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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.931
EAN num: 9780470144794
ISBN number: 0470144793
Label: Wiley
Manufacturer: Wiley
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 288
Printing Date: September 10, 2007
Publishing house: Wiley
Sale Popularity Level: 82933
Studio: Wiley
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'Very little of my backstory qualifies as Hallmark Card material, but it may help you to make sense of the way I see and interpret what's going on around me.'
-Jack Cafferty
For the millions who watch the 'Cafferty File' on CNN's The Situation Room, Jack Cafferty stands for common sense-the much-needed voice of reason who skewers right-wing nut jobs and liberal eggheads alike. For years, he's voiced the views, hopes, and fears of the average American in inimitable style. Now, in It's Getting Ugly Out There, he brings that level-headed wisdom to bear on the most critical issues facing us today-and explains why Americans must take our country back from those who are harming it.
'It's been a target-rich seven years for someone like me who enjoys pushing people's buttons and sticking pins in things that need pricking, from rich and fatuous celebrities offering foreign policy analysis to the latest lying Beltway blowhard impaling himself on his sword of pomposity. . . . Anyone familiar with my daily 'Cafferty File' segments on CNN's The Situation Room knows I'm not exactly what you'd call the mainstream media's poster boy for feel-good news and commentary. In your face is more like it.'
'I'm no shrink, but I have the sense Bush has carried an angry chip on his shoulder much of his pampered life, seething just beneath the good-old-boy surface.'
'The bottom line is that our government no longer works for us. The government works for the lobbyists who have had a big hand in influencing (if not helping to draft) legislation favoring not the average American citizen but instead big business: health insurance, pharmaceutical and oil companies, and defense contractors, among others. These are the guys who can make the kinds of political contributions that are needed to finance today's multi-million-dollar political campaigns.'
'We want our troops home, but we also want a new army of elected officials to march into Washington and take a fresh, uncorrupted look at the needs of the vast majority of Americans. If these two parties, however 2008 breaks, can't fix what's broken, this way of life as we've known it may vanish into some deep, dark crevasse.'
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Rated by buyers 
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I think it was the German poet Goethe whose last words are said to have been "Mehr Licht" (More light!). Caffrey seems to think he is giving us a candle to help us through the dark; but candles are not very efficient light sources.
Less heat; more light.
Rated by buyers 
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Jack Cafferty is one of the most outspoken political commentators on television. He is rough, abrasive, and doesn't really care what side of the fence you are on. He speaks from the perspective of the common man and calls out the people who are hurting us all by their incompetence and greed.
It's Getting Ugly is a mixture of his thoughts on many of the issues that have taken place over the last decade. It's an extension of his popular Cafferty File segment on CNN. He tears apart the government for failures with the Iraq War, Katrina, and fighting corruption. His approach comes across less like a political journalist and more like a guy you might sit subsequent to at a bar.
Mixed into his book are chapters that discuss his life and upbringing. Surprisingly, they are some of the most interesting parts of the book and really give you a good feel for why he is the way he is. It's a unique tale that involves his alcoholic parents and raising children.
While I enjoy Jack Cafferty a lot, the book fails in one major area. It relies heavily on his previous Cafferty File segments. He often repeats what he stated on the show and follows it up with a handful of e-mails that he received. It makes the book play out like a transcript from his show. I think Cafferty has a unique perspective on the way our government runs, and I agree with him on a lot of issues. It's unfortunate that he doesn't use more of the book to give us new material.
Overall, if you enjoy Jack Cafferty, you'll probably enjoy this book. It's a trip down memory lane of the biggest blunders of our country over the past decade. Hopefully in his follow-up book due out in 2009, he puts less emphasis on his viewer e-mails and more fresh commentary from his perspective.
