Daybreak

Rating:
Category:	Books
Genre:	Other
Author:	DAVID SWANSON

Daybreak is a prescription for political reform that literally ends with a to-do list for citizens, and draws inspiration from the misdeeds and missteps of the Bush and Obama presidencies. What powers were stripped from Congress and handed to the White House while George W. Bush lived there, and what would it take to permanently move them back? Which of these powers is Barack Obama making use of or even expanding upon? And in the future, how can we expand our rights, create democratic representation in Congress, and make presidents into executives rather than emperors? This is a citizens' guide to the long-term task of removing power from the hands of one person, placing it in a body of representatives, and (here's the hard part) making that body truly representative of the American people. Swanson's analysis makes clear that the imperial presidency, which advanced so dramatically during the Bush-Cheney era, will not be stopped merely by electing better presidents. Major structural changes are needed in our system of government to rein in both the imperial presidency and, at the same time, the presidential empire. Only through the active efforts of citizens, Swanson argues, can we restore and protect our rights, and expand our conception of political rights to meet new challenges.

“Daybreak is an eye-opener about how our nation was hijacked by the Bush administration and how much repair work we, as citizens, must do. David Swanson, who has been a one-man wonder leading the charge for accountability, writes a compelling narrative that inspires not just outrage, but ACTION.”
—Medea Benjamin, Co-Founder of CODEPINK and Global Exchange

“[Daybreak is] a useful guide to restore the balance of powers and reclaim our constitutional system of government.”
—Marjorie Cohn, President of the National Lawyers Guild

“Daybreak urgently reminds us that good political intentions are not sufficient to ensure the continuation of our democracy; informed vigilance is vital to that task.”
—Mark Karlin, Editor of Buzzflash.com

“David Swanson is the most thoughtful, determined, and energetic progressive activist in America, and one of the most important voices of his generation. He's also a unique bridge between traditional real-world organizing and the brand new world of online activism. His combination of cheerful organizing, passionate speaking, and brilliant blogging is an inspiration to everyone who craves a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.”
—Bob Fertik, President of Democrats.com


Throughout the ferment of the Bush-Cheney years, the calls for change that followed, and the new moment we are all hoping to seize, David Swanson has stood at the forefront of citizens movements for a more just America. Popular blogger, a leader of the antiwar and pro-impeachment movements, and a star progressive, Swanson is, as John Nichols calls him, “the true heir of the most radical—and thus the most American—of our Founders.”

His first book Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union (Seven Stories Press; September 15, 2009) is an assessment of how Bush/Cheney fundamentally altered the way our government works, inflated the powers of the executive, and deteriorated the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Only through the active efforts of citizens, Swanson argues, can we restore our rights, and expand our conception of political rights to meet new challenges. Daybreak offers a shocking and inspirational breakdown of all that we have lost, and all that we have to gain.

What powers were stripped from Congress and handed to the White House, and what will it take to permanently move them back? Which of these powers is Barack Obama making use of or even expanding upon? And in the future, how can we embellish our rights, create democratic representation in Congress, and make presidents into executives rather than emperors?

Daybreak is a citizen’s guide to the long-term task of putting an end to the all-powerful executive, and reasserting our democracy. Major structural changes are needed. Here we have clear plans for how we may declare our rights, and truly set out for a new America.


DAVID SWANSON is co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ProsecuteBushCheney.org, the Washington Director of Democrats.com, and a board member of Progressive Democrats for America. He served as press secretary for Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 presidential campaign and has been a leading voice for the prosecution of Bush and Cheney for war crimes. http://davidswanson.org

His Needs, Her Needs

Rating:
Category:	Books
Genre:	Parenting & Families
Author:	Willard F. Harley, Jr., Ph.D.

Willard F. Harley, Jr., Ph.D. is best known as author of the internationally best selling book,His Needs, Her Needs: Building An Affair-proof Marriage. Over two million copies have been purchased, and it is available in sixteen foreign translations.
His Needs, Her Needs is designed to change the course of a marriage. Using a conversational style, Dr. Harley helps couples understand why their best intentions are not enough to prevent marital incompatibility. Couples must do more than want to meet each ether's needs--they must actually meet them!
Ignorance often contributes to a couples failure to care for each other. Men tend to try to meet needs that they value and women do the same. But their needs are often very different and they waste effort trying to meet the wrong needs.
The right needs are so strong that when they're not met in marriage, people are tempted to go outside marriage to satisfy them. But aside of the risk of affair, important emotional needs should be met for the sake of care itself. Marriage is a very special relationship. Promises are made to allow a spouse the exclusive right to meet some of these important needs. When they are unmet, it is unfair to the spouse who must go through life without ethical alternatives.

Dr. Harley describes the ten emotional needs of men and women. He helps you identify which are the most important to you and your spouse, helps you communicate them to each other, and helps you learn to meet them.

Successful marriages require skill--skill in caring for the one you promised to cherish throughout life. Good intentions are not enough. His Needs, Her Needs was written to educate you in the care of your spouse. Once you have learned it's lessons, your spouse will find you irresistible, a condition that's essential to a happy and successful marriage. It will also help you eliminate the major cause of infidelity.

>>>Chapter 1