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~ (Author), Lou Dubose (Author) "Austin is a small town of half a million residents..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Youthful political reporters are always told there are three ways to judge a politician," write Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose in Shrub. "The first is to look at the record. The second is to look at the record. And third, look at the record." The record under scrutiny in this brief, informative book belongs to one George W. Bush--dubbed "Shrub" by Ivins--governor of Texas and 2000 presidential hopeful. These two veteran journalists know how politics are played in Texas and they've done their homework, writing a comprehensive examination of Bush's professional and political life that's a lively read, to boot. And if the title alone doesn't convey their particular slant, perhaps the following caveat from the introduction will: "If, at the end of this short book, you find W. Bush's political résumé a little light, don't blame us. There's really not much there. We have been looking for six years."

Beginning with his admission to the Texas National Guard during the Vietnam War (where he bypassed a waiting list of about 100,000), the authors go on to deconstruct his losing congressional bid, his failed career as an oil executive, and his role as managing partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, revealing how he was helped every step of the way by wealthy and influential friends of the family. Ever popular, Dubya has always been good at rounding up powerful players to bankroll a variety of ventures, including political campaigns. For this reason, explain the authors, along with his lineage and social status, Bush's primary allegiance is to the business community. While his speeches may deal with the "entertainment issues" of "God, guns, and gays," Bush is a "wholly owned subsidiary of corporate America," they write. They further point out that Texas ranks near the bottom of the nation in terms of a number of social categories, such as poverty, health insurance for children, and pollution, spearing the governor for his less-than-compassionate conservatism.

Shrub is not a complete Bush whacking, though. The authors laud the governor's record on education, in which he has managed to raise standards, push local control of schools, and launch a successful reading campaign. They also cite his wooing of the Hispanic vote and his ability to bridge the gap between the Christian right and the economic conservatives within the Republican party as evidence of true political acumen, though they maintain he lacks a penchant for actual governing: "From the record, it appears that he doesn't know much, doesn't do much and doesn't care much about governing." Bush has admitted that he dislikes reading, particularly about policy issues, and that he hates meetings and briefings, causing the authors to wonder, "The puzzle of Bush is why someone with so little interest in or attention for policy, for making government work, would want the job of president, or even governor."

Love him or leave him, Shrub leaves much to consider about the man who would be president. And it can be read in about a day. --Shawn Carkonen --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.



From Publishers Weekly

Colorful, popular and very Texan syndicated columnist Ivins (Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?) takes on Republican front-runner "Dubya" Bush in this short, informative, fun and obviously partisan political biography. The book is designed to make liberal readers laugh (and vote) and to make moderates change their minds. Behind the down-home style and tasty jokes, Ivins and DuBose (who edits the Texas Observer) lay out plenty of well-documented dirt on GWB's career--though it isn't nose candy they're after: instead, the authors make a case that the affable governor has climbed ladders, traded favors, bent rules and enriched himself, without doing much for the people he governs. W.'s oil ventures "lost more than $2 million of other people's money," netted him $840,000 and tied him to international banking scandals, say the authors. Former Texas governor Ann Richards, plus settlements from tobacco litigation, they say, brought the state the fiscal well-being for which W. takes credit. The authors claim that he's spent his own term repaying political favors, "protect[ing] major air polluters," ending successful drug treatment programs, hurting the working poor and executing the mentally retarded. For Ivins and DuBose, "Dubya's" real accomplishments--besides his last name--lie in his sense of political timing and positioning: while his views make him "a CEO's wet dream," his manner, his often-touted religious beliefs and his savvy advisers help him appeal to "gay-bashing gun-toters" too. Ivins combines a liberal worldview, a sense of the ridiculous and a just-folks delivery--and enough work like hers might just derail the Bush train. But don't bet on it: "This guy is not just lucky: if they tried to hang him, the rope would break." First serial to Time magazine. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; Vintage Books ed edition (October 10, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0375757147
  • ISBN-13: 978-0375757143
  • Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (138 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #459,979 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
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Austin is a small town of half a million residents. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
grandfathered polluters, tort reform, sports authority, compassionate conservatism
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The Short, Happy Political Life of George, New York, Ann Richards, West Texas, Fort Worth, George Bush, Republican Party, United States, East Texas, White House, Supreme Court, Valley Interfaith, Governor Bush, Karl Rove, San Antonio, Billy Graham, Democratic Party, Phil Gramm, Rio Grande, Sierra Club, Big George, Bill Clinton, Bob Bullock, Robin Hood
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210 of 233 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for both voters and talking heads, February 16, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush (Hardcover)
One of the things that so often distinguishes Molly Ivins from her D.C. counterparts is that she consistently recognizes that the public OUT there is not necessarily the public DOWN there. In Shrub, her latest opus, Ivins takes a good hard look at the record of Texas governor George W. Bush. Her painstaking assesment of the often Byzantine politics of "The Greatest State" and Bush's ascension to the Governor's office provides readers with a view of the candidate rarely glimpsed in other organs of the media. From land deals to environmental policy and from welfare reform to tort reform, the book examines both the games and the players in Bush's rise to national prominence. The hard facts about Bush's military service and his dealings within the world of Texas oil are reason enough to read the book. They are also proof that the truth is far often more interesting (and amusing) than even the most bizarre fiction. Ivins been nominated at least twice for the Pulitzer Prize. Read Shrub and see why.
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50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Eye Opener, March 5, 2000
This review is from: Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush (Hardcover)
I had never heard of Molly Ivans before reading Shrub. I thank her for this quick, easy to follow, read. I received her book compliments of a pal who questioned my voting for Gov. Bush. I began reading with total skepticism but eventually accepted that I voted in total ignorance (not the first time unfortunately). I urge anyone who is truly seeking to be an informed voter to purchase this book. IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR ALL VOTERS. You'll quickly see through the rhetoric you've heard in television ads and shake your head in wonder. Given that this man was handed the baton to be our next leader, I'm terribly offended that we haven't heard more about his coattail accomplishments and seedy record, especially where children and lawsuits are concerned. Now when I hear him or one of his allies say "tort reform" I scream at the TV! Clinton is an embarrassment but even he hasn't been personally bailed out by the taxpayers. Yet. God help this country!
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66 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for all voters, September 4, 2000
By A Customer
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This review is from: Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush (Hardcover)
Political columnist Molly Ivins is well-known as a "liberal gadfly" in Texas, and so it's hardly surprising that her political biography of George W. Bush paints an unrelentingly unflattering picture of Dubya. However, in critiquing the accomplishments (or lack of same) of George the Younger, Ivins writes with grace and wit, and without undue rancor toward her political opponent. She lets the facts speak for themselves. The result is a highly readable, entertaining, and yet clearly disturbing book. How is it possible that someone so eminently unqualified can be so close to becoming the next President of the United States?

