From Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose, authors of Shrub, Bushwhacked is a hilarious, no-holds-barred look at George W. Bush and his administration, and a...
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Dec 17, 2009
Laura
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I enjoyed reading this book, but the second half is better than the first. The first half is chock-full of so many statistics and dizzying governmental jargon that I had a hard time understanding it all. I also think Molly Ivins and Lou Dobose could have done with fewer sob stories. The book was very Michael Moore-ish in this way. It does get their point across, but I think it is a tool they use too often. The second half of the book is chapter after maddening chapter presenting evidence of the
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Oct 06, 2010
Jude
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 03, 2011
Tina
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Absolutely fantastic informative book about the horror of the Bush years. It leaves the reader feeling much more knowledgeable and in my case, with much sympathy for the US electorate who have no way of having a fair election due to the immense amount of misinformation disseminated by those with the money to pay for the publicity. Shows the US system as deeply flawed. As Molly Ivins put it - government is for the "big bidness" when it should be for "the people". A must fo
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Mar 29, 2009
James
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We miss you, Molly Ivins! Being a Texan political reporter and essayist, she knew Dubya better than most when he took office as President, although he surprised even her with his capacity for murderous bungling and meanness. Her approach was, like that of Jim Hightower, to look at the lives of ordinary people and explore how they are affected by the politics of the President and the Congress. She blended laughter and hope with anger and determination not to let wrongdoing go unnoticed. The end
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Sep 22, 2007
Donna
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Not as good as her first book on Bush.
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Mar 10, 2010
MJ
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First of all, I LOVE EVERYTHING MOLLY IVINS!
I read this just before and after Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration and after the first several months of the Bush/Cheney economic meltdown --- due mostly, but not entirely, to Republican policies which have wreaked havoc on the world economy. Molly Ivins eerily predicts this in her book. She castigates Bush and the Republicans for dismantling economic safeguards which had been in place since the Great Depression.
I MISS MOLLY! More...
I read this just before and after Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration and after the first several months of the Bush/Cheney economic meltdown --- due mostly, but not entirely, to Republican policies which have wreaked havoc on the world economy. Molly Ivins eerily predicts this in her book. She castigates Bush and the Republicans for dismantling economic safeguards which had been in place since the Great Depression.
I MISS MOLLY! More...
Jul 19, 2008
Alicia
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I get worried when I start to hear repeated items of anti-Bush information from, say, Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 and Ivins' Bushwhacked. Because either Michael Moore has been blatantly using Ivins as a textbook of liberal criticisms of the current administration, or there only exist those few critical points, surrounded by a cloud of bluster.
If the former, then much of the current hullaballoo about Moore's documentary, no matter how accurate, is two years too late. If the latter More...
If the former, then much of the current hullaballoo about Moore's documentary, no matter how accurate, is two years too late. If the latter More...
Jul 15, 2008
Mary
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If only this book had been read to everyone of voting age on Halloween of 2000! It truly is a horror story, and may have changed the minds of anyone stupid enough to have voted for bush in the election following, thus producing the greatest horror story in American history, or maybe second only to slavery. We are still suffering the long-term effects of slavery, but I fear the long-term effects of the most toxic administration in history are yet to be measured.
Ivins and Dubose star More...
Ivins and Dubose star More...
Jun 29, 2008
Saleem
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Bushwhacked: Life in George W. Bush's America
Molly Ivins & Lou DuBose
Vintage Books (Random House)
$17 CDN, Paperback
*** 1/2
Newspaper columns come in three varieties: Good, bad and disposable. A good column is provocative. It argues a case. It makes a reader think. It compels even those who oppose the author's stance to read it.
Unsurprisingly, the best-selling Bushwhacked (now available in a mass-market paperback edition) displays all of those qualit More...
Molly Ivins & Lou DuBose
Vintage Books (Random House)
$17 CDN, Paperback
*** 1/2
Newspaper columns come in three varieties: Good, bad and disposable. A good column is provocative. It argues a case. It makes a reader think. It compels even those who oppose the author's stance to read it.
Unsurprisingly, the best-selling Bushwhacked (now available in a mass-market paperback edition) displays all of those qualit More...
Jan 24, 2008
Paige
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This book was written in 2003; kind of a long time in the whole politics thing, but I picked it up brand new for $1, so I figured better late than never.
I am pretty glad I read it; I would have paid much more than $1 to learn some of the information in the book (of course no one should have to pay to know the truth), which is why I gave it the rating I did. Ivins & Dubose covered a lot of ground and detailed some of the horrible things Bush&Co have been doing to this country.
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I am pretty glad I read it; I would have paid much more than $1 to learn some of the information in the book (of course no one should have to pay to know the truth), which is why I gave it the rating I did. Ivins & Dubose covered a lot of ground and detailed some of the horrible things Bush&Co have been doing to this country.