Rated by buyers -
I know Jack as the angry man in the little box that pops occasionally during CNN's Situation Room where randomly appears and we get to see his temper flair. The book is no different. Jack is pissed off with our leadership and lets us know in 250 pages of venomous attacks. I must admit, I agree wholeheartedly with him on most (not all) of his rants and I have often thought the same angry thoughts over the past 7-8 years over "the decider's" despotic ways of running his (or our) country.
Jack explains how Bush's recklessness and poor decision stemmed from surrounding himself with his inner circle has alienation him more and more. He continues to rant how Bush's lack of leadership and post denial of not knowing the severity of what was going to hit New Orleans has embarrassed our country and allowed of loss of life and property. In this chapter he explains how one of the worst things about Bush is his inability to ever admit mistakes. The issue of immigration is brought up with a bit too much "red meat attack mode". Cafferty feels we should just throw them all out - now. He bitterly explains the illegal have now right protesting in our country (he is right). But I disagree on just throwing them all out. Who would replace them? They're very much ingrained in our economy. The complete lunacy if the Dubai port's deal pushed by Bush is brought to light. Jack only gets madder though with Bush's failed policies and wanton and Congress' do nothing attitude and the effect of national debt on our middle class. The chapter on Bush's secret successful attempts at trampling the constitution and Bill of Rights is beyond scary - it's amazing most people are not even aware of what has gone on with our rights under Bush's watch. The patriot act and the NSA's illegal acts boil is blood. On and on. A great eye opener (to those that have been closed)!
He doesn't fault the American people - after all we elected Bush - Twice. Citizens who voted for bush in 2004 IMO should have know better - the lack of intelligence, the embarrassing image, the "I answer to God" (not the people), the arrogance, the sneakiness - was all there prior to 2004. He doesn't fault the citizens for their who cares attitude and action to our current disaster that will worsen. This is the big flaw in this book - no blame is put on us - we (or the majority of us) put Bush where he is. We continue to vote these career politicians into office over and over again.
Jack is entertaining but vulgar. I appreciate though - he is a college drop out, from alcoholic parents and had a rough childhood. And the book is evidenced as being written by such. It's not verbose like Dobb's books, it not eloquent and rational like Greenwald's book. This is written by a roll-up-your-sleeve's middle class guy who is thoroughly pissed off by our government - and scared. Rightfully so.
I thought throughout the book that this boils down to a rant with no solutions. I dislike books of this nature, which carry on about the status quo and present a laundry list of complaints but no solution. It dawned on me - Cafferty did offer two solutions all through out the book - impeachment or perhaps war crime. I agree, this should have been implemented long ago. And this was the solution all along. This is a good eye opener for the citizens. I think it's fair to say, most of us feel exactly this way now.
Rated by buyers -
Count how many of the 1 star reviews are left by people with east Asian names. Some of them admit they did not read the book. Some of them say they were offended by Jack Cafferty's "goon" comments, with respect to China's leaders.
Well, unless they are members of China's totalitarian regime, there is no reason to be offended. US leadership is full of goons too. The people who get offended are just being stupid.
Rated by buyers 
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This book somewhat reminds me of the "Idiots guide to..." series, yet nowhere does JC treat you like an idiot. The book is a clear guide to the major issues in our gov't yesterday and points out a number of questions that we all need to ask ourselves the subsequent time we vote. All of the major issues and scadals are discussed here (well, all except the numerous NEW problems that have arisen since the book was published) and I feel that if someone cannot see the logic and honesty of Jack's writing then I'd wager you are someone who LIKES to turn a blind eye to the corruption in Washington. Or maybe you voted for Bush. Maybe both, lol.
This book is also an easy read; if you are someone who is put off by political writing, know this book isn't dull at all and JC doesn't try to talk down to anyone or put himself on a pedestal. I hope he continues with another volume; Lord knows there is enough to write about. I'd like a thick chapter on Karl Rove, actually. I am sure there is a lot of info there.
One last thing: JC is on the money when he speaks of Congressional term limits. Let's bring that back...pronto!
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