Rating: 
Summary: An exercise in truth-telling
Review: Paul Begala's book, It's STILL the Economy Stupid, is more relevant than ever as we approach the 2004 election. It is clear from his editorializing that Begala is no fan of George Bush, but that shouldn't stop any thinking person who wants to understand who "the only President we have" is and what he stands for from reading this book - Democrat or Republican. The book is well written and well documented. Begala does not make unsupported accusations. He carefully lays out the evidence that makes his case.In this book, Begala goes through Bush's speeches and his record and uncovers a number of disturbing patterns, including George's habit of making promises and then disregarding then days or weeks later and his systematic efforts to cut taxes for ONLY the rich, with the super-rich receiving the vast majority of the benefits. Begala also carefully explains how the Republicans in Congress blocked Clinton's efforts to put reforms in place that would have curbed big business and avoided both the Enron and accounting scandals among others. This was especially interesting to me, as the Republicans have laid the blame for these things at Clinton's feet. Don't take my word for what Begala says. If you want to make an educated choice between Bush and Kerry in November; if you want to understand who you're voting for; if you want to understand the record of the incumbent President, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: The truth hurts
Review: Reading this book can be somewhat like, as Begala puts it, drinking from a firehose. The facts and statistics just keep coming. The problem isn't Begala's writing though, it's the mountain of statistical evidence documenting the damage that the "president select" and his economic team have managed to inflict on the U.S. economy in two short, but painful years. The right will not like this book, but despite all of their bluster and hot air they can't dispute the well documented and footnoted facts presented in this excellent summary of W's first two years at the economic helm. Will the American people notice what's happening and take corrective action? Unfortunately, probably not anytime soon. Years from now, when Americans survey the economic wreckage of the Bush years, people will wonder why the facts presented in this book, and others like it, were not more widely discussed and debated while there was still time to prevent W and his team from bankrupting us. It's a shame that our elected officials and the news media no longer seem to be up to the job.
Rating: 
Summary: MORE ISSUES THAN JUST THE ECONOMY MENTIONED
Review: Though one might argue that this book is a source of so-called liberal propaganda, Begala does present issues that are worthy of discussion. The title is somewhat misleading, because the American economy is only part of what is contained in these roughly 200 pages. Among the other issues is the National Debt. When It's Still the Economy, Stupid was written, Begala referenced the National Budget Committee and its projections for a disastrous 2003 budget deficit of $300 billion. As it has turned out, what was then criticized by many as being an overestimate of the severity of our budget shortfall is now looked upon in retrospect as being a serious underestimate.
Throughout the book, Begala raises concerns regarding Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education and quite notably, the environment, and as each issue is put forth, he boldly portrays the neo-Conservatives on Capitol Hill as a group of politicians whose agenda is to carry out the wishes of corrupt, big business lobbyists. For instance, Begala mentions that several of Bush's advisors have stocks and shares vested in corporations that have been notorious for emitting toxic pollutants into our air, land, and water. He then continues by saying that these same senior and junior officers turn around and cater to the CEOs and COOs who are pushing for environmental deregulations just so that their companies can make those extra monetary profits, regardless of how Mother Nature is affected. How is this catering done? Well, Begala states that the Bush administration has pressured our lawmakers to find ways to undermine the influence of both OSHA and the EPA. As one continues to read this book, he or she might get the notion that the neo-Conservatives are not satisfied with just raiding the quality of our environment. He or she might believe that, because of the perceived prevalence of corporate greed, there is no such thing as a secure investment for the less-than-wealthy American. In effect, one might be convinced that George W. Bush and his Cabinet members are doing everything they can to dismantle every idea that has been contributory to twentieth-century progress in America. These ideas from the past would range from Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal to Teddy Roosevelt's fights against political corruption and the abuse of our natural resources. If half of this book is true, then Bush is looking out for himself and his closest rich buddies. So long as he and those few others are happy, as Begala has implied, then why should he worry about the rest of society? I say that, at worst, one might be so cynical of anything attached to political journalism that he or she might regard this book as a highly distorted piece of the liberal propaganda machine and state that Mr. Begala has done a first class job of cherry-picking the sources he quoted to support his arguments. On the other hand, one could retort that it, at least, highlights key issues that most Americans relate to in substantially more detail than what is put forth on many talk shows. If it was Begala's objective to give those already ill at ease with our political process added reason to feel discontentment about keeping George W. Bush in the White House, then Begala perhaps succeeded in several cases. At the same token, however, Begala's critics and those who might have strong arguments to run counter to It's Still the Economy, Stupid at least have a reference that they can use to deconstruct several facets of what they might regard as the leftist thought process.
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