- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Vintage; Vintage Books ed edition (Oct 10 2000)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0375757147
- ISBN-13: 978-0375757143
- Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 1.8 x 20.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 249 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (126 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#1,224,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #73 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Bush, George
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
"Youthful political reporters are always told there are three ways to judge a politician," write Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose in Shrub. "The first is to look at the record. The second is to look at the record. And third, look at the record." The record under scrutiny in this brief, informative book belongs to one George W. Bush--dubbed "Shrub" by Ivins--governor of Texas and 2000 presidential hopeful. These two veteran journalists know how politics are played in Texas and they've done their homework, writing a comprehensive examination of Bush's professional and political life that's a lively read, to boot. And if the title alone doesn't convey their particular slant, perhaps the following caveat from the introduction will: "If, at the end of this short book, you find W. Bush's political résumé a little light, don't blame us. There's really not much there. We have been looking for six years."
Beginning with his admission to the Texas National Guard during the Vietnam War (where he bypassed a waiting list of about 100,000), the authors go on to deconstruct his losing congressional bid, his failed career as an oil executive, and his role as managing partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, revealing how he was helped every step of the way by wealthy and influential friends of the family. Ever popular, Dubya has always been good at rounding up powerful players to bankroll a variety of ventures, including political campaigns. For this reason, explain the authors, along with his lineage and social status, Bush's primary allegiance is to the business community. While his speeches may deal with the "entertainment issues" of "God, guns, and gays," Bush is a "wholly owned subsidiary of corporate America," they write. They further point out that Texas ranks near the bottom of the nation in terms of a number of social categories, such as poverty, health insurance for children, and pollution, spearing the governor for his less-than-compassionate conservatism.
Shrub is not a complete Bush whacking, though. The authors laud the governor's record on education, in which he has managed to raise standards, push local control of schools, and launch a successful reading campaign. They also cite his wooing of the Hispanic vote and his ability to bridge the gap between the Christian right and the economic conservatives within the Republican party as evidence of true political acumen, though they maintain he lacks a penchant for actual governing: "From the record, it appears that he doesn't know much, doesn't do much and doesn't care much about governing." Bush has admitted that he dislikes reading, particularly about policy issues, and that he hates meetings and briefings, causing the authors to wonder, "The puzzle of Bush is why someone with so little interest in or attention for policy, for making government work, would want the job of president, or even governor."
Love him or leave him, Shrub leaves much to consider about the man who would be president. And it can be read in about a day. --Shawn Carkonen --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Colorful, popular and very Texan syndicated columnist Ivins (Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?) takes on Republican front-runner "Dubya" Bush in this short, informative, fun and obviously partisan political biography. The book is designed to make liberal readers laugh (and vote) and to make moderates change their minds. Behind the down-home style and tasty jokes, Ivins and DuBose (who edits the Texas Observer) lay out plenty of well-documented dirt on GWB's career--though it isn't nose candy they're after: instead, the authors make a case that the affable governor has climbed ladders, traded favors, bent rules and enriched himself, without doing much for the people he governs. W.'s oil ventures "lost more than $2 million of other people's money," netted him $840,000 and tied him to international banking scandals, say the authors. Former Texas governor Ann Richards, plus settlements from tobacco litigation, they say, brought the state the fiscal well-being for which W. takes credit. The authors claim that he's spent his own term repaying political favors, "protect[ing] major air polluters," ending successful drug treatment programs, hurting the working poor and executing the mentally retarded. For Ivins and DuBose, "Dubya's" real accomplishments--besides his last name--lie in his sense of political timing and positioning: while his views make him "a CEO's wet dream," his manner, his often-touted religious beliefs and his savvy advisers help him appeal to "gay-bashing gun-toters" too. Ivins combines a liberal worldview, a sense of the ridiculous and a just-folks delivery--and enough work like hers might just derail the Bush train. But don't bet on it: "This guy is not just lucky: if they tried to hang him, the rope would break." First serial to Time magazine. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
Austin is a small town of half a million residents. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
Austin is a small town of half a million residents. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quick and Insightful,
By "buddhaheart" (Bridgeport, CT) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Shrub: The Short But Happy Political Life of George W. Bush (Paperback)
One of the best anti-Bush books out there. Not because it is heavy and deep with insight and lengthy connections that lead to utter shock but because it's fast, sharp and somewhat balanced--sort of. Ivans has wit and twist of phrase that makes her writing especially enjoyable no matter what subject she's taking on. This is just one of a number of excursions into Bush-land that she guides us on. I'd like to see the collected works someday. There's something to be said for media that has a specific stance but allows you to feel your own feelings about the subject. Kind of an Erroll Morris approach--Fog of War (see it), Kurt Vonnegut --(read him), USA The Movie (definitely see it!), Trials of Henry Kissinger (see it). All available on Amazon or through other outlets. We should all read more and watch more media that teaches and preaches rather than revs us up with emptiness.
5.0 out of 5 stars
TEXAS-TWANGED MOLLY READS IT BEST,
By
This review is from: Shrub: The Short But Happy Political Life of George W. Bush (Audio Cassette)
When it comes to political commentary nobody is quicker on the draw than syndicated columnist Molly Ivins. Now she focuses her Texas size wit on the most talked about politician in the Lone Star State - George W. Bush, whom she calls "Shrub" or simply "Dubya."She calls the man who is our President a man you would have to work at to dislike, while she traces his sometimes circuitous political career and astutely assesses his qualifications. No one is better suited to read "Shrub" than the sometimes gravely voiced Texas-twanged Molly.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Well Written Editorializing,
By A Customer
This review is from: Shrub: The Short But Happy Political Life of George W. Bush (Paperback)
The well-written editorializing in this book is frequently snide, sarcastic and pejorative -- literary tools to which one typically resorts when his/her position is wrong. Because facts, reason and truth work against the wrong position, tactics aimed at emotions -- such as a denigrating nick-name like "Shrub" -- are all that's left. And if the subject of this smear campaign happened to belong to the other political party, this author's view of him would be wonderful -- completely regardless whatever he might do or fail to do.
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