Jim Oleske's "Yeah, Right" reviewed at Daily Kos

Kari Chisholm FacebookTwitterWebsite

Jim Oleske's new book, Yeah, Right: 'This Economy is Strong' and Other Tall Tales has picked up a strongly positive review from Daily Kos executive editor Susan Gardner. Oleske is a former chief of staff for the Oregon Senate Democratic caucus -- and has contributed two guest columns to BlueOregon, the most recent about the economic mess we're in.

From SusanG's review (my bolds):

Yeah, Right is a wonderful little barb of a book, assembled by Jim Oleske, a former labor attorney and legislative aide, who had the foresight to bring together all the delusional contemporary free-market kookiness in one slim volume. Armed with such gems as "The Bush economic plan worked, and it worked brilliantly," (Rush Limbaugh, July 17, 2007), this book packs a lot of wallop when it comes to refuting the free-market musketeers and should be kept close at hand as discussions about the direction of the economy unfold in the first months of an Obama administration.

No matter how close recent history is, the conservatives featured in these pages would like to bury their past statements and move on with their new! improved! solutions--but reminding Americans of their past horrifically wrong pronouncements should advance the cause of shutting them out of reasonable discourse about the direction of the country for years to come. Pick up Yeah, Right and use it. You just know you'll have the one annoying cousin at the Thanksgiving table who will start in on how the problem with the economy is that it's over-regulated and we pay too much in taxes. Oleske's provided the ammo to fight back ... dirty, quick and easy.

She's right. I've got a copy right here and it's a delightful, snarky read. But I hadn't thought of the idea of packing it along to Thanksgiving... better yet, how about making it a gift for that annoying Limbaugh-listening cousin?

Learn more and pick up the book at YeahRightBook.com.

  • Bill R. (unverified)
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    Yeah, right! An economy built on public and private debt.

    The chickens are coming home to roost! Just out, Ore. unemployment rate is 7.3%. http://www.kgw.com/?bn

    And down-thread some want to have a tax increase or institute a sales tax! Five bucks says the unemployment rate in Ore. and nationally is double digits by inauguration day! The next session of the legislature is going to be focused on economic and job development, and trying to hang on to the shreds of what we still have in education and the rest of state govt.

  • Laura Taylor (unverified)
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    But I hadn't thought of the idea of packing it along to Thanksgiving... better yet, how about making it a gift for that annoying Limbaugh-listening cousin?

    Kari, this might be the best suggestion ever. Thanksgiving with my ultra-conservative brother just got a helluva lot more bearable.

  • (Show?)

    Couldn't agree more. Def a must read book, written by a smart progressive thinker. And all-around nice person.

  • Joel H (unverified)
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    This book looks like a great record of arrogant, panicky or deceptive statements by some Republican politicians and other corporate mouthpieces, but you won't find it a useful contradiction to actual free market economics. I've only read the excerpt, but none of those people have promoted anything even remotely resembling a free market -- have progressives just been taking the Bush administration's word for it?

  • Jim Oleske (unverified)
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    Joel raises an important point about "actual free market economics" as opposed to the policies the Bush Administration has sold in the name of "free market" economics.

    Yeah, Right is aimed squarely at the latter. It's target is not free market theory, but the actual practice of trickle-down economics and reckless deregulation of the financial industry.

    For purposes of the contemporary political debate (as opposed to the academic economic debate), the difference between the parties is not whether we should have a "free market system," but how government should interact with that system.

    <h2>Obama, consistent with the model of FDR, laid out the Democratic position on 60 Minutes Sunday night. He reaffirmed "our basic principle, that this is a free-market system, and that that has worked for us -- that it creates innovation and risk taking." But he also emphasized the necessary and proper role of government in overseeing, safeguarding and preserving fairness in the system. He described re-regulation of the financial markets as a "top priority," and drawing upon the lessons of the New Deal, he confirmed his view that "government has a role to play in kick-starting the economy."</h2>

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