249 of 269 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lord, can conservatives read at all? Or only spin?, January 14, 2004
What stuns me with all the one-star reviews is the fact that they so clearly haven't read the book. This book isn't about Paul O'Neill: it is about the blind dedication of people inside the Bush White House to policies that are determined by politics and not by data and information. O'Neill emerges as someone who carefully sifts information, takes a naturally conservative approach to issues, and does not like to recommend any policy that is based on speculation or insufficient evidence.
The book shows that a number of White House insiders or heads of government institutions (notably Alan Greenspan at the Fed) are not very comfortable with the ideologues currently running the White House. Lost in a lot of the attention that O'Neill is getting is the fact that other White House folk have also spoken off record. Reading the book--and I generally find it is easier to talk about something you have actually read instead of something you merely make up in your head--it is pretty certain that Alan Greenspan was also interviewed for the book and is one of those who spoke off the record. I would also bet that Christine Todd Whitman, former head of the EPA (another one who wanted policy to be based on verified data), was another. It is absolutely definite that either Colin Powell or several members of the State Department (unquestionably with his blessing) cooperated in the making of the book. Possibly other nonideologues like Condileeza Rice or one of her aides talked with Suskind.
The mistake that many are making is assuming that O'Neill is merely doing this out of revenge. It is almost impossible to support that theory after reading the book.
I think the is one of the most important books that has been published in the past two years on any subject. The Bush White House has largely been an impenetrable bastion. Now we have a vivid picture of the inner workings of the White House as presented by multiple insiders, most speaking off the record because they are still working for Bush. But O'Neill and the massive amount of documentation he provided for Suskind has performed a huge public service. I don't think anyone should consider voting for George W. Bush in 2004 unless they have read this book first.
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118 of 129 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent insider view on the White House, January 13, 2004
Ron Suskind, thanks to Paul O'Neil, has written an excellent book giving us much insight on the inner workings of the White House. Suskind is a former Wall Street Journal writer. And, it shows. The substance of the book is dense with information and documentation. But, the prose is lively and easy to read.
According to the former Secretary of the Treasury, Bush and Cheney dominate the White House. Bush leads based on stubbornly held personal opinions, and Cheney executes the plans reflecting the President's opinions. Occasionally, Cheney feeds opinion to Bush when the latter has none to begin with. But, everyone else is just there to make a case for supporting these same opinions. Thus, most of the Presidential decisions are not well founded in objective intelligence.
Within this managerial climate, there is no room for intellectual debates, exchange of information, or even consensus building. It is pretty much Bush and Cheney's ways or the highway. Paul O'Neil, an intelligent, assertive, and independent thinker, did not fit within these parameters, and Cheney quickly showed him the next highway exit.
When Paul O'Neil was recruited as Secretary of the Treasury, he seemed to fit very well with the Administration. He fit perfectly the mold of the old guard intelligentia who had reached the top level in business, with also much government experience. He is definitely a conservative, pro business fellow. He seemed just another of the old boys. But, things did not turn out that way.
Paul O'Neil, an independent thinker, ended up clashing at every turn with the Administration. He is a conservative. But, that does not mean he is a unilateralist in foreign policy. Thus, he felt highly uncomfortable with the lack of strong international support for our invading Iraq.
On the domestic front, O'Neil felt very uncomfortable with the progressive dismantling of our strong fiscal position we had inherited from the Clinton White House. For him being conservative also means fiscally conservative. It does not mean unraveling the Federal government. O'Neil felt strongly that beyond the first tax cut that was necessary, the following rounds of tax cutes were dangerous as they created a rising structural budget deficit.
Finally, with his strong background in business and economics, he felt that the steel tariffs were totally unjustified and would trigger a rise in trade conflicts and unfruitful WTO trade negotiations.
If you objectively review O'Neil's positions, he is typically right. And, the Bush-Cheney team is not. Our level of unilateralism can easily be considered excessive. The rounds of tax cuts were much too deep and did create a rising structural deficit. Also, the steel tariffs did poison the WTO round at Cancun and the overall worldwide trading climate. Recently, under pressure of penalties from the WTO, Bush had to eliminate these same steel trade tariffs. The later did not achieve anything besides political embarrassment in the international arena.
Interestingly enough, the Bush-Cheney team has chosen not to address any of the issues raised by O'Neil. But, instead they are conducting an investigation on potential government information leaks. This is probably another effort to shut O'Neil's mouth once and for all. But, the jack is out of the box. Take advantage of it. This is a must read during this Presidential election year.
This book also nicely complements other related recent books such as Paul Krugman's 'The Great Unraveling' and David Cay Johnston 'Perfectly Legal.' Reading these three books will make you a much better informed voter regardless of your party's stripes.
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57 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Loyalty Redefined, January 14, 2004
A definite eye-opener and exercise in objectivity for those that can complete this book without being baited by their own pre-perceptions and political affiliations. I am one that read this book cover to cover with an objective posture and open mind. Unfortunately, I fear that mass media publicity has not been covered by those that have had an opportunity to complete the book. We are missing MANY opportunities we can learn and apply....for one, our thought processes and the need to "inquire" should not represent insubordination. Nor should we feel intimidated to follow mainstream thought if our visions and values are derived from our integrity to do what is right. The book does not bash Bush, it presents a realistic picture of O'Neil's perception of Bush. What is well documented and shared are many models of process that O'Neil (as well as Greenspan)utilized to keep from being entrenched in 'yester-year' quick fix plans when our economy is so volatile to change. It's nice to see that O'Neil did not operate from "anticipation" and "optimistic perceptions" but hard core facts/figures. Why is it so hard to understand that when the news isn't good, no one wants to hear it? Fiscal prudence, process and the ability to create legislative policy that is 'blind to affiliation' is essential but almost impossible to achieve. I recommend that anyone wishing to make a difference in the quality of their lives and others, read this book. It's not the politics, not the who did what to whom....it's the thought provoking processes that wake up your mind and clean out the cobwebs that make reading this book stimulating. You might want to review your basic accounting princples and definitions first as some of the content requires a stick-to-learn-as-you go' pace. I applaud O'Neil. After his departure from Treasury, I do wonder about his willingness to participate in consultant type positions to other members of Bush's cabinet.(?????) He certainly didn't need the $. Just another thought provoking stimulus to those that have yet to read the book.
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