...and the Horse He Rode In On: The People V. Kenneth Starr (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "As with mosquitoes, horseflies, and most bloodsucking parasites, Kenneth Starr was spawned in stagnant water..." (more)
Key Phrases: independent counsel, Ken Starr, James Carville, First Lady (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Nobody can accuse James Carville, the strategist for Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, of hiding his feelings. "You know something? I don't like Ken Starr. I don't like one damn thing about him. I don't like his politics. I don't like his sanctimony. I don't like his self-piety. I don't like the people he runs with...." And longtime Carville observers know that his dislike's been brewing since Starr was appointed to the independent prosecutor's office back in 1994 by a crony of ultraconservative Senator Jesse Helms to look into alleged financial misconduct on the part of Bill and Hillary Clinton in the Whitewater case.

Carville piles on the evidence for his argument that Starr, with his partisan politics and numerous conflicts of interest, should never have been let anywhere near Whitewater, let alone allowed to pry into the personal relationship that Clinton had with Monica Lewinsky in the mid-'90s. And he stands by his man, commenting, "In my mind, an indiscretion here and an indiscretion there will never amount to a tenth of cruelty." Even those who can't stand Carville's relentless style--who else would have the nerve to ask "What the heck is [Bill Bennett] talking about? Has he completely lost his mind?"--will be hard-pressed to refute the multiple charges of abuse of prosecutorial power. And this is dang sure the only book about the Clinton controversies that includes a mouthwaterin' recipe for brisket.

From The Washington Post

Carville has footnoted his facts. Still, I'd trust this bill of indictments a whole lot more if it came from a major newspaper or newsmagazine. Unfortunately, none that I have seen has offered anything proportionate to their inquiries into Clinton's transgressions. James Carville has produced a document just as damning as the Starr report, if also just as one-sided. Like that report, Carville's brief ought to be read, scrutinized, weighed to see whether it warrants action--and maybe even parsed.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st Printing edition (October 27, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684857340
• ISBN-13: 978-0684857343
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,076,714 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fact anotated, July 12, 2000

By	Robin Orlowski "political activist" (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Like many people, I was not intially aware just how bad Ken Starr really was. Although I was a Clinton Loyalist inspite of White House problems, I never imagined Mr. Starr would have taken the investigation to the heights he did. Somewhere along the line. the independent prosecutor decided that he was above the law.

Although not as hefty as several of the other books doccumenting the Clinton Inqusition, Carvile provides a basic summary of the real story and congressional overreaction to it. Yes, Clinton has problems, but seeing as how hidden extramartial affairs crossed party lines, this was never something that was supposed to be investigated.

When I bought this book amidst impachment hearings, I genuinely did not know if congress was going to remember the will of the people. Each day of coverage seemed more twisted and horrific than the next. Reading this book really helped me through those times and I would highly recomend it to anybody who was interested in getting the bare facts about sexual McCarthyism.

May future generations grow up without personally experiencing the near tragedy I witnessed.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ragin' Cajun Carville gets thumbs up for this book!, October 12, 1998

By	Erin Esposito "esposito" (Rochester, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

James Carville has written an outstanding book about the whole Starr investigation. It is so informative and provides a balance which is ever so justifiable given the light of Starr's actions throughout the whole ordeal. Carville's skillful investigative points along with his brilliant sense of humor provides us with an excellent reading. I recommend this book for all citizens who care about the fate of our President and the unjust process in which Starr has performed his duty as a not so Independent Counsel.

35 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and shocking, December 16, 1999

By A Customer

James Carville, set out to do the same thing he says Ken Starr did Starr, launching a paristan attack. However, James Carville doesn't have supeona power and isn't a government employee. James Carville has the right to be partisan and polimic because he is a private citizen. Ken Starr doesn't have that right because he the Special Prosecutor. I didn't agree with Mr. Carville that the Clinton's committed no crimes in Whitewater, I think that Congress needed to appoint an independent Counsul to investigate it. However after reading this book I certainly don't believe that Ken Starr should ever have been appointed to the post. The conflicts of interests of Starr that Carville documents are too many to count. Whatever you think of Bill Clinton he never should have been hounded by the not-too-Independant Counsul. I'm giving the book four stars because James Carville made many valid points.