Max Cleland Memoir: Former Senator Unloads On Enemies, Dishes Lewinsky Dirt

[fedupinBushcountry]

Can't wait to buy his book. You Rock Max!!!

Heart of a Patriot- How I Found the Courage to Survive Vietnam, Walter Reed and Karl Rove

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/17/max-cleland-memoir-former_n_287674.html">Max Cleland Memoir: Former Senator Unloads On Enemies, Dishes Lewinsky Dirt

The attacks on McCain, Kerry and me, all decorated wounded combat veterans, are a shameful legacy of the Bush administration, and among the most shameful political stunts in the nation's history.

Edited to add :

"Max doesn't flinch from revealing his most personal struggles in the hopes that it'll help some veteran, somewhere...This is a must read for anyone in search of strength and inspiration."
-- Senator John Kerry

"An intense message of duty, honor, and country that will inspire all who read it. Max is a personal hero and a true profile in courage for our time."
-- Senator Ted Kennedy


"Max Cleland is courage, honor, and duty personified.... The sheer hell of war is exposed like a raw nerve. But the poisoned fangs of despair don't own Cleland. He beats the beast back with the healing powers of love and faith. This is the one recent patriotic manifesto that matters!"
-- Douglas Brinkley, author of The Great Deluge and Tour of Duty

[ProSense]

1. That ought to shake things up.

Go Max.

[karynnj]

2. I'm looking forward to reading this

Years ago, at the introduction to PTSD documentary, Cleeland and Kerry (among others) spoke. Cleeland was amazing. He also was so incredible having Kerry's back in 2004 - when most Democrats, including his VP, did little. As he had PTSD, it had to be very hard for him to address those issues. I remember him especially for completely decimating the idiotic RW charge that Kerry intentionally got wounded 3 times.

[MonteLukast]

3. President Kerry would've made Max SecDef, I think.

Their friendship is almost as deep as his with Ted Kennedy's.

[beachmom]

4. I'm not sure if anyone has picked up the book yet, but I came

across this appearance by Max on NPR's Fresh Air, that is well worth your 30 minutes.

http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/10/max_cleland.php#

Ta Nehisi Coates really has a poignant lead up:

I keep meaning to link this Max Cleland interview from Fresh Air. It's rather incredible. I think you just sort of assume, when you see people in privileged positions, you assume that their life is gravy. Obviously, being a triple-amputee is different, but I never realized how much Cleland lost when he was defeated by Saxby Chambliss. I also didn't realize how he'd basically willed himself into politics.

I think about this a lot with my Dad, who's also a Vietnam vet, but not a triple amputee. I can account for whatever success I've had by pointing to family, community, good friends, good people etc. But sometimes you see people who may not have always had those things, and their drive just shines through.

The NPR program can be heard from the Atlantic link.

[wisteria]

5. It does sound like a good read. I am definately adding it to my reading list. n/t

[JI7]

6. i hope he does a book tour and a bunch of media appearances for this

the book sounds really fun to read. especially for political junkies who love the little stories.