Rating: 
Summary: Good book that still retains its relevance
Review: I just finished reading "Fighting Back" by Bill Sammon, which is about the events of 9/11 mainly from President Bush's point of view as well as the aftermath. Mainly we get the view from the White House, which is well done, as well as some of the thoughts of the president based on interviews Sammons had done with Bush. It also includes the back story behind events we only glimsped in the news, such as the moment when Bush addressed the rescue workers on "The Pile" on the Friday after, where he yelled through the bullhorn to them. And the policeman's shield he received from the mother of a Port Authority cop who died in the World Trade Center.The book starts on September 10, addressing the political situation Bush found himself in, the unfulfilled expectations, the lingering doubts of the 2000 election, and the Democrats licking their chops at taking Congress in the mid-term election. We also see the president in his normal routine and then watch from the sidelines as the events unfold and we get behind-the-scenes glances. I wish this part had been more complete, since I would love to know more about how the Bush administration, and the president himself, responded to the crisis. The most interesting chapter dealt with the press's and the Democrats' impatience and second-guessing starting in October. When the first ultimatum was given to the Taliban, there were the dire warnings of a years-long war and disaster. As the war began, there was constant moaning over tactics and strategy and "quagmire" started being heard constantly and the inevitable comparisons to Vietnam. But by Thanksgiving it was all but over. It's almost a complete duplicate of the press/Democrat template for the Iraq war. I'm sure it will be trotted out again in the future if we have to go into another country. I had been planning to read this book for a long time and I'm sorry it sat on my shelf so long. And I'm glad I finally read it. I recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: History lovers will love this
Review: I received this book as a Christmas Present, opened the book, and could not put it down! For all of you who love history and want to be there as is happened, Bill Sammon's account of the actions of George W. Bush on September 11th is compelling and dramatic. The focus of the book is on Bush, and he comes across as a determined, strong and effective President, despite what his critics say. Sammon spends some time mentioning and debunking his detractors, which was a pleasant surprise to this reader.
Sammon does not give Bush a pass. He mentions is many miscues
in his speeches, which are sometimes a bit funny, to be honest. Through all the high level decision making, Sammon reveals a personal and human side to our President. An individual who, along with most Americans, has changed since the horror of that
fateful Tuesday in September of 2001. One who values family, honor and duty. All of us should realize, as Sammon suggests, that we are lucky enough to have a good man as our leader, one who has united all of us, and can keep us united through this long war against terrorism. As Americans we should all be patient.
Rating:
Summary: GO BUSH!!!!!
Review: Do not get me wrong, I am a strong Democrat who does not support most of President Bush's politics nor his war on Iraq. However I do like him as a person because he is a very down to earth, loving human being and this book proves it. It's sad to see the libreals bashing this book because it has alot to tell and alot to offer about President Bush and what kind of a man he is. I do not look at him as a bad man at all. That does not mean he gets my vote in 04 but I would ask people to read this book with an open mind and think about This President Uniting this country to the best of his ability on 9/11. Al Gore never could have done that let me tell you. So to all readers I hope you read it and enjoy it and perhaps look at President Bush in a diffrent way.
Rating:
Summary: A True Leader
Review: This book shows both the professional and the personal side of President Bush. It was a definite page turner. Democrats will not like this book because it shows the true story of what happened behind the scenes, that President Bush was truly a leader and not a puppet. It shows how he changed people,s thoughts about him, like the principal of Emma T. Booker Elementary School in Florida, Gwendolyn Tose-Rigell, and Bob Beckwith, who was standing on top of the Fire Truck with the President at ground zero. It shows how quickly the press tired of the war after only two weeks, and the childish nature that Press Secretary Ari Fliescher and Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had to treat them in order to make them understand how different this war was. It also shows the emotional way the president handled the victims families, staying for hours with them when he didn't have to. This is a book that will be hard to put down for anyone who truly has an open mind about this president and the administration.
Rating:
Summary: Accurate report from the inside
Review: I purchased my copy of the book this past weekend. Frankly, I don't know how "A Reader from California," or "A Reader from Patriot, USA" could speak with any authority on this book, panning it as they did in their reviews, since they posted their comments prior to the book's availability in the bookstores. Clearly, they haven't read it, and based on the tone of their comments, they have no intention of reading it. But those interested in the history that is being written about our current crisis will find the book a fair and balanced treatment of this President's response. Sammon's descriptions are a view "from the inside" of the Bush White House on the morning of, and immediately following, the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Clearly, those who resent the fact that George W. Bush is President, or who resent the fact that Bush grew in the estimation of the vast majority of Americans as the right leader for our nation at its time of extreme crisis, will not like this book, because it records the details of decision-making which initiated the nation's war on terror. Sammon is evenhanded in his treatment of Bush -- he neither glorifies him and his Administration, nor does he trash President Bush in an unwarranted way. The pictures and the public story of 9/11 are well-known to all. What this book provides is a first look into the decision making of those in White House who had to actually craft a national policy and response to those who have protected the terror networks. Greatness in leadership is seen in how leaders respond and make decisions in times of great crises. This book is one of the first attempts to record the decision-making following 9/11.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed with our leaders.
Review: I am a sad American - Disappointed with our leaders.
