Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement That's Bringing Common Sense Back to America

by Mike Huckabee

Book Overview

When Governor Mike Huckabee entered the Republican presidential race, he was the ultimate dark horse, with almost no money, no consultants, and no name recognition beyond Arkansas. The so-called... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595230548
• ISBN13: 9781595230546
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Sentinel
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Honest look at the past and hopeful look to the future

I have come to find Mike Huckabee to be an honest and hopeful voice in the GOP and this book confirms that once again. Mike makes a strong case for the connection between morality and economics which is very important as there is a clear divide between social conservatives and fiscal conservatives. The truth is that both are necessary and a clear and consistent morality needs to be the foundation. I particularly appreciated the chapter entitled Politically Homeless. There is plenty in that chapter that will ruffle some feathers but in my opinion it needed to be said. People can dismiss Mike as a populist but they dismiss more than one man, they dismiss a large portion of the population. There is an ARMY of people who got behind Mike because he understood them and is one of them. Trucker Randy and others capture the essence of this grassroots movement that took Mike from an overlooked candidate to a serious contendor. The chapter on Faux-Cons will stir some up as well, but once again it is a matter of calling a spade a spade. Beyond this, there is a lot of optimism for the future of our country. The distinction between horizontal vs vertical politics is spot on and Mike has a long track record of getting positive things done for the people of Arkansas. Especially helpful are the sections on the Fair Tax (real change we can believe in and the mother of all reforms), healthcare, and energy independence, among other things. There are also a number of touching stories of individuals who made significant sacrifices for Mike, as well as the country. I appreciated learning the story of the couple that took a train across the country to New Hampshire and then drove a cheap, old car to Florida before returning home through Little Rock. Also inspiring was the story of the soldier who wanted to return to his troops in Iraq after suffering signicant injuries. Do yourself a favor, get this book and read it cover to cover. Don't let others make up your mind for you and take it all in before deciding what you think. I believe you will enjoy the book, learn a lot, and be inspired.

Common sense is the key

First I would like to tackle the negatives because there are a few. I noticed about 6-8 grammatical errors, if not more, in the book. I found a couple of spelling errors as well such as "he" instead of "the". There is a reference to "Naaman" that should actually be "Nathan". I guess ultimately, the editor is responsible for those but either way, they are mildly disappointing. Before I was finished reading the book, I kept hearing a lot about the Huckabee vs Romney feud being the major focus of this book. IT IS NOT! There are several references to Romney and they are not pleasant but they are not hateful either. I viewed most as fair criticism based on what happened during the Primaries because their feud was indeed the major story. Some of the criticisms or "jabs", as some have called them, were meant as humor and they are easy to differentiate from the others. There were also a couple of references that I did view as whiny but they were limited. The focus of the book is about half reflection and half future. Mike talks about and gives praise to the many people who helped him defy all odds and media bias to eventually finish 2nd in the 2008 GOP Primaries. He talks of the struggle of having no money and no name recognition and how they overcame it. He praises the many volunteers and even names a lot of them. He tells of some very touching stories that are absolutely amazing, and they were not even mentioned in the media. The book is worth the price just for those stories alone. Mike goes into detailed policy on several ideas for our future. He talks about Preventative Healthcare, FairTax, Veterans Bill of Rights, and a few others. He emphasizes how Self-Government is the best Government and how a moral society plays a very important role in reducing the size of Government. He brings up the concept of Civil Service and how it not only benefits our Nation but ultimately, benefits our young Americans. He definitely puts forth some bold and fresh ideas that we should at least think about, all under the concept of Vertical Politics. In the APPENDIX section of the book, he specifically addresses his own record as Governor in regards to Tax Cuts, Tax Increases and Why, and Spending. These are noted as being rebuttals to attacks levied by the Club for Growth and the Cato Institute. Overall, I found the book to be insightful and bold which makes it fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys politics or just enjoys hearing about inspirational stories. This was indeed a journey and not just a group of events.

The book is nothing like the MSM reviews

I was concerned when I read reviews in the MSM that talked about how bitter Huckabee was, that the book was all about 2008 and not about ideas how we can grow as a nation. I should trust Gov. Huckabee. As usual, he eloquently speaks his mind and paints wonderful word pictures to describe his thoughts. Yes, there was discussion about the campaign trail. Yes, he does mention Gov. Romney. But the meat of the book (for me) is how the GOP leadership has left the party behind and how Gov. Huckabee feels that the major issues facing the nation should be addressed while speaking for people like me who are tired of the people who I vote for not sticking to their principles.

Enjoyable read

Even if you only paid cursory attention to this years election, this is a good read. For political junkies and policy wonks, this is great read. For the 87% of Americans who think the country is on the wrong track, this is a MUST READ.

Insightful and life-changing book

Huckabee's book gives insights into his run for president. He doesn't hold back, but gives a very honest view of how Presidential politics truly plays out. Very inspiring. Gov. Huckabee challenges each of us to "Do The Right Thing" in our own lives. After finishing the book, I feel like I need to better myself and challenge myself to a higher calling in life. That is, Huckabee challenges each of us to be the best and do the best with what we can. Life gives us many opportunities to better ourselves and we need to take advantage of them.