In 1789, the Founding Fathers came up with a system of checks and balances to keep kingly powers out of the hands of American presidents. But in th...
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reviews
Apr 15, 2008
Matt
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If you consider yourself to be a fan of American democracy (which I hope would be most of you), I'd definitely recommend checking out this book. Beyond some very interesting background biography on key neoconservative figures such as Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, this book provides a scary breakdown of how the George W. Bush Administration has worked to strengthen the executive branch of government by stacking the courts and skirting around congressional authority. Along the way, civil libert
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Feb 01, 2011
Jennifer
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Riveting account of the expansion of executive power under the Bush/Cheney administration, a seemingly dry subject that nonetheless ties a great deal of this country's evil under one rubric...the legalization of torture and warrantless wiretapping, the participation of lobbyists in codifying this country's energy policy, climate change denial, the politicization of the justice department and the smothering extension of secrecy to almost every area of our government.
The most shockin More...
The most shockin More...
Jun 15, 2010
Jodi
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Savage does an excellent job presenting his case for how Cheney systematically chipped away at the oversight responsibilities of Congress and manipulated Washington.
The most frustrating actions are those taken to subvert the court systems and to allow for torture of political prisoners. Hard not to get frustrated and angry while reading this book--at myself as much as at the Bush-Cheney administration. I’m angry with myself for not being better informed and doing more about it at t More...
The most frustrating actions are those taken to subvert the court systems and to allow for torture of political prisoners. Hard not to get frustrated and angry while reading this book--at myself as much as at the Bush-Cheney administration. I’m angry with myself for not being better informed and doing more about it at t More...
Nov 24, 2007
Julian
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This is one of the most important books of the past six years. Read it. It will make you flinch. I wish there were more than five stars available on the rating system.
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Mar 04, 2009
Manny
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I read this book last year, and was shocked. I had heard about many of the individual incidents Charlie Savage discusses, but hadn't thought of them as part of a systematic, carefully orchestrated plan to undermine the US Constitution and permanently upset the intended balance of power between the three branches of government. And I recalled reading about a few of the people mentioned, but was surprised to see them named as key players. In particular, this guy John Yoo. Was he really so importan
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Mar 11, 2009
Gina
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Last book read, "Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy" by Charlie Savage.
This is a very angry-making book. It takes all of those news stories that were of concern during the last eight years and sets them into a context. Really, just putting them all together is enough cause for anger, but some of the additional details that did not get much publicity the first time around are also very disturbing. The controversies around More...
This is a very angry-making book. It takes all of those news stories that were of concern during the last eight years and sets them into a context. Really, just putting them all together is enough cause for anger, but some of the additional details that did not get much publicity the first time around are also very disturbing. The controversies around More...
Jan 15, 2008
Carl
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While I was initially hesitant to read this book (I never would've read it had I not gotten a copy for free), I pleasantly surprised with how interesting this book was. It offers a concise yet comprehensive history of historical events that have shaped the debate over presidential power, focusing some on the post-WWII administrations but then honing in on the presidencies of Nixon and those who have followed. Mixed in with this are some great biographical sections on Dick Cheney whom, I think m
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Feb 06, 2010
Robb
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Charlie Savage outlines a persuasive argument that the Bush Administration -- under the leadership of Cheney and his aides -- used threats of terrorism to expand presidential powers to unprecedented levels. Savage traces this back to Cheney's experience in the Ford Administration and the restrictions Congress placed on presidential power in the wake of Watergate. The expansion of presidential power that Cheney advocated (in incredibly strong-arm fashion for a VP) was not just in the service of
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Jun 24, 2008
Steve
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Holy smokes, this is an important book.
Charlie Savage meaningfully and engagingly presents a lot of detail about how Cheney and Bush are accumulating frightening amounts of power for the presidency through a very deliberate approach based on a vision of the President having inherent authority not specifically granted by the Constitution or by statute and of that being the only authority that exists over the executive branch--that is to say they explicitly dispute that laws passed b More...
