Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism

by Ann Coulter

Hardcover, 2003

Collection

Description

"Liberals' loyalty to the United States is off-limits as a subject of political debate. Why is the relative patriotism of the two parties the only issue that is out of bounds for rational discussion?" In a stunning follow-up to her number one bestseller Slander, leading conservative pundit Ann Coulter contends that liberals have been wrong on every foreign policy issue, from the fight against Communism at home and abroad, the Nixon and the Clinton presidencies, and the struggle with the Soviet empire right up to today's war on terrorism. "Liberals have a preternatural gift for always striking a position on the side of treason," says Coulter. "Everyone says liberals love America, too. No, they don't." From Truman to Kennedy to Carter to Clinton, America has contained, appeased, and retreated, often sacrificing America's best interests and security. With the fate of the world in the balance, liberals should leave the defense of the nation to conservatives. Reexamining the sixty-year history of the Cold War and beyond--including the career of Senator Joseph McCarthy, the Whittaker Chambers-Alger Hiss affair, Ronald Reagan's challenge to Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," the Gulf War, and our present war on terrorism--Coulter reveals how liberals have been horribly wrong in all their political analyses and policy prescriptions. McCarthy, exonerated by the Venona Papers if not before, was basically right about Soviet agents working for the U.S. government. Hiss turned out to be a high-ranking Soviet spy (who consulted Roosevelt at Yalta). Reagan, ridiculed throughout his presidency, ended up winning the Cold War. And George W. Bush, also an object of ridicule, has performed exceptionally in responding to America's newest threats at home and abroad. Coulter, who in Slander exposed a liberal bias in today's media, also examines how history, especially in the latter half of the twentieth century, has been written by liberals and, therefore, distorted by their perspective. Far from being irrelevant today, her clearheaded and piercing view of what we've been through informs us perfectly for challenges today and in the future. With Slander, Ann Coulter became the most recognized and talked-about conservative intellectual of the year. Treason, in many ways an even more controversial and prescient book, will ignite impassioned political debate at one of the most crucial moments in our history.… (more)

Rating

(126 ratings; 3.4)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Neilsantos
Ok, I read this on the recommendation of Colsith, he doesn't know he recommended it, but I happened to agree with the snippet he quoted, so I thought I'd give it a chance.

First problem with the book, it was boring, meaning not terribly interesting to read.

Next problem, Couldter is a very well read,
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educated person with a big vocabulary. I'm not. I got sick of having to go look up what her words meant.

Problem the third, she is a zealot. I don't like zealots, for any position. George Bush convinced me I wasn't a republican, Ann Coulter convinced me I am not a conservative. Of course I can get over this by watching a Micahel Moore movie or listening to NPR and then I'm sure I'll polarize back to my nice, safe, narrow-minded, comfort zone. She's going to give reactionaries a bad name

Problem #4, she's mean. Hateful, spiteful....this is what I must sound like talking about White Scarves.

Problem #5, she's crazier than a Lemming at mating season , whacked out on crystal meth. "Anyone found (with Muslim writings) that is darker than Donny Osmond should have been locked up after 9-11."

Problem the last, I hate rhetoric, always have.

This is the last paragraph of the book "Americans cannot coomprehend how thier fellow countrymen could not love their country. But the left's anti-Americanism is intrinsic to their entire worldview. Liberals promote the rights of Islamic fanatics for the same reason they promote the rights of adulterers, pornographers, abortionists, criminals and Communists. They instinctively root for anarchy and against civilisation. The inevitable logic of the liberal position is to be for treason."

That was the nicest thing she said in the whole book. I CAN hate the America where being a Muslim, adulterer, pornographer or Communist is a crime. Treason is not to agree with Coulter. Fine no problem; for that matter, you can substitute the word "dissent" for treason, and the book reads the same. Myself, I'll keep using "treason", it has a certain visceral impact, and it sounds sexier.
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LibraryThing member jpsnow
Coulter convinced me that liberal Democrats have worked against America's interests during critical times during the past century, sometimes intentionally. She also convinced me that their soft stance on international diplomacy has typically backfired. However, I disagree with her strong stance in
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support of aggressive action across the world and that people who speak out against it are treasonous (even if accepting a Nobel, as Carter did on that basis).
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LibraryThing member adriank
Ann Coulter is a terrifically blunt, expressive, and truthful conservative writer. This book concentrates on the anti-nationalism traits of Democrats within the last century while defending the heart of McCarthyism during the Cold War.
If you are a Democrat reading this book, I suggest you actually
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think about how politicians within your party screw us all over. This book is full of witty jokes about both Republicans and Democrats. If you are very interested in political history then this is an excellent book to read.
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LibraryThing member mramos
Ann Coulter is witty, intelligent and straightforward. Though she does seem to have a sarcastic edge to her wit that seems to really bother some people. I have read many people say she places her own spin on history to make liberals look bad. But I have found that most of what she says to be
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accurate. Why is it she is willing to debate the facts and her opponents either do not show up or just shout rhetoric? Of course I do not know how her venues are chosen and what, if any, invitations for debate she has had. But what we need is a forum where these ideas are debated without emotions clouding the issues so we can determine the merits of each side arguments based on the facts.

She shares her analysis of liberal politics, arguing that Democrats work against American interest and "whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy." Though the word treason may be a bit strong to be in the title just for the ever-present anti-government sentiments of the liberals she discuses. Everyone has a right to his or her opinion whether we agree with it or not. That is what makes this country great. But she is not far off the mark.

Have liberals distorted all history as Ms. Coulter claims. I hope not, and I am sure that is not the case in all of history. But she does a good job of supporting her perspective on such issues as the Cold War, McCarthyism, the Reagan era, the Gulf War, and our current war on terrorism. And though many will not like to read this, Coulter is quite correct regarding the far left's behavior and attitude towards every conflict from Vietnam to Iraq today.
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LibraryThing member br77rino
Fantastic expose by Ann Coulter on the almost perfectly successful smear campaign against Joseph McCarthy and other conservatives.

Publication

Crown Forum

Original publication date

2003

Pages

355

ISBN

1-4000-5030-8 / 9781400050307
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