library or specialty book store, will give you insight
and help to get what you want from government. If
you have a book suggestion, send it
here.
Legislature
by Moncrief, Squire, Jewell
2001
From Joel: A studied look at who
runs for public office and why with
a focus on state legislative
candidates (many of whom go on
to Congress).Many insightful
quotes from people who ran for
office and won and lost. Offers
proof that it is harder and harder
to get anyone to run for office.
How To Increase Voter
Turnout
by Green and Gerber
From Joel: As it turns out, it is almost
impossible to get people to vote who
otherwise wouldn't. Based on lots of
good studies, this book shows that
in the best of circumstances,
volunteer callers, well trained and
motivated, may, emphasis MAY,
produce one new voter per 20 to 50
well-done, lengthy calls.
The Role of Emotion in
Deciding the Fate of the
Nation
DREW WESTEN
From publicaffairsbooks.com:
In politics, when reason and
emotion collide, emotion
invariably wins. Elections are
decided in the marketplace of
emotions, a marketplace filled
with values, images, analogies,
moral sentiments, and moving
oratory, in which logic plays only a
supporting role. Westen shows
why campaigns succeed and fail.
The evidence is overwhelming
that three things determine how
people vote, in this order: their
feelings toward the parties and
their principles, their feelings
toward the candidates, and, if they
haven't decided by then, their
feelings toward the candidates'
policy positions.
Off Congress
by John L. Jackley 1992
From Joel: Hill Rat refers to the
staff who work for Congress on
Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
This book presents Congress at
its worst and I don't think it
accurately reflects every member
of Congress. But it's a good look
at process and some of the bad
eggs and bad outcomes that are
part of reality.
2020 Pennsylvania Avenue NW #929
Washington DC 20006
GrassRootsGuy@JoelBlackwell.com
Washington (202) 277-5209 / Sacramento (916) 273-9180
