It wasn't long before I developed a visceral hatred for this book. If I put its politics aside, at best this is yet another silly, not very well written thriller. With the politics...
In one night, United States Senator Daniel Fitzgerald, Senator Robert Down and powerful congressional leader Jack Koslowski are assassinated. From the description of each, it's clear the first is supposed to represent Senator Edward Kennedy (or maybe Daniel Moynihan) the second Robert Dole, and the third Dan Rostenkowski. (The book was published in 1997) The next day the demands of the assassins are delivered to a major television network. Among the demands are a balanced budget with no new or raised taxes and means-testing of medicare and social security. In other words, the Tea Party Agenda--which by the way I'm actually sympathetic to. (Quaint, and scary, that the horror scenario of the book is a national debt of a mere 5 trillion.) If their demands are not met, more will be killed and they promise not even the (very Clintonesque) president will be safe. Apparently neither this group nor Flynn sees any irony that another demand is a new crime bill.
So, what's the reaction of our "hero" ex-marine and Freshman Congressman Michael O'Rourke? He considers the murdered men "scum" and calls those that slew them "freedom fighters." I kid you not. Flynn lost me right there. Do I really have to spell it out? Because I could rant for pages. Look, I'm right of center and have been known to enjoy Tom Clancy novels. Flynn according to the wiki was inspired to write the book by The Government Racket: Washington Waste from A to Z, by Martin L. Gross. I'm sympathetic to the cause--really am. But my goodness. I can't enjoy this or take this seriously.
