The Essentials of American Government: Continuity and Change 2008 Book

David Horowitz is back (he's a prolific author with 11 books published since the year 2000) and this time he's detailing the sundry ways that Democrats have undermined the current war effort, even after many of them originally supported it. It is carefully reasoned and heavily footnoted (23 pages worth) and avoids overreaching in its criticism.

In the closing pages he writes a good summary of the book's theme:

"Responsible criticism expresses policy differences without malice towards the soldiers implementing those policies or their commanders defending the national interest...Responsible critics do not paint public servants, such as General Petraeus, in the worst possible light over policy disagreements. Nor do they destroy the credibility of the commander-in-chief over policy differences. Responsible media do not recklessly promote the enemy's goals of transforming American malfeasances, such as Abu Ghraib, into monstrous war crimes. They do not reveal classified information and destroy national-security programs to achieve private agendas or [to] make a political point. Honorable legislators do not maliciously (and erroneously) accuse Marines of committing atrocities in advance of trial. And loyal citizens do not set out to sap the nation's war morale by making films such as Fahrenheit 9-11 that promote the conspiracy theories and propaganda of those who wish America ill."