Divided They Fell, by Ronald Radosh

It seems an appropriate time to read and review a book such as this which writes an intriguing, thoughtful, and perhaps premature obituary for the Democratic Party. The book, which covers the period between 1964 and 1996, is written by someone sympathetic to the Democratic Party but unsympathetic to the radical (and Baby Boomer-led) “New Democrats” that led the party from majority status to a collection of narrowly focused interest groups that only wins when it is able to either temporaily mask its true colors (Carter, Clinton, and Obama) or take advantage of overreach and scandal by Republicans.

The book comes to the sensibe conclusion that American politics needs a change in its political system to provide a place for a party of fiscal responsibility, cultural consevatism and a limited social net. Where the book is at its fierced and most profound, though, is in demonstrating the intensely anti-democratic and anti-pragmatic radicalism of the “New Democratic” movement, includings its preference for ideological rigidity and a refusal to compromise its “purity” for the sake of gradual and meaningful gains. The end result is a picture of a generation and mindset gone awry that has validity beyond the mere scope of this well-researched and feisty book.

Whether you wish to mourn the decline of the Democrats or dance on the grave, this is a worthwhile book to read. One can better understand the reason why Pelosi and Obama are the face of present Democrats and why Blue Dog Democrats are perennially endangered by electoral trends. That sort of insight is worth a read.