It's Still the Economy, Stupid: George W. Bush, The GOP's CEO

by Paul Begala

When he took office in 2001, George W. Bush inherited the strongest economy in American history. He inherited the largest federal budget surplus in American history -- and the prospect of paying off the entire national debt in just eight years. He inherited a strong dollar and sound fiscal policy. He inherited a nation whose economy was so strong that commentators who just a decade before were predicting American decline were now complaining about American dominance.
And yet, Dubya blew it. Squandered everything he'd inherited from President Clinton.
We thought if Junior was good at anything, it was inheriting things.
It's Still the Economy, Stupid is the story of how America's CEO -- our first MBA president -- has trashed our economy. It
• How he wasted the surplus on massive tax cuts for the hyper-rich.
• How he talked down the economy for his short-term political gain, then passed an economic program that has put 1.8 million Americans out of work and cost investors $4.4 trillion.
• How he abandoned his free-trade rhetoric to adopt protectionist tariffs, effectively raising taxes on consumers.
• How he walked away from needed investments in education, training, and all the things that make us smarter, safer, and stronger economically.
• How he plans to go on from here to cripple Social Security and to allow the privileged to avoid even more taxes.
It makes you What do they teach you at Harvard Business School?

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

197 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2002

About the author

Paul Begala is a political consultant, a commentator, a prominent liberal, and a former advisor to President Bill Clinton. He gained national prominence as half of the political consulting team Carville and Begala. Until June 2005, Begala was a co-host of CNN's political debate program, Crossfire. He is Research Professor of Public Policy at Georgetown University Public Policy Institute. Currently he is teaching at the University of Georgia School of Law as a Sanders Political Leadership Scholar.

Reviews

[Richard Jespers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Begala's tone is too partisan, too strident, almost adolescent. BUT . . . his facts are interesting and right on the mark. Too bad his tone almost ruins the book’s credibility. Another book, like Molly Ivins’s Shrub, that won’t be read by the people who need to.

[Adriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book during the Bush years. Full of facts that a DNC consultant like Paul Begala should have. Engaging.

[Joshua Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Low-key funny to read cause it’s just Bush slander and Clinton glaze for 150 pages. Also the Epstein photos just came out lmao.