Rating: 
Summary: Eye Opener
Review: I had never heard of Molly Ivans before reading Shrub. I thank her for this quick, easy to follow, read. I received her book compliments of a pal who questioned my voting for Gov. Bush. I began reading with total skepticism but eventually accepted that I voted in total ignorance (not the first time unfortunately). I urge anyone who is truly seeking to be an informed voter to purchase this book. IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR ALL VOTERS. You'll quickly see through the rhetoric you've heard in television ads and shake your head in wonder. Given that this man was handed the baton to be our next leader, I'm terribly offended that we haven't heard more about his coattail accomplishments and seedy record, especially where children and lawsuits are concerned. Now when I hear him or one of his allies say "tort reform" I scream at the TV! Clinton is an embarrassment but even he hasn't been personally bailed out by the taxpayers. Yet. God help this country!
Rating: 
Summary: Dubya who?
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: ...What they've known in Texas all along
Review: This is one of those times when an entertaining piece of writing should be read by EVERYONE. Take heed to what the highly opinionated Ms. Ivins documents with such hilarity here. It's a hoot...and by what I can tell from what my Texan friends have been telling me...it's the truth. Very funny...and very scary when you think that this over-priviledged, knee-jerk vapor-head wants the most powerful job in the world. (We may need all those old 60's bomb shelters yet folks. Duck and cover!) By the way, take a good look at the previous "one-star" posts parroting the GOP party line on this book. Suspiciously similar I think. This book is straight-on. Read it and vote accordingly.
Rating:
Summary: Required reading for any who think dubya is the answer.
Review: Having read this book it confirms what I have long known about dubya, and further confirms my belief that his history makes whitewater look like.... well a trailer park in Arkansas. The pieces by Molly are only scratching the surface, and once the national campaign starts up dubya will be ripped to shreds. To those who are reviewing this as an attack piece by a bitter liberal please consider that the campaign has been silent on this book.
Rating:
Summary: Plenty of facts and yes (gasp!) some opinion, too
Review: I don't think Molly Ivins has ever made a secret of her progressive politics, and I can't imagine being surprised that an editor for the Texas Observer has similar sympathies. That said, this book isn't a diatribe, it's simply an assemblage of information that's a matter of public record. That record may make Bush look bad, depending on your views about the Christian Right, profiting from your connections (whether to make money or to avoid getting sent to Vietnam), and selling your political power to the highest bidder. If that sort of thing bothers you, you should be bothered by Dubya, not by Ivins and Dubose. And if you think that the business of America is business, reading about where Geroge W. got his personal fortune, how his campaigns got funding, and what's happened to the environment in Texas under his administration, you'll probably want to stand up and cheer. The only thing that baffles me is why she's still willing to give him any credit for education. Why give a tax cut rather than funding kindergarten? Actually, there's probably a certain ironic justice in the fact that Clinton is coasting along on an economic boom that started under Bush the elder while Bush the younger is benefiting from steps taken by Ann Richards.
Rating:
Summary: Listen to the other message in Molly's book.......please!
Review: When I heard about Molly Ivins' book, Shrub, I used a Christmas Amazon gift certificate for my first foray into internet book ordering. I'd say that Molly is in a particularly good spot to review Dubyah's way of doing "bidness" for and on Texas. If you like this book, you should check her weekly articles .... You'll see that over the long haul, she is a pretty fair minded political pundit. I, for one, thank both Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose for bringing the eyes of the world to Texas and the Bush way of governing. It is true that Ivins' previous books have been more humorous, but Bush's candidacy is not funny, it's downright scary and cried out for the Texas slant on telling about Bush's style. The other sub-message in this book for the reader is that of the need to be aware of the type of characters who are "perched" to take positions in any Bush administration. That is potentially even more disturbing than Bush as president. I would agree that after you read this book, you should either pass it on or tell others about it.
Rating:
Summary: Not Another One!
Review: I enjoyed the humorous nuggets in this book, and it confirmed my suspicion that "Dubya" is in many ways the Christian Right's best form of flattering William Jefferson Clinton through imitation. I have found more Ivins in earlier books and more humor in Ivins. She is wickedly funny on her own; she and her co-author are droll in this book. Perhaps they were impaired by their having to kid on the square. The question this book raised for me was whether, by April or May, we shall have two scions and Clinton wannabes, one Democrat and one Republican, shucking and triangulating past substance and ideas to the politicking of naked ambition and content-free communication. I endorse this book as a means [simple observation would be another means and cheaper] by which to see just how empty one of the two major vessels will be. I await the book that covers Shrub's opponent, Blood Drop.
Rating: 
Summary: More diatribe than analysis
Review: I'll admit right off the Molly Ivins is not my favorite writer. She prefers opinion to fact, her grasp of history and economics seems sketchy as best, and her attempts at humor never seem to quite work. She's acquired a second author for this project who I assume did what actual research there was. I only was able to read about half of this book, so I suppose the reader should give my remarks half the weight of other reviewers, but what I found was a tedious and unimpressive recounting of second hand stories- there's no original research here. Given the timing of the book, and the speed with which is was rushed to market, it's pretty apparant that this was a rush job designed to make a quick buck and perhaps influence the electorate. Those looking for a considered study of Bush will have to wait a little longer, I imagine.
Rating:
Summary: Oh My!
Review: George W. is a piece of work. I live in Texas and I've always suspected that a wade in the waters of his soul would scarcely get your feet wet. This book proves it. Kudos to Miss Molly for a dead on examination of the man who would be President!
Rating:
Summary: A funny thing happened on the way to the coronation.
Review: I would have voted for Junior before I read this book. I thought he was the best "bet" to win the office but now I realize John McCain is the only chance the Republican Party has. I want to thank Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose for opening my ears and eyes. I do not believe his "youthful indiscretions" are over with, it is just a matter of time before pressure makes him fall off the wagon. Every Republican should read this book before the primaries.
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