The Party Is Over

How Republicans Went Crazy, Democrats Became Useless, and the Middle Class Got Shafted

By: Mike Lofgren

Narrated by: Mel Foster

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

There was a time, not so very long ago, when perfectly rational people ran the Republican Party. So how did the party of Lincoln become the party of lunatics? That is what this book aims to answer. Fear not, the Dems come in for their share of tough talk - they are zombies, a party of the living dead.

Mike Lofgren came to Washington in the early eighties - those halcyon, post-Nixonian glory days - for what he imagined would be a short stint on Capitol Hill. He has witnessed quite a few low points in his 28 years on the Hill - but none quite so pitiful as the antics of the current crop of legislators whom we appear to have elected.

Based on the explosive article Lofgren wrote when he resigned in disgust after the debt ceiling crisis, The Party Is Over is a funny and impassioned exposé of everything that is wrong with Washington. Obama and his tired cohorts are no angels, but they have nothing on the Republicans, whose wily strategists are bankrupting the country one craven vote at a time. Be prepared for some fireworks.

©2012 Mike Lofgren (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Lofgren has crafted an angry but clear-sighted argument that may not sit well at family reunions or dinner parties, but deserves attention." ( Publishers Weekly)

An Insider's Expose

Would you listen to The Party Is Over again? Why?

I have already listened to this book twice because there is so much information that I wanted to hear it twice

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

That Mike Lofgren worked with powerful Republicans and was so appalled by the fake debt crisis that the Republican leadership staged in the Summer of 2011 that he retired after a thirty year career. He has thought long and hard about our future as a democracy and has concrete suggestions about what has to be done.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, this was an extremely compelling book; in some ways it is a who done it; who has gotten us to situation we are now in with a national legislature that spends it's time raising money from interest groups and corporations. The welfare of the country has taken second place to the need to raise massive amounts of money to get reelected.

Author speaks from experience.

It's good to hear from someone who has been there. I will listen to this book again.

A must read for every American

If you want to understand what is really going on in America politics the I highly recommend you read this book.

Informative for American Voters

Any additional comments?

Written by Mike Lofgren, a Republican U.S. Congressional staff member who served for 28 years, this book is for Americans who are interested in politics beyond bumper stickers.

I really enjoyed this book, I think it puts in perspective how we got to where we are today

I really enjoyed this book. I think it puts in perspective how we got to where we are today. It is probably the most fair and balanced account of our system of government. And still has you ending up with hope.

A scary view at the dysfunctional political system

So this is just scary. And sad that our political system has gotten to the point where we are now. We don't have elected officials. We have people bought and paid for by American corporations. Or big wigs. Who are usually associated with those corporations. OR super religious people whose beliefs don't seem to have evolved with the rest of the nation, who have huge audiences of their own, who want to keep the status quo. And the people lifted up by these influential organizations are willing to say or do whatever they need to in order to keep their power.

That's definitely a blanket statement and I think it applies mostly to a minority in the parties, but they are the most influential and outspoken members of the parties. In order to try to keep some optimism, I have to believe there are people -- maybe not the elected members themselves, but on the payroll -- who are there to really make a GOOD difference. They're not looking for accolades or power, they just see a problem and want to try to help fix it.

But even the whole process seems so freaking screwed up. When a defense bill can have a line item about abortion included, there's an issue. Two polar opposite issues, but in order to pass it, someone made a concession that somehow tied defense to abortion. That kind of thing should be outlawed. As should filibustering. And redistricting.

Another thing I'd *really* love to see is a viable third party. I find it highly hypocritical that there are international Democratic and Republican organizations that cry foul when other countries' democratic elections appear to squeeze out a party's representation, but look what happened to Paul Rand at one of the debates. They would not let him in. The man was running for president, but because he wasn't Republican or Democrat, he was not welcome to debate them. It just seems like anymore I'm choosing the one I dislike least or will at least not degrade my comfort level rather than one I feel passionate will make my life better. Nobody represents ME anymore.

So anyway, the author had a lot of interesting topics and anecdotes. While the Republican party got slammed (that's what he knew best), it's not like he left the Democrats spotless. They have their hands dirty as well. And, believe it or not, he believes real change will happen with the Millennials, when the baby boomers pass. The baby boomers still have such socially conservative values, and, because of their size, they are draining the "entitlement programs" they hold so dear.

It was definitely food for thought. Lots of great information. And lots to make me scared of the immediate future, especially if the parties can't figure out how to get along and compromise.

I think I'm going to have to buy this book in DTB form. There was a lot of interesting information, and I'd like to just flip through a book and read as opposed to trying to find the right passage in audio.

Important reading

If only people would have listened when this book was written, we may not have gone through the things we have in the years since. A Republican describing the problems in the GOP and the rest of the political system.

I wish everyone would read this!

Eleven years ago middle class Americans received this warning and since then things have only degraded farther. The author does an excellent job of explaining how we got to the point of our political system being broken and made viable suggestions for solutions. Now, how to wrestle power away from the corporate purchase of political parties. The narration is a little "sing song " but the content is excellent.

A Great Analysis

Would you listen to The Party Is Over again? Why?

It explains, in detail, why we only have one political party disguised as two in this country.

If you could give The Party Is Over a new subtitle, what would it be?

There is No Difference.

Any additional comments?

This is a great listen for anyone who still believes that there is still a fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans. Both parties are betrothed to big corporate interests and their lobbyists (not to mention the world banking oligarchs who control the Federal Reserve), both favor big government in one form or another, and both have sold out to the American people. Politics in America has become a big football game, and the fans in the stands are paying the price. Problem is, no matter who has the ball, we all lose. It's far past time for a third party.

What About Christians Who Agree

I become so very frustrated when I read such informative and insightful books dealing with the weaknesses of our government and the people who elect them. My frustration comes when I get to the ubiquitous part that tells me I'm an idiot because I believe that there is a God. I I love everything in this book, and I agree, however, the authoritarian mindset swings both ways