Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Barton Gellmans newsbreaking investigative journalism documents how Vice President Dick Cheney redefined the ...
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Nov 18, 2008
Drake
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After reading Barton Gellman’s (and Jo Becker’s) series of articles in the Washington Post reporting on Vice President Dick Cheney, I couldn’t wait for an expanded book version. The series won a Pulitzer prize for its well documented revelations, and perhaps already aware of many of these, I came to be disappointed as I read ‘Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency.’ This isn’t to say that ‘Angler’ is a bad book on any level. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in current political af
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Nov 24, 2008
marcali
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add a crunchy top layer to the political casserole created by The Bush Tragedy, The Terror Presidency, Bush's Law and many many NYer articles.
neat summary of these past eight Wonderland years:
A three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit...said the classified files contained mere assertions, not evidence. When the government declared the intelligence reliable because in appeared in three different documents, the judges mocked that reasoning. " More...
neat summary of these past eight Wonderland years:
A three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit...said the classified files contained mere assertions, not evidence. When the government declared the intelligence reliable because in appeared in three different documents, the judges mocked that reasoning. " More...
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Jan 26, 2009
Remo
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This book provides an interesting perspective on how to take over the entire policy process in Washington. It is not a flattering book, and the author clearly is not a Cheney fan, but an interesting portrait of the former VP comes out anyway. VP Cheney offered to be President Bush’s “detail guy”, handling things the President didn’t want on his plate. The first step (after leading a search for a vice presidential candidate and rejecting all comers) was to be put in charge of the transition, d
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Nov 30, 2008
Garver
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Gellman's exhaustively sourced and gripping account of Cheney's transformation of OVP could not be any more fascinating. Getting beyond all the conspiracy theories and general nutjobbery that surrounds the man, the book tells a story of an almost Greek tragic hero -- a man so blinded by ideology and a lust for secrecy that he may have been at once the most effective and destructive holder of the office. Starting with Cheney's appointment to the ticket (recall, he ran Bush's VP search committee
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Nov 30, 2008
Kathleen
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This was a surprisingly riveting read. One of those books that I could not put down and could comfortably spend three hours reading without a pause. Based on Barton Gellman's Pulitzer Prize winning articles in the Washington Post, Angler details how Cheney amasses and executes power during the two Bush terms. The book opens with a description of the VP vetting process (run by Cheney) during which massive amounts of private and detailed information were provided to the Cheney team by short-lis
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Jan 12, 2011
Chris
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I recently downloaded this audiobook on a whim from LA County library online system (check it out, LA locals). All I knew was that it was an in depth look at Dick Cheney in his role as VP, and that the author, Barton Gellman, had shared the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for his writing on Cheney with the Washington Post.
Gellman succeeds in taking 8 years of data (along with a lot of before and after) and boiling it down into a page-turning account of the man who was the closest our nation has More...
Gellman succeeds in taking 8 years of data (along with a lot of before and after) and boiling it down into a page-turning account of the man who was the closest our nation has More...
Aug 25, 2009
Jeremy
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A tour de force autobiography of one of the most important political figures of our times. Even someone who has been closely following Cheney, as I have, will learn a great deal. Gellman is extremely fair--taking great pains, for example, to exonerate Cheney from any leftwing allegations about corruption. The man's motivations are never venal. But he does a better job than any previous account of showing how Cheney managed to infiltrate his people into every part of the administrative proces
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Jul 16, 2009
Alison
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Finished this book a few days ago, and I give it a strong recommendation. Gellman is meticulous to describe Cheney's modus operandi through its strengths and limitations, successes and failures. Gellman's assessment of the Cheney vice-presidency takes care to demonstrate what Cheney was and what Cheney wasn't. He pulls no punches in recounting the events leading up to the Bush administration's condoning of both torture and domestic surveillance. What was interesting to me was Gellman's treat
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Feb 23, 2009
Daniel
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Why do people hate Dick Cheney? I read this book for answers and, happily, I can say Gellman delivers. The book starts weakly by making some innuendos about Cheney regarding a 'leak' about a VP candidate, Gov. Keating; the offended governor seems to believe only Cheney could have caused his troubles even though he admits he told several people about the subject when he was being cleared for an earlier job. Nevertheless, after this small misstep Gellman does a reasonably good job of illustrating
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Sep 20, 2009
Ray
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This was an excellent book, based on Barton Gellman's Pulitzer Prize winning 2008 investigations and writings on National politics. As a Washington Post writer, Mr. Gellman had access to many in Cheney's inner circle and the Bush White House to put together this informative description of the Vice President's role in setting the tone and direction of the Administration. We've seen political cartoons over the past eight years with Dick Cheney as the ventriloquist, pulling the strings and puttin
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Dec 03, 2009
Jennifer (JC-S)
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‘I have a different understanding with the President.’
This book is specifically about Dick Cheney’s role in the George W Bush presidency. It also raises questions more generally, at least for me, about the role of the vice-president in the USA’s administration. It seems clear, both from the content of the book and wider events that Dick Cheney had a different view of the roles and responsibilities of the role of the vice president than his immediate predecessors. It is very clear More...
