Book Thoughts: Dirty, Sexy Politics

Because I love reading, and I can never actually remember what I thought of books, I've decided to blog my opinions about them.  Here we go! 

by Meghan McCain

   Meghan McCain came to prominence as the straight-talking, progressive daughter of the 2008 Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain. And her profile has only risen since the election ended in favor of the other guy.
   What makes Meghan so appealing? As a new role model for young, creative, and vocal members of the GOP, she's unafraid to mix it up and speak her mind. In Dirty Sexy Politics she takes a hard look at the future of her party. She doesn't shy away from serious issues and her raucous humor and down-to-earth style keep her positions accessible.
   In this witty, candid, and boisterous book, Meghan takes us deep behind the scenes of the campaign trail. She steals campaign signs in New Hampshire, tastes the nightlife in Nashville, and has a strange encounter with Laura and Jenna Bush at the White House. Along the way, she falls in love with America--while seeing how far the Republican Party has veered from its core values of freedom, honesty, and individuality. In Dirty Sexy Politics, Meghan McCain gives us a true insider's account of life on a campaign trail.

That's what the inside of the cover jacket reads.

Now, when I saw that, I though, "hmm, this could be really good. talking about the future of the Republican party, how they're missing out on moderates like me; i could get behind this."

Then, I read the book. I re-read the cover jacket and thought, "what a crock of bullsh*t."

This book has definitely been reviewed enough, and mainly to the tune of: "oh my, that was bad" (and a bit more negatively). Because, you know what? It is.

If the point of the book is to discuss what the Republicans need to do to be able to bring in the moderate vote and analyze the direction of the party... it didn't do that. I mean, maybe for a total of 5 pages out of the 208 did she actually talk about what the Republicans need to do, and that was mainly focused on her crying, "you're doing it wrong! you're doing it wrong!" which isn't all that effective.

But, if the book was marketed as a daughter-of's journey on the campaign trail to support her dad and all the shenanigans, meetings, time and dedication that entails... well, then this book did it.

Meggie-Mac (as she likes to call her public persona) is not a bad writer. And to be honest, I really knew nothing about her prior to picking up this book. I think that where the publishers and her marketing failed was that this was a get-it-all-out-book about her time on the campaign trail, not an analysis of what needs to go down for the Republicans to catch us independents and toe-the-liners.

Highlights of the book: She has a good voice.  A good writing voice that is quick to read and captures stories well.

Lowlights of the book: Her constant talk of how her dad is actually a moderate who just had to fit into the Republican ideal to get the votes. Honey, if your dad is for that Arizona bill and against Same-Sex Marriage, he is not a moderate.