Barn Burning Barn Building: Tales of a Political Life, From LBJ to George W. Bush and Beyond by Ben F. Barnes, Lisa Dickey, Robert Strauss

From the Publisher

How did the Democratic Party-party of JFK, LBJ, and civil rights-fall from glory? How did Texas, home of its most promising players, become Bush territory? What do politicians on either side need to do today to get our country back on track? Ben Barnes has the answers.

Barnes had a front-row seat through it all. His political savvy and bravado made him a standout in the rough-and-tumble world of Texas politics. He won a seat in the Texas Legislature in 1960, at the unheard-of age of 22, and four years later became the youngest Speaker of the House since the Civil War. In 1968, he helped Congressman George Herbert Walker Bush get his son into the National Guard-a controversy that would rage during the 2004 presidential election. In 1970, Lyndon Johnson told the public that Ben was destined to be the next U.S. president to hail from Texas.

How did his party lose its place in Texas . . . and the nation? How did Barnes-affectionately dubbed the "51st Democratic senator"-remain a force on the Democratic scene despite his departure from public office? In this exciting new book, Barnes takes readers inside the rise and fall of the party he loves. Pulling no punches, he uses lessons learned in the Texas trenches as a guiding light for a new generation of lawmakers and political hopefuls, and a calls for a return to bipartisan consensus building for our nation. Barnes's rollicking memoir recalls the glory days of his Texas past and blazes a trail for our country's future.

Author Biography: BEN BARNES is an American lobbyist and former Lieutenant Governor of Texas. He was a vice-chair and top fundraiser of the John Kerry campaign in the 2004 presidential elections. He has served asSpeaker of the House in Texas from 1965-1969, U.S. representative to the NATO Conference in 1967, and United Nations Representative to Geneva, Switzerland in 1968. He founded the Austin-based lobbying firm, EntreCorp.

Philadelphia Daily News

"...Barnes is an American before he is Democrat, and he shares my concern about the current state of the nation."

Dallas Morning News

"the book . . . provides a fascinating window into a bygone Democratic era."

New York Times

"Once-Tall Figure in the Rugged World of Texas Politics Is Back in The Saddle"

Washington Post

"The Texas political phenom"

Wichita Eagle

"[Barnes] has amassed a wealth of experience and wisdom that his party should be listening to this election year."

Houston Chronicle

"A must read for current conversation" and "a rollicking read"

FOX News Hannity & Colmes

"I couldn't put it down."

What People Are Saying

"Well worth the read."
—National Editor AIL/NILICO Labor Letter

NPR
"Make sure you get yourself a copy...the book is great."

Mark Schannon
"[the book] reminds us of a time when government and politicians believed in more than their own self-aggrandizement."
—on Blogcritics.org

Details from Seller

• ISBN: 1931721718
• Publisher: Bright Sky Press
• Pub. Date: April 2006
• Condition:

Comments from the Seller: 04/2006 Hardcover Fine in fine dust jacket. Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover., In like new dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 256 p. Contains: Illustrations.