Rating: 
Summary: Sophomoric at best
Review: I wouldn't will this boring diatribe on my worst enemy. The only thing I found interesting was how much pap could be crammed into a full book. I'll save all potential readers a lot of trouble by giving you the story line: 1) Dubya comes from the Bush family, therefore anything that goes right is because of their influence, 2) anything that fails to pander to Ivins' and DuBose's idea of a properly liberal government is a result of Dubya just not being bright enough to understand.
Rating: 
Summary: Insight may be a partial antidote during the next few years.
Review: Our entire family enjoyed this book. Even our 12-yr-old is now entertained watching "Dubya" speak as we play "Is he staying on point?" This isn't Molly Ivin's best book, but its typical of her point-blank humor and insightful analysis. She's a national treasure. If you are a Republican who is happy with the 2000 election maybe you should disregard my rating and not read this book. Everyone else, buy the book!
Rating:
Summary: We've been had -- triumph of media-savvy candidate marketing
Review: This is a clear-eyed and balanced look at George W. Bush's tenure as governor in TX. It will curl your hair. Ivins is a just-the-facts-ma'am writer, humorous, honest and gives credit where it is due. I beg you to read it - if only to become a discerning observer of the new Admin over time. It is required reading, IMO, and makes everything we saw during the Repub primaries, the campaign and the post election period fall into place. And if you like it, pass the word on. We all need to be better informed so we are not as susceptible to the media-savvy marketing that masquerades as political reality.More troubling is the media's irresponsibility in terms of presenting a clear, truthful and comprehensive look at one who would be "king". The facts in his record are there: the "observers and guardians (via mass communication) of democracy" have simply succumbed to smirks, zipped lips, good 'ol boy slaps on the back, propaganda and deflections of their few questions. I have come to think that the refrain of "liberal media" is a masterful stroke of reverse-psychology. It leaves the media defensive, scared to invite the wrath of near-fanatical party supporters by asking hard questions and presenting the good, bad and ugly of who a conservative candidate really is. In the end this silence does the citizens a disservice - it ensures a lemming-like populace who are deprived of the opportunity to use their brains to evaluate reality rather than a celluloid image. And if they choose a candidate, after such examination, so be it - more power to them. But without it, it is sheer manipulation. If you like this book, be sure to pass the word on.
Rating:
Summary: An Insect Attackes A Bush
Review: What else would you expect? Another book on a GOP personality written by a Democratic Party Activists and third-rate failed journalist, small-time Party hatchetman Lou Dubose. And guess what? He doesn't like Bush. Surprize. Credits him with nothing. Surprize. Ridicules his accomplishments, Surprize. Belittles his drive and personality. Surprize. Don't waste you money on this one, even the half-truths are incoherant. No doubt you already know how you feel about Bush, and probably have a better basis for that opinion than this tuna boat. Bottom line: For the extent that the author dislikes Bush, he really can't find much to soil him with, though try as he did. An incompetant slander at best. Don't bother.
Rating: 
Summary: Hits high point with "come to Jesus" chapter then wanes
Review: Overall the book accurately portraits W as the two dimensional figure-head politician I believe he is; an empty vessle to be filled by the narrow-minded mainstream American conservative movement. The "come to Jesus" stories about W's relationship with televangelist James Robinson is especially interesting as is the believable story of his crooked oil deal where he snubs his nose at the SEC. It is clear George W. Bush had a leg up in business and politics due to his family name. Ivins and Dubose credibly illustrate W's country club Republican leanings, where corporate welfare is more virtuous than welfare for the underclass. However, after chapter five, Ivins populist liberalsm creeps in and my interest declines. The word draconian is used more than three times to unspecifically describe W's Texas welfare reform policy. Draconian is a hackneyed buzz word used by the populist liberal intelligencia to say the sky will fall if government programs loose a little funding. The authors admit that Texas hate crimes legislation is "bad legislation". Yet they defend it by saying it "reassures the minority community that the government cares for them". White populist liberal columnists, like Ivins, have a knack for back-handed sanctimony when writing about what's good for minorities. Bad laws are accpetable as long as they make people feel good? Hmmm. The most subtle contradiction occurs as Ivins and Dubose state that Bush is merely the fifth most powerful man in Texas, less powerful than even the Lt. Governor. Yet the authors hold him accountable for so much of what is wrong with Texas government.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious but Horrifying Portrait of Dubya and the GOP
Review: Prior to reading this book, if you held the impression that Dubya was no great thinker or visionary but rather a brand name that could get back the White House the GOP so desperately covets--you'll pat yourself on the back for being so on-target. However, the extent of Dubya's capitulation to big business, the far right Shiite Republican wing and well-funded fat cats appears far worse than you would have ever imagined. Reading this unflattering but mostly even-handed portrait of W. will leave you feeling considerably more worried about the idea of a Bush presidency. Also alarming is how many far right-wing lunatics manage to steer the agenda of this so-called "compassionate conservatism." In fact, it is this faction that keeps reappearing throughout the book and one ends up knowing more of them than of Dubya, apparently because, well--with Dubya there's just not a lot there to know. Regardless of the "doomsday" feelings, Ivins truly has a hilarious and wonderful style of relating things--there are plenty of LOL moments. While she appears to despise the hypocrisy and secret agendas of certain GOPers, at the same time there seems to be a halting affection for Bush and his frat boy charm. Plus, she gives him props for his education accomplishments in the state. Disregard the liberal propaganda excuses offered among other reviews here; it's a well-documented account factually. And a fun, quick read.
