“I’m the only person in the history of Virginia elected to statewide office with a Union card, two Purple Hearts, and three tattoos."
Jim Webb—the bestselling author and now the celebrated, outspoken U.S. Senator from Virginia—presents a clear-eyed, hard-hitting plan of attack for putting government to work for the people, rather than special interests, and for restoring the country's standing around the world.
Infused with the intelligence, force, and firebrand style that has earned Senator Jim Webb enormous national attention from his earlest days in office, A Time to Fight offers a thorough and provocative assessment of the thorniest issues Americans face today, along with cogent solutions drawn from Webb's lifetime of experience as a much-decorated Marine, a widely traveled, award-winning journalist and novelist, a highly placed member of the Reagan administration, a Senator with a son who fought as a Marine in Iraq and, perhaps most important, a proud scion of America's vast but frequently ignored working class.
Webb exposes how America has entered a dangerous, unprecedented cycle of seemingly unsolvable unknowns. Our economic policies, particularly in this age of globalization, have produced widely divergent results leading to a country calcifying along class lines. Our demographic makeup has been altered dramatically and is set to keep on changing, through both legal and illegal immigration. Our editorialists and politicians talk about the American dream, and some urge us to bring democracy to the rest of the world. But more than two million Americans are now in prison, by far the highest incarceration rate in the so-called advanced world. Our foreign policy is confused, without clear direction; increasingly vulnerable to such largely unexamined long-term threats as China's emerging power while it has become bogged down in the never-ending struggles of the Middle East. As this drift toward societal regression has taken place, America's leadership has largely been paralyzed, unable or unwilling to stop the slide. "Where are the leaders?" Webb asks. "Has our political process become so compromised by powerful interest groups and the threat of character assassination that even the best among us will not dare to speak honestly about the solutions that might bring us back to common sense and fundamental fairness?"
Through vivid personal narratives of the struggles members of his family faced, and citing the courageous actions of presidents ranging from Andrew Jackson to Teddy Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower, A Time to Fight provides specific, viable ideas for restoring fairness to our economic system, correcting the direction of national security efforts, ending America's military occupation of Iraq, and developing greater government accountability. Webb brings a fresh perspective to political dynamics that have shaped our country. His stirring, populist manifesto calls upon voters to make the choices that will change America for the better in this election season.
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"This book is a little dated like most "here's the way forward" political texts tend to be. But Webb's personality and skill as a writer ground the events of the last several years in a historical context that's missing from similar books. Webb in 2016! "
— Scott (4 out of 5 stars)
The best tour of the capitol I’ve ever taken . . . a vivid analysis of the folly of our foreign policy and the unfairness of our domestic one.
— Margaret Carlson, Bloomberg.com“A Time to Fight may be the best evocation of the twenty-first century Democratic Party’s emerging style and philosophy. Webb is a . . . terrific writer . . . and now he has written a policy book that is actually worth reading, an unprecedented feat for a sitting politician.
— Joe Klein, TimeJim Webb is a serious writer, not a politician who writes books on the side . . . He offers a fresh approach to politics and stirs excitement.
— Elizabeth Drew, New York Review of Books" Great read. This book had made me really hope he'd run or at least try to position himself for vp back then. "
— Sharron, 10/21/2013" An idealist, and I applaud him for it. "
— Jennie, 10/10/2013" An interesting, unorthodox politician. He'd win alot of votes in Ohio ... "
— Terry, 6/26/2013" Had to read it, he is my senator. Liked it, like him. "
— H2, 4/14/2013" This is a great mixture of personal stories and thoughtful analysis of America and its role in the world. Webb has lived an incredible life and both is wisdom and political views are worth exploring. "
— Jeff, 12/12/2012" Jim Webb is a man's man. He's a thinker and a fighter. While I may not agree with all his views, I have to respect his values. Worth reading. "
— Karl, 9/29/2012" Not the best book in the world, but an interesting look at the life and views of an interesting political figure. "
— Karl, 3/18/2012" A great insite on America today. Especially after the market crash. He gets it. "
— June, 2/26/2012" interesting read, wonder why he has disappeared from the political spotlight "
— Tom, 1/18/2012" A pretty good political book. "
— doug, 1/2/2012" This is a very good synopsis of Capital Hill operations and pieces of American history. It makes clear a need for reclaiming the American system. "
— Jessica, 2/9/2011" Very interesting, smart guy. Very smart. "
— Linda, 10/27/2010" Hummmmmmmm. .. he may be a good VP choice "
— Bob, 9/15/2010" Not the best book in the world, but an interesting look at the life and views of an interesting political figure. "
— Karl, 5/29/2010" Jim Webb is a man's man. He's a thinker and a fighter. While I may not agree with all his views, I have to respect his values. Worth reading. "
— Karl, 9/2/2009" interesting read, wonder why he has disappeared from the political spotlight "
— Tom, 1/10/2009" A great insite on America today. Especially after the market crash. He gets it. "
— June, 10/16/2008" This is a great mixture of personal stories and thoughtful analysis of America and its role in the world. Webb has lived an incredible life and both is wisdom and political views are worth exploring. "
— Jeff, 10/11/2008" An idealist, and I applaud him for it. "
— Jennie, 10/6/2008" This is a very good synopsis of Capital Hill operations and pieces of American history. It makes clear a need for reclaiming the American system. "
— Jessica, 9/22/2008" Very interesting, smart guy. Very smart. "
— Linda, 8/13/2008" An interesting, unorthodox politician. He'd win alot of votes in Ohio ... "
— Terry, 7/15/2008Jim Webb is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and the author of several books. As a Marine in Vietnam he received the nation’s second and third highest awards for combat heroism. He served as Assistant Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration. From 2007–2013 he represented Virginia in the US Senate.