This books is a seminial survey text of Southern politics. All of the Southern states are analyzed individually by various authors. Also, Oklahoma is included as a border state where Professors Keith Gaddie and Scott Buchanan have an interesting argument as to why the Sooner State should be considered nominally Southern. Overall, a great book that focuses on the the Republican growth of the region. We also see how religion is beginning to play an important role along with race in the realignment of white voters at varying stages in all of the South.

PICKS UP WHERE THE DYNAMIC DOMINION LEAVES OFF - in that it was written later. I still, however found it to be an another excellent accounting of the history of Republican politics in the Commonwealth of Virginia. SECOND COMING goes into great detail about the nomination and candidacy of Lieutenant Gubernatorial hopeful Michael Farris in 1993 and US Senate hopeful Col. Oliver L. North in 1994 through the use of hands on research and interviews with many party activists. Though I liked the book very much, I feel that too much emphasis was placed on the oppinions and feelings of people from Northern Virginia and not enough was said about the oppinions and feelings of people from Richmond and Hampton Roads. The basic feeling that I got from the book is that, although Farris and North ultimately lost their elections, their races were relatively close, proving to me that the Religious Right will be a force to reckoned with in Virginia Politics for many years to come.

This book has been informative in that I have learned a great deal about the political and militaristic problems Washington endured during America's push for independence. I have a feeling that, without Washington's sacrifice, America as we know it probably wouldn't occur. However, I also think of the famous quote attributed to Napoleon that "History is the myth men choose to believe." While Thomas Paine wrote about independence for the colonies, he also tore into the concept of slavery as immoral, so it wasn't as if no one was talking about this issue. If Washington would have "stepped up" and abolished slavery then and there, so that all men (and women) were truly created equal, as I said before, America might not be here. It was a politically divided and bankrupt country. I don't consider those reasons justification for sacrificing another person's human rights. The racial problems we face today stem from a lack of identity stolen from a stolen people

who did much of the work to build this country in its early days and, while the opprtunity was there, given nothing in return. "Patriot Sage" is an excellent insight into many aspects of Washington's life of which I was ignorant (like his influence on the Constitutional Convention) Sadly, some of its essays are too right-wing, to the point of Clinton bashing. What modern era president could really live up to the accomplishments of the one who defined the job's parameters ? One essay focuses on the moral symbolism of Washington now devoid in today's presidents, while another openly admits he gambled and sought prostitutes. To be read overall with some perspective.