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A Divider, Not a Uniter: George W. Bush and the American People (Great Questions in Politics Series)
Written by one of the most respected scholars and writers in political science, this is brief, engaging book that is rich in data and analyzes the reasons why the public is so divided along party lines about George W. Bush.
- GenresPolitics
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2006
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January 19, 2010
Gary Jacobson is a well-known student of American parties and elections. This book is fully up to his standards. The focus is the extent to which and the reason why President George W. Bush is "A Divider, and not a Uniter."
Jacobson notes that partisanship has been increasing in the United States for the past several decades. Little of what he has to say will be news to those who study elections and political parties in the United States, but he does a nice job of bringing different pieces of evidence together to explain why partisan divisions appear even greater than under Bush II (even more so than with Presidents Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton). Among the factors: both parties in Congress have become more coherent and cohesive in their voting (that is, Rs voting with other Rs and Ds with other Ds) than three decades ago; Rs and Ds as candidates for office are more different ideologically from one another than in the past; the South having moved from Democratic controlled to Republican controlled has enhanced the party divide; activist partisans of both parties have moved further apart ideologically; even voters now differ by party more than they used to (although moderates still represent the plurality of voters). Jacobson mentioned others as well, but these provide a flavor.
Many tables abound to demonstrate the increasing partisan divisions. Throw in a President who mainly focused on "appealing to the base" rather than reaching out to moderates or Democrats, and you end up with a divided public. Into this mix, the Iraqi War and Hurrican Katrina produce even greater polarization.
All in all, a good book to read for those interested in party politics and elections in the United States. It is also an interesting contrast to other books that claim that the mass of voters are not really so divided. Hence, interested readers might also take a look at Morris Fiorina, "Culture War?" for an alternative view.
Jacobson notes that partisanship has been increasing in the United States for the past several decades. Little of what he has to say will be news to those who study elections and political parties in the United States, but he does a nice job of bringing different pieces of evidence together to explain why partisan divisions appear even greater than under Bush II (even more so than with Presidents Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton). Among the factors: both parties in Congress have become more coherent and cohesive in their voting (that is, Rs voting with other Rs and Ds with other Ds) than three decades ago; Rs and Ds as candidates for office are more different ideologically from one another than in the past; the South having moved from Democratic controlled to Republican controlled has enhanced the party divide; activist partisans of both parties have moved further apart ideologically; even voters now differ by party more than they used to (although moderates still represent the plurality of voters). Jacobson mentioned others as well, but these provide a flavor.
Many tables abound to demonstrate the increasing partisan divisions. Throw in a President who mainly focused on "appealing to the base" rather than reaching out to moderates or Democrats, and you end up with a divided public. Into this mix, the Iraqi War and Hurrican Katrina produce even greater polarization.
All in all, a good book to read for those interested in party politics and elections in the United States. It is also an interesting contrast to other books that claim that the mass of voters are not really so divided. Hence, interested readers might also take a look at Morris Fiorina, "Culture War?" for an alternative view.
Displaying 1 of 1 review