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Title: The Book on Bush : How George W. (Mis)leads America by Eric Alterman, Mark Green, Nick Sullivan ISBN: 1-57270-376-8 Publisher: The Audio Partners Pub. Date: 09 February, 2004 Format: Audio CD Volumes: 16 List Price(USD): $49.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.18 (22 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Analyzing a Dangerous Misadventure
Comment: Mark Green is a leading authority on the subject of big money's influence on politics. He collaborates in this timely work with Eric Alterman, an authority on how that influence operates in lockstep with the media, to promote a favorable right wing agenda.
This is a book that is intensively researched and, far from what could be termed a nifty hit piece, it is intstead a reflective work in which Bush policies are critically examined from the standpoint of their disastrous impact on America. The authors begin with a look at the swaggering manner of George W. Bush and his compatriots, and how this blustery air of bravado has been used as a pretext of selling a "no nonsense" view on government and a "we're in command" presence that is all puff and no substantive reality.
Some of the crucial issues covered are:
1) Environmental and energy policies along with the Texas oil connection of Bush-Cheney and their administration are carefully explored;
2) An economic policy which,ironically, is a seemingly mirrored reflection of the Reagan concepts which George W. Bush Senior once called "voodoo economics," the idea that we can grow our way into prosperity with no residual debt impact through massive tax cuts geared toward the wealthy;
3) The way that Bush skirts around the subject of ethics in the business community by resorting to amnesia in the case of Kenneth Lay and shifty avoidance in other areas;
4) The Patriot Act and all of its tragic ramifications for democracy is another vital area covered; how Bush and Ashcroft used 9-11 to invade American basic freedoms under the guise of necessary protective action;
5) How Bush has energetically pushed privatization in the health care field while making it appear that he fully supports the system, revealing the close connection between pharmaceutical companies and the administration.
Two seasoned professionals have amassed massive research and exercised their critical talents to present a meticulous but broadly-based attack on Bush and his politics. It comes at a critical point during a watershed election that will ultimately decide the future of America.
Rating: 5
Summary: Depressing, but important
Comment: The Book on Bush
"The Book on Bush" is a tough read, in more ways than one. Style-wise, it isn't as entertaining as "What Liberal Media," the book that turned me on to Eric Alterman, but I don't think that this book was written in an effort to draw people to the arguments it contains (which, I believe, "W.L.M?" was); I figure that Alterman and Green wrote it more as a political science report, and with (probably, liberal) policy junkies as an intended audience. The other way in which it is hard to read is that it is depressing.
That said, I think more people should read it. Particularly right-wing policy junkies.
It seems to go through all of the Bush policies that I can remember and details, a, what Bush claimed for each initiative, b, what Bush did to get the initiative enacted, c, what each initiative actually caused to be, and, d, how the Administration actually supported each initiative once enacted.
Like I said, pretty depressing (even for old-school conservatives, probably; the neo-cons never ran so wild when the old-school conservatives were in charge as they do now).
My guess is that a lot of people who reflexively support Bush will gripe about this book. Another guess of mine is that a lot of people who support Bush don't actually follow the policies of his administration that closely, and will assume that this book is written by Bush haters that will make stuff up to defend an ideological position. I understand that; most of the (monolithic?) right's most successful writers do that so often that, to them, it seems fair to assume that the left does the same thing.
As it happens, the (better) books (like this one) that come from the left are actually researched and (credibly) foot-noted. Which is to say, "Bush Lovers, read this at your own peril (and weep)."
The main thing I got from this book is the confidence to ask people who still support Bush as President the question "Why?" Whichever policy stance they claim as a reason to still like the guy, I'll be able to say "but don't you know, he actually told the Congress 'x' and then did 'y?'"
If you need thoughtful ammunition of this sort, buy this book; if you need a 'cheer me up, I'm depressed about where the country is currently going,' sort of book, you might skip this and re-read some Elmore Leonard (which won't help, either, but won't make your blues worse).
Rating: 5
Summary: Indispensable
Comment: This book is comprised of 419 pages that are laden with highly cogent reasons that illustrate the fact this Bush administration has been destructive to this country and why he needs to be made a one-term president. Alterman and Green use a format that juxtaposes what the administration officially has said versus what it actually has done, providing incontrovertible evidence to indicate this is the worst administration in recent history, and possibly in US history. Those of us who have followed this administration from its onset via news reports will find this book corroborates those individual reports quite accurately.
The real value of this book is that it is the most comprehensive documentation of this administration published yet. Although these reports are generally available in newspapers and on the Internet, one must research extensively for them. Furthermore, while other books in this genre focus on only one or two policies, admittedly sometimes more in depth, this one covers all the pertinent aspects of Bush 43's mendacity. No matter what your passion, from the environment and the economy to civil liberties and the war in Iraq, you will find solid evidence here that this man and his administration have not only failed you, but have also purposely misled you while bilking you simultaneously. The timing of its publishing also could not be better because without doubt this will most assuredly compel you to vote this man out of office come November. Those inclined to believe Bush's rhetoric will benefit most from reading this detailed account because it illustrates the extreme disconnect between his rhetoric and reality and how he deceives by duplicity.
It is indeed a shame that too few Americans will read this sober, scholarly book and heed the lessons it imparts. Personally, I find it incomprehensible that Americans are still able support to Bush after what he has demonstrated the past three-plus years, and indeed only the most reluctant to believe the truth will still support him. Some of what he has perpetrated is considered impeachable under charges of high crimes. What is more egregious is the fact Clinton was held responsible for receiving oral sex, for which he never, ever should have had to testify under oath. Even though I am not trying to justify his personal decisions, his actions did not personally affect me or anyone else (which no one can honestly refute) except his family. Perhaps the most inexplicable, shameful aspect is that the American public is not holding bush accountable for his actions, which have cost our country irreparable harm in terms of our reputation, our environment, our economy, class warfare and human lives (thousands of lives and counting). I get the impression that, despite the efforts of such excellent arguments as this book, the American public is unwilling to indict this man because it is either too indolent to read an entire book or it actually agrees with the man's policies. Whichever the case, both prospects actually frighten me and are cause for profound concern.
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Title: American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush by Kevin Phillips ISBN: 0670032646 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror by Richard A. Clarke ISBN: 0743260244 Publisher: Free Press Pub. Date: 22 March, 2004 List Price(USD): $27.00 |
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Title: Big Lies: The Right-Wing Propaganda Machine and How It Distorts the Truth by Joe Conason ISBN: 0312315600 Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books Pub. Date: 25 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception by DAVID CORN ISBN: 1400050669 Publisher: Crown Pub. Date: 30 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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Title: The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O'Neill by Ron Suskind ISBN: 0743255453 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 13 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
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