"What makes a leader truly great?" [reads the back jacket of this book...] "Is it simply a matter of management style or personality?"

No, answers the author -- it is simply a matter of being a good Christian. But what is a good Christian? Why, that is simply someone who believes exactly as Marvin Olasky believes. It's just that simple...

unfortunately, the book also irritated me, and I have never been called a liberal by anyone. While I appreciated Olasky's assertion that private morals DO matter in public office, I thought his approach was simplistic and narrow. If one takes Olasky's arguments to their logical conclusion, one would have to say that there aren't too many people in the history of humankind who have adopted the correct religious view. Olasky's version of heaven is going to be quite thinly populated I suspect...Jefferson, who was a founding father of our republic and doubled its size while in office, is portrayed as a godless, snobby, scheming, screw-up. Jackson, a violent man who defied the Supreme Court and signed the death warrant for thousands of civilized Cherokees seeking legal redress, is portrayed as your favorite god-fearing uncle. I suppose the battalions of left-wing revisionists brought this sort of book upon themselves in a way, but sometimes I just wish the pendulum could settle in the middle for a while. History should be about getting at the TRUTH, not supporting your pet argument at all costs.

Conclusion: the less thoughtful among the fundamentalist Christians will find fodder for their arguments here and will save having to read all the real history in the bargain. The Clinton-esque liberals will bust veins in the heads over this outrage. The true historians will quietly shake their heads and toss this book aside.

I purchased this volume after watching Olasky on C-Span. Being familiar with his magazine, "World," and the Turning Point Christian Worldview Series which he edited, I was impressed with his thesis: character counts. To Olasky, character is displayed by the diligence one gives to daily duty--fidelity to one's faith, fidelity to one's mate, fidelity to one's deepest covenents. Though perhaps simplistic and certainly not an exhaustive list of criteria by which to judge a man, these are fundamental to what a man becomes. Moral vision--character--counts. In this, Olasky is on target.

Olasky's efforts to review the moral and social characteristics of select American leaders, both political and social is clear in its content and abolute in the documented truth he brings to light. A number of the subjects reviewed clearly illustrate the dilemma of American culture - pragmaticism at the sacrifice of ideals higher and more substantive than the needs of the moment. Judeo-Christian ethic, the core of our history, is brought to light in a very real manner. Political history students of all ages will benefit by his illustrations and analysis.

This book by Marvin Olasky is a historically slanted book. In examining "liberty and virtue" in the revolutionary era Mr Olasky allows his religious bias to show through. He neglects to mention Thomas Jefferson, mentions James Madison once or twice, forgets Thomas Paine, and accuses Benjamin Franklin of being a Satanist in London! Olasky instead concentrates on the more conservative proponents of the Revolution, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Patrick Henry,etc. Now all were great and worhty men, but Olasky is attempting to down play the more radical revolutionaries by neglecting to mention them. The book has a " christian nation" theme with the Founders portrayed as devout christians, even though many were deists. It is a book cut for the religious right and their agenda, but not for accuarate history.

Marvin Olasky writes a superb history of the Americas and the motives of those who founded the nation. The book gives superfluous documentation of his ideas often written by those who experienced our Founder's ideas first hand (many articles and writings from the time are referenced). This very well written book discusses the majority of the great thinkers of our land's creation and their motives, cross-referencing outside influences that shaped their thought. Since this is written by a Christian writer, he focuses on virtue by way of religion. He covers many topics and debates that were prevalent of the times of which many still rage today. He exposes the corruption that the Fonding Fathers were afraid might creep into the new nation. And yes, he does expose many *well documented and proven* ideas and practices of one of our most well-thought-of men, Ben Franklin. Again showing well documented proof of his early aid to the British before the Revolution and his vast adulterous escapades while living in London and subsequent rewriting of the Book of Common Prayer. This is far from the focus of the book, though. An excellent read if you are interested in the motives behind the beginnings of the Rebellion, the Great Awakening/Enlightenment, and the creation of our first ruling documents, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Compassionate conservatism is not a platitude but a distinct social program. It aims to help the poor without compromising conservative principles ' very conservative principles, very religious conservative principles. Marvin Olasky, one of its spokesman and advisor to George Bush when he was governor of Texas, has written an overview for the general reader. Actually, it's for the general conservative reader, but liberals should take note.