Rating: 
Summary: What are we in for??????
Review: This is a must read to see what we are likely in for the next 4 years. Heaven help us. Molly, a native Texan, is probably the most honest satirical writer going. She chronicals Dubya's life from his Texas Air National Guard duty to his win in the Republican Primary for President. His corporate policy (oops I mean public policy) are the yarns of extreme right wing Republican lore. The reverse of Robin Hood. Of course the book is short, as are the notable accomplishments of the man who may be our next president.
Rating:
Summary: WEED
Review: This book really stinks. The authors desperately strive to make you despise and mock George W. Bush, but they just manage to annoy you from beginning to end. They do keep telling you that Bush is an incredibly lucky rich empty nothing, and in doing so they show very little respect for Texas voters. Why was Bush elected governor of Texas? Just because he was his daddy's son? That's silly and childish. Just because he's terrific at fundraising? That's more accurate. But you simply can't be terrific at fundraising if you don't make people trust you. And if people trust you and give you their money, they must have good reasons to do so. And if in the end it turns out that you have astonishingly defeated a shrewd, popular, self-assured, strong, successful, incumbent governor, no one can afford to claim that it happened just because you were your daddy's son! I don't like Bush, and I couldn't care less about him. If I were an American I would have voted for Gore. But one has to be honest. This guy has obviously got magic, and one has to be fair and recognize it. It's far too easy to dismiss Bush's achievements and kick him around the book all the time, and it's far too annoying to do it with a language so unbearably full of slang. No serious writer would use so much slang to say something serious. But of course you can't go without it if you have nothing to say and just want to disparage somebody or make fun of him. Definitely, this is a sleazy garbage-can-bound book, and I just feel sick at the thought that its authors will make money out of it.
Rating:
Summary: Portrait of an Ineffective Leader
Review: Fascinated by the recent chaos of the U.S. presidential election, I picked up this book to gain some insight about one of the two major players in the drama. I began reading with no pre-conceived notions or opinions. After completing this excellent biography, I now have a much clearer picture of "Dubya". Beginning with his brief "military" stint, Ivins also covers his less than stellar corporate career and his political endeavors. In a completely non-partisan way, she chronicles how George W. is too often a weak, indecisive leader who is too easily influenced by corporate America, the Republican party and his father's circle of advisors. His main motivation for seeking the presidency (revenge for his father's 1992 defeat) is disturbing. The U.S.'s highest elected office is not a prize awarded at the end of a game and it should not be viewed as such. Politics and public service is a noble calling, but unfortunately there will always be people like Dubya who view it as a power play. Whether you love, hate or have no opinion on George W., this book will provide some fascinating reading material.
Rating:
Summary: An informative and fair assessment
Review: I read this book several weeks before the election, and found it to be a well-balanced, witty, intelligent look at George W. Bush's record in Texas. This account does not detail his 'youthful indiscretions,' whether drugs or alcohol, or engage in any character assassination. Ivins merely reviews the tenure of George W. as Texas governor and provides a shocking, illuminative picture of his style, priorities and political tactics. Her own politics are no secret, but she accords Bush a lot of respect as governor and avoids the dirtier sort of mud-slinging and yellow journalism. The fact is that 'Dubya,' as he's called, has very little political background, being a governor in the state with the weakest governor system - where the lieutenant governor has more power than he (illuminated clearly by a comparison of the number of people who report to him as opposed to the mayor of Chicago). But Ivins shows how he does use his power when he can exert it (the legislature meets only every two years) and this is truly frightening. Much of what she describes has been mentioned in the press, but a lot of it hasn't - his record on pollution, things which he's taken credit for that he had literally NOTHING to do with - which is worrying (so much for that 'liberal' bias in the media!). It's amazing to think that people could be so ignorant - or someone so deceptive - about a candidate's background in a presidential race, not to mention the candidate who appears to have won the election. It's too late for this book to change anybody's mind about whom they vote for, but I still think it's important that people are aware of what Bush has and has not done for Texas, as it seems as though this is the best way to judge any politican instead of focusing on rhetoric. Those who like/support Bush obviously see this as biased and unwarranted, an attack on a good guy who has done good things - yes, sure, good things for his donors and companies and the rich, but not for ANYBODY else, particularly the mentally retarded he seems so fond of executing. Yet there's no arguing with the record, or facts, and Ivins pretty much - not totally, of course - avoids judging and disparaging. If anything, she's enthralled by Dubya's goofiness and his unique place among a lot of wacky Texas pols, not to mention the fact that he - a lightweight - might be president. All I'm waiting for now is her book on Gore, which I will read with as much delight - and with an open mind - as this one - fair, after all, is fair.
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