About this title: Weisberg methodically and objectively examines the circle of advisers who have played crucial parts in George W. Bush's historic downfall. Distilling all that has been previously written about Bush, the author illuminates the fateful choices and key decisions that have led George W., and thereby the country, into its current predicament.
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Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780812978353ISBN:0812978358
Description: Fine. New books small to none shelf wear An appparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact pages are clean and not marked by notes or folds of any kind. This is suitable for presenting as a gift. ******PLEASE NOTE****** Orders placed after Dec. 7 cannot be guaranteed delivery before Christmas unless you select EXPEDITED shipping! Thank you & Happy Holidays! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780812978353ISBN:0812978358
Description: Fine. New books small to none shelf wear An appparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact pages are clean and not marked by notes or folds of any kind. This is suitable for presenting as a gift. ******PLEASE NOTE****** Orders placed after Dec. 7 cannot be guaranteed delivery before Christmas unless you select EXPEDITED shipping! Thank you & Happy Holidays! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780812978353ISBN:0812978358
Description: Fine. An appparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact pages are clean and not marked by notes or folds of any kind. This is suitable for presenting as a gift. ******PLEASE NOTE****** Orders placed after Dec. 7 cannot be guaranteed delivery before Christmas unless you select EXPEDITED shipping! Thank you & Happy Holidays! read more
Description: Good. [ No Hassle 30 Day Returns ] [ Underlining/Highlighting: NONE ] [ Writing: NONE ] [ Torn pages: NO ] [ Broken Seams: NO ] Publisher: Random House Pub Date: 1/15/2008 Binding: Hardcover Pages: 304. read more
Description: Good. Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more
Description: Like New. 2008-Hardcover-May contain minor shelf-wear. Otherwise, volume un-read and in "As-New" condition. -Used-Like New-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Description: Good. 2008-Hardcover----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
"As far as I'm concerned, the three books which give you the whole picture on GWB are David Corn's "The Lies of George W Bush", Hatfield's "Fortunate Son" (and the movie "Horns and Halos", which is about the poor bastard's tortured biographical efforts and subsequent pillorying upon release. It's a sad, sad tale well worth the viewing) and this one.
Weisberg's already a crack political essayist, thinker, and reporter for the eponymous Slate magazine. This book gives a graceful, measured, even-handed, and ultimately pretty much completely damning portrait of one of the worst presidents this country has ever had.
The framing of the bio with Shakespeare's Henriad is an excellent, eloquent way to illustrate Bush and his relationships with history, family, and himself.
Weisberg doesn't hyperventilate or sermonize, he simply sits back and tells the tale full and true and doesn't leave out that he actually enjoys Bush's company personally (he was on the campaign plane in 2000 with the rest of the press corps) and has a certain measure of pity for the man.
The point is, if I'm not mistaken or putting too many words in Weisberg's mouth, is that GWB has had a lifetime to grapple with his father's shadow and had a burning desire to forge his own identity out from under it. He has failed, failed miserably, the detriment of the country and the rest of the world. He's not necessarily an evil person, or even a ruthless one, he has tried to carve out a legacy for himself which is and was (and will probably forever be) way too big for his capabilities. He's gone way too in over his head since he began his project of self-creation, and though many of his causes and personal beliefs are genuine and honestly felt, he doesn't understand what it takes to live up to them. And he's not stupid- not at all. He's just not, and most likely will never be, the man he has always dreamed of being.
I think, and I gather that Weisberg thinks, that GWB knows this pretty thoroughly either deep down or perhaps quite clearly and thus, in my own humble opinion, must live with the fate of staring up at the massive obelisk of his own shmuckitude until the day he dies. He's not nearly cunning enough or Machiavellian enough to be a Kissinger or, even, a Rove. He's got to realize that he's undergone the supreme test of himself- as President, son, man, etc- and has been weighed in the balance and come up dreadfully wanting.
Who among us would be able to deal with this pathetic and embarrassing fact, made public and veritably global, and sleep well at night?
