Rating: 
Summary: An insufferable book
Review: Molly Ivins is completely incapable of writing an engaging, thoughtful, objective book. Unless you are a match with her left wing extremist views (yes, extremists are on both sides) then skip this book. I was hoping that she could behave professionally and write the good with the bad. The real funny thing is that Ivins is so out touch that she believes most people think like she does. Not the case. As usual, the truth is found someplace in the middle. If you have socialist leanings, like Molly, then this book is for you!
Rating: 
Summary: A first rate political biography of a cheap politican
Review: I don't always agree with Molly Ivins but I believe that she is one of the few nationally syndicated columnists worth seriously reading. She was blessed to be a native and a resident of the state that George W. Bush was governor of from 1995 until recently. She and Mr. Dubose have here produced a fascinating, thought provoking history of the new president's political career and recent Texas political history. We learn that Mr. Bush is always willing to "balance the budget on the backs of the poor" as he himself accused his party of doing in Washington D.C. early in the presidential campaign (see in particular the episode described on pages 94-96). But when it comes to that loosely defined rubric known as corporate welfare, he is a very compassionate conservative--indeed a substantial part of his own fortune is based in the taxpayer built stadium for the Texas Rangers. We learn about Bush's disasterous pilot school voucher program and the even worse "faith based" privitization of wellfare programs that Texas tried thirty years ago. We learn about the racist, unaccountable and reactionary Texas judicial system where constitutional rights violations are widespread and innocent and retarded people are executed (consider the case of Gary Graham; obviously innocent but the idea that he was was not even expressed in the mainstream media). We learn about the efforts in previous years to try to equalize funding between school districts in rich communities and those communities unable to generate tax dollars to pay for basic services and efforts to try to establish drug treatment programs which study after study, as the authors note, including a 1997 Rand corporation study, is far more cost-effective and successful in fighting repeat offenses and violent crime. They show that Bush was actually on the right side to some extent on the first issue but on the second issue he played the demagogue. We learn some fascinating stuff about the horrible conditions in the Rio Grande valley and how grassroots organizations have helped get some concessions from the Texas state government, in spite of Dubya's best efforts. The authors discuss the furor about hate crimes and offer their support for the failed hate crimes legislation because it would "reassure" minorities even though they say they don't like it because it would expand the death penatly, among other measures. In brief, George W's philosophy, though he probably dosen't see it that way, is that the rich and powerful should not be restrained in pursuing short term profit, regardless of the cost to the workingman, consumers or the environment. He is stupid, without intelligence or honor and, beyond a few basic platitudes, has no real grasp of the ideas which he espouses, though he no doubt sincerely believes in them in his own way. His "compassionate conservatism" is just like Gingrich "conservatism" or Reagan "conservatism" i.e. statist reactionary policies devoted to a massive welfare state for the rich and powerful, one that is violent, intrusive and unaccountable. But that is just the system. The democrats are pretty much the same, as the authors would agree.
Rating: 
Summary: History repeats itself
Review: This is a fascinating read. This book profiles Dubya's record in office as Governor of Texas. How he dodged the draft for Vietnam thanks to Daddy's friends, his failed oil drilling career - even his record on environmental policy in the so called 'Great State of Texas'. Suggested reading for anyone who voted this guy into office. What is more disturbing is that a lot of this stuff seems to be his agenda in office as the President. Abortion, Environmental Policy, keeping the Christian Right happy. History really does repeat itself.
Rating:
Summary: Avoid her books, listen to her interviews.
Review: In person Molly Ivins comes across as witty, acerbic, and fun. Her writing, by comparison, is stilted, vicious, unhappy, ungracious, and in the end, plain sad. That's her usual writing. This book is worse off than the rest of her screeds, being an attempt at a polemic that falls short for want of material. About the only thing that might save this book is a books-on-tape version read by her. Poor thing.
Rating: 
Summary: I was somewhat disappointed with this book.
