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The hardest job in the world : the American presidency / by Dickerson, John,1968-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Imagine you have just been elected president. You are now commander-in-chief, chief executive, chief diplomat, chief legislator, chief of party, chief voice of the people, first responder, chief priest, and world leader. You're expected to fulfill your campaign promises, but you're also expected to solve the urgent crises of the day. What's on your to-do list? Where would you even start? The American presidency is in trouble. It has become overburdened, misunderstood, almost impossible to do. "The problems in the job unfolded before Donald Trump was elected, and the challenges of governing today will confront his successors," writes John Dickerson. After all, the founders never intended for our system of checks and balances to have one superior Chief Magistrate, with Congress demoted to "the little brother who can't keep up." In this eye-opening book, John Dickerson draws on history and contemporary times to show why we need to reevaluate how we view the presidency, how we choose our presidents, and what we expect from them once they are in office. Think of the presidential campaign as a job interview. Are we asking the right questions? Are we looking for good campaigners, or good presidents? Once a candidate gets the job, what can they do to thrive? Drawing on research and interviews with current and former White House staffers, Dickerson defines what the job of president actually entails, identifies the things that only the President can do, and analyzes how presidents in history have managed the burden. What qualities make for a good president? Who did it well? Why did Bill Clinton call the White House "the crown jewel in the American penal system"? And what lessons can we draw from past successes and failures? Ultimately, in order to evaluate candidates properly for the job, we need to adjust our expectations, and be more realistic about the goals, the requirements, and the limitations of the office."--
Subjects: Trump, Donald, 1946-; Presidents; Executive power;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The West Wing. [videorecording] / by Channing, Stockard.; Hill, Dulé.; Janney, Allison.; Lowe, Rob.; Moloney, Janel.; Schiff, Richard,1959-; Sheen, Martin.; Sorkin, Aaron.; Spencer, John,1946-; Whitford, Bradley.; John Wells Productions (Firm); Warner Bros. Television.; Warner Home Video (Firm);
Disc 1. In the shadow of two gunmen, part I -- In the shadow of two gunmen, part II -- The midterms -- In this White House -- And it's surely to their credit -- The lame duck congress -- The Portland trip -- Shibboleth.Disc 2. Galileo -- Noël -- The leadership breakfast -- The drop-in -- Bartlet's third state of the union -- The war at home -- Ellie -- Somebody's going to emergency, somebody's going to jail.Disc 3. The Stackhouse filibuster -- 17 people -- Bad moon rising -- The fall's gonna kill you -- 18th and Potomac -- Two cathedrals.Disc 4. Special features.Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford.The President and staff have been targeted for disruption by rival politicians, soon after being targeted by would-be assassins. The President heads through midterm elections and into a crisis that leads to allegations of criminal conduct. 22 episodes.Canadian Home Video Rating: 14A.DVD (double sided) ; Dolby digital ; widescreen presentation.
Subjects: United States. President; White House (Washington, D.C.); Presidents; Television programs.; Video recordings for the hearing impaired.;
For private home use only.
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Embracing hope : on freedom, responsibility & the meaning of life / by Frankl, Viktor E.(Viktor Emil),1905-1997,author.; Vesely, Alexander,1974-writer of foreword.; Esch, Tobias,1970-writer of introduction.; Young, Joelle,translator.;
Includes bibliographical references."A highly anticipated, rediscovered collection from Viktor Frankl, published for the first time in the United States, exploring freedom, responsibility, and how we can draw meaning from the temporary nature of our lives. The Library of Congress lists Man's Search for Meaning as one of the ten most influential books in history. Scientists and artists, politicians and celebrities regularly cite Frankl as one of the most important authors every person should read. Now, there is another book for his devoted fans to add to their collections. Published here for the first time in the United States, Embracing Hope continues Frankl's enduring life's work and provides even more lessons for those searching for meaning and purpose. It's made up of four distinct pieces from Frankl on different themes-all uniting around the idea that we should remain open to life even when we have been subjected to appalling injustice, and even when we are faced with our own mortality and the brief nature of our lives. At a time of global suffering where so many are searching for hope and meaning, Frankl's work seems more relevant and more important than ever. Whether you're a devoted follower of Frankl's work or a newcomer seeking to enrich your understanding of life's purpose, this book promises a captivating journey that will leave you pondering its teachings long after you've turned the final page."--
Subjects: Hope.; Liberty.; Meaning (Philosophy);
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Original sin : President Biden's decline, its cover-up, and his disastrous choice to run again / by Tapper, Jake,author.; Thompson, Alex,author.;
