Sunday, April 09, 2006

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Kevin Phillips, that is. Author Phillips is in the middle of a book tour promoting his latest book, American Theoracy. He was in town several days ago and made some remarks at a book signing. His book and his remarks are insightful, and not merely because they agree with Spot.

The subtitle of the book is The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century. Phillips is sharply critical of the role of oil and Christian fundamentalism in the Republican party, saying that the party is the first religious party in the United States. Phillips writes some worrying things, and seems genuinely worried himself, about the chokehold that oil and religion have on politics in the United States.

The ironic things is that Phillips' first book, The Emerging Republican Majority, was used by Richard Nixon and Phillips himself to forge the Republican "southern strategy" that helped the Republicans secure the electoral base that Phillips finds so troublesome today.

Spotty supposes this is a case of it being important to be careful what you wish for, or in Phillips case, perhaps pray for!

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