It was a good day for reading and recommending comments and there's lots of them below. But first I want to recommend a book that I picked up for 'light' reading and got so incensed that I was evermore ready to take to the streets in protest.
I'm talking about John Grisham's latest, The Appeal. My daughter is a Grisham fan and brought the book to me, saying that it would make me mad as hell. She was right. It's very rare that a work of 'fiction' packs a wallop like this. Nothing I didn't really know but well, Grisham tells it so, so smoothly.
There are plenty of reviews out there so I'll use others' words to describe the book and try to give the gist of it without spoilers. The Boston Globe's reviewer wrote:
Grisham unfolds his tale of a lawsuit against a chemical company from the perspectives of all involved, from the bereft widow whose husband has died of cancer to the billionaire CEO ruthlessly trying to keep his company in business. His panoramic story is a legal thriller, but its mammoth ambition and unflinching moral outlook enable "The Appeal" to transcend the genre. ...
Grisham is clearly fed up with how big money tends to control political races. The long campaign he so engagingly describes is a mixture of character assassination, breathtaking hypocrisy, mudslinging ads, and backroom fraudulence. In other words, Grisham offers a sadly familiar picture of today's political scene. ...
While there's little doubt that Grisham loathes the rampant corruption and plutocracy he describes, he also offers a story that's strangely filled with the possibility of human decency and endurance. There's light shining into this darkness, a slight promise of change based on pure and growing disgust with the status quo.
Ditto for USA TODAY:
Money can't buy love, but it can buy everything else, including a victory at the polls. That's the compelling, if hardly unique, backdrop for The Appeal, John Grisham's rant-against-dirty-politics legal thriller ... Not for the first time, Grisham uses his fiction to lambaste the amorality and greed of corporate America and the consequences suffered by its unwitting victims, mainly the defenseless poor. He has taken on the pharmaceutical, tobacco and insurance industries. This time it's a fictional chemical company. ...
More than a novel, The Appeal is an exposé of how highly organized special-interest groups, loaded with cash, can manipulate the judicial system. It's Grisham's bully pulpit for reform. "There's a lot of truth in this story," Grisham writes in an author's note. "As long as private money is allowed in judicial elections we will see competing interests fight for seats on the bench."
It's an easy leap from the fictional microcosm Grisham creates in The Appeal to real-world politics. The timing of The Appeal, in the midst of the presidential primaries, makes it all the more compelling.
And finally, a wee excerpt from Grisham's Jan. '08 interview with Bill Moyers:
JOHN GRISHAM: It starts off with a verdict. Chapter one is a verdict where this big chemical company has polluted this small town to the point where you can't even drink the water. It's become a cancer cluster. A lot of people have died. And so there's a big lawsuit. And that's the opening of the book. And then it's all the intrigue about what that company does. Because the guy who owns that company doesn't like the composition of the Supreme Court. And he realizes he can change it. And so--
BILL MOYERS: By buying an election. He can buy the judge.
JOHN GRISHAM: Buy your judge. ...
BILL MOYERS: What practical consequences issue from the fact that judges in Mississippi are often determined by the most money that goes into the campaign? What's the practical consequences for citizens?
JOHN GRISHAM: In a state like Mississippi, where the court has now been realigned in such a way where you have a hard right majority. Six or seven. Two or three dissents. When you've got a majority you only need five. Virtually every plaintiff's verdict is reversed.
BILL MOYERS: Virtually every one?
JOHN GRISHAM: Virtually every one. So if you have a-- if your neighbor's son gets killed in a car wreck, and there's a big lawsuit, and there's a big verdict against the, you know, the guilt of the negligent party-- or if your friend is injured by a negligent doctor, or a hospital, whatever, you're pretty much out of luck.
BILL MOYERS: So the court is now decidedly biased, in your judgment, in favor of the powerful.
JOHN GRISHAM: Oh, it's not in my judgment. It's a proven fact. You can read the Supreme Court decisions in Mississippi, and Alabama, to those two states are next door to each other. And both states have a hard right majority. And so people with legitimate claims are, not always, but generally out of luck.
BILL MOYERS: Isn't there any outrage among all those good Christian folks, as my mother would say, who live there, who are ordinary folks, little folks?
JOHN GRISHAM: No. Because they sell it, the Chamber of Commerce sells it. Corporate America sells it and the Republican party sells it as a way to protect business, economic development, economic growth. "Look at our state. We frown on lawsuits. We frown on unions. This is a good place to do business." That's how you sell it. Sounds good. It's how every politician does it down there. And you end up with a court that that's very unsympathetic to the rights of victims. To the rights of consumers. To the rights of criminal defendants. Yeah, that's what happens when these elections — when those types of people are elected.
BILL MOYERS: What is your understanding of why these good Christian folks, these so many Baptists voted for the party that is in fact the party of money.
JOHN GRISHAM: They live poor and vote rich. They live poor and vote rich. I mean, it's a-- effort to-- the brilliant things the Republicans did was get all these guys under one tent. From your traditional Republican base-- wealthy republicans, your country club Republicans-- your corporate Republicans, and bring in the NASCAR bubbas and all those folks. And then bring-- and then get religious right. All these good Christian folks. Get them all under one tent. All voting-- really for-- one purpose, and that's to protect, you know, the rich folks. That's worked beautifully for the Republican party.
A man on a mission - just read the book, ok? And the Moyers transcript, too. Compelling stuff... even better, give the book to a wingnut sibling or friend who loves to read. Start a discussion. Heh.
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Now on to Top Comment Nominations!
From Wee Mama:
Good spelling and grammar advice for trolls, Not that they will take the trouble: Irregardless of how you feel. by VA Classical Liberal.
The Bush Memorial library, room by room: Support the Bush Library by jimstaro. This could have been a diary!
