Rating: 
Summary: Enlightening
Review: It goes without saying that this book has likely infuriated disciples of the former First Couple, while those infuriated by Bill and Hillary can't stop talking about it. The tragic and untimely death of Barbara Olson in the 9/11 attacks leaves us to wonder what the reaction of the mainstream press would have been as she hit the circuit to promote this book--she died two days before it was released, and a note from the publisher indicates that at least some thought was given to not releasing it at all.Everyone with a pulse is aware of the Lewinsky scandal, and just about everyone is at least passingly familiar with TravelGate, Filegate, Whitewater and the mind-boggling pardons as "The Big Creep" neared the end of his final term. But Olson goes to great lengths to expound on why these scandals and others took place, and in the process she paints a grim picture of a power-hungry couple whose traits and tendencies toward greed, deceit and ruthlessness were established long ago. You won't feel sorry for the former First Couple after reading this book, but you may have a better sense of who they are and why--and why much of the media is still so infatuated with them. Fast-paced and enjoyable...made me want to buy "Hell to Pay" as fast as I could get to the store.
Rating:
Summary: Avoid Wrong-Doing and the Appearance of Wrong-Doing!
Review: I hope everyone who cares about democracy will read The Final Days. Reading this book is a poignant experience for several reasons. First, reading about the last days of the Clinton administration seems like thinking about the good old days compared to our current trauma with the terrorist attacks on September 11. Second, Ms. Olson, the book's author, died in the plane that crashed into the Pentagon on that day that will live in infamy. Third, the issues she raises in this book no longer receive any significant attention . . . yet are probably a greater threat to our democracy than any group of terrorists ever can be. Democracies require honest leaders as well as leaders who appear to be honest. Regardless of what you think about former president Clinton and Senator Clinton, the latter standard was breached. Many people will feel that the former standard was also breached. What this book provides is a fairly detailed outline of the actions taken in the last few weeks during the Clinton presidency, and explores the actions for their meaning. Although you will have read about almost all of these matters before, there's a cumulative sense of inappropriateness that is overwhelming when they are considered together. The president has the unlimited right under the Constitution to pardon anyone for any crime against the United States. There is no review of this right. The book details the 140 pardons and 36 sentence commutations that Mr. Clinton provided on his own authority in the waning days of his administration. Many of these went to those with access, political clout, and who had made political contributions and payments that benefited the Clintons. The most outrageous one was to Marc Rich, a tax-fraud fugitive from justice, who had been running his billionaire operations from Switzerland for years, through contacts made by his former wife and co-owner of his holdings, and generous contributor to the Democrats and Clintons. Other than Marc Rich and his ex-wife, there is probably no one who thought Mr. Rich should be pardoned. Big-time drug dealers were released. The president's brother, Roger, was pardoned. Susan McDougal, who was in prison for contempt for refusing to testify about the Clintons' involvement with Whitewater, was also pardoned. You may also remember that Puerto Rican terrorists were part of the group, just before the New York senate election (where there are 2 million Puerto Ricans). Many of these pardons and sentence commutations were not reviewed or recommended by the Department of Justice in the normal legal process. You get the idea of how all this appears. At one point, Senator Clinton's brother was even accepting payments to represent those seeking pardons. He reportedly agreed to return the money after this became public, but Ms. Olson was not able to find a record that this occurred. The Final Days also describes the way that Senator Clinton maneuvered the timing of her book advance so that she would not be subject to the Senate's ethics rules, and receive $8 million. What was new to me was that there was concerted fund-raising to get furniture for the Clintons' new house in Chappaqua, New York. Furniture and art from the White House were also sent there, apparently including some that belong to the United States. Senator Clinton's new office will cost the taxpayers twice what Senator Schumer's office does in the same neighborhood because Senator Clinton took twice as much space. You probably remember that the president's new office near Carnegie Hall was going to cost so much that he decided to move into less expensive space in Harlem, after a major uproar in the press. In The Final Days, you will also learn about last minute judicial appointments (something many presidents have done), creating new commissions and making appointments to them, 4000 pages of new government regulations, and creating 5.6 million acres of new national monuments. The details of the president's plea bargaining over his lying in the Paula Jones case deposition are also included here. Ms. Olson also questions the $500 million spent on foreign travel by the Clintons, using the president's trip to Vietnam as an example of how relatively unimportant these visits often were. Cumulatively, one year out of the eight that the president spent in office was involved in foreign travel. As a way to put these actions in context, Ms. Olson quotes liberally from what political figures and press commentators had to say. In some cases, she only had to quote Democrats to make her point. The pattern that emerges is that the Clintons would stick their necks out to gain an advantage. If no one complained, fine. If someone did and there was a political backlash, they would slowly backpedal. For example, Senator Clinton complained about the Puerto Rican terrorists being pardoned. The defense would often be a legalistic one, that would probably be appropriate, if extreme, for a private citizen. The book's weakness is that the author has a flair for dropping extreme rhetoric into her descriptions that exceed the details that she presents. "Think of a suburban swap meet combined with an open house at a bail bondsman's office." "Liberal-left progressive politics meets traditional corruption resulting in a synthesis of boundless arrogance and entitlements." These characterizations were really unnecessary because quotes from the Clintons themselves could have provided all of the rhetoric anyone needed for this book. As the former president said about his choice of a new office in Harlem after the protest about the expense of a mid-town site, "That's why I went to Harlem . . . Because I think I am the first black president." Where do your actions cast doubt on your motives and honesty? How can you both be honest . . . and appear to be so as well?
