I like Mrs. Whitman, respect her politics, and admire her decision to stake a ground as a moderate. I think her inside account is interesting, and refreshingly not bitter. Yet, she leaves far too many holes.
First, there are substantive holes in her accounts. Why if Clear Skies is such a good proposal that environmentalists should like does the administration not get a respected senator, such as Chaffee, to sponsor it? What does she mean when Rove said she would be an important cabinent member? Why does she want to weaken or get rid of New Source Review policies, but then say she would not want to weaken the cases regarding NSR in the courts? I found some of the discussion of the issues superficial.
Second, she is too soft on the GOP. She says the GOP can regain black support and many in the GOP are moderate. Yet, too often we still hear of people in the Republican leadership (from Trent Lott on) who seem pretty racist. Indeed, the modern GOP is based on intolerant appeals to white homophobia and racism. Likewise, she notes that some GOP congressmen support environmental initiatives. But even they are a tiny minority. On all the issues, she does a good job of presenting moderate policies, but cannot convince the reader that the GOP is truly the vehicle of moderates. With plenty of moderate Democrats, from Lieberman to Clinton to Nelson, why bother whith an increasingly radicalized GOP?
Even if one assumes that the GOP is the better party for moderates, Whitman tells us nothing of how to make the party more moderate. True she started a PAC, but does anybody really believe moderates are going to have much voice in the Republican primaries? Sadly, I doubt it.
Overall, it's intersting to hear her first-hand account. However, for a true insider view from someone unafraid to speak his mind, see "Price of Loyalty" about Paul O'Neill's White House experience.
Llooking back on this after 2 more years of Bush, I would have to give the book only 3 stars. Whitman's prediction of a moderate Republicanism still seems very far away, and the primaries are still dominated by zealots. Looks like she's losing the battle]
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