From the best-selling author of A Vast Conspiracy and The Run of His Life comes Too Close to Call--the definitive story of the Bush-Gore presidenti...
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reviews
Apr 20, 2009
Philip
rated it: 
"The votes of Florida have been counted. They have been recounted. And tonight they have been certified."
-George Bush
In college, I remember reading and hearing a little bit about the Florida recount, thinking it was bizarre, and moving on.
Not surprisingly, the story is bizarre. Not bizarre in the "they stole the election kind of way" - although I felt more sympathetic to those people after reading the book.
The book looks at the diff More...
Feb 17, 2011
Andrew
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I reread this recently in anticipation of shenanigans and a scare somewhere with the recent 2008 election. It is absolutely fascinating. Jeff Toobin makes the ins and outs of archaic Florida election law accessible to even the most amateur reader of law (read: me) and the resulting material is tremendously compelling. The disgusting advantages afforded to each side on a daily basis; the tenuous connection that Dems and the GOP had on winning the battle to recount the votes; Gore's meekness in
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Apr 30, 2011
Ryan
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An in-depth account of the 2000 Florida recount by CNN's chief legal analyst. Toobin, who was in Florida covering the recount, tells the behind-the-scenes tale of the month-long battle, and explains the legal and political processes involved.
In Toobin's account, Bush had several key advantages during the recount battle:
1. Bush had started off in the lead after election night, and thus carried a public imprimatur that few judges or election officials dared to challenge.
2. The More...
In Toobin's account, Bush had several key advantages during the recount battle:
1. Bush had started off in the lead after election night, and thus carried a public imprimatur that few judges or election officials dared to challenge.
2. The More...
Aug 13, 2010
David
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We all might want to forget that it ever happened -- not only the election that the U.S. Supreme Court superseded but also the whole George W. Bush presidency that followed. That would be unwise. Reading Toobin's book 10 years after the historic episode you can see how the principles (or lack of them) of the Bush administration and Republicans were in operation even before day one, e.g., win at all costs, no compromising or bipartisanship.
Gore comes out looking high-principled but unin More...
Gore comes out looking high-principled but unin More...
Mar 16, 2009
Kira
rated it:
Wow...more than I ever wanted to know about that 2000 presidential election. This book was surprisingly addictive and engaging. I found it easy to read for hours and it was very insightful into what exactly took so long to decide that election. I know Gore didn't want to look like a sore loser, but seriously, that's exactly how it played out. Not that the two men were the best candidates, this has nothing to do with what party is right and what party is wrong, it's just a good look at how is
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Apr 15, 2011
David
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As the saga reaches its climax (and as his story approaches its conclusion) Toobin's bias becomes increasingly difficult to ignore or mitigate. His tone starts balanced and reasonably fair, but becomes increasingly shrill and mean-spirited. Hard to concentrate on getting through the story without that needless distraction. He undermines his case by taking the swipes at Republican efforts and excusing Democrats.
I thoroughly enjoyed "The Nine" and was really looking forward to his More...
I thoroughly enjoyed "The Nine" and was really looking forward to his More...
May 13, 2008
Jack
rated it:
While this book sounds like a dry factual account - and it contains as much information as I would expect from a good one - it's also suprisingly emotionally effective. It's hard to discern to what extent that derives from Toobin's prose and analysis and to what extent it derives from the memories the topic recalls, but either way it's an impressive feat. It is, for better or worse, like reliving the tension, exasperation, and disappointment five weeks following the 2000 election.
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Jan 03, 2012
John L.
rated it:
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.
Jun 23, 2011
Tim
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I'm not sure the narrative Toobin suggests - the Bush team was ruthless, the Gore team was overly concerned with process and procedural fairness - was as clean as Toobin suggests, but the story of Florida is still compelling, even a decade removed.
Aug 22, 2010
Bethany
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This book is exactly what it appears to be, a comprehensive account of the post-Election Day balloting and recounting debacle in Florida in 2000. Jeffrey Toobin is a fantastic writer, and this book is very readable. Like in his other fabulous book The Nine, on the Supreme Court, his bias is clear, but he is mostly fair and fun to read. His central point is that Al Gore should have won the election, but he failed to go all-out in the post-election wrangling. His team was tentative, divided, a
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Jan 08, 2012
Weikang
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Toobin has a talent to produce gripping drama and to offer precise analysis of complex issues. The epic battle is depicted with excellent story-telling skills and clarity (and fairness in my opinion).
Mar 02, 2009
Interesting insights...but I thought too long. I am however, amazed at the amount of information he obtains for his books and the depths he is willing to go to share it with his reading audience.
Jul 18, 2011
I've started this book so many times. I enjoy Toobin's books, but even after over ten years, I still can't get over it. Might need to wait for twenty to start it....
Dec 27, 2009
Meg
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Depressing, but important. It was well-written. I would have found it amazing if I hadn't known how it would all end badly.
Jun 23, 2009
kmg
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Election law is the new rock and roll (says she who is currently down one Senator). Plus, Jeffrey Toobin.
Aug 16, 2010
Anne
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I really hesitated to open this book......after eight years of agony, could I bear it? Plus, not exactly news.
Wellll, the book is astonishing. The writing is so engaging, it reads almost like a thriller, what will happen next?? I watched the whole circus on C-SPAN pretty obsessively, but here's all the inside dope.
And, actually, still timely about the nature of Democrats (the party of process) and Republicans (the party of results at any cost).
Wellll, the book is astonishing. The writing is so engaging, it reads almost like a thriller, what will happen next?? I watched the whole circus on C-SPAN pretty obsessively, but here's all the inside dope.
And, actually, still timely about the nature of Democrats (the party of process) and Republicans (the party of results at any cost).
Jun 18, 2008
Angie
rated it:
I found this book very revealing of the situation & events surrounding the disputed 2000 US Presidential Election. It seemed to llok at the election from all sides, though I'd say it is more sympathetic to the Gore camp. I would totally recomend this for anyone who wants to have a better idea of how George W. Bush became our President.
Mar 27, 2008
Mary
rated it:
Good account of the 2000 election. Just as painful to read as it was to go through it here in Florida. My rating may reflect that pain and not be as accurate as it could be. Lets hope we never go through that again.
Oct 24, 2007
john
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Pretty good account of the court battles, but a bit partisan. Well, I can't tell if it's partisanship or that Bush & co are just assholes from an objective point of view.
Oct 14, 2008
Nancy
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Toobin is a terrific story teller, and this one is as chilling to read about now as it was to live through then. Heaven help us that we haven't changed anything...
Dec 17, 2009
Barbara
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Toobin is an excellent writer. This was such a nadir in the history of the U.S. It still grieves me to think about it.
Dec 17, 2007
a good book on the 2000 presidential election and how the U.S.'s legal system weighs on politics.
Feb 05, 2012
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