Jews for Buchanan: Did You Hear the One about the Theft of the American Presidency?

Remember the TV pundits trying so hard to convince us that the Bush presidency really began on 9/11? Don't let them fool you--the details of vote robbing, fraud, abuse of power, and political chicanery that played out in Florida, courtesy of the Bush family and GOP operative Katherine Harris, have been researched and presented in very convincing fashion by John Nichols. Until I read this book I thought I was pretty well up to speed on the Florida election fiasco. I was wrong: Jews for Buchanan not only has much to add about the infamous butterfly ballot (designed by a Texas firm, by the way!) but also goes into depth about such under-reported (or outright censured) aspects as the real extent of African-American voter disenfranchisement. The book is rich in details. For instance, I didn't know that there is a Bush cousin working at Fox who succeeding in manipulating that station's news coverage.The saga is recounted with an appopriate touch of light humor (much needed, because the information is enough to make you scream and cry), with fascinating sidebars throughout focussing on particular technical or "human interest" aspects. It is extremely well-written. I promise you will never look at Bush and his clique the same way again. It has stirred me to become more politically active, and to start paying close attention to this Administration and its media lackeys.

John Nichols has written a great book, the best of a number on the debacle known as the Presidential Election of 2000. And, its a hot title, which is great because finally people outside his home of Madison, Wisconsin, and outside the readership of small lefty journals get to discover his incisive wit and great progressive analysis. That 's one of the best things about this book - it gets Nichols finally out to the large audience he deserves. We need this guy. All those bland right-to-far-right talking heads that dominate the media - yuck. Let's see Mr. Nichols reach the audience he deserves. Move over pundits, and let Johnny take over. This man has heart and mind and uses both brilliantly.

The British philosopher Lord Acton said, "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing." Numerous patriotic Americans have given their lives throughout history initially in revolution and later in wars to provide us with a democracy and to help preserve it.Author-journalist John Nichols reveals the theft of democracy by the Bush campaign team and, ultimately, the United States Supreme Court in the 2000 presidential election. Not one for small talk, Nichols, as the current saying goes, "cuts quickly to the chase." He writes about the prevasive influence of George W. Bush's first cousin, John Ellis of Fox News, in making the initial call of Bush as the "winner" of the hotly contested race, along with the masterly spin operation which prompted all other television networks to quickly follow. From that point Bush was the presumptive president-elect and efforts by the Gore team to secure a definitive recount of Florida voters would be dubbed as the efforts of a "sore loser." Much attention is also devoted by Nichols to the successful efforts on the part of Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the candidate's younger brother, and Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, a George Bush "co-campaign chair" to disqualify African American voters in Florida, resulting in the estimated disqualification of 31% of the state's elegible African Americans on the state's voting roles. The effort did not stop there as roadblocks were erected in heavily African American precincts while, among those who attempted to vote, many ballots were discarded. Also covered in detail by Nichols is the "Butterfly Ballot" controversy in Palm Beach County. He reveals there was indeed judicial precedent for the revote which the petitioners sought.Another excellent element of Nichols' brilliantly researched effort is his closing reference sources, in which he invites interested citizens to investigate deeper, supplying a treasure trove of sources to facilitate such efforts.

This is an excellent account of the travesty in Florida that resulted not only in the theft of the American presidency, but the death of American democracy as we know it. This book serves as a chilling warning of how the democratic process can fail under the weight of corruption, incompetence, and partisanship.

What took place last autumn in Florida was one of the most extraordinary episodes in U.S. history. In 100 years it will be much discussed and analyzed. Yet our mainstream media coverage -- weighted down by extraordinary political pressures -- have done a dreadful job of shedding light on what actually happened, how it happened, and why; perhaps becuase the media themselves are a significant part of the story.Along comes John Nichols, one of the top political journalists in the country, with this brilliant evaluation of the events in Florida over those five weeks. Nichols nails down the story, and does so in a remarkably entertaining manner. Folks, for those of you unfamiliar with the territory, this is what journalism looks like.The present War and the call for everyone to bow down to our "maximum leader" may undercut some of the attention this book would have received otherwise. (For those who think it improper to criticize the president, I urge you to look at how the press treated Linclon during the Civil War. Lincoln, a democratic figure, not the bumbling heir to a dynasty, took it in stride.)But it shouldn't. This book really cuts through the lies and propaganda and gets to the truth of the matter. And it is not as pretty picture, as a commentary on the caliber of our political culture today. (...)