The story Ivins tells is one that is a damning indictment of the current U.S. political system. George W. Bush was hand-picked by monied corporate interests some time ago to be groomed as a potential "capitalist tool," a figurehead politician who will do their bidding unquestionably while possessing the personality traits essential to appealing to a broad spectrum of voters. It's the stuff out of which bad Hollywood movies are made, and yet it's real. Consequently, although there is much wry humor in Ivins' narrative regarding how this ne'er-do-well, pampered inheritor of the Bush political legacy, the story she weaves is also frightening.

What I found particularly disturbing was Bush's indifference toward the natural environment. His lack of commitment to protecting the health of Texans from pollution is incredible. Given the high level of support that Americans overall have expressed for strong environmental laws, this issue alone ought to be sufficient to disqualify Dubya from the presidency.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to get beyond the network tv blather and the high-powered campaign ads (from both sides, actually) in order to take a real look at what George W. Bush actually has accomplished in his political life. Even for those who might share his conservative philosophy, his lack of real experience and accomplishments ought to give them pause.

Finally: it's interesting that the principal criticism that offended Bush devotees have mustered toward this book (and sometimes I question whether they actually read it before expressing their hostility) is that after all, everyone KNOWS that Ivins is a liberal whacko, etc., so what she writes has no real credibility. This demonstrates that when the facts are in order and cannot be denied, the only viable avenue of attack is *ad hominem* verbiage directed toward the author. Scary!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Prescient
If more people had paid attention to Ms. Ivin's wryly-funny-but-dead-serious dismemberment of George W. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Felix

4.0 out of 5 stars hindsight is 20/20
Well, you can't expect even-handedness in a book about the (at the time) future President Dubya, especially from the late Molly Ivins, fellow Texan and not exactly one of the Bush... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Muzzlehatch

5.0 out of 5 stars Get to know "W"
If you still can't believe the first eight years of this century were real, this book will convince you. This book should embarrass everyone who voted for this clown.
Published 10 months ago by P. Lister

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Voters Should Do Homework Prior to Voting
This provides a good insight into George W. Bush's character as governor of Texas, a character that keeps "shining". Read more
Published 21 months ago by Bobble Moose

4.0 out of 5 stars Molly Ivins Is Missed!
There is no other writer that has such a witty presentation on such a difficult subject. She saw George W. Read more
Published on December 20, 2007 by B. Gallo

5.0 out of 5 stars Good golly Ms. Molly
Oh, that the subtitle of this wonderful little book had proved true. The world would be a much happier place. Read more
Published on November 27, 2007 by Cecil Bothwell

4.0 out of 5 stars Anyone can be President
No matter your political beliefs, it is interesting to read about the background of our elected leaders; even though it is freightening and sad at times.
Published on September 15, 2007 by A. Simoncelli

5.0 out of 5 stars Molly Ivins' Shrub'
If I was an American voter and I wished to for information about the Republican candidate prior to the 2000 election I would have bought the first edition of Ms Ivins' book. Read more
Published on May 29, 2007 by J. C. Rennie

5.0 out of 5 stars An apolitical book with a political agenda
First and foremost, the book was enjoyable from cover to cover. 'Fun' and 'politics' are not two words that usually go together when you are speaking about casual reading... Read more
Published on February 14, 2006 by Jojoleb

4.0 out of 5 stars minding bush's 'bidness'
In "Shrub", columnist Molly Ivins offers amusing anecdotes paired with grim statistics that make it necessary to reread them to make sure they're really true. Read more
Published on February 10, 2006 by E. M. Bristol

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