Much of the book is a collection of essays recounting the author's visits to various antipoverty programs across the country, mostly privately run. The traditional programs (run by churches and charities) provide counseling, education, job training, and placement ' the usual mix. The dropout rate is substantial, and most of those who graduate and get a job fail and return to poverty. I can't quarrel with this result. But only a minority of alcoholics, drug addicts, and the obese succeed in solving their problems, too. These are tough problems.. It's with greater pleasure that he relates encounters with compassionate conservatism antipoverty programs 'all privately run, generally by born-again Christians and their churches. These offer the same benefits plus a heavy dose of moral uplift, discipline, and abstinence. Anyone can enter, but once in the program they must toe the line. Use of alcohol and drugs means instant expulsion; so does irresponsibility, poor attendance, and laziness. There are no second chances.

So far none of this is objectionable or even particularly conservative. However, the author adds one feature he considers essential: religion. The programs he admires stress an aggressive, proselytizing, strictly moralistic fundamentalism. Many otherwise commendable leaders become unpleasantly self-righteous on the subject of God.

Because the government refuses to fund sectarian charities, they look upon bureaucrats with the contempt they reserve for the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. Olasky approves and quotes them at length. He also maintains that graduates of these programs do better. I haven't the expertise to dispute this, and it seems reasonable that a despairing member of the underclass who accepts Jesus will become a more solid citizen. It works with alcoholics.

Nonfundamentalists will find this book irritating because the author makes no attempt to win them over. Yet wouldn't it be wonderful if Republicans took a genuine interest in fighting poverty? Democrats aren't giving it more than lip service. Americans today don't place a high priority on correcting social injustice. They would oppose any Federal effort that involves spending tax money. As a result, the only political movement making a big noise about helping the poor are the compassionate conservatives. Why not give them a chance?

Thoughtful readers should hold their noses and persist to the end.

I find it laughable to hear Left-wingers whine, complain, grumble and attack the author and mock the ideas without giving them full weight. . . such an approach lacks gravitas.

Olasky has written a well thought out perspective on defining what Compassionate Conservatism is (his breakthrough work "The Tragedy of American Compassion" served as the groundwork for the faith based approached that has inspired Gov. George W. Bush), and explains how it is the people of this great nation that will make a difference, not some government program.

It is the people who interact with the needy, not some nameless, faceless bureaucrat. It is a movement based on love, not some welfare caseworker doing it for the money. And because it's from the heart, it is far more effective.

Naysayers, well, they still support the failed policies of the last forty years that have created the disgrace of the inner cities that we have today. Thank you, Liberal Naysayers, everywhere.

Kudos to Marvin Olasky.

The Sixties gave us many things. One thing it took away was the willingness and ability of Americans as individuals to take responsibility for themselves and to be accountabe for their actions. Compassionate conservatism is a way to return responsibility and accountability to individuals and, in so doing, freeing them from poverty, addictions, and other negative behaviors. Many people attack compassionate conservatism as some religious trend but if all religious elements are stripped from it, what remains is the same idea of taking responsibility for one's own actions that mental health professionals try to get their clients to develop. If you have never worked with any of the populations Olasky describes, then you are not qualified to judge what he has written about them and whether compassionate conservatism offers a way out of their depressing lifestyles. I have been a member of some of those populations and I have worked with them since "recovering". There may be other ways to achieve success but compassionate conservatism offers something sure-fire. It works when other methods don't. Marvin Olasky does write with the pedantism of the academic. If you get past that, however, the message is compelling. The book is a quick read.