Bare Knuckles and Back Rooms

Rating:
Summary: If Love Politics or Hate Perot Read this Book
Review: Ed Rollins has written a page turner and insiders view of politics over the last 20 years. His accounts of the campaigns of Reagan '84, Christine Whitman '94, Perot '92, and Michael Huffington's disasterous Senate race show you how this business really works. Almost a political consultants training manual.

The best part of the book is about Perot's '92 campaign and Ed should write another book on this guy. The current Reform Party circus could have been predicted during Perot's 92 effort. Essentially Perot is a control freak, an eccentric, shoot-the-messenger, populist crackpot and thank god all he did to the country was cause Bush to lose. Take this to the beach or on a plane and chuckle all the way.

Rating:
Summary: The Bare Facts
Review: I am a self confessed Democrat and even I loved this book. The author is as about as right leaning as they come, but that did nothing to diminish the enjoyment any political junkie would get from the book regardless of what side of the spectrum you are on. The author has been involved in Republican politics sense the Nixon administration and in this book he givens a well written, interesting and humorous account of what he has been a part of. I would not call this book a kiss and tell, but he does give you the facts in a straight up manner, regardless if it makes his clients or himself look bad.

I found the time he spent on the Reagan and Perot campaigns the most interesting. The Reagan campaign because he really lays out the best way to run a campaign. This section of the book could almost be used as a how to tutorial on how to win a race. I found the Perot campaign info interesting for the exact opposite of the Reagan section. This guy was a flake and the author captures every odd, weird and down right stupid thing that happened. The author also talks about his relationship with the first President Bush and lets just say it is very eye opening. Everything he says about the father can be seen in the son today. His main point is that the Bush family feels loyalty is the most important trait a person can have and if you cross that line you will be paying for it for years.

I enjoyed the fact that the author did not spend exorbitant amounts of time on his pre political history or his family situation, just enough to set the stage. I may be unique in this regard so if you are looking for an in depth view into his family this is not the book for you. Overall I really liked the book. It read fast and it is so interesting I just did not want to put it down. I read a lot of political books and this ranks up there as at least one of the more entertaining. If you are interested in the campaign process or the Reagan and Bush years then I would recommend this book regardless of your party affiliation.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Political History
Review: If you love political history or if you want to see the inner workings of the US government, this book is for you.
I read this book in two nights. I love material that was covered: Ed Rollins early years, his years on Reagan's staff, his time with Kemp, his campaign with Perot (I never realized Perot was that kooky of a man, the Christine Todd-Whitman camapaign.
The book is excellent. Rollins holds nothing back. This is one of the top 10 books I have ever read. I was glued.
This book is more of a history, than a how too. But even if you are looking for a how too, you will still love this book.
This book is worth more than 19 bucks.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful behind-the-scenes in recent political history
Review: This is a perfect book for those looking to get insights into politics that you won't get from self-serving politician autobiographies or "insider" scoop from newspaper reporters turned authors. Ed Rollins' career spans some of the more formative years and races in recent times. His wit and honesty made this book a wonderful, easy read. I will never look at some politicians the same.

Rating:
Summary: I Laughed Until I Cried
Review: Warning: There's quite a bit of foul language in this book.

I've always liked Ed Rollins and his honesty gets him in enough hot water to boil a frog. He tells how it's really done and how he learned the game from California Speaker Jesse Unruh. He tells of his split from the Democrats to Reagan and from the Bush GOP to Perot.

The Perot chapter, appropriately titled the "Campaign From Hell," is the ultimate hilarity. He has kind words for nearly everybody - even his enemies - but he also says some hilarious tidbits so that it's never dull. Among the things Rollins addresses:

A GOP sex scandal in the opening days of the Reagan era

What REALLY happened in the 1993 New Jersey governor's race

How an off the wall comment can get you in hot water

How Ross Perot decided a thirty-day campaign was better than actually running for office

All this and much more. And he correctly calls the 1992 Bush campaign the "worst performance by an incumbent in modern political history." This kind of honesty shows that whatever flavor your party - Democratic, Republican, Independent, or even if you hate politics - Rollins has something for you. A must read.