The Book on Bush: How George W. (Mis)leads America

New York: Viking Books, 2004. First Edition. First Printing. Hardcover. Very good/very good. [8],419, [5] pages. Notes. Index. Signed by Alterman.. A critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush reveals how the current administration has used misstatements, half-truths, distortions, and other deceptions to mislead Americans and how this manipulation has led to failed policies, hindered homeland security, damaged foreign relations, and undermined efforts to improve the economy. Eric Alterman (born January 14, 1960) is an American historian, journalist, author, media critic, blogger, and educator. He is a CUNY Distinguished Professor of English and Journalism at Brooklyn College and the author of eleven books. From 1995 to 2020, Alterman was "The Liberal Media" columnist for The Nation. He is a contributing writer there. Mark Joseph Green (born March 15, 1945) is an American author, former public official, public interest lawyer, and Democratic politician from New York City. Green was New York City Consumer Affairs Commissioner from 1990 to 1993 and New York City Public Advocate from 1994 to 2002. Green won Democratic primaries for the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and mayor of New York City, in each case losing the general election. Clearly a partisan shot timed for the election, this book provides, perhaps, as much (or more) insight into the policies and perspective of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party as it contributes to a balanced understanding of President George W. Bush. An anti-Bush reviewer opined of this work "A close analysis of the policies and statements of the American president, dissecting them and revealing political propaganda, lies, contradictions, ideological mainsprings, as well as discussing the political and economic power bases that Bush relies upon and which he owes 'debts' to and must take direction from." Derived from a Kirkus review: A latter-day doomsday catalogue of the sins, errors, and perhaps even crimes of the sitting president. Alterman and Freen issue a sweeping, powerful indictment of Bush 43. Bush the Younger presented himself as an affable, unassuming fellow on the campaign trail, apparently committed to bipartisanship and government from the happy middle. But once he took office, they argue he represented the most extreme wing of an already conservative party. Bush quickly showed his true colors by opening up the public domain to exploitation and surrounding himself with advisors—Dick Cheney, for one, who said in 2003 that he had no financial interest in Halliburton Corp., now growing richer "rebuilding" Iraq, a true statement only if you ignore the $160,000 annual pension he receives from the company he once headed. Moreover, Alterman and Green add, Bush has chosen to fight one of the most far-ranging wars in modern history, cutting taxes in wartime, and refusing to take any action to reduce American reliance on foreign oil, Don't get them started on presidential lies, or half-truths, or misleading statements, or "faith-based" distortions. Carefully researched and plenty passionate: a veritable bible for Bush-bashers.