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From annetteboardman:
Cute cat story that deserves top comments (I laughed, I cried, I glared at my own kittens): I got a new kitten right before Passover. by TheFatLadySings.
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From Indie Tarheel:
I nominate the comment made by Larry Madill in the thread Hostage Rescue A Sham? What's more disturbing.
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From lineatus:
A top campaign slogan nomination - I hope to see hekebolos' suggestion on bumperstickers, shirts and pins everywhere!
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From bubbanomics:
For an close-to-banned diarist, lipris observes that in blogging, as opposed to horseshoes, close is not enough.
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Submitted by madgranny:
Democrattotheend starts a discussion on things McCain is good at in the Front Page diary "Johnny Can't Read."
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From bijoudesigncom:
I love it when someone throws a grammatical hissy like kismet started in this thread.
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From sardonyx:
Even though it's a late last night repost from earlier in the day, this comment from Jesus was a Liberal on how Obama's candidacy has already changed America is worth resurrecting.
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From Timroff:
Admittedly I'm a little biased (seeing as she's my wife), but Dania Audax wrote a kickass description of what a GBCW diary should be -- and why the author of this particular one failed so spectacularly.
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My own picks:
On Obama choosing a running mate: ObamaKaine. For sensitive gums. by LanceBoyle and Running mates are not just chosen for by mhsteacher1
You're going to get your wish tonight, CT: I read the stuff that got HR'd by Cali Techie
Great tool! The Pocket Barack-itizer by KingOneEye
Questions for Speaker Pelosi? Nah: didn't bother by Jeffersonian Democrat
About the experiences of foster children, My mom died when I was eight ... by jackmac and You are indeed special! by Joy Busey
On McCain's plans for 'reforming' Social Security, there were several great comments; here's a few:
-no one can make economic plans today by Stranded Wind,
-The problem isn't the SS growth model, anyway by Alden,
-My brother will need it. by karenc13,
and my favorite,
- Don't Enron Our Social Security! by FishOutofWater.
Carrying on with great thoughts in his own diary, An additional thought or three from me by teacherken
For the diarist eulogizing Tom Disch, You are a great man by PBCliberal
What, if any, role might our current VP play at the Republican Convention? Cheney at night?... by fromdabak
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Top Mojo (cskendrick/sardonyx-style) excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, and Cheers and Jeers:
1) Thank you two roads by NCDem Amy — 141
2) They proved Bush=McCain by arresting her by FishOutofWater — 132
3) They Ran Everything by Gooserock — 117
4) And haven't we both... by two roads — 111
5) Thank you for this. by CC Lee — 103
6) Don't Enron Our Social Security! by FishOutofWater — 94
7) My God, reading this was hard but so worth it. by concernedamerican — 92
8) Of course we by MsWings — 91
9) We Always Knew That Supporting Bush by leonard145b — 90
10) **Hands-free is crap. by greylox — 79
11) Want to bet???..n/t by OldPhart — 77
12) two roads, by Mrs Pastor — 75
13) I hate Fred Barnes, as with most of the Right by fromdabak — 74
14) It's there for the ages... by two roads — 70
15) I read every word..... by Cronesense — 70
16) We need to put all the youtube videos by Drdemocrat — 66
17) republicans? by ca democrat — 65
18) As "problematic" as our convention is... by Trix — 65
19) They have ruined every single department by Bob Johnson — 64
20) A clean kitchen is an inspiration by MsSpentyouth — 63
21) She was outside of the event on public property by FishOutofWater — 63
22) are you gonna pay for it? I mean, not to be rude by jennifer poole — 62
23) I'd ditch the photoshopped pic by estamm — 62
24) This is hysterical. by highfive — 61
25) McCain is planning Medicaid & Medicare cuts by FishOutofWater — 61
26) Fox Doesn't Support the Troops by FishOutofWater — 60
27) a thousand thank yous by sunhaws — 59
28) If I could by marykk — 57
29) yes I can. by nailbender — 56
30) Yes, absolutely by NCDem Amy — 55
31) We need him in the Senate. by Yoshimi — 55
32) Are you saying I'm trespassing on city property? by darthstar — 55
33) I read about this on your site earlier. by TheBlaz — 55
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) Tips for the kids who need us... by two roads — 648
2) Tip Jar by StormBear — 582
3) Tips by turneresq — 458
4) Tips for getting by by Alexandra Lynch — 421
5) What are the odds... by 8ackgr0und N015e — 410
6) Tips by wils02 — 401
7) tip jar here by slinkerwink — 261
8) tips for common sense by billlaurelMD — 253
9) Tip Jar by Valtin — 237
10) Urinal/Spittoon by The Baculum King — 212
11) Tips for our nominee by droogie6655321 — 175
12) Tips for breaking news...even if it's by dansac — 154
13) Tip Jar: by PoliSigh — 151
14) For more info by eugene — 142
15) Thank you two roads by NCDem Amy — 141
16) They proved Bush=McCain by arresting her by FishOutofWater — 135
17) They Ran Everything by Gooserock — 117
18) And haven't we both... by two roads — 111
19) Thank you for this. by CC Lee — 103
20) Don't Enron Our Social Security! by FishOutofWater — 94
21) My God, reading this was hard but so worth it. by concernedamerican — 92
22) Of course we by MsWings — 91
23) Lazy-ass tip jar by LithiumCola — 91
24) We Always Knew That Supporting Bush by leonard145b — 91
25) Tips for integrity. by One Pissed Off Liberal — 90
26) **Hands-free is crap. by greylox — 79
27) Want to bet???..n/t by OldPhart — 77
28) two roads, by Mrs Pastor — 75
29) I hate Fred Barnes, as with most of the Right by fromdabak — 74
30) Tip jar for more history by sardonyx — 71