While I was writing my review off-line to take advantage of the spell checking, I watched this book go from number 6 to number 57. I actually read the book. Now I wish I'd spent the money on a good steak with onions, mushrooms and a really big scotch. It's hogwash, an illusion, like most politicians. I'm an old fart, retired Texas businessman, conservative, grandfather, and once proud to be a Republican. I even voted for George Bush Jr., thinking that Gore was a better statesman, but George Jr. was closer to understanding the plight of the middle working class. It wasn't the biggest mistake I've ever made, but it troubles me the most. I'm sure a lot of good Americans are reassessing their support for our Misunderstandeded President. Hey class clown, yes; most fun to get drunk with, yes; class bully, yes; but qualified to be President of the Greatest Country in the History of the World? I don't think so. What the hell were we thinking? He doesn't represent us, the middle class, he represents the CEOs, the affluent, the Top 2%, and the lobbyists from big corporations. Time to admit we were wrong. I have a lot of time on my hands to think, think about the Korean War I served in, WWI that three of my 7 uncles served in, and the Vietnam War that my son was disabled in. I, like the vast majority of Americans, believed our government and trusted politicians back then. But, hey we were stupid, we thought being a lawyer was an honorable profession. Even though I was a conservative, I contributed to charity, I did volunteer work, I never judged a man or woman who was down on their luck or those who had made bad life decisions. I always thought; "There but for the Grace of GOD, go I." I lived by the Golden Rule. I even supported 'Affirmative Action' thinking that Jesus would have also. Given my fellow man that had been so horribly oppressed, a hand up. What happened to Christian charity? You can call the President many things, but you CANNOT call him 'compassionate' with a straight face. This book is written by a life long conservative who is an average journalist and big business supporter. It is turned out by a public relations gin mill and not worthy of your money. One of my four children is a rabid conservative. Somewhere I went wrong. I failed to teach him that family, love, compassion, honor, and being your brother's keeper were the reasons we put here by God. I can no longer be silent. This is not a worthy read, nor is it the truth.
Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING
Review: Well, here is yet another pathetic piece of Republican propaganda. I have to say I honestly do not know what I find more sickeining the fact that there actually a pathetic indivual alive such as the author who would actually dare to an paint unelected idiot such as George W. Bush as a leader or that there exists even more pathetic and illerate souls out there such as the past reviewers of this filth who actually believe him. As far as the author's "insights" into terrorism equally ignorant. George Bush is not at war with Bin Laden!!! Why would Shrub declare war on his best buddy. Wake up and smell the oil people!!! The Bush family has been in business with Bin Ladens for decades and the billions of taxpayer's money they gave the family throughout the years probably was the largest source of finance for the terrorist attacks.
Rating:
Summary: Good book that still retains its relevance
Review: I just finished reading "Fighting Back" by Bill Sammon, which is about the events of 9/11 mainly from President Bush's point of view as well as the aftermath. Mainly we get the view from the White House, which is well done, as well as some of the thoughts of the president based on interviews Sammons had done with Bush. It also includes the back story behind events we only glimsped in the news, such as the moment when Bush addressed the rescue workers on "The Pile" on the Friday after, where he yelled through the bullhorn to them. And the policeman's shield he received from the mother of a Port Authority cop who died in the World Trade Center. The book starts on September 10, addressing the political situation Bush found himself in, the unfulfilled expectations, the lingering doubts of the 2000 election, and the Democrats licking their chops at taking Congress in the mid-term election. We also see the president in his normal routine and then watch from the sidelines as the events unfold and we get behind-the-scenes glances. I wish this part had been more complete, since I would love to know more about how the Bush administration, and the president himself, responded to the crisis. The most interesting chapter dealt with the press's and the Democrats' impatience and second-guessing starting in October. When the first ultimatum was given to the Taliban, there were the dire warnings of a years-long war and disaster. As the war began, there was constant moaning over tactics and strategy and "quagmire" started being heard constantly and the inevitable comparisons to Vietnam. But by Thanksgiving it was all but over. It's almost a complete duplicate of the press/Democrat template for the Iraq war. I'm sure it will be trotted out again in the future if we have to go into another country. I had been planning to read this book for a long time and I'm sorry it sat on my shelf so long. And I'm glad I finally read it. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Fighting Mad and Fighting Hard
Review: Presidents and their administrations are remembered by history for one or two things...Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt - all are synonymous with BIG events. Others recall particular challenges and/or accomplishments - Hoover (dam), Eisenhower (Interstate), Kennedy (Space), Truman (atomic bomb). It's difficult to know in which group Bush will fall but I lean toward the former simply because of the enormous threat imposed by Islamic radicals and their access to WMD. It is not just the existence of WMD. After all, Russia had them for years with no problem. It is the new phenomenon of sympathetic nations willing to supply these to terrorists that we have yet to fully comprehend. Bill Sammon has penned an inside history of the events leading up to 9-11 and the ensuing response. It is a sympathetic tale (toward Bush) but it is fair and complete. It is a fact of the modern world that terrorists cannot exists without sponsering states. It is another sad fact that all of these states are utterly repressive in nature and remain in power only through a secret police and sheer force. The story is actually a series of vignettes gleamed from on-the-spot reactions from DC insiders and reads much more like news han politics. One witnesses the evoloution of a new President from a disputed victory to the greatest crisis faced by this nation in years. After rereading the responses of politicians directly after 9-11, one notes that none fathomed the new world dynamics or called for a combined effosrt against both terroists nations and the terrorists themselves. There is, naturally, an element of politics in all this and Sammon features both supporters and detractors (particularly the media). One of the most depressing - but utterly predictable - occurrences after 9-11 was all the hogwash about "why" they terrorists did what they did or did we bring it on ourselves and what do we have to do to keep people from doing this. Despite all the yap, 9-11 changed the political terrainn - witness the GOP campaign in 2002 capturing the Senate and retaining the House. This is not a heavy book - about on par with BUSH AT WAR. But it is a highly informative and entertaining book - perfect for a rainy Saturday.
Rating:
Summary: Good view from the press
Review: Bill Sammon gives a good view from the White House Press Corps of the events around September 11th, 2001. I recommend reading this, and then reading David Frum's "The Right Man" for the inside view. These two books complement each other well.
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