 [Larger view] | The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O'Neill
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 Understanding G. W. Bush's administration | |
| This is one book I've read of which I enjoyed every single page. Suskind is a great writer. He presents this book in such a way that a non-American audience (like myself) would not only read and clearly understand but also enjoy.
In a nutshell, the book is about Paul O'Neill, Treasury Secretary during Bush II's first term. O'Neill was eventually fired by Bush for refusing to toe the White House line on issues ranging from the environment, debt cancellation for poor countries, tax relief for wealth Americans and ways to deal with corporate scandals. Going through this book, one gets a very good picture (from O'Neill's viewpoint) about how the Bush administration really works. Though O'Neill carefully chose his words, there is no hiding the fact that in his opinion George W. Bush is so unknowledgeable on a wide range of issues. Bush is a man driven by ideology even when reality presents evidence contrary to his beliefs. Rationality seems to have no place in the Bush administration. Take tax cuts and the need to reform social security for instance. Though O'Neill presented coherent arguments as to why excessive tax cuts should not be put in place, Bush went ahead simply stating that he couldn't let those who voted him to office down. To O'Neill, the Bush administration, spearheaded by Dick Cheney cared so little about spiraling United States budget deficits and unreformed environmental policy. Big business played such a great role in shaping United States policy. O'Neill knew this all-too-well. As a multi-millionaire ex-corporate executive, he had an enviable record of turning around one of America's largest aluminum companies leaving behind a remarkable record. However, O'Neill felt that issues such as the environment needed significant attention from the Bush administration. Furthermore, Bush cared little about poor countries. O'Neill's dream of supplying portable drinking water to much of Ghana came to naught - he was fired (or rather asked to resign) before this could be done. His call for increased United States funding for AIDS in Africa however seems to have been heeded by the Bush administration. O'Neill frequently admitted that he had a big mouth. He loved to speak his mind and this eventually was what put him at odds with Bush. There were instances when he briefed the media about "government policies" except that such policies were in contradiction to what the White House had in mind. Reading this book however, one cannot but help respect O'Neill's honesty and dedication. A very cultured man you may call him who simply could not work with an unknowledgeable and ideology-driven president. And O, those meetings with Alan Greenspan, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. I loved reading about these guys sitting together having breakfast and discussing the markets. This is a wonderful book. I would recommend it to all - whether or not you are an American. | |
 Gwhiz | |
| If you read one book about this administration this is the one to read. It's virtually the only one that really gives you an idea of how Bush operates on a day to day basis -- just a name and a controllable mouthpiece for Cheney, Rove the Christian right and the RNC. | |
| Astonishing and frightening | |
| A book from Ron Suskind and Paul O'Neill, two smart and financially expert Republicans, should carry great weight and credibility on the subject of economic decision-making in the Bush administration. The book carries even more weight because of O'Neill's meticulous habit of record-keeping and his inclination to analyze complex problems deeply.
No stranger to political rough-and-tumble, O'Neill accepted an appointment as Bush's Treasury Secretary, knowing that a loyal member of the President's team would have to fight hard for particular policy recommendations in a sea of competing priorities. From service in previous Admininistrations, O'Neill expected that. However, it becomes clear that O'Neill soon found something in the Bush Whitehouse that he had not expected -- a disregard for principles of good governance, and a lack of interest in the truth. This book is not always easy reading; in fact, in many places the story is surprisingly painful. Although Suskind's narrative is clear and engaging, I found it gut-wrenching to see how often the Bush Whitehouse disregarded data compiled by its own experts. Even more painful were the narratives detailing how Bush and his closest advisors on many occasions directed O'Neill to tell lies for them in public. (It seemed to me that it was only in these sections that the narrative showed O'Neill allowing himself to express anger.) In the end, O'Neill emerges as a principled, energetic, and likable figure. He had previously become accustomed to political hard-ball, and was prepared to serve loyally when he took the job. In the end it becomes clear that he was fired because he insisted on looking for, and telling, the truth. Among what has become a near flood of polemics detailing the policy blunders of the Bush Administration, where does this book fit? I think it deserves a special place, even among books written not by Democrats, but by Republicans with previous solid track-records of public service. (For example, there are the recent very pejorative books by Clarke, Dean, Whitman, and Phillips.) Other books by Democratic critics are, not surprisingly, much more barbed (as, Paul Krugman's books). By contrast, this book's tone is measured, not strident. Its narrative is scrupulously detailed. Its inside look at decision-making in Washington is rivetting. For all these reasons I highly recommend the book, notwithstanding the frightening and painful story it tells. |
