"[A] masterly account"--Martin Kettle "The Guardian "
"A terrific analysis . . . I recommend it without hesitation . . . very interesting and important."--Tom Hall, WYPR Radio, Baltimore
"[Dionne] correctly identifies why we [Republicans] either fail to win power or, when we do, do not use that power to transform America. Conservatives who want to win and effectively use political power, then, must come to grips with the central question Dionne poses: does the intellectual legacy of Barry Goldwater prevent conservatism from being an effective governing movement? . . . Dionne's book for all its faults clarifies the challenge we face and poses the ultimate questions: If not us, who? If not now, when?"--Henry Olsen "National Review "
"Dependably intelligent . . . Dionne argues, with ample illustration decade by decade, that this right-wing populism would remain a Republican orthodoxy, latent or salient, throughout the time he covers. . . . Dionne comes closer to the facts with his tale of a ground bass of growls against moderation, swelling at times or diminishing, but continuously present."--Garry Wills "The New York Review of Books "
"To understand why the current conservative crackup so confounds and confuses the Republican establishment, you have to recognize that the party is facing two separate revolts taking place simultaneously: one led by Ted Cruz, the other by Donald Trump. The first is well described by E.J. Dionne in his important new book,
Why the Right Went Wrong."--Fareed Zakaria "The Washington Post "
Praise for E.J. Dionne Jr.: "The best new liberal rethinkers, like Dionne . . . are fair and sophisticated about American conservatism."--David Brooks "the Weekly Standard "
"Dionne's expertise is evident in this finely crafted and convincing work. . . . Lucid, pragmatic and buttressed by a parade of supporting facts."--The Los Angeles Times
"Talk about perfect timing. . . . an account of the GOP's internal tension. . . .
Why the Right Went Wrong is particularly interesting in its assessment of the past decade. . . . The book is up to the moment."--The Christian Science Monitor
"Dionne is right that America needs an intelligent conservative party, and the insights of this decent man who, as an award-winning journalist for
The Washington Post, has unique access to politicians make wonderful reading."--The Washington Post
"Substantial . . . Dionne demonstrates his thesis with a wealth of historical examples. . . . notably fair-minded."--The New York Times Book Review