A Higher Loyalty, The Saga of the Lifelong Game of Politics

"This is no “Game Change” or, God forbid, “Fire and Fury,” insider tales gauged by the scores they settle, nuggets they unearth and screenplays they elicit. One look at its austere cover and ponderous subtitle and you know this is meant as a lasting, highbrow work — a big-think story of values and institutions clashing with tribalism and self-interest in Washington." quoted from Washington Post.

Former Director Comey’s own ethics as he criticizes Loretta Lynch for asking him to describe the FBI’s Clinton investigation. Nevertheless, his excoriation of Hillary's Clinton as we know still cause her loss in the 2016 elections.

From both sides and persona of Comey and President Trump, the title of this book, "A Higher Loyalty" points to the traditional game of politics of I am in charge, either your with me or not. The author depicts the moments of his career as prosecutor, nevertheless "consider the egotism of being preoccupied by your egotism". 

I was reading some book reviews online and a couple of readers was very entertaining to say they need more Vodka in finishing reading this book. During the famous private dinner at the White House was how the book title's came about when President Trump told the author that he needed his loyalty and he expected his loyalty. 

This is that particular time that President Trump the businessman is a real politician and Comey the former prosecutor as to secure his position as FBI Director. Such instance we can certainly say the President is not a novice as Commander in Chief. Whether such is ethical or not, it is an absolute reality in the world of politics. 

Comey kept notes and showed during his testimony that he has an eye and voice for vivid, novelistic detail. He was fired. This paved the way for this bestselling book, A Higher Loyalty to be a million dollar deal between him and the publishers which is the main component in writing this book.

The author's press interviews relays how the President is unfit for office and should not have a second term. Meanwhile, the White House has circulated their own campaign to discredit this book and the author. In the years I've been indirectly involved in politics and then right after totally out of the political world, these scenarios on loyalty, chain of command, trust, discredit, talking back is part of the political world then, now and in the future.  The particular cases, events and scoop might vary but the reality execution remains the same. 

From third world governments to the most powerful economy,  this is like a soap opera in the entertainment industry that exist and will continue to exist from generation to generation. I guess the main key lesson in this book points to what is ethical, do we need to wait until we get fired or should we do the right thing. It is quite hard to answer in lieu of the circumstance that surrounded the author.   Nevertheless, if this was a different instance of an employee working in an organization, it would have been a lot easier to do the necessary steps of action.

In finale, we can ask ourselves what could the author have done or what could us the reader have done if we were in the particular position. At times as a lay common person, I'm happy not being in such a high profile position in keeping my ethics and sanity.

 If you'd like to purchase this book from our bookshelves starting 4/17/18, please visit A Higher Loyalty

Alex Esguerra

If The President does it, that means it's not illegal, is it still true even today

The Conviction of RICHARD NIXON by James Reston, Jr. writes the foreword, "If the President does it, that means it's not illegal," as quoted was the brazen words uttered by Richard Nixon in his famous interview with David Frost in 1977.

Nixon continued and argued that the President is immune. As the book describes about eavesdropping, cover up, and bend government agencies like the CIA and the FBI for his own political purpose. National Security and "Executive Privilege" hence when exposed were "mistakes". With such words and predicament came about "Obstruction of Justice", the case for impeachment which led the way for Nixon to resign as it was inevitable.

Reading through this book trying to get a well deserved sleep gave a lot of comparison to the new book, 

The Case For Impeachment by Allan J. Lichtman . Professor Allan J. Lichtman, who has correctly forecasted thirty years of presidential outcomes, makes the case for impeaching the 45th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump.

Excerpt of the book annotation, "The Case for Impeachment also offers a fascinating look at presidential impeachments throughout American history, including the often-overlooked story of Andrew Johnson’s impeachment, details about Richard Nixon’s resignation, and Bill Clinton’s hearings. Lichtman shows how Trump exhibits many of the flaws (and more) that have doomed past presidents. As the Nixon Administration dismissed the reporting of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as “character assassination” and “a vicious abuse of the journalistic process,” Trump has attacked the “dishonest media,” claiming, “the press should be ashamed of themselves.”

Historians, legal scholars, and politicians alike agree: we are in politically uncharted waters—the durability of our institutions is being undermined and the public’s confidence in them is eroding, threatening American democracy itself."

With the recent testimony of the Former FBI Director James Comey about being asked repeatedly on the Russian interference investigations in  the 2016 elections, and the case of holding on to his position simply gives a more stronger case of Obstruction than the last impeachment case of Bill Clinton on an affair which never got passed. 

The months and circumstances to follow next will be part of the American history books as it unfolds. From the time this new book by Lichtman was release in April 2017, it hasn't yet gotten that much sales from a bookseller standpoint yet however this book is soon to be such an enormous bestseller that the publisher Dey Street Books will probably continually be making reprints.

For now, this is a new discussion between supporters of then failed candidate Hillary Clinton and the current 45th President Donald Trump.

Alex Esguerra

https://www.usedbooksworld.com