How the Hell Did This Happen?: The Election of 2016

How the Hell Did This Happen?: The Election of 2016

The iconic humorist offers his take on the stranger-than-fiction (andÂ stranger-than-fact) 2016 presidential election and its equally unbelievable aftermath.
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The 2016 election cycle was so absurd that celebrated political satirist, journalist, and die-hard Republican P. J. Oâ€™Rourke endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. As P. J. put it, â€œAmerica is experiencing the most severe outbreak of mass psychosis since the Salem witch trials of 1692. So why not put Hillary on the dunking stool?â€
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In How the Hell Did This Happen?, P. J. brings his critical eye and inimitable voice to some seriously risky business. Starting in June 2015, he asks, â€œWho are these jacklegs, high-binders, wire-pullers, mountebanks, swellheads, buncombe spigots, four-flushers and animated spittoons offering themselves as worthy of Americaâ€™s highest office?â€ and surveys the full cast of presidential candidates including everyone youâ€™ve already forgotten and everyone you wish you could forget.
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P. J. offers a brief history of how our insane process for picking who will run for president evolved, from the very first nominating convention (thanks, Anti-Masonic Party) through the reforms of the Progressive era (because thereâ€™s nothing that canâ€™t be worsened by reform) to the present. He takes us through the debates and key primaries and analyzes everything from the campaign platforms (or lack thereof) to presidential style (â€œTrumpâ€™s appearanceâ€”indeed, Trumpâ€™s existenceâ€”is a little guyâ€™s idea of living large. A private plane! A swell joint in Florida! Gold-plated toilet handles!â€). And he rises from the depths of despair to come up with a better way to choose a president. Following his come-to-Satan moment with Hillary and the Beginning of End Times in November, P. J. reckons with a new age: â€œAmerica is experiencing a change in the nature of leadership. Weâ€™re getting rid of our leaders. And weâ€™re starting at the top.â€
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â€œWhere are we going? Where have we been? P. J. Oâ€™Rourke casts his gimlet gaze on the circus of clowns-people foisted on us by the 2016 electionâ€”and demands to knowÂ How the Hell Did This Happen?â€ â€”Vanity Fair
Country USA
Manufacturer Atlantic Monthly Press
Binding Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate 2018-11-20
UnitCount 1
Format Kindle eBook

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Atlantic Monthly Press
Binding	Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate	2018-11-20
UnitCount	1
Format	Kindle eBook

How the Hell Did This Happen?: The Election of 2016

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