Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Michael Smerconish is the rare political observer who can get pumped up over important, weighty subjects like gerrymandering and closed primaries. He’s a post-partisan problem solver who is trying to restore sanity to the political process. If only more of the country could be as passionate as Smerconish about the need for change, we could end partisan gridlock and get our politicians working for the people again. I have always believed in Dwight D. Eisenhower’s wisdom that the center of the road is the only usable space and the extreme left and right are the gutters, and
Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right says this perfectly. It’s an entertaining collection of 100 of his engaging newspaper columns written in a post-9/11 world, each followed by a new Afterword. Fire up a stogie and enjoy this book, knowing that as you’re getting wiser, your support will help benefit the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center.”—
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger "This collection will be of interest to [Smerconish's] fans from satellite radio and cable TV and those who eagerly read the columns contemporaneously as he gave attention to a wide range of noteworthy topics with his signature warmth and direct, personal tone."-
-BOOKLIST"
Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right...brings together a representative selection from the 1,047 columns [Smerconish] has written over the past 17 years that cover politics, profiles, life, and miscellanea. A good number of these columns have stood the test of time.... They make for enjoyable reading and remind us that journalism properly practiced requires a good deal of nerve, honesty, and insight, along with openness to dialogue and the determination not to live in a bubble.... To his credit, he has approached complex cases with a sense of humor and detachment that has prevented him from being self-righteous or embracing false certainties.... By refusing to serve a doctrinaire, ideologically driven agenda, Smerconish’s columns and broadcasts are unlikely to be loved by purists on either side of the aisle."--
The Daily Beast