Charlie Savage meaningfully and engagingly presents a lot of detail about how Cheney and Bush are accumulating frightening amounts of power for the presidency through a very deliberate approach based on a vision of the President having inherent authority not specifically granted by the Constitution or by statute and of that being the only authority that exists over the executive branch--that is to say they explicitly dispute that laws passed b More...
Sep 06, 2009
Ericka
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This book gives insight into the presidency of George bush and the relationship between he and vice president cheney. Very interesting read.
Nov 04, 2007
Therese
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This is amazing. You'll want to kiss Charlie Savage if you were to meet him. I'm gonna do it. You should too. Plus he's cute, AND smart, AND good looking. Not for the faint of heart, Savage tells the story of the rise to power of some of the key players who've been manipulating politics the past 30+ years:Rumsfeld, Cheney, and the impact and legacy of the corrupt and disgusting Nixon Administration.
I found this was a great and well-written history of what's come before and how we got into More...
I found this was a great and well-written history of what's come before and how we got into More...
Jun 09, 2011
Ryan
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Disturbing account of how far the Bush administration reached. Compellingly told and thoroughly researched, it's beautifully written and provides a strong warning against allowing this to continue.
May 31, 2011
Charles
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Well reported, I guess, but not very well written. And pretty unsophisticated.
Dec 26, 2011
Henry
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I thought it was an aggressive argument on how our presidency looks more like the old Soviet model of government than anything else. Time to read the other side of the story.
Sep 10, 2008
Tamra
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Incredibly good, incredibly scary. Charlie Savage did a masterful job researching the history of presidential power and authority, and the role that signing statements have played in modern presidencies. The main focus of the book is on how the Bush/Cheney Administration has increased dramatically the amount of control and power that resides in the Executive Branch and the (often controversial, probably illegal) methods that they have used to get and retain that power.
May 27, 2008
Andrew
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It's easy to forget the outrages of the Bush-Cheney administration until you see them cataloged as thoroughly as Savage does here. And helpfully, Savage explains how the Bush-Cheney actions break with the precedents of their predecessors.
Though I found its non-chronological construction hard to follow at times, this is a great resource for anyone who is interested in presidential politics and power, and wants to be reminded of how awful Bush, Cheney & co. have truly been.
Though I found its non-chronological construction hard to follow at times, this is a great resource for anyone who is interested in presidential politics and power, and wants to be reminded of how awful Bush, Cheney & co. have truly been.
Apr 22, 2008
Susan
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I had to read this book for a political science class and though it was hard to get into it had parts that were extremely interesting. I wouldn't recommend it as a pleasure read but if you want to feel informed about the Bush-Cheney administration and their actions over the course of their time in office this is a good book to read. Don't buy it, borrow it from the library or a friend. You will not be reading this again and again.
Jun 02, 2008
Vince
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This is a wonderfully well-written (but scary) account of how the Bush-Cheney regime has shown throughout its terms that it has a distorted view of the Constitution and especially the separation of powers. Attitudes like that can lead to dictatorships. Unfortunately, unconstitutional things they have done can well haunt the country for years to come.
Sep 27, 2008
Jess
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There is some truly disturbing evidence with documentation to back it up, that we are losing our liberties and moving rapidly from Empire to Despotism. A little tedious at times but definately worth the read.
Dec 14, 2007
Glen
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This is the most thought provoking book I've read this year. It is a truly frightening review of the George W. Bush presidency.
May 26, 2008
Ariel
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This is probably the scariest and most upsetting book I have ever read that wasn't about, like, genocide.
Oct 18, 2007
Clif
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Charlie's a great reporter - and he tells an important story that may impact the U.S for decades to come.
Jan 28, 2009
Lindsay
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It's weird to look back on eight years of a presidency and still feel little but impotent rage.
Apr 01, 2008
Heard about this on NPR's "This American Life" show..."The Audacity of Government" Scary.
Oct 12, 2008
Will
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Bush / Chaney impressively evil. Presidential power way expanded in last 8 yrs.
Nov 19, 2007
Aaron
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One of the more frightening books I've read this year. You should read it too.