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Jan 14, 2011
Joe
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This was my first reading of Molly Ivins, prompted by her untimely death this year and a number of related articles which introduced me to her life/work. Without a doubt, the mission is an expose of W’s misdeeds and failures, but she does it without meanness and with humor. Fans of George W. Bush probably wouldn’t like it, but it/she should be required reading.
Oct 11, 2010
Erica -
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My review written after I finished the book in 2004: Molly Ivins delivers once again! She's always so great in her wit. It's amazing to me that she can make utterly irritating things funny. Just when I thought I was outraged enough, I read the next chapter and became even more outraged. This President has been so reckless and he needs to be voted out of office!!
Mar 05, 2009
Erica
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My review written after I finished the book in 2004: Molly Ivins delivers once again! She's always so great in her wit. It's amazing to me that she can make utterly irritating things funny. Just when I thought I was outraged enough, I read the next chapter and became even more outraged. This President has been so reckless and he needs to be voted out of office!!
Dec 06, 2011
Travis
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Good book on the 'Bush legacy', tries for equal parts of serious approach and humorous.
Much as I love Molly Ivins, I just find the subject matter so depressing and blood pressure raising that it costs the book a star, as I read to stay informed, but when it comes to Republicans, I never enjoy the book and so generally subtract a star.
Much as I love Molly Ivins, I just find the subject matter so depressing and blood pressure raising that it costs the book a star, as I read to stay informed, but when it comes to Republicans, I never enjoy the book and so generally subtract a star.
Oct 13, 2010
Allison
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Should this book be classified under "horror, nonfiction"? Thank goodness Molly Ivins is(was) a writer gifted with a very funny wit, cuz these tales will scare the poop outta ya. Very educational as well, and she makes it pretty clear that, though we no longer have a shrub in the White House, this book is still extremely relevant. Yikes.
Dec 17, 2009
Christina
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This one took awhile to read since I picked it up during my busiest time! It was not as *funny* as I had hoped, but it is classic Molly and I did read it just after she passed as a way to revel in her viewpoint. Back in 1999 when it was clear that GW was going to get the GOP nomination and my own guy was in knots over it, Molly was the only one writing things the way I saw them. I swore sometimes it was just Molly and I and no one else! Of course, I know this is not true - many of us were out th
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May 22, 2009
Sam
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This is a very entertaining and informational book. I would recommend this if you are the type of person who is interested in politics and likes to do their research (whether u are a Bush fan or not). A MUST read for those who are Anti-Bush.
May 16, 2009
Bethany
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This may be a book that was so good because it was desperately needed during the middle of the Bush era, but I still recommend it! Molly Ivins is one of my favorite writers. She's witty and smart... thoroughlly enjoyable!
Feb 05, 2009
Cynhmaurer
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I am so sad Molly Ivins is no longer with us to provide humor and satire into today's modern political world. This books is hilarious and gives great insight into the "old boy's network" of US politics.
Jan 26, 2010
Denis
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I read this years ago and am re-reading now. It is -- among other things -- hilarious. Molly Ivins, writing about the Texas "Lege," is one of the greats in American political humor.
Jan 22, 2009
Carol
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Absolutely loved this book. If you didn't think George and crew were smart, read this to see what their real strategies were.
Feb 22, 2009
Allison
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It was absolutely infuriating when I read it on the plane in Summer 2004; doubly so that November.
Feb 21, 2010
Bushwacked (Life in George W. Bush's America) by Molly Ivins and Lou dubose (2003)
Jul 25, 2009
Brody
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Great idea, but probably would have been better to read this book while GWB was in office...
Sep 17, 2008
Jack
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What journalism should be! Molly & Lou show the importance of good government, of having qualified people in power who recognize the importance of their jobs, of government in curbing excesses from greed...all before Katrina and "heckuva job, Brownie"! Conservatives don't believe government is the solution, then they make sure it's not by getting into power and dismantling programs and regulations that are in place to protect against greed, a natural outgrowth of unregulated markets.
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Jul 22, 2008
Todd
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I dearly miss Molly Ivins. I've learned more about how government really works by reading her than anyone else. Molly had the respect to share politician's policy records and not gloss over them because it's too boring or unsexy. To the contrary, she makes the machinations of government a story I want to see more of. I've never had the reaction to a journalist's death like I did when Molly died. Just as many have speculated about how the discourse will be adversely affected this fall withou
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Apr 19, 2009
Valerie
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Thankfully, we no longer live in that America. Let's hope the hope reshapes the world.
Mar 21, 2009
Jawally2
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Funny (smirk), but more entertainment than any real journalism involved.