Review: It isn't bad, but it's not nearly up to Ivins' standards for humor, and there really isn't much information here; I expected to come away both significantly more entertained than I was, and significantly more informed than I was. But other than the news that "as a conservative, I support property rights" Bush made a lot of money using eminent domain to seize private property in order to build a brand-new, government financed stadium for his baseball team (not that this surprises me, but it WAS information I didn't previously have) there just wasn't much there. Perhaps I'd have been more impressed if I'd bought and read the book earlier, before the campaign really heated up, rather than waiting for the softcover edition, but by now, most of what's here (at least, most of what isn't intuitively obvious) has already been covered elsewhere. Let's see if I can summarize: George W. Bush is a wealthy son of privilege, who opposes campaign finance reform because he is adept at raising tons of money from other wealthy, financially conservative businessmen. (Well, gee, I'd never have guessed if Ivins hadn't told me.) He needs support from the Christian fundamentalists to get elected, so he plays the part of a Christian conservative, and appeases them as much as he needs to to keep their support, which is quite a bit, but he doesn't seem truly enthusiatic. (I kind of figured that, too, although I'm glad to have the idea that he isn't really enthusiastic confirmed.) He supports the death penalty, to the point that he won't pardon or even commute the sentence of even the most sympathetic residents of death row, even an attractive, born-again woman whose commutation of sentence is supported by Pat Robertson. (I'd heard that, and frankly give him points for sticking to his guns on that case; if you support the death penalty, you shouldn't waffle just because the criminal seems like a likeable person, and in any case, this wasn't news.) He is truly appallingly bad about protecting the environment, preferring to protect the corporate bottom line. (Again, no new news here.) About the closest we come to news is the impression that he really isn't as dumb as he seems, and that he really does care about education (although what he believes will help is of questionable value.) Again, this isn't a bad book, but I expect better of Molly Ivins.
Rating:
Summary: If Only More People Had Read this LAST YEAR
Review: As someone who cares about the environment, I would never vote for a republican. But if we have to have one for president, why this guy? I read both this book and "Is Our Children Learning" and they share the same problem: they dilute their journalistic findings with sophomoric humor. I think both of these books should now be required reading for all Americans, so we can have a little better insight into the new leader of the free world. However, I think that if someone could have written in a style that sounded more journalistic and less sarcastic, these discussions of Bush/Shrub/dublya's record might have reached a wider audience and thus had the impact on the electoral process they deserve. I ask myself everyday, what does Bush's victory over first John McCain (a real American hero with real Washington experience) and then Gore say about American's priorities?
Rating:
Summary: Oh God, he won!!
Review: Molly Ivins is my hero for 2001! Her writing is priceless, her tape is even better with that wonderfully sassy style only Ann Richards can top. I found myself sitting in my garage listening to the tape (I live too close to work). Yes I'll learn to call him "The Pres" (in time) but now I sure can laugh at his foolish past as a Shrub. Pray for a strong congress.
Rating:
Summary: a shrub's life...
Review: Molly Ivins tells it like it is...or at least how she sees it, which is with humor and details. The details mean that AFTER the election, this book still has some kick to it since it will give the country a feel for our new president and how he will "run" things. The title of her final chapter says a lot about the tone of the book itself: "In Which Our Boy George Toddles Off to Rub for President, Meets the Ferocious National Media, Defeats a Genuine War Hero by the Fairest of Means, and Starts Doing to Al Gore Just What He Did to Ann Richards: Is This Guy Presidential Timber, or What?"
Rating:
Summary: Mean spiritedness leaves you doubtful of objectivity.
Review: My wife got me "Shrub" for Christmas because she knew I wanted to know more about the new president-elect. Because of the title she thought it would be funny. It's not funny, it's just mean. If you like negative campaign adds you might like it, but I don't, so I hated it. It reads like a five hour negative candidate bashing advertisement. Random House's ill-advised decision to allow the co-author Molly Ivins do the reading won't help you endure the material any better. She speaks in a halting, off-beat fashion that's hard to listen to. She pronounces long syllable works (like infantrymen)with such hesitation that each word sounds like an entire sentence. After you listen a while you will realize why. When she tried to speak fluidly she sounded like she had drank a quart of Vodka before the reading. Don't expect objectiveness just because the author's are journalist. They abandon all attempts of nuetrality in this writing and it is nothing short of a character assasination attempt on Bush. Ivins is apparantly some sort of an ally or fan of the former governor of Texas, Ann Richards, who Bush beat in the 1990 governor's race. This book came across to me as an attempt at revenge. They try to make Bush look evil because they say he has consistently used his family name to advance his personal causes. Duh. Who would ever expect the Kennedys, Gores and Bushes of the world to change their name so that they will not receive special treatment. Please, this is America. People use their assests to their advantage. This book will inandate you with mud smear to the point that you will turn it off. I think it's lack of objectivity lessens its credibility.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and scary...
Review: Conservative reviewers seem to feel that because Molly stands to their left, she must be slinging mud. Don't let them fool you. Shrub is factual and meticulously researched. It details Dubya's military stint, his years in corporate-oil culture, his Rangers years, his policies and accomplishments as governor of Texas. If it seems like Dubya hasn't done much, well, that's not exactly Molly's fault. If it seems like he's a bit weak on environmental issues and a bit light on foreign policy, well, can't blame that on Molly either. If it seems like he's in the pocket of the extreme xtian right... well, you get the picture. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a hint of what the next four years will hold for the United States.
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