Dick: The Man Who Is President

An interesting read for sure, can't stand the man but atleast the book is worth a read.

Two of the most important books to read concerning the 2004 presidential election are Seymour Hersh's revealing "Chain of Command" and "Dick: The Man Who Is President" by Madison (Wisconsin) Capital Times and Nation reporter John Nichols. It was Nichols who penned one of the most informative works on the 2000 post-presidential election pyrotechnics with "Jews For Buchanan." When George Bush the Elder was concerned about his son the Texas governor not possessing the knowledge and experience to tackle the presidency, while remaining bullish at the prospect of having him in the White House, his thoughts turned toward the veteran Dick Cheney, who had served the older Bush as his secretary of defense during the 1991 Gulf War. Cheney had a long resume, which included becoming the youngest White House chief of staff in history at 34 under President Gerald Ford. He had also served in the House of Representatives from Wyoming, where he achieved leadership in the conservative ranks and compiled an inflexibly right wing voting record. Cheney was devoid of charisma and his one effort to attract attention in a trial run for the presidency ended with a flat tire before the first primary of 1996. Shortly afterwards, while fly-fishing off the coast of New Brunswick in Nova Scotia, Cheney met executives from the multi national Texas-based oil services provider, Halliburton Corporation. They liked Cheney's government accessibility as a former secretary of defense and congressional leader and were then looking for a new chief executive officer. Cheney and the executives agreed they could help each other and the political veteran signed on. When the older George Bush came calling as the 2000 presidential election beckoned following the conclusion of two terms by Democrat Bill Clinton, it was to tap the Halliburton executive to lead a search committee to find the proper running mate to shore up the young George's deficiencies. Cheney, an intrigue artist with well developed palace guard instincts, he had been second in command to the more flamboyant Donald Rumsfeld in Republican politics for too long. This time he saw a way to vault above Rumsfeld and place himself in the White House catbird position. One by one candidates were be screened. Cheney remained on the scene always, and was able to supply the final word without a disparaging word from the Republican Party's presidential nominee. Former Missouri Senator John Danforth, who had become a minister after leaving Washington, was thought by many to have the inside track to become vice presidential nominee, but meanwhile Dick Cheney was shrewdly operating behind the scenes. There had been earlier grumblings, but when Danforth was also found wanting he joined the chorus, having believed that he, like those considered before him, had been manipulated for Cheney's personal gain. With time running out Cheney proposed an idea to George W. Bush, who by then had become reliant on his judgment. "Why not m

This book was horrifying, fascinating and impossible to put down. After reading just about every book out there on Bush, I realized that this is the only book you need to read. John Nichols does a very detailed and well-researched job of showing who the man is behind the curtain of the boy-king. With exactly one month to go, if you are undecided on who to vote for, you owe it to yourself to learn a little bit about the man who took us to war.

After I read this well-researched and annotated book, all the facts about the current administration fell into place. Paul O'Neill (ex-treasury sec'y) in his great book "Price of Loyalty" wrote that Bush exercises 3 times a day, and has no more than 3 policy meetings a week, while Clinton had 3 a *day*. SO WHILE GWB IS OUT RUNNING, WHO IS RUNNING THE COUNTRY? Answer: Cheney. WHEN 9/11 HAPPENNED WHO WAS IN THE CONTROL CENTER CALLING THE SHOTS? Answer: Cheney In the current whitehouse, (unprecedented) Cheney is the "CEO" and everyone reports to HIM, not Bush! It kinda explains why the US attacked Iraq. Cheney and pals thought this war up 12 years ago and finally got to do it. Bush is self-admittedly "not a reader" and Cheney supervises the 1-page briefs he gets. This book not only convinced me to vote for Kerry, It made me want to run out and do everything I can to get him elected!!! The scariest thing to me about Cheney is his secrecy. He started with Rumsfeld under Nixon... say no more. only he is doing a better job of the secrecy/enemies list thing. Read up on Cheneys votes when he was in congress. Against: Freeing Nelson Mandela For: Cop-killer Bullets

I received my copy of Dick on Sept 7 and read it in two hours. I could not put it down. It is a terrific read, and is filled with eye-opening, even eye-popping, material about Vice-President Dick Cheney. Nichols's case that Cheney runs the government and that he is not to be trusted is convincing. He provides evidence to convict. There are scores of books out to fill the appetite of people alarmed by the Bush-Cheney administration, and many of them are quite good. But I have seen nothing as original and as important at Dick. It is an astonishing indictment of our news media that so much elementary information about the VP has been unknown prior to the publication of this book. No matter what one's politics may be, no one who reads Dick will ever view this administration the same again. John Nichols is one of the finest journalists of our times, and this book will only cement his reputation.