This book is specifically about Dick Cheney’s role in the George W Bush presidency. It also raises questions more generally, at least for me, about the role of the vice-president in the USA’s administration. It seems clear, both from the content of the book and wider events that Dick Cheney had a different view of the roles and responsibilities of the role of the vice president than his immediate predecessors. It is very clear More...
Dec 29, 2008
Mark
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The best political book I've read about the Bush administration. A remarkably even-handed and detailed profile of Cheney's years in the White House. It destroys a lot of the more ludicrous ideas of Cheney's motives while revealing things that are so calculated and unyielding that its shocking. On one hand, Cheney's secrecy goes as far as to even hide things that would dispel myths about him, like his forfeiting millions in Haliburton stock options. On the other hand, he and his chief lawyer D
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Jan 18, 2009
Dave
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Learned
1. Cheney is the man behind the power. He had his hands in _everything major_ or so it seems. As I read the book, it seemed like many major decisions were made w/o proper vetting/procedures being followed. THus, it seem like there were almost no types of consultation or critical thinking involved in making and enacting the decisions. From Abu Grab to torture to Fed rates to water management; this guy was making major policy decisions, often with minimal presidential .
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1. Cheney is the man behind the power. He had his hands in _everything major_ or so it seems. As I read the book, it seemed like many major decisions were made w/o proper vetting/procedures being followed. THus, it seem like there were almost no types of consultation or critical thinking involved in making and enacting the decisions. From Abu Grab to torture to Fed rates to water management; this guy was making major policy decisions, often with minimal presidential .
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Dec 06, 2008
Nathan
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11/11: Hits the ground running with Cheney's terse, intrusive manipulation of the 2000 vice presidential vetting process, which turned out not to be necessary since Cheney chose himself as vp.
11/12: No surprise. Cheney gives his higher-up subordinates comparable positions in the president's staff, finesses himself into the Principals Committee and the Senate Republican Caucus, and makes himself a confidential adviser to the president on a level with the national security adviser. Mos More...
11/12: No surprise. Cheney gives his higher-up subordinates comparable positions in the president's staff, finesses himself into the Principals Committee and the Senate Republican Caucus, and makes himself a confidential adviser to the president on a level with the national security adviser. Mos More...
Feb 09, 2009
Michelle
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Wow. The first two thirds of this book is excellent. Cheney is brilliantly able to achieve his objectives. Gellman describes how he could outmanuever and outwork all of his ideological foes. It is amazing to realize all of the Bush policies that have Cheney's fingerprints all over them--the tax cuts early in the first term, Guantanamo and treatment of detainees, the warantless wiretapping initiative, energy and environmental policy. Truly, he took to VP office to new heights. Oh, the secret
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Jul 09, 2009
Ebama
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A dark and rich perspective on a deceitful and mischievous vice-presidency. Angler approaches the Cheney years by topic rather than chronology, which means larger principles addressed earlier in the book are seen later in other topics. Terrorism, economy, oil, Katrina, 9/11, all are covered individually so full attention can be focused on issue rather than circumstance. As a result, it is uniquely visible how Cheney manages, copes, delegates, and reacts by issue. A clear pattern emerges with
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Jan 03, 2009
Greg
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An old rule in business and politics is "Never hire someone you can't fire". One of the things Gellman points out early on in this book is that the VP, uniquely amount the President's inner circle, can't be fired by the President. This book, which is relatively even-handed, shows how Cheney pulled the levers of power within the administration. I've never read another book that shows, in detail, the execution of power, and how the day-to-day work of an administration happens. The im
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Dec 23, 2009
Alec
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Fantastically interesting piece of non-fiction tied together by a narrative worthy of an Aaron Sorkin drama. Specifically, the West Wing. Alright, I've never seen the West Wing, but if it is at all like this book, I am going to go out and purchase the DVDs.
In an era when Cheney bashing is as trendy as skinny jeans, this book is a breath of fresh air. Not because it is written from a pro-Cheney angle, but because it appears to be a sparkling piece of journalistic objectivity.
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In an era when Cheney bashing is as trendy as skinny jeans, this book is a breath of fresh air. Not because it is written from a pro-Cheney angle, but because it appears to be a sparkling piece of journalistic objectivity.
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Jun 04, 2009
The strength of this book is narrative...I think Gellman does a good job at staying clear, as much as possible, from cherry picking evidence to support preconceived ideas about Cheney. It's fairly raw journalism, and the reader is left to draw his own conclusions.
I do think Gellman could have explained a little bit about the inside workings of the White House, but then again, he stuck to telling the story.
I've learned that:
Cheney did what he did because he could More...
I do think Gellman could have explained a little bit about the inside workings of the White House, but then again, he stuck to telling the story.
I've learned that:
Cheney did what he did because he could More...
Feb 07, 2009
Rob
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Pretty bad-ass reporting and taut storytelling. Cheney set policy goals and accomplished them, is the essence of it, but how that happened it is still fascinating.
There is a large cast of supporting players -- Alberto Gonzales comes off especially badly -- but in a curious way it's the vice president's lawyer David Addington who dominates this book. Addington, who I've heard called "Cheney's Cheney," seems to be forever shouting at people in meetings, pushing through secr More...
