Bush Country

How Dubya Became a Great President While Driving Liberals Insane

By: John Podhoretz

Narrated by: John Podhoretz

Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

George W. Bush arrived in the White House an untested governor with an unfortunate habit of tripping over his own tongue, presiding over an economy slipping into recession, and a nation more obsessed with reality television than with the reality of international terrorism. He was considered by many opinion-leaders a dupe, an illiterate, a cowboy, a preppie, a child of privilege who would never have made it to the White House without the help of his ex-President father. Now, with his first term coming to an end, it is clear to John Podhoretz that Bush has become, and will be remembered, as one of this nation's strongest leaders. He has changed the country's agenda from top to bottom. Steeled by the tragedy of September 11, he has responded with visionary power and towering authority. He has presided over victories in two wars and a triumphant repositioning of his party. His secret: the willingness to spend political capital rather than hoard it. Bush Country makes its case with style and verve. Here is an engrossing and entertaining portrait that proves that "misunderestimating" our forty-third President is folly indeed.

©2004 Henya Ltd. (P)2004 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

"Provocative, witty, in-your-face, and honest." (Publishers Weekly)
"Bush Country: How Dubya Became a Great President While Driving Liberals Insane is an unapologetic apologia, a cheerfully demotic assault on the president's detractors designed to inflict maximum damage in the shortest space of time....Despite the flippant title, Bush Country is serious stuff, a line drawn in the sand with passion." (The New York Times Book Review)

Good book but not so good read.

The author should have left it up to someone else to read. This is one book that I followed the text as it was read. The reader skips paragraphs and even pages at a time. I have no idea why.

Apologia Pro Duci Suo

The combative tone of the reviews here so amused me that I just HAD to download the file. I've just finished listening to Podhoretz's reading of his book and I have to wonder if some its more vehement detractors on this site have themselves listened to it. They really ought to. Podhoretz's mapping of the contemporary political landscape is concise and clear; his reasonableness might prove a welcome antidote to the frenzy that grips the minds of anti-Bush extremists.

I particularly liked Podhoretz's essay on the reputed "stupidity" of Bush. I've been waiting almost four years now for some evidence of this Jay Leno sort of characterization and all the evidence points the other way. Bush has outplayed both the Democrats and his own party and achieved every goal. In geopolitics he has outmaneuvered France, Germany, Russia and Brussels; won two wars, and broken the financial back of Al Queda. If this is "stupidity" let's have more of it!

I would have given "Bush Country" 5 stars if it weren't for the subtitle about driving "Liberals crazy" and the chapter headings "Crazy Idea One" and so on. For one thing, the language is unnecessarily inflammatory -- talk-show stuff, beneath Podhoretz. For another, it isn't just "liberals" that Bush makes nuts: he also enrages extreme right-wingers. Anyone who irks both the Left and Right fringes is all right with me.

Right wing reporter likes Bush, shocking!

Not a bad book really, but it has its facts abit mixed up. For example, the recession happened after Bush came into office, though the White House has been steadily back-dating it as the elections draw near. It should also be noted that the military that has done so well (whether the wars were justified or not, they did well) was the army put together by Bill Clinton (bush didn't have time to make any big changes before the wars). There's also the fact that Bush has been doing everything in his power to hinder the investigation into 9/11, hardly the actions of a good leader who cares about his people. Then there's the lying about the economy, the fact that he turned Clinto's budget surplus into the largest deficit this country has ever seen, and did it in only three years.
Again, this isn't a terrible book, and Bush has done some good. He isn't evil or stupid like many claim, but he is greedy and arrogant. I suppose it helps that the author is a reporter for the New York Post, which is barely a step adove a supermarket tabloit, and totally in the pocket of republican interests.

I Was Going to Pass On This Book Until I Read ...