Rating:
Summary: Barbara, we will miss you.
Review: Barbara Olsen's last book documents in detail the excesses and avarice of the Clinton's final days in office. In her usual pithy and clear-sighted way Barbara sums up the Clinton years and exposes their desire for control and power.
Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive, informative last minute look...
Review: This book will overwhelm you with the unbelievable abuses of power and position practiced by Hillary and Bill Clinton during their last days in office. It is tough to believe that this couple was allowed to get away with all that they did, yet every bit of infomation in Barbara Olson's latest book is verifiable. It is sad that William Clinton and Hillary took the highest and most honorable office in the U.S. and tried to turn it into a circus, but it is sadder still that they attempted to make laughing stocks of the American people. The one thing that Barbara Olson's novel teaches is what we all will never forget: We won't have another Bill Clinton in charge - ever! Sadly, Ms. Olson has passed away, on the hijacked flight that crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, but she has left an outstanding legacy. As an American, it is almost a duty to read not only this book, but her book "Hell to Pay" also. A fabulous author who tells it like it is. She will be sorely missed.
Rating: 
Summary: Rehash from a has-been
Review: The late Barbara Olson reveals nothing new in this book---precisely because she has previously made no secret of her hatred for the Clintons both politically and personally.
Everything that has been printed can easily be found in other authors works on the same subject, and therefore only accomplished the task of depleting a forrest and printer cartridges. While this assessment ironically does lend credence to the idea that anybody can become published in this country if they are sensational and partisan enough, it also reveals a very embittered spoiled woman who was almost fanatical in her disregard for the very concept of ethics she was bent on investigating others for violating.
Rating: 
Summary: A 10-Star Book
Review: I would have bought this book under any circumstances, but the murder of Barbara Olson makes me treasure this as her last "gift" and lasting legacy to all patriots who care about good, honest government. As a former congressional investigator who likely knew more about the Clintons and their corruption machine than most decent people can stomach, she not only knew where to look but how to place it all into proper context. How tragically ironic that the most compelling critic of the Clintons -- the most corrupt and base politicians in the history of the nation -- was murdered because of Bill Clinton's incompetence and indifference toward fighting terrorism. What I found both sad and chilling is that she pretty much predicted an increase in terrorism, thanks to Clinton's negligence regarding foreign policy and terrorism. After reading this book, it's obvious why the friends and minions of the Scariest Woman in the World tried to suppress this book and even threatened to post-humously smear Mrs. Olson. We'll never forget Barbara Olson and will keep her legacy for truth and decency in government alive forever.
Rating:
Summary: The Final Days
Review: This book was Great!! It was good reading from the first page to the last page. I admire Barbara Olson for her courage to write a book without any spin. The truth is easy to write, especially when there are facts to back you up. This book would not be good reading if you were an apologist for the former President and his Co-president. I will miss Barbara and her talent.
Rating:
Summary: thanks barbara,you will be missed.
Review: an honest look at the most dishonest group of sleeze to ever occupy the white house.i was no fan of richard nixon, but he was a saint compared to the clintons and their group of moral degenerates.once again barbara reveals what most suspected,but far to many were unwilling to acknowledge,that bill and hill were not only abusers of each other,but of anything and anybody that crossed them or their lust for power.bless you barbara,you will be missed.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty disappointing
Review: Barbara Olson seems to be a good writer who can't get her emotions under control. The tales in this book have already been reported and many of them have been debunked as either completely wrong or slanted in a way that makes the story inaccurate. The Clintons deserve the scrutiny they are under, but we want to know the truth, not just listen to a Clinton hater throw everything bad she can find into a book.
Rating:
Summary: The Final Days: A Behind the Scenes Look at the last, Despe
Review: Barbara Olson gave a very personal account of Bill and Hillaray's granting of favors, lying, and manipulating during the last years in the White House. It was a powerful read because of Barbara's professional relationship with the Clintons as a lawyer charged by the US Goverment to aquire information on suspected misdeeds of Hillary. I was a little put off by Barbara's pejorative tone at times but I came to understand her attitude after reading "Hell to Pay." She has devoted years of research into these two people and has shown how their past ideologies have been inflicted in a secretive, manipulative way on the unsuspecting citizens of America. I feel it should be required reading for anyone who wants to support Hillary in any further elected office. It is well worth anyone's time who wants to have a better understanding of what really happened behind the closed doors. It is very readable because Barbara's writing style keeps the reader engaged.
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