This was written before the 2020 election and many, but not all, his predicts proved correct. Of course, no one could have predicted the craziness, insurrection of our Capitol and the ongoing craziness that followed and is ongoing. So how and why did we get here?

If one reads this one quickly realized why the GOP is doing everything it can to remain a forceful entity. Trump, quite frankly, like the QAnon, is a cancer on their party that they can't seem or are unwilling to break. This party has huge demographic problems, a growing millennial base that finds their views outmoded, and their adoption and defense of these fringe elements have chased away many of the conservative, moderate members of their base. It is hard to see where they go from here, but in my opinion, they are going in the wrong direction.

This book lays it all out in delineated chapters, that cover many issues, often using information gained from focus groups of both parties. A quick read but chock full of info and if one has an interest in politics, this is a good read.

I got this complimentary from NetGalley. My opinions are my own. This was not a favorite. I found it very hard to read and it was written from what seemed to me a place of privilege that I don’t have access to. There were many points the author made that I just blatantly disagreed with. That’s probably why I found it hard to read though - because it was ostensibly agreeing with my POV but not in cause. I just struggled with this.

I have been devouring political non-fiction for the last year and this one did not disappoint. Well sourced, without the drama of "Fire and Fury," the book is a clear-eyed look at the house of cards that is about to topple. Educational, conversational, and informative, I felt like I was at an engaging college-level seminar. More, please.

The author, Stan Greenberg, presents a comprehensive view of who the American electorate is and how we got were we are. The book is well-researched, and brings out ideas, events and actions that have all contributed to the sorry state we find ourselves in today. Greenberg starts with the well-known premise that the Republican Party today is dying because it speaks to and aligns itself with an aged white population, who espouse many ideas and needs that speak to another era. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is more aware of just what is going on, how the country is changing demographically, and is tying itself to this emerging demographic. Everyone who is tuned into politics has read or heard this before, but Greenberg brings into the mix a myriad of reasons, actions, events and history to support his ideas. My only problem as I read the book was the way he jumped around a lot throughout, making it sometimes more difficult to follow and fully understand. Nevertheless, this is a book well worth reading for the history of how and why we got here today for anyone closely aligned with following current events and politics. It helped clarify a lot of things for me, and I am sure it will do likewise for others. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Democratic pollster, Stanley Greenberg, argues that demographic changes will doom the will doom the Republican party unless they change policies to appeal to younger, more urban voters. This argument has been made by countless Democrats for years and has yet to prove true.
Nevertheless, Greenberg complies impressive data to bolster his argument. The 2020 election will be the first test as to whether his thesis proves true.

RIP GOP has an audacious premise: The Republican Party is doomed. It has painted itself into a corner by appealing to an ever-diminishing base and pushing aside the young, minorities, single women, non-religious people, immigrants, and other demographic groups. Stanley B. Greenberg is a longtime Democratic pollster who came to this conclusion after decades of polling both Republicans and Democrats. His wife is Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro, who, not surprisingly, comes off rather well in these pages. At some points, the reader will wonder whether Greenberg injured himself while patting his own back, too.

Most of Greenberg's book covers ground that will be almost too familiar to those who have been following American politics over the past 20 years, especially Democrats. However, it offers a valuable history of American politics in the 21st century thus far and explains how this country became so polarized. Greenberg blames Hillary Clinton for not acknowledging the economic realities most Americans face enough in her campaign. He excoriates the conclusions JD Vance reached in his popular Hillbilly Elegy. His distinctions between Evangelical, Catholic, and secular Republicans are particularly interesting.

I was especially intrigued by Greenberg's assertion that Californians influenced the national Republican party. Like many East Coasters, I associate California with liberalism. Greenberg corrects that impression in stunning detail. The demographic panic that gripped California Republicans as their state became increasingly more Hispanic was slowly exported to Republicans in the rest of the country.

Greenberg concludes by offering advice for both parties on how they can heal themselves and America as a whole. The shelf life of this book is short. However, if you are truly interested in American politics and/or wonder just how America became such an ugly and angry place, I recommend getting RIP: GOP on Kindle or at a discount. We'll see how right he is soon enough!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Greenberg's book is a somewhat predictable rant against the Republican party he has worked against for decades. While he does make some good points about the demographic trends the GOP needs to take into account, Greenberg doesn't take the positions Republicans hold seriously enough. And while he predicts a Democratic wave election in 2020 the death of the GOP he is referring to is the Trump iteration. As a whole the GOP will likely be more malleable and adaptable, should they lose in 2020, than Greenberg gives them credit for. At times the book is a bit slow and bogged down with polling data but insights into the recent history of partisan politics are welcomed.