This is of course not to excuse his awful effect on the country, it's just to point out what I think often gets missed- that not only did he pour a giant bowl of shmuckitude over the entire political and social landscape but he has to know it and swim in it for the rest of his life. I wonder what he sees when he looks into Laura's eyes when he settles in to bed at night. I wish I didn't have an idea as to the answer. And I definitely don't wish that we as a country have had to ride in the wake of his sad, hapless, incontrovertibly obvious, indeed tragic, loserdom."
"Weisburg looks at Bush and Walker family traits, the relationship between Bush & his parents, the psychology of the families, plus Rove and Chaney and how it affected the policies and decisions of the Bush administration. Gave me another perspective for thinking about politicians and politics. Added another facet to my critical decision making thoughts, that I think, will help me to better analyze politics and politicians in the future."
"In this criticism of Bush, Weisberg argues that the largest motive behind Bush's disastrous decision making was to out-do his father, '31'. Weisberg comically relays the Bush legacy to the Shakespearean Henry V. Outlined is the Bush family tree and its contribution to W's competitiveness, Bush's dismal career as a student and businessman, his manipulation of religion to garner support despite his tarnished name, his ascension to a powerful presidency only to be 'used' by neo-cons such as Cheney resulting in faltering support and loss of such power via the 2006 Republican loss.
There were several high points to this book. The idea of Bush molding his career in sharp contrast to his father to vindicate Bush Sr's failures was interesting, but not provocative. The author furthers this idea, however, in relating it to some sick Oedipal fascination. Also laughable is W's attempt to compare himself to some of the greatest leaders of all time (Lincoln, Truman, Churchill, Reagan, or just about any other laudable president), while Weisberg shaped him into more of a Carter or a McKinley. With the books high points came some rather low points. Parts that were a wee bit on the dry side such as the rise of the neo-cons. As relevant as that is, I find the subjects repulsive and couldn't get into them. For this I can't say it was a terrible book, but it is also not on my favorites list.
Just two weeks out of his presidency, reading this book did make me wonder just what history will have to say about this rash president and this chaotic period of time."
"In this book, Jacob Weisberg examines the failed and soon to be-disastrous-presidency of George W. Bush. In drawing a portrait of the 43rd president, Weisberg said that the failure of Bush as a president is deep rooted in his psyche and his family's upbringing. Weisberg moves on to examine the tragedy of a president who wanted to surpass his father's accomplishments and therefore leave his own foot prints in the history books. According to Weisberg, Bush thought that history will judge him one day to be a great figure (like Churchill, Truman, and Reagan) who fought extremism and restored democracy in the Arab world. You can call it the TRAGEDY or more accurately the ILLUSION of Bush, but nonetheless, it is indeed a sad fate to a president who, according to Weisberg, is a ferocious reader of history books, yet in projecting his own narrow minded vision into history, he couldn't even manage to look beyond the table of contents.
Weisberg also paints a very illuminating portrait of a man who couldn't manage properly and instead had to listen to Cheney, Ramsfield, Rice and Rove. Cheney for instance was clearly possessed with the idea of giving more power to the executive branch thus allowing Bush to sink deeper into the mud. If Bush had sought the advice of his father, he would have avoided his tragic fate and with it his legacy that has become synonymous with the erosion of morality and principle.
Weisberg does a good job of delving deep into the psyche of Bush especially towards the end of the book. In my humble opinion, had Weisberg continue his examination of Bush the same way that he did in the final two chapters of the book, it would have earned him my five stars * * * * * rating. Instead, Weisberg spends almost 85% of the book talking about the people surrounding Bush and their role in shaping his ideas and theologies that ultimately led to his fall. I understand Weisberg's approach in the first chapters of the book but I do think books that deal with character study have to balance the subject in the context of the environment and the people surrounding them without losing focus the way Weisberg did.
In the end, the effect of the Bush tragedy will sure continue for years to come and history will be the final judge. But make no mistake, Bush thinks that history will come to regard him-probably centuries from now- as one of the greatest presidents who ever lived!!! In my view, that is the saddest part of it all."
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