Running with the Machine: A Journalist's Eye-Opening Plunge Into Policies

by Dan Lynch

When author Dan Lynch retired from a 30-year career as a reporter and columnist, he decided to run for a seat in the New York State Assembly during the same campaign season as Hillary Rodham Clinton's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0878755330
• ISBN13: 9780878755332
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Whitston Publishing Company
• Length: 434 Pages
• Weight: 2.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Job, Familiar Story

I have a lot in common with Dan Lynch: I am running for New York State Assembly (in the 1st District -- eastern Long Island) as the Democratic candidate (even though I'm not a Democrat) in a district that's highly Republican against an entrenched GOPer. I'm also a former longtime journalist. Website: johnson.gsSo far, this book has been right on with detailing what it takes to run such a race. It's a blueprint and interestingly written. Hopefully, I can avoid some of the mistakes Lynch made and go with the flow a little better. Lynch's book is helping me visualize what my own race could end up being like.Thanks, Dan.

Campaign contribution

RUNNING WITH THE MACHINE is the only book I have ever encountered about an unsuccessful campaign for a state legislative seat. In that, it is a valuable addition to the campaign story genre. For me, it was an extra bonus that I work in state politics in New York, where the story takes place. The first virtue of the book, then, is that it is in a way a totally new contribution. The second virtue is that it is an interesting story about the thing that I do. Not everyone can share an appreciation of that latter point, but thousands of legislative staffers and candidates in this state alone certainly can. I think those interested in politics more generally can as well, especially since people writing books usually ignore campaigns of this size and magnitude. The third and greatest of the book's virtues is that it really details what happens in a competitive legislative campaign (at least in New York State). As a story, this book works better than a "how to," yet it contains just about as much instructional detail. Nevertheless, RUNNING WITH THE MACHINE is flawed, in large part because it is a memoir. Dan Lynch is a very bitter man, or at least he writes a very bitter story. He seems to have been motivated to run by a sense of idealism that was totally eviscerated by the experience of running. His level of contempt for voters, his opponent and his opponent's team, some of his less than enthusiastic allies, and the process itself becomes so shrill as to detract mightily from the otherwise fine account of an interesting campaign. Lynch has been around politics for years, but he just...can't...get...over how his opponent claimed that he "led the charge" for a bill that he had merely voted for. Lynch labels hyperbole as lies and fails to recognize when he is guilty of exactly what he complains about. Lynch, a former reporter and newspaper editor, is also astounded by the media's lack of interest in his campaign. While once he may have criticized politicians for trying to make news via press release instead of action, now he is flabbergasted that his press releases are ignored. Once he may have sneered at scripted candidates, now he is flummoxed when reporters want to pursue their own story line instead of the one established by his campaign team. After years of writing, he chooses not to mention an example of a story or column he ever wrote comparing a local candidate's voting record to campaign material (almost certainly because he never wrote such a piece...or seen one), this time he is amazed that the local newspapers ignored that scoop about his opponent. All this and more detracts from what is otherwise an enjoyable, informative book. Nevertheless, it does not detract so much as to slow the book down or make it any less interesting. RUNNING WITH THE MACHINE is certainly all that - and it is well worth reading.

A Book EVERYONE Should Read

Having just seen what a few million dollars can "buy" in my local election, I found Dan Lynch's book particularly fascinating...all citizens need to get much much better informed about who we elect and not vote by the ads. And to do this, we need the media to be much more responsible in covering the issues and the candidates' backgrounds. Otherwise, we get a lot of hidden "special interests" that we don't know about and find that the slick ad messages have little or nothing to do with the person who is now our representative.

What Really Goes on Backstage in a Political Campaign

Dan Lynch was managing editor of the (Albany, New York) Times Union for a long time and a featured columnist for the paper. Two years ago he ran for state assembly, having retired as a journalist, and against the most stupid assemblyman in the state. (Prentiss, by name, one time during a debate on abortion or some such, as reported by Dan, turned to his colleague and asked how many months in a trimester). (Having had personal dealings with this incompetent's office, I can relate very well to Dan's cogent opinions of him). In any event, Dan lost, mostly because of the machinations of his own party. His book is a splendid view of local politics and all that is wrong with them. And there is much that is wrong! But here in New York we are in a State where the inbread collusion of seated politicos virtually precludes any chance of reform. Dan is a funny writer who makes serious points, sometimes a monumental one, in terms light enough to keep the reader interested and enjoying. He is, of course, the consumate journalistic craftsman, and after so many years having some relevant ideas about politics, it was only when he ran for office that he got the real picture as he explains in this book. We owe Dan a great deal for his efforts and running for office, even though he lost and that is a shame for our district, but because he can now report as an insider all the awful stuff that goes on in local politics. I did not find the book one sided, as did another reviewer, and I found Dan to be unduly subdued about the Times Union's failure to give him a fair break. As a good journalist, Dan pretty much sticks to stating/reporting the facts and letting the reader form his own conclusions. I think you will enjoy this book both for Dan's insights and his humor. And I am sure that readers anywhere can scratch out the local names here and add their own in lieu of them and thus share the common problems facing local leadership in America today.