There is a large cast of supporting players -- Alberto Gonzales comes off especially badly -- but in a curious way it's the vice president's lawyer David Addington who dominates this book. Addington, who I've heard called "Cheney's Cheney," seems to be forever shouting at people in meetings, pushing through secr More...
Feb 02, 2009
Tiffoknee the 3rd
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An excellent example of taut, well-researched journalism transformed into an equally fine book-length exploration of the philosophy and ideology of the Cheney imperative. Gellman's writing moves swiftly and deftly through complex policy grapplings. My frustration and disgust often required that I stop to close the book and ponder the ramifications of what I'd read. I predict that someone will make the pitch and ask Mr. Gellman for movie rights. That may or may not be a good thing. Who can s
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Dec 08, 2009
Khalid
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Washington Post investigative reporter Barton Gellman presented information in a narrative style, how Vice President Dick Cheney redefined the role of the American vice presidency, assumed unprecedented responsibilities and made it a post of historic power. Gellman exposed the mechanics of Cheney’s largely successful post-September 11 campaign to win unchecked power for the commander in chief. The book also provided descriptions of the inner workings of the Bush administration and the vice presi
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Jul 27, 2011
The book is not an indictment. It maintains a low-key tone. It documents that Cheney really did dissociate himself from Halliburton before entering government, even at personal cost. It documents his phenomenal capacity for hard work and detail. It also describes his skill at operating the machinery of government, and "managing" the flow of information to his nominal boss, to get things done.
A sober portrait of someone driven to seize power and tell himself that he was doing it f More...
A sober portrait of someone driven to seize power and tell himself that he was doing it f More...
Jan 02, 2009
Mark
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This is a classic, IMHO. Really gives a good sense of how government works and how Cheney drove executive branch to reclaim lost power (of that branch). Cheney's depth of detailed knowledge on everything - policy, law, protocol, people and process is pretty impressive. Raises all sorts of questions on the delineation between him and Bush, and how that defines culpability. Total behind the scenes on key events, not partisan or editorializing but very strong analysis and excellent narrative from m
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Dec 21, 2009
Paul
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Hipsters and other types of partisan Democrats love the idea of Cheney as someone beyond a mere political adversary, but someone who truly embodies pure evil. There were times during the Bush administration that everyone must have been suspicious of such a characterization. Cheney did himself no favors by cloaking all his decisions, benign and otherwise, in a veil of secrecy and it certainly didn't help that he looks generally sinister anyway. Gellman's book peels back the cloak to reveal somewh
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Jan 30, 2009
Emily
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Terrifying, quite frankly. But it's hard for me to really just LOVE non-fiction. Also it does lose some potency when a certain part of it is missing sources (although he apologizes for that in the acknowledgments) and also when it was written prior to cheney leaving office. would love to see an updated version that included a paragraph about him in the wheelchair on inauguration day.
(although i think the writer does make it clear that cheney lost prominence in the 2nd term, and actu More...
(although i think the writer does make it clear that cheney lost prominence in the 2nd term, and actu More...
Mar 24, 2009
Ronspross
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The Bush administration has been the most damaging one of my life -- and I can remember Eisenhower. The former President still has his apologists who claim he is intelligent, well informed, and engaged. There is no evidence for this whatsoever. The man exhibited no acquaintance with anything other than the cultural prejudices with which he grew up and no awareness of the existence of a host of alternative prejudices. The lack of intelligence or deliberation is evident in the fact that he dem
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May 25, 2009
Jeweleye
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If you are still scratching your head over how the Bush administration took the path it did, defying over 200 years of laws and customs in the process, you must read this book. Angler is about the Cheney Vice Presidency; Angler was/is Cheney's Secret Service nickname, so named because he is a fly fisherman but also because he spent eight years angling and maneuvering to get his ideas before the President. Oh, he is a wily one! And so convinced that he is right! At least that's how I have to look
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Dec 05, 2008
Kristine
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I never thought spending a week inside the mind of Dick Cheney would be an enjoyable experince but this book is really good!!
Love him or loathe him you have to admire his mad political skilz. He basically is the President without being the President and with Bush's blessing. OK so maybe that last part isn't so hard to believe but the way he plays his game on the world's chessboard is masterful.
Oh and in an interview he said he really likes the nickname "Darth Cheney More...
Love him or loathe him you have to admire his mad political skilz. He basically is the President without being the President and with Bush's blessing. OK so maybe that last part isn't so hard to believe but the way he plays his game on the world's chessboard is masterful.
Oh and in an interview he said he really likes the nickname "Darth Cheney More...
Feb 05, 2009
J.
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If you've paid close attention to the newspapers and wire services in the last eight years, you really don't need to read Angler The Cheney Vice Presidency. You knew what was happening all along. But it may be worth it to read through as a summation, a reminder of the kind of rampant malfeasance in office that the national citizenry allowed, and by their silence, approved.
What's interesting, for those who don't need to read it, may just be the most minute facets of machiavellian More...
What's interesting, for those who don't need to read it, may just be the most minute facets of machiavellian More...
