!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews