Rating: 
Summary: In Violation of the Constitution
Review: Perhaps one of the most overlooked points to this book is the attempt to skew the "checks and balances" implemented by the Constitution. It is clear, at the very least, that Bush has attempted a "powergrab" by the executive branch. Dean explains how the Bush administration attempts to usurp the Legislative Brach's powers and rights of "critiquing" the Executive, and then claiming powermongering and stonewalling are Bush and Cheney's rights so they can make better decisions. Circular logic for sure.....Additionally, Dean explains the 10+ scandals waiting to bubble to the surface, should Congress and the media allow it. The leak of an undercover CIA agent alone is damning to the President. Does that alone, if nothing else, show the Bush-Cheney's presidency a mere facade for politicizing and endangering National Security. We know the leak to be(a)true that it happened, and (b) that it was done by someone in the administration. Of course readers should make their own judgements. However, Dean does make use of other Republicans' own comments to show the uneasiness this administration is causing within his own party. Dean touches on this next point, and I would like to make it as well. It is obvious with the sheer volume of secrecy employed by Bush-Cheney that history will not look back kindly on this administration....
Rating: 
Summary: Who are the ones tied to the CIA who shorted airline ...
Review: ...stocks before 9-11? Is this really true? I read this excerpt from the book today and I nearly fainted. Can anyone other than John Dean corroborate this(a legitimate news source that's not hard right or hard left)? I don't want this part of Mr. Dean's book to be true. The book is rivetting, although there is a little bit of redundancy in reminding the reader about the secrecy of the Nixon administration. While there is still a very slight chance of WMD being found in Iraq, and Saddam's ties to terrorism are sketchy at best, one thing that cannot be denied is that Joseph Wilson's wife, a former undercover CIA operative, had her cover blown by someone in the Bush administration, endangering her life and those she works with. The fact that heads did not roll over this one publicly indicates to me that Bush probably knew about it and maybe authorized it. And if that's the case, he should be held accountable for this crime alone. John Dean covered this topic well. Like anything else, always consider the source and whether or not the info can be corroborated. Excellent book with the exception of a few uneccesarily harsh opinions and cheapshots.
Rating:
Summary: A monograph of some importance.
Review: I was initially skeptical about reading books by John Dean, but I have read some of his other works (on Rehnquist, and Warren Harding), and I have found him to be a very good author. In this his latest work, he returns to the scene of the Watergate crimes, The White House. Dean's work is really a monograph in which he hopes to bring forth his fear that the current Bush administration's emphasis on secrecy transcends normal tactical-political interests and has led to an institution that attacks rational discussion. Dean provides the reader with nearly thirty pages of chapter notes and citations. Most interesting for the reader, he provides internet sources from which he obtained some of his material. Undoubtedly, the book will be reprobated by those with sympathy for the current administration, but Dean has an insider's perspective that should not be comfortably dismissed. He has seen first hand the "cancer" in an earlier adminstration that harmed America. His stance is that the current situation can cause, or has already caused, lasting harm far beyond these shores. Dean's arguments remind me of what Jacob Bronowski postulated in The Ascent of Man. That is, as one's feeling of certainty increases, so does the belief of intolerance for opposite views. This is basically the crux of Dean's thesis. He believes that the current administration is so certain of their position of world command that any contrary argument is condemned as treasonous. The reader is free to check the author's sources and develop another opinion, but Dean's ideas are worth considering.
Rating:
Summary: SECRECY, LIES AND DECEPTION...?
Review: ...what would this author know about secrecy, lies and deception...? Oh yeah - THAT John Dean... The former counsel to President Nixon knows all too well where tactics such as these can lead. In this book - which he labels a 'polemic', so there is no mistaking his intent - he lays out a strong case detailing the abuses of power and trust that have been practiced by the Bush administration from the day he decided to run for president. Drawing on his experience with the law as well as his knowledge of history, Dean tells how, as he began looking into the Bush presidency more and more deeply, it increasingly struck him as chillingly 'Nixonian' - the lying, the dirty tricks, the about-faces that were made when the original position turned out to be inconvenient or embarrassing, the behind-the-scenes sweetheart deals for powerful contributors. The thing that frightens Dean the most, however, is the unprecedented level of secrecy under which this administration operates - and it should frighten each and every one of us as Americans. Each chapter of the book begins with a quote - some from famous public servants, some from respected political philosophers, some from various agencies of the government itself - and each one underscores the damage that can be done to a free society when its government operates so completely out of sight. One such quote is from former US Attorney General (and later Secretary of State) William Rogers: '...the public should view excessive silence among government officials as parents view sudden quiet where youngsters are playing. It is a sign of trouble.' Another quote, from a 1960 report by the House Committee of Government Operations, says: 'Secrecy - the first refuge of incompetents - must be at bare minimum in a democratic society, for a fully informed public is the basis of self-government.' From their actions, it's pretty obvious that those who are setting the course for the Bush administration think it's better for them to function out of sight, out of mind - the old adage 'If you're hiding your actions, you must have a reason to hid' comes to mind. Dick Cheney has made no secret of the fact that he favors a return to the 'imperial' presidency, wherein the powers that be are set free from the 'bonds' of answering to the people, for whom they supposedly work. They have elevated stonewalling to a new 'artistic level' - and if they are continued to be allowed to function in darkness, they will drag the nation into that darkness. Dean's book is well-researched and annotated - his sources are clearly listed, and he invites the reader to dig further in order to understand the depth and breadth of the actions he's describing. He says that he didn't come up with the title - WORSE THAN WATERGATE - and that he doesn't use it lightly, but the further he investigated the methodology and mind-set of the Bush administration, the more apt he thought the title. In an election year - especially one having the potential of this one - this book is essential reading.
Rating:
Summary: Not Your Average Bush-Basher
Review: This is definitely NOT a cookie-cutter addition to the election-year avalanche of Dubya-drubbing. This is a fascinating legal dissection of the secrecy strategies from someone who knows a bit about the subject. Thinking back to Watergate, a relatively minor crime ballooned into the removal of a president because of the stratagems of cover-up. And Dean lays out a compelling account of much worse attempts by the current regime to dodge accountability at every turn. It's worth buying in hardcover.
Rating: 
Summary: Yet another election year Bush-bashing partisan attack book
Review: Got an advance copy of this book for review and for someone who has always considered himself a "progressive," (leftist media euphamism meaning "modern liberal") I am quite disgusted with the ranting conspiracy theorists such as John W. Dean disguise as books. Not worth anyone's time. If you must read it, borrow this putrid refuse from the library instead of paying your hard-earned money. From Howard Deal, Al Gore, and Ted Kennedy, to Michael Moore, Al Franken, and most of the Hollywood elites (not to mention that idiot John Kerry), those to the left of me remind me too much of "Uncle Joe" (Joseph Stalin). They seriously make us decent Democrats look really bad. They rant and rave and rarely tell the truth; they seem to think that if they repeat their stupid lies enough that those of us who are less intellectually gifted will eventually be unable to resist their ideas. What are they afraid of? President Bush has been an amazing leader. While I disagree with most of what he says and does when he isn't dealing with the WoT, his leadership in the War on Terror has won my vote this November. I hate to say this, but our President is going to get this lifelong Democrat to vote Republican. Screw the idiot sheeple who blindly follow my peers at the New York Times, L.A. Times, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, and NPR. I hate to say this, but Zell Miller is right. My lifelong party is a National party no more. Democrats with decency and integrity are a dying breed. I may eventually have to go to the right side, although I will never listen to Rush Limbaugh! Never!
Rating:
Summary: The Madness of King George
Review: I'm amazed that I am the first to review this book for Amazon considering the book has been a NYT bestseller for two months.
Definitely worth a read if you are interested in the welfare of the country rather than the image of the President. Dean has done his homework and backs up his observations with fact. Dean writes well and the book is a fairly quick read. I have read quite a bit about the Bush Administration and I was able to learn a few new things along with getting another perspective on the current state of affairs. Liberty and Justice for ALL.
Rating:
Summary: It Can Happen Here-As Long As the Watchdogs Don't Watch
Review: The subtext of this book is the failure, and perhaps complicity, of the national political media. The difference between the current situation and Watergate was the courage of the Washington Post. Dean recounts a sneering attack by Bush to an NBC reporter for daring to ask a question the president didn't like. The source is a European newspaper, not NBC. It's hard to believe that if the Washington Post and/or the New York Times or a couple of the networks refused to participate in scripted press conferences or to call the White House on its hard-ball press tactics these could have continued. On the other hand, one of the merits of the book, and the hope for democracy, is the thorough chapter notes, which list web addresses where the reader can determine the truth of the statements and the credibility of the source without the gatekeepers of the media. It is interesting that not one of the one-star reviews manages to actually list a lie or misrepresentation to justify their accuzations of dishonesty and bias. In fairness, it could be that proof exists, it's just locked away in the reams of information that the White House has hidden from the public.
Rating:
Summary: The new Watergate
Review: It is John Dean's contention that only "ignorance or bliss" could create the kind of atmosphere that gave birth to Nixon's secrecy and the Watergate Scandal. Over the years, he has changed his mind, finding the activities of Bush and Cheney both careful and calculated. If we accept that corruption thrives in secret places, it is impossible to deny the potential for abuse that now exists. Including detailed documentation, footnotes and chapter notes to support his accusations, Dean clearly does not doubt the integrity of the president or vice-president, but fears their excessive zealotry. Like Nixon's, the administration spends considerable time on the presidential image and reelection as opposed to attending the business of the people; one important difference: Dean views Cheney as a co-president, unheard of in modern politics. Dean addresses the atmosphere of secrecy that surrounds the current administration, the careful shielding of the president from random questions by the press with carefully scripted events that show him in the best light. This is a collaboration from the top down, with Cheney standing willingly behind the scenes; everything is carefully engineered to place Bush in the best possible light for the greatest effect. Unlike his father, who was disinclined to manage his press conferences, speeches, etc., the younger Bush is more comfortable when his people have crafted each scenario. Even the Thanksgiving visit to the troops in Iraq was prearranged and carefully vetted, Bush carrying a large tray of fake turkey to serve the soldiers. As viewers, we are innocent of such trappings, more likely than not to believe the images we watch on our television screens. Regarding the 9/11 Commission, Dean posits eight questions, the answers to which would do much to dissipate the proliferation of conspiracy theories that have circulated since the White House has blocked an open dialog about the attacks. Other serious considerations covered in Worse Than Watergate are executive privilege, congressional oversight, sealing presidential papers, the continuity of government following an attack, secret and repressive law enforcement and deceiving Congress. The reader is prompted to draw his own conclusions, but there is a wealth of material that warrants consideration. Dean approaches the subject with the eye of a lawyer, juggling legal ramifications and extrapolating possible consequences. He is able to project the intentions behind the secrecy; the potential for serious damage to the democratic process is truly frightening. The author is in a unique position, having served in one of the most secretive administrations in recent years, certainly cognizant of the opportunities for abuse. Fear can make is cowards, fear of consequences, fear of creating controversy and certainly, fear of the answers. But in order for a democracy to function, the hard questions must be asked and reasonable answers demanded. Dean is asking the questions and it is our task to determine the veracity of the answers.(...)
Rating:
Summary: Most readable and engaging book on the subject, IMO.
Review: As an Australian, it is a shame that we must rely upon our cable news providers for American news coverage. I say "a shame" because we are only given the choice of 2 24 hour US news channels. One is CNN, the other is the rediculously biased and arrogant FoxNews channel. Without subscribing to your US newspapers, or constantly being connected to your radio stations via the web, we are left with a very thin media coverage from the US. It is through books such as this, that I use to learn about this fascinating Bush family and the surreal world of US politics. I was never interested in politics, let alone US politics, until George Dubbya starting hitting the headlines in our Country. In trying to learn more about the never ending scandals (I know this is not the correct word, but have trouble finding another suitable), I have made an effort to read as much as I can. GW should be credited for converting an ill-informed, ignorant observer, into a keen student of US politics. As a result, I have purchased from your Country, dozens of books whilst trying to hide my credit card bills from my wife. Perhaps GW can give me some advice on how to deceive her and hide these documents (or at the very least, edit or alter them). This book is extremely well written and although disappointed with the lack of pages, the information contained within is wonderful and quite engaging. It is not often that I find a book that I fight to stay awake and read of an evening, however this is one of them. Quite often, I would wake in the morning with the book still in the bed, with pages creased, cover torn, etc. Not only is my wife pissed that I spend too much money on these books, she is also saying I spent more time in bed with John Dean than with her. G W Bush, if you are reading this, please contact me and give me some tips on how to lie to her and pretend that these books mean nothing to me. (Oh, I also have a drink driving charge I am trying to get out of. I would appreciate any advice.)
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