Shrub : The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush

Political columnist Molly Ivins is well-known as a "liberal gadfly" in Texas, and so it's hardly surprising that her political biography of George W. Bush paints an unrelentingly unflattering picture of Dubya. However, in critiquing the accomplishments (or lack of same) of George the Younger, Ivins writes with grace and wit, and without undue rancor toward her political opponent. She lets the facts speak for themselves. The result is a highly readable, entertaining, and yet clearly disturbing book. How is it possible that someone so eminently unqualified can be so close to becoming the next President of the United States?The story Ivins tells is one that is a damning indictment of the current U.S. political system. George W. Bush was hand-picked by monied corporate interests some time ago to be groomed as a potential "capitalist tool," a figurehead politician who will do their bidding unquestionably while possessing the personality traits essential to appealing to a broad spectrum of voters. It's the stuff out of which bad Hollywood movies are made, and yet it's real. Consequently, although there is much wry humor in Ivins' narrative regarding how this ne'er-do-well, pampered inheritor of the Bush political legacy, the story she weaves is also frightening. What I found particularly disturbing was Bush's indifference toward the natural environment. His lack of commitment to protecting the health of Texans from pollution is incredible. Given the high level of support that Americans overall have expressed for strong environmental laws, this issue alone ought to be sufficient to disqualify Dubya from the presidency.I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to get beyond the network tv blather and the high-powered campaign ads (from both sides, actually) in order to take a real look at what George W. Bush actually has accomplished in his political life. Even for those who might share his conservative philosophy, his lack of real experience and accomplishments ought to give them pause. Finally: it's interesting that the principal criticism that offended Bush devotees have mustered toward this book (and sometimes I question whether they actually read it before expressing their hostility) is that after all, everyone KNOWS that Ivins is a liberal whacko, etc., so what she writes has no real credibility. This demonstrates that when the facts are in order and cannot be denied, the only viable avenue of attack is *ad hominem* verbiage directed toward the author. Scary!

This should be must reading for any voter that wants to become informed. The inattention of the national press to George W. Bush's record is revealing as to who owns whom. The 30 second Commercial is destroying democracy. Read this and get the facts. Pray for the Republic if this empty suit is elected President. Last but not least, worry about the power and money behind the throne. I'm afraid we are losing the war to plutocracy. The cynical point of view that it does not matter who we vote for is disproven by this down to earth expose of Bush's record. Please read it. I'm afraid that Texas has been hoodwinked by the money and the name, God Help Us!

Before reading this book, I had neutral feelings about the Bush name and all it represents in American politics. After finishing the book, I am convinced that George W. Bush is an empty body with no brain and no soul. He is a failure at every business venture attempted and has no compassion for those he governs. He IS good at raising money by throwing around his family name to those individuals and corporate giants who expect favors in return for their cash contributions -- all at the expense of the American public. He is also good at taking credit for public policies he did not instigate, but inherited from his predecessors.God help us all if he wins the GOP nomination!

Is this a country where we are so willing to hand over the most important job in the world based on who is father is? I have always been quite skeptical of Bush Jr's judgement, this book only confirmed to me of his lack thereof. In a land where most of us are sick of these hippocritical politicians passing laws that insinuate "listen to the laws I pass, not to what I do", George Bush is a chief offender. Molly Ivins brings up the "cocaine" issues surrounding Bush. She clearly documents how Bush refuses to answer the nagging questions regarding his own cocaine use, but nevertheless once in office, passes the harshest laws with mandatory prison time for those found with one ounce of cocaine on them. Molly Ivins documentation of Bush's callous and downright frightening judgement in regards to execution in his state is something all voters should know about. Bush all but ignored one case where a death row inmate had DNA evidence which exonerated him from the crime which he had been convicted for. Bush continued to uphold his execution date regardless of the DNA evidence, only to reverse his his attitude after there was such a public outcry against it. Is this the sort of man we want to have in charge of nuclear weapons?

One of the things that so often distinguishes Molly Ivins from her D.C. counterparts is that she consistently recognizes that the public OUT there is not necessarily the public DOWN there. In Shrub, her latest opus, Ivins takes a good hard look at the record of Texas governor George W. Bush. Her painstaking assesment of the often Byzantine politics of "The Greatest State" and Bush's ascension to the Governor's office provides readers with a view of the candidate rarely glimpsed in other organs of the media. From land deals to environmental policy and from welfare reform to tort reform, the book examines both the games and the players in Bush's rise to national prominence. The hard facts about Bush's military service and his dealings within the world of Texas oil are reason enough to read the book. They are also proof that the truth is far often more interesting (and amusing) than even the most bizarre fiction. Ivins been nominated at least twice for the Pulitzer Prize. Read Shrub and see why.