Before we get into the book reviews, have you noticed how much weight Trump has put on? You can see it in his cheeks and his waistline. Stress can make you eat more of that KFC, burgers and fries. No doubt he has plenty to be stressed about, eh? Manafort, Cohen, the Kavanaugh appointment and when will the indictments drop. Not to mention what 2019 will be like with the Democrats in charge of the House and now maybe the Senate too–especially with the way the Republicans are now and will be treating Christine Blasey Ford.
Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An amazing book that reads very quickly and easily as a novel does. Except, there is little fiction here–except perhaps in the beliefs of Donald Trump and people like John Dowd. As I finished, I found photos, footnotes, source material by chapter and an index that added another 25% or so to the page count. So, no fiction on Woodward’s part.
As for Trump, consider the old adage, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, I already have my mind made up.” In Trump’s case, he is never confused with facts–he has his own and rejects all others. Here’s a shortened quote from page 138.
“Mr. President, can I show this to you?” Cohn fanned out the pages of data in front of the president. “See, the biggest leavers of jobs—people leaving voluntarily—was from manufacturing.”
. . . .
Trump wasn’t buying it.
. . . .
Several times Cohn just asked the president, “Why do you have these views?”
“I just do,” Trump replied. “I’ve had these views for 30 years.”
Of course, the problem of opinions no based on fact is well known about Trump and illustrated often within the book. I won’t spoil the fun of reading more of them.
You’ve undoubtedly seen many interviews or excerpts about the book. You’ve also read or heard about the many faults of Trump and the way his White House operates. Woodward offers chapter and verse on most of them, such as these (and many more):
—The chaos and the predatory relationship among staffers
—Trump’s short attention span, unwillingness to read more than a few paragraphs
—His laziness, coming to work at 10:30 or 11:00 and not knowing what’s on his agenda for the day despite a briefing book provided the night before.
The book also details all the legal battles, the effect of the Mueller investigation on Trump and much more.
Like information that hasn’t been detailed in the news.
For example, the alliances of some staff members with others. Woodward also confirms stories like those in that anonymous Op Ed, about how some people kept stuff from Trump to protect the country.
My only disappointment is that the book had, by the necessities of editing and printing, stopped in March. But then the news has covered so much more that’s happened since. While Woodward has has provided details confirming many things already knew, he goes further in fleshing them out and giving us new stuff. Fear is a good title in many ways.
Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump by Michael Isikoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
By the time I finished reading this, I already knew virtually everything that the book contained. That said, the work that went into this is impressing. Not only that, but it came out before all the content was widely known. It remains a great resource for those doing their own research and potentially using the information for blog posts and the like.
Fab reviews John. I’m still reading FEAR. and because it’s more like a tome I’m not even halfway through. delaying me from reading fast enough to get a Sunday review up lol. So I’ll take my time in between reading 2 books at one time.
Because I’m addicted to this reality show I don’t miss any news which does make a few of these books repetitive when we already know stuff. That said, Russian Roulette and Fear are touted as 2 of the best, along with Nance’s books (which await me on my Kindle also). For now, this Kavanaugh crap is getting out of hand and only the rethuglicons could host a trial with no witnesses and no FBI investigation. Kavanaugh will no doubt be seated, but really, there is a lot going on in that deal because anyone with a sense of self worth, let alone a judge would have declined and stepped down by now with all the dirt attached to his name. Worse than Thomas! The good news is that November is almost here and I read somewhere a justice can be unseated, and I also heard whispers that the dems can and are contemplating making it a bench of 11. Cohen and Manafort are singing away, and the rest of the cheeto family should be indicted shortly. What worries me is the gossip from the NYT putting Rosenstein in some very hot water right. Something nobody needs. This could be what pushes the fuhrer over the edge and fires Roddy and Sessions. and ultimately Mueller is once again on thin ice. Oye! 🙂
Wow, that’s almost as long as my review! LOL 🙂 Anyway, I too fear the Rosenstein story–and it’s from right after the Comey firing. It offers Trump a good excuse for firing him–even if it wasn’t real. My worry is that it now appears no more indictments before the midterms. That means that in a lame duck session Trump and his Congressional Cult can do all sorts of harm–like more appointments, firings, etc. It will come back to haunt them in 2019, but damage will be done. In the long run, if they do run amok, I believe they will pay for it for years to come. Only time will tell. I am still hopeful Kavanaugh will be voted down. Then the question is, can another right winger be appointed in December or just before the new Congress takes office. McConnell seems like the type that would go out in a blaze of glory–looking at a loss in 2020 if he runs again. In the meantime, the whole Trump family and the family business could be in done for sooner.
They are all going down and the dems have their work cut out for them. There’ll be a decade of hearings LOL. I’m willing to wager, sadly, Kav will get seated. Obv, he has no scruples or he would have bowed down off by now. My theory is there was definitely a dirty deal made, somewhere between Kennedy stepping down, Kennedy’s son lending Jarazz half a mill, Kav’s gambling debts paid off by the repubs as per cheeto because he desperately wants him for when he gets indicted. The money has already changed hands so Kav is stuck looking like a lying rapist (or at least one who may have tried to be) because the repubs already own him. That’s my story and I’m stickin to it! 🙂
Okayyyy, tell us how you REALLY feel LOLLL
LOLLLLLLLLLLL sorry. My passions carry me away. 🙂 Perhaps I should have added the word ‘alleged’ rapist. Perhaps I should have written molester? Perhaps you should add ‘alleged’ to my prior comment. You know, ‘big brother’. 🙂 Oh, and sadly, I’m sure Roddy will be fired by tomorrow once rumpy gets done gloating in Missouri. 🙁
One never knows. Do one ???
After all the more Kavanaugh Krap from Old Codger Chuck, here’s a path for Professor Blasey– forget the sham hearings and take Trump up on his tweet. No statute of limitations on attempted sexual assault in Maryland. File a complaint in Montgomery County, Maryland next week. Then there will be an investigation and witnesses heard. REALLY embarrassing if a sitting justice is facing charges and the potential for impeachment next year.
I so agree. I’ve been puzzled why we haven’t heard her lawyer to do just that. At least get on 60 Minutes and tell the world first before facing the sharks. She has started a new movement. Women are coming out everywhere with the hashtag #WhyIDontReport women are telling why they never report. This is going to become a woman’s world – the end of the patriarchy. And the end of the old white farts in senate making decisions on people’s lives. 🙂
Right you are? BTW, edited your earlier comment at your suggestion LOL ?
You’re a pal. I got thinking hard about my statement without the word ‘alleged’, even though our souls know it’s not alleged. LOL 🙂 Thanks my friend <3
Welcome?
Right you are? BTW, edited your earlier comment at your suggestion LOL ?