The Land of Flickering Lights : Restoring America in an Age of Broken Politics

The Colorado Senator offers "a sweeping diagnosis of the nation's political ills... stitched together with assurances that room for redemption still exists" ( New York Times Book Review ). In The Land of Flickering Lights, Senator Michael Bennet lifts a veil on the inner workings of Congressional politics to reveal, in his words, "a series of actual stories—about the people, the politics, the motives, the money, the hypocrisy..." each of which demonstrates "the pathological culture of the capital and the consequences for us all." Bennet unfolds the dramatic backstories behind the highly politicized confirmation battles over judicial nominations at all levels; the passage of the Trump tax law; the shredding of the Iran nuclear deal; the pervasive corruption unleashed by the influence of "dark money"; and the sabotage by a congressional minority of the "Gang of Eight's" bi-partisan deal to reform America's immigration policies. With frankness and refreshing candor, Bennet pulls the machinations behind these episodes into full public view, shedding vital new light on today's political dysfunction. Arguing that each of us has a duty to act as a founder, he calls on Americans of all political persuasions to demand that the "winners" of our political battles be all the American people, nor one party or the other. We had become the land of flickering lights, in which the standard of success was not what we were doing for the next generation of Americans, or to enhance our role in the world, but instead whether we had kept government open for another few minutes."?Michael Bennet The Land of Flickering Lights is a unique contribution to American political writing at this or any other time. Senator Michael Bennet lifts a veil on the inner workings of Congress to reveal, in his words, "through a series of actual stories?about the people, the politics, the motives, the money, the hypocrisy, the stakes, the outcome?the pathological culture of the capital and the consequences for us all." Bennet unfolds the dramatic backstory behind five episodes crucial to the well-being of all Americans. Each of them exemplifies the hyper-partisan politics that have upended our democracy: The highly politicized confirmation battles over judicial nominations at all levels?epitomized by ugly and unprincipled fights over seats on the Supreme Court; The passage of the Trump tax law, which massively increased our national debt and widened economic inequality across the country; The shredding of the Iran nuclear deal, which undermined our national security, caused friends and foes alike to doubt America's word, and made a mockery of the longstanding bipartisan tradition in foreign policy; The pervasive corruption unleashed by "dark money" in policies and how big donors have been able to stymie urgent action on climate change and many other issues; The sabotage by a congressional minority of the "Gang of Eight's" bi-partisan deal to reform America's immigration policies, a deal that would have comprehensively addressed the immigration issues that bedevil us to this day. With frankness and refreshing candor, and in elegant prose, Bennet pulls the machinations behind these episodes into full public view, shedding vital new light on our political dysfunction today. Arguing that each of us has a duty to act as a founder, he will inspire Americans of all political persuasions to demand that the "winners" of our political battles be all the American people, nor one party or the other "[This book] is a unique contribution to American political writing at this or any other time. Senator Michael Bennet lifts a veil on the inner workings of Congress to reveal, in his words, 'through a series of actual stories--about the people, the politics, the motives, the money, the hypocrisy, the stakes, the outcome--the pathological culture of the capital and the consequences for us all.' The highly politicized confirmation battles over judicial nominations at all levels--epitomized by ugly and unprincipled lights over seats on the Supreme Court; The passage of the Trump tax cut, which massively increased our national debt and widened economic inequality across the country; The shredding of the Iran nuclear deal, which undermined our national security, caused friends and foes alike to doubt America's word, and made a mockery of the longstanding bipartisan tradition in foreign policy; The pervasive corruption unleashed by 'dark money' in politics and how big donors have been able to stymie urgent action on climate change and many other issues; The sabotage by a congressional minority of the 'Gang of Eight's' bi-partisan deal to reform America's immigration policies, a deal that would have comprehensively addressed the immigration issues that bedevil us to this day. With frankness and refreshing candor, and in elegant prose, Bennet pulls the machinations behind these episodes into full public view, shedding vital new light on our political dysfunction today. Arguing that each of us has a duty to act as a founder, he will inspire Americans of all political persuasions to demand that the 'winners' of our political battles be all the American people, nor one party or the other."--Jacket "The Land of Flickering Lights is a unique contribution to American political writing at this or any other time. Senator Michael Bennet lifts a veil on the inner workings of Congress to reveal, in his words, "through a series of actual stories-about the people, the politics, the motives, the money, the hypocrisy, the stakes, the out-come-the pathological culture of the capitol and the consequences for us all." Bennet unfolds the dramatic backstory behind five episodes crucial to the well-being of all Americans. Each of them exemplifies the hyper-partisan politics that have upended our democracy: the highly politicized nominations and appointments of judges at all levels; the recent tax cut that massively increased our debt and financial inequality; the dangerous shredding of the Iran nuclear deal; the corruption and inaction caused by money in politics; and the ugly sabotage by a minority of the "Gang of Eight's" bi-partisan plan to reform our immigration policies. With frankness and refreshing candor, and in elegant prose, Bennet pulls the machinations behind these episodes into full public view. Arguing that each of us has a duty to act as a founder, he will inspire Americans of all political persuasions to demand that the "winners" of our political battles be all the American people, not one party or the other"-- Provided by publisher "Cowardice, corruption, close-mindedness, cruelty—harsh words, but singly or together they explain most of what does or doesn't happen in Washington. Tens of millions of Americans share a conviction that, as a people, we're better than this. They share a hope that their government, too, might someday be better than what we have. This book is about that hope as well."—Senator Michael Bennet Everything Is in Our Hands (a powerful phrase from the conclusion of James Baldwin's "The Fire Next Time") is a unique contribution to American political writing. Distinguished Democratic Senator Michael Bennet lifts a veil on the U.S. Senate, and chronicles the dramatic full stories behind five decisions crucial to all Americans, each of which exemplifies the partisan politics that are upending our democracy and the American people. The highly politicized nominations and appointments of judges at all levels, including the block of Merrick Garland and Brett... "The Land of Flickering Lights is a unique contribution to American political writing at this or any other time. Senator Michael Bennet lifts a veil on the inner workings of Congress to reveal, in his words, 'through a series of actual stories--about the people, the politics, the motives, the money, the hypocrisy, the stakes, the outcome--the pathological culture of the capital and the consequences for us all.' ... With frankness and refreshing candor, and in elegant prose, Bennet pulls the machinations behind these episodes into full public view, shedding vital new light on our political dysfunction today. Arguing that each of us has a duty to act as a founder, he will inspire Americans of all political persuasions to demand that the 'winners' of our political battles be all the American people, nor one party or the other."--Jacket