Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto Book

Liberty and Tyranny by Mark R. Levin (pp. 256)

Subtitled "A Conservative Manifesto", Levin does a strong job of articulating a modern conservative perspective without a lot of the base pandering hyperbole. The first two chapters read much like an intro level Poly Sci class referencing Jefferson, de Tocqueville, the Declaration of Independence, and other origin classics.

The problem with reviewing any political text, especially one by a popular TV/radio host, is that personal politics may greatly affect your review. I was genuinely surprised by the simplicity of his policy statements and the lacks of a lot of incendiary language one would typically expect. This is not O'Reilly, Coulter, or Rove. He doesn't make his arguments by invoking the sentimental good old days, moral correctness, stating that religion is the answer, or that all people who disagree are lazy idiots.

He provides 40-plus pages of footnotes and cites for 197 pages of actual text. Reviewing the footnotes, it's interesting to see how 90% of his argument backup comes straight from quotes from the Founding Fathers or the governmental agencies that are considered expert gatherers of those data points.

In the first two chapters and only occasionally through the rest of the chapters, does he get the snarky pundit tone. He keeps his TV voice largely in check. He's presentation style is highly readable, succinct, and articulate. Whether he's covering the judiciary, taxation, immigration, health care, or the welfare state, he makes some powerful arguments that whether you agree with them or not.

He presents a classic Conservative perspective and how current politicos on both sides of the aisle are failing the American people, the founding fathers, and the Constitution that is likely to become a required reading in future college classes. Even if you find the word, "conservative", a pejorative, it's still an interesting read that's nothing like a Fox News special.