What do you think?
Rate this book
Watchdog: The Real Stories Behind the Headlines from the Congressman Who Exposed Washington's Biggest Scandals
You might think you had a front-row seat to the shocking scandals of Benghazi, the IRS targeting of conservatives, Fast & Furious, illegal email servers, mishandling America's secrets and cover-ups at the EPA. The rest of the story, told here for the first time, is even more troubling.In Watchdog, Congressman Darrell Issa reveals some of the worst of Washington, pulls back the curtain on business as usual in the Capitol, and lets in the sunshine of accountability.As Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Issa led a years-long fight to uncover what was really happening in the Obama Administration and Hillary Clinton's State Department, while taking on a mainstream media and establishment Beltway culture he quickly found out weren't always interested in the truth.But what the public doesn't know about Big Government and what the people may not realize is happening to their country requires someone in Washington willing to tell the truth no matter who gets the blame. Carrying out aggressive oversight brought Issa into conflict with not only political foes, but friends and allies as well. Through it all, he has sought to remind everyone in government they are still subject to the rule of law and accountable to the American people. Watchdog is the inside account of what it took to get the truth and what it will take for our democracy to endure.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2016
1 person is currently reading
216 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 19, 2016
When you think of the word Scandal, you are probably thinking something to do with Washington right? It is hard especially when you consider everything from the Benghazi murders, to the corruption that seems be never ending at all levels of government. You begin to wonder who is running this country and more and is there truly anyone out there willing to expose the truth?
In the book Watchdog, Darrell Issa, gives readers real stories behind the headlines from the Congressman who exposed Washington's biggest scandals. As I began to read this book, the one thing that really hit home is besides exposing these scandals, what else has been done? I believe more has to be done besides simply exposing this corruption, but it is holding people accountable from the bottom all the way to the top. It seems however that lately those committing this crimes are getting off with nothing more than a hand slap.
While the book Watchdog gives readers more of an inside look at the background of Darrell Issa, along with some of the biggest scandals he was responsible for investigating, it just seems that lately more needs to happen. Working on the Oversight Committee just means that he investigates and attempts to provide information necessary for further charges to be administered, but like most things in Washington, it all gets buried under more red tape.
The book does give you insight into how broad the corruption really is from bribes to money laundering, to uncover what is really happening in the Obama Administration and Hillary Clinton's state department. The one thing you really come to understand is while the truth might be exposed, there are those who will stop at nothing to ensure that these issues never come before the public, while paying off the media to simply look the other way. Makes one wonder if there is any hope for some real change. Guess we owe Nixon a huge apology for the way things were handled today in light of everything happening from Obama Care to the many issues with Hillary Clinton. One thing is certain, while people might want the truth, when it is exposed, nothing happens and that is where the true problem in Washington lies.
I received Watchdog by Darrell Issa compliments of Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased personal opinion. I was hoping for more than I honestly got and even though it really dug deep it saddened me as an American citizen to know that all we are seeing now is the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There is so much much more happening that we don't even get to see and part of that is given in this book. The worst part is that is seems like this monster is growing and there seems to be nothing to stop it. What will the world look like in another 10 years is downright frightening. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
In the book Watchdog, Darrell Issa, gives readers real stories behind the headlines from the Congressman who exposed Washington's biggest scandals. As I began to read this book, the one thing that really hit home is besides exposing these scandals, what else has been done? I believe more has to be done besides simply exposing this corruption, but it is holding people accountable from the bottom all the way to the top. It seems however that lately those committing this crimes are getting off with nothing more than a hand slap.
While the book Watchdog gives readers more of an inside look at the background of Darrell Issa, along with some of the biggest scandals he was responsible for investigating, it just seems that lately more needs to happen. Working on the Oversight Committee just means that he investigates and attempts to provide information necessary for further charges to be administered, but like most things in Washington, it all gets buried under more red tape.
The book does give you insight into how broad the corruption really is from bribes to money laundering, to uncover what is really happening in the Obama Administration and Hillary Clinton's state department. The one thing you really come to understand is while the truth might be exposed, there are those who will stop at nothing to ensure that these issues never come before the public, while paying off the media to simply look the other way. Makes one wonder if there is any hope for some real change. Guess we owe Nixon a huge apology for the way things were handled today in light of everything happening from Obama Care to the many issues with Hillary Clinton. One thing is certain, while people might want the truth, when it is exposed, nothing happens and that is where the true problem in Washington lies.
I received Watchdog by Darrell Issa compliments of Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased personal opinion. I was hoping for more than I honestly got and even though it really dug deep it saddened me as an American citizen to know that all we are seeing now is the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There is so much much more happening that we don't even get to see and part of that is given in this book. The worst part is that is seems like this monster is growing and there seems to be nothing to stop it. What will the world look like in another 10 years is downright frightening. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
August 10, 2022
I worked with the Congressman and his staff a bit. I even had