Includes bibliographical references (pages 315-319) and index."[A]n unflinching and explosive reckoning with one of the most fateful decisions in American political history: Joe Biden's run for reelection despite evidence of his serious decline -- amid desperate efforts to hide the extent of that deterioration. In Greek tragedy, the protagonist's effort to avoid his fate is what seals his fate. In 2024, American politics became a Greek tragedy. Joe Biden launched his successful 2020 bid for the White House with the stated goal of saving the nation from a second Trump presidential term. He, his family, and his senior aides were so convinced that only he could beat Trump again, they lied to themselves, allies, and the public about his condition and limitations. At his debate with Trump on June 27, 2024, the consequences of that deception were exposed to the world. It was shocking and upsetting. Now the full, unsettling truth is being told for the first time. Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson take us behind closed doors and into private conversations between the heaviest of hitters, revealing how big the problem was and how many people knew about it. From White House staffers at the highest to lowest levels, to leaders of Congress and the Cabinet, from governors to donors and Hollywood players, the truth is finally being told. What you will learn makes President Biden's decision to run for reelection seem shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless--a desperate bet that went bust -- and part of a larger act of extended public deception that has few precedents. The story the authors tell raises fundamental issues of accountability and responsibility that will continue for decades. The irony is biting: In the name of defeating what they called an existential threat to democracy, Biden and his inner circle ensured it, tossing aside his implicit promise to serve for only one term, denying the existence of health issues the nation had been watching for years, dooming the Democrats to defeat. The decision to run again, the Original Sin of this president, led to a campaign of denial and gaslighting, leading directly to Donald Trump's return to power and all that has happened as a consequence. Rarely does hubris meet nemesis more explosively. Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, Original Sin is essential reading"--
Subjects: Biden, Joseph R., Jr.; Political corruption; Presidents;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Know my name : a memoir / by Miller, Chanel,author.;
"She was know to the world as Emily Doe when she stunned millions with a letter. Brock Turner had been sentenced to just six months in county jail after he was found sexually assaulting her on Stanford's campus. Her victim impact statement was posted on BuzzFeed, where it instantly went viral--viewed by almost eleven million people within four days, it was translated globally and read on the floor of Congress; it inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge in the case. Thousands wrote to say that she had given them the courage to share their own experiences of assault for the first time. Now she reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words. It was the perfect case, in many ways--there were eyewitnesses, Turner ran away, physical evidence was immediately secured. But her struggles with isolation and shame during the aftermath and the trial reveal the oppression victims face in even the best-case scenarios. Her story illuminates a culture biased to protect perpetrators, indicts a criminal justice system designed to fail the most vulnerable, and, ultimately, shines with the courage required to move through suffering and live a full and beautiful life. "Know My Name" will forever transform the way we think about sexual assault, challenging our beliefs about what is acceptable and speaking truth to the tumultuous reality of healing. It also introduces readers to an extraordinary writer, one whose words have already changed our world. Entwining pain, resilience, and humor, this memoir will stand as a modern classic"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Personal narratives.; Miller, Chanel.; Judicial error; Rape in universities and colleges; Rape victims; Rape; Sex discrimination in justice administration; Trials (Rape); Women;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The night watchman : a novel / by Erdrich, Louise,author.;
It is 1953. Thomas Wazhushk is the night watchman at the first factory to open near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a prominent Chippewa Council member, trying to understand a new bill that is soon to be put before Congress. The US Government calls it an 'emancipation' bill; but it isn't about freedom - it threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land, their very identity. How can he fight this betrayal? Unlike most of the girls on the reservation, Pixie - 'Patrice' - Paranteau has no desire to wear herself down on a husband and kids. She works at the factory, earning barely enough to support her mother and brother, let alone her alcoholic father who sometimes returns home to bully her for money. But Patrice needs every penny to get if she's ever going to get to Minnesota to find her missing sister Vera. In The Night Watchman multi-award winning author Louise Erdrich weaves together a story of past and future generations, of preservation and progress. She grapples with the worst and best impulses of human nature, illuminating the loves and lives, desires and ambitions of her characters with compassion, wit and intelligence.
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Indigenous peoples; Ojibwe; Indigenous peoples; Indigenous peoples;
Available copies: 2 / Total copies: 2
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American journal : fifty poems for our time / by Smith, Tracy K.,editor,writer of introduction.;
American Journal presents fifty contemporary poems that explore and celebrate our country and our lives. Poet Laureate of the United States and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith has gathered a remarkable chorus of voices that ring up and down the registers of American poetry. In the elegant arrangement of this anthology, we hear stories from rural communities and urban centers, laments of loss in war and in grief, experiences of immigrants, outcries at injustices, and poems that honor elders, evoke history, and praise our efforts to see and understand one another. Taking its title from a poem by Robert Hayden, the first African American appointed as Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, American Journal investigates our time with curiosity, wonder, and compassion. Among the fifty poets included are: Jericho Brown, Eduardo C. Corral, Natalie Diaz, Matthew Dickman, Mark Doty, Ross Gay, Aracelis Girmay, Joy Harjo, Terrance Hayes, Cathy Park Hong, Marie Howe, Major Jackson, Ilya Kaminsky, Robin Coste Lewis, Ada Limón, Layli Long Soldier, Erika L. Sánchez, Solmaz Sharif, Danez Smith, Susan Stewart, Mary Szybist, Natasha Trethewey, Brian Turner, Charles Wright, and Kevin Young.
