BOOK REVIEW - RELIGHTING THE TORCH BY ANDREW HORNING

 

Is this country the Constitutional Republic the Founding Fathers gave us? If not, is that an improvement, or is it endangering the freedoms the Constitution was meant to preserve?

In "Relighting The Torch," Andrew Horning deals with these issues. He points out how, almost while the ink on the Constitution was still wet, we moved toward a centralized government. He then includes an annotated Declaration of Independence and Constitution with all the Amendments, concluding with ways to get our country back on track.

I found this book informative, which did not surprise me the least. Horning has run for office as both a Libertarian and a Republican. During one debate, one blogger commented that he would make an excellent teacher on the Constitution and government. I fully agree.

There are few books I can objectively say that I think everyone should read. This is a good example. I wish our leaders would read this and try to get this country back in shape. 

Thank you, Andrew Horning, for writing this book.

BOOK REVIEW - RANKING THE VICE PRESIDENTS: TRUE TALES AND TRIVIA, FROM JOHN ADAMS TO JOE BIDEN BY IAN RANDAL STROCK

 What kind of people have been our Vice-Presidents? Is there a scale on who was the most effective? Or does that apply to the job description of Vice President?

I have read books dealing with ranking the Presidents, most notably Where They Stand: The American Presidents in the Eyes of Voters and Historians by Robert W. Merry and Recarvomg Rushmore: Ranking the Presidents on Peace, Prosperity, and Liberty by Ivan Eland. Those two books have different treks on ranking the White House residents, but the question is: How about the Vice-Presidents? Ranking the Vice Presidents: True Tales and Trivia, From John Adams to Joe Biden by Ian Randal Strock sounds like the book I'd be interested in.

One curiosity is what standards would the Vice President be ranked on? After all, historically the role of the Vice President was to preside over the Sentate, only voting to break a tie, and to stay alive in case the President doesn't. It doesn't sound like the occupation where you can rank the best to the worst, does it?

This book doesn't even try. Rather, this book appears to have the goal to help you get to know the Vice Presidents better. It breaks down the Vice President in various categories such as their age, height, how long they survived their wives (or vice versa), and which ones certified the votes that would either put them into the White House or terminate their position. 

This book also goes further than its title indicates. It also has lists of cabinets, including how many former cabinet members became president. The book also closes with various acts dealing with the Vice Presidency from the Constitution to the 25th Amendment.

While not what I expected, this book is interesting and giving you information you wouldn't have otherwise.

I will warn that the editing is not perfect. When writing about Vice Presidents who served under more than one President the author accidentally misidentified James Madison as James Monroe, and when dealing with facial hair on Presidents and Vice-Presidents, he forgot that Taft was the last whiskered President, not Teddy Roosevelt. Still, this is a unique book.