Now Im not a Bush hater or a Bush lover but I was hoping to learn some Bush history. This book isnt about the history of this family but a long argument on how they have messed up the entire world by their views. The beginnings of each chapter actually starts out pretty good then drags into statistics and unfounded statements of the writers belief. He tries to draw out comparsions of Clinton and Bush. Wait and buy this book on the bargain book table if you must read it. One of the worst political science/history books Ive read recently.
It appears that Phillips couldnt really decide if he wanted to write about history or politics. For this reason his story jumps around across the decades and between subject matter, attacking four generation of books for a wide variety of reasons. I bought the book because I am not a fan of either President Bush and there is plenty of red meat here for people like me, particularly in the chapter on the rise of the religious right. However, Phillips is just trying to do too much to be completely coherent. He offers side arguments off the top of his head without fully developing them and he really should have a lot more footnotes for what he covers. If youre looking for more reasons to hate the President, there are better researched and more satisfying titles out there right now.
During the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy noted that the Wall Street Journal had run an editorial critical of Richard Nixon. "Thats like the Osservatore Romano criticizing the Pope," Kennedy said. Well, what happened to Nixon is starting to happen to George W. Bush, as a growing number of conservatives are starting to voice dismay at the arrogant, profligate policies of the Bush administration. One of the most prominent is Kevin Phillips, who in his book "American Dynasty" shows that the Bush family has shown Machiavellian skill over the past four generations in playing the power game, with no principles at stake other than gaining and holding on to power. Occasionally long-winded but always scholarly and well-documented, "American Dynasty" demonstrates how the Bushes became the pre-eminent political family in the U.S.--making the Kennedys look like pikers--not through any great intelligence, virtue or devotion to public service, but simply their ability to insinuate themselves into the old-boy network. Once theyd ingratiated themselves with Wall Street and the Ivy League, they then turned their attention to the Christian Right. The result: government of the country club, by the country club and for the country club. "American Dynasty" is a profound act of patriotism and an important wake-up call to American voters.