Subjects: Poetry.; American poetry;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The women with silver wings : the inspiring true story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II / by Landdeck, Katherine Sharp,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The thrilling true story of the daring female aviators who helped the United States win World War II-only to be forgotten by the country they served When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Cornelia Fort was already in the air. At twenty-two, Fort had escaped Nashville's debutante scene for a fresh start as a flight instructor in Hawaii. She and her student were in the middle of their lesson when the bombs began to fall, and they barely made it back to ground that morning. Still, when the U.S. Army Air Forces put out a call for women pilots to aid the war effort, Fort was one of the first to respond. She became one of just over 1,100 women from across the nation to make it through the Army's rigorous selection process and earn her silver wings. The brainchild of trailblazing pilots Nancy Love and Jacqueline Cochran, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) gave women like Fort a chance to serve their country-and to prove that women aviators were just as skilled as men. While not authorized to serve in combat, the WASP helped train male pilots for service abroad, and ferried bombers and pursuits across the country. Thirty-eight WASP would not survive the war. But even taking into account these tragic losses, Love and Cochran's social experiment seemed to be a resounding success-until, with the tides of war turning, Congress clipped the women's wings. The program was disbanded, the women sent home. But the bonds they'd forged never failed, and over the next few decades they came together to fight for recognition as the military veterans they were-and for their place in history"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Women Airforce Service Pilots (U.S.); World War, 1939-1945; Air pilots, Military; Women air pilots;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Charlotte Walsh likes to win : a novel / by Piazza, Jo,author.;
"Charlotte Walsh is running for Senate in the most important race in the country during a midterm election that will decide the balance of power in Congress. Still reeling from a presidential election that shocked and divided the country and inspired by the chance to make a difference, she's left behind her high-powered job in Silicon Valley and returned, with her husband Max and their three young daughters, to her downtrodden Pennsylvania hometown to run in the Rust Belt state. Once the campaign gets underway, Charlotte is blindsided by just how dirty her opponent is willing to fight, how harshly she is judged by the press and her peers, and how exhausting it becomes to navigate a marriage with an increasingly ambivalent and often resentful husband. When the opposition uncovers a secret that could threaten not just her campaign but everything Charlotte holds dear, she has to decide just how badly she wants to win and at what cost. A searing, suspenseful story of political ambition, marriage, class, sexual politics, and infidelity, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is a glorious portrait of what it takes for a woman to run for national office in America today. Set amidst a disturbing political landscape unlike any other in history--with operatives who strive to win at any costs, an electorate that prefers disposable news, and unprecedented incivility from just about everyone--Jo Piazza has created an engrossing and timely novel for readers on both sides of the aisle"--
Subjects: Political fiction.; Marriage; Women politicians; Women; Working mothers;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The Moscow offensive / by Brown, Dale,1956-author.;
"America's first line of defense--Brad McLanahan and the heroes of the Iron Wolf Squadron--must counter a dangerous Russian strike from within the homeland in this cutting-edge tale from the New York Times master of the high-tech military thriller, Dale Brown. On a remote island estate, a billionaire investor sells his air freight company to a mysterious new owner. The purchaser is none other than the President of Russia, Gennadiy Gryzlov. The Russians will use these private planes to secretly transport dangerous cargo into the United States. The inept American President Stacy Anne Barbeau has failed to account for the Russian threat. But others have been vigilant and will not leave America defenseless. Brad McLanahan and the Iron Wolf Squadron have joined forces with the newly formed Alliance of Free Nations in Eastern Europe, to prepare for the attack they know is imminent. Working with the most cutting-edge technology, the team will deploy CIDs--Cybernetic Infantry Devices--twelve-foot-tall humanoid combat robots, each armed with more firepower than a conventional platoon. But their state-of-the-art weapons may not be enough to combat the threat. The Russians have managed to reverse engineer their own combat robots nearly decimated in a previous attack, and have slowly begun smuggling them across America's borders. Dealing with an unprecedented danger and a feckless president and congress, McLanahan and the Iron Wolf Squadron will once again put their own lives on the line to check this new Russian peril and keep the home of the brave and the free world safe"--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Special forces (Military science); Special operations (Military science); Terrorism;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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