.......The Negative Reviews!.......now I wouldn't miss 'reading' it. I will get back to you with my assessment, that's a promise! (the number of stars were chosen for preliminary neutrality, so as not to weight the averages until my final vote)

Prescient and Refreshing

The facts that Podhoretz brings into near categorical alignment speak for themselves. My fellow reviewers have failed even to note a single "balloon-trick" from the tome. The author clearly favors the Bush presidency, but spares no expense to qualify his enthusiasm with genuine criticism on certain Bush policies. This is not twisting, but unambiguous articulation. But one thing Podhoretz does incredibly well is explain the overall spectrum of successes the Bush administration has had (whether or not you agree with the successes). The quick list runs like this: 2 major tax cuts, 2 successful wars, prescription drug program, homeland security, foreign policy alignment, affirmative action, and stem cell research. Bush has dealt with a whole host of issues, and most of them have gone his way. The author's description of Bush as a Poker Player can hardly be called an amorous analogy, but it accurately portrays the strategy. What my fellow reviewers can't stand is that people actually DO listen to this stuff. They rightly note that it's too early to call Bush a "great" president, but IMHO, this is just a time factor. I highly recommend this audio book.

A President for the time we live in.

An excellent portrayal of our President. If you appreaciate the job this President is doing, you'll enjoy this book. It describes a man who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. The author gives good examples of President Bush acting on his convictions, walking the walk, and not forming policy based upon polls and focus groups. Thank God he was elected.

Ludicrous.

I agree that perhaps this book should have been in the fiction section, or better yet, the comedy/entertainment section.

I mean, just take one look at that summary above will give you and idea of the sorts of ludicrous claims in this book.

Truly a laugh-out-loud riot.

Well written, excellent

As is typical for a book covering a political topic like this one, you will find most reactions are either in the over-the-top-hate-it or over-the-top-love-it category. If you hate Bush and are even more stirred up by the least rumor of some conspiracy, you are not likely to read even part way through this book, which is really too bad. I found the book very insightful on many aspects of Bush. One area in particular that was very good was the author's coverage of Bush's relationship with his Father, which is, I now understand, much more complicated than I had guessed. I found some of the most interesting sections dealt with how and why Bush gets the left so upset because it reminds me of some of my personal reactions to Clinton, the President, when he got the right so upset not too long ago. But I think this is something many of the people so rightously upset by Bush today are going to learn the hard way. If you like Bush already, this book will explain a lot of how the man is able to accomplish so much. Anyway I highly recommend taking the time to listen to it.

Supporters MUST hear this book.

This well written book opened my eyes as to why people hate President Bush. The typical "Bush-Hater" should not even bother with reading this book. This book or anything else for that matter will never explain the mission of President Bush to these people. No, they are simply brainwashed by the main stream media which is following the lead of the dying Democrat Party. That is what this book so subtly and clearly shows. The leaders of the "Hate Bush Movement" worldwide know that when President Bush is re-elected he will be on the way to destroying the liberal movement and all of its misplaced ideas just as Ronald Reagan destroyed Communism. The leaders of the left know this. This is the root of their fear. That is their main motivation to put party over country and act in ways that are knowingly detrimental to national interest. They will no longer exist after 4 more years of President Bush. That is why the last battle for the survival of the Democrats is currently taking place. The typical "Bush Hater" is not thinking enough to even realize how the power brokers of the Democrats are using them as pawns in their last battle of survival. But back to the book...it made me realize that it is of vital importance that we all do what it takes to keep the President in office. Every Bush supporter MUST read this book. If you do not know why you are supporting him you MUST digest this book. The mission of George W. Bush is not based on politics. No, President Bush wants to reshape the world to make the world the place it should be. He actually wants a utopia more far reaching than any Liberal could dream about. Yes a Liberal utopia that conservatives could also dream about and support because it is achieved by giving every human on this planet the chance to have Liberty. Just as Ronald Reagan reshaped the world with his victory in the cold war, George W.'s visions will reshape the world, ending any influence Liberals have in politics forever. BUY THIS BOOK.

Pure Hyperbole

There's an old saying.....If you keep making the same mistake over and over, does this mean that you're doing at least one thing right? That's GWB. To be honest, I was for 45 years a registered Republican, but I changed my affiliation to the Democratic Party, because of what I perceived GWG to be; a good man, who does bad things, that other people influence him to do. As long as his actions don't disturb his neo-con constiuancy anything goes. The author seems intent to Deify this man who has to date sent 500+ young American men & Women to their deaths, and maimed thousands. I believe that history will ultimately show GWB to be the greatest mass murderer in American history.......And at what cost to our own democracy. If you like GWB then read on, this won't change your mind, but if you don't, you'll
likely vomit within the first couple of chapters. My recommendation; don't waste your time!