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on June 9, 2002
I wish that the kind of dispassionate, clear and concise reporting Toobin demonstrates in this book had been available during the Florida Fiasco. For example, it would have been nice to know that campaign spin such as "the votes have been counted and recounted" was a patent fabrication. Come to find out (to my astonishment) the vast majority of counties never did the statute-mandatory MACHINE recount.
Even if you thought you followed the story closely, and knew the facts, you must read this book slowly and carefully. There is a myriad of detail, just absorbing the chain of events and courses of action that eluded many of us at the time.
It often seems we have descended into a belligerent partisan nation, which neither engages in thoughtful discourse, nor seems the least bit interested in gathering verifiable facts and then engaging in reasonable, respectful discussion. If we were, this book would be the inspiration for a nationwide effort to ensure that voters across the nation are given every opportunity to vote in elections that are fair, balanced and provide equal access to the system for everyone. We would be engaged in discussion regarding the role the courts played, the place of the electoral college and whether reform is needed.
Unfortuntely, we won't be doing that. The winners and the losers are more interested in tearing each other apart, whatever the consequences. While we are down in the partisan trenches hating our fellow Americans for their political beliefs, those who profit from our division, the corporatrocities that control the world, the religious fanatics who want to displace them so they can control it, in fact all those with evil intent are taking away our right to decide what is best for ourselves. They are also taking our love for each other as citizens of the nation, and of the world. So a large number of the reviews here will be grounded in whether Toobin "hurt" the readers petty partisan beliefs or not, irrespective of the facts and issues.
The clarity and precision of Toobin's work should be a beacon to all those who write about history. Honesty, a thorough understanding of his subject and dispassionate view of events are his greatest gifts as a writer. He is improving with each book; would there would be no further events of this kind to inspire him to write another.
Even if you thought you followed the story closely, and knew the facts, you must read this book slowly and carefully. There is a myriad of detail, just absorbing the chain of events and courses of action that eluded many of us at the time.
It often seems we have descended into a belligerent partisan nation, which neither engages in thoughtful discourse, nor seems the least bit interested in gathering verifiable facts and then engaging in reasonable, respectful discussion. If we were, this book would be the inspiration for a nationwide effort to ensure that voters across the nation are given every opportunity to vote in elections that are fair, balanced and provide equal access to the system for everyone. We would be engaged in discussion regarding the role the courts played, the place of the electoral college and whether reform is needed.
Unfortuntely, we won't be doing that. The winners and the losers are more interested in tearing each other apart, whatever the consequences. While we are down in the partisan trenches hating our fellow Americans for their political beliefs, those who profit from our division, the corporatrocities that control the world, the religious fanatics who want to displace them so they can control it, in fact all those with evil intent are taking away our right to decide what is best for ourselves. They are also taking our love for each other as citizens of the nation, and of the world. So a large number of the reviews here will be grounded in whether Toobin "hurt" the readers petty partisan beliefs or not, irrespective of the facts and issues.
The clarity and precision of Toobin's work should be a beacon to all those who write about history. Honesty, a thorough understanding of his subject and dispassionate view of events are his greatest gifts as a writer. He is improving with each book; would there would be no further events of this kind to inspire him to write another.
on August 22, 2008
To understand what happened in Florida in the Gore and Bush contest for the presidency, one must read this book. For the first time, I understood the whole chad issue and was intrigued by the misuse of the judicial system in Florida during the period of challenge. While the author has some disdain for what he would see as the spinelessness of the Democratic actions, and he doesn't care for the New York Times editorializing during the recount, these biases are clear and unabashed. The telling of the story, though, reminds us how important it is to understand the difficulties of voting in this country and how flawed our democracy is, at least in that one state. With the subsequent misuse of the court system at the end of the Schiavo case in the same state, this book helps make clear why fark.com has a separate "Florida" tag for some of the world's most bizarre news.
on March 18, 2014
Great book by a great author. Provides deep insight into both the intricacies of the laws
controlling appellate courts, the politics inside the courts, and the personalities and
quirks of our supreme court justices. Of interest to anyone concerned about the
direction taken by the supreme court and the dangers to our society and democracy
from a court dominated by unprincipled ideologues. Toobin is a masterful guide to
the law and its workings.
controlling appellate courts, the politics inside the courts, and the personalities and
quirks of our supreme court justices. Of interest to anyone concerned about the
direction taken by the supreme court and the dangers to our society and democracy
from a court dominated by unprincipled ideologues. Toobin is a masterful guide to
the law and its workings.
on December 31, 2011
This book is a fact-based analysis of the 2000 presidential election. It helps us understand why, as Toobin puts it at the end, the outcome was "a crime against democracy." The analysis makes the reader wonder, "What would prevent it from happening again?" Thus, since the answer is uncertain and the 2012 election is approaching, the book is still quite relevant.
--John L. Hodge, author
--John L. Hodge, author
on November 13, 2014
If it is by Jeffrey Toobin, buy it! I did not have any idea of how complicated this issue was, nor the extent to which things were affected. Again, Toobin's calm, reasonable, informative, an objective style presents a fascinating expose' of the Bush v. Gore election.
on August 19, 2016
Must- read for anyone who cares about democracy and real knowledge as to how democracy really works in this country.
on March 22, 2014
It's impossible to put this book down, even though you know the ending. Toobin points out the missteps of the Gore campaign, and the personal qualities that crippled Gore's ability to respond to the tactics used by the Bush campaign. The Repubs just flat out wanted to win more than Gore did.
on January 5, 2017
Jeffrey Toobin makes you feel like you were there.
on October 9, 2002
Jeffrey Toobin is an exceptionally skilled writer and a potent storyteller. His account of the 2000 presidential election controversy is as exciting and absorbing as any fictional thriller by a best-selling author. He presents both sides of the story with remarkable balance: the Bush team's decisive, if ruthless (even vicious) actions; the Gore team's paralyzing ineptitude and bad luck. Toobin infuses the story with compelling human drama and makes the complex legal issues crystal clear. In an updated epilogue, Toobin reflects on the popularity of President Bush in light of the September 11th terrorist attacks, and on the implications of the media recounts in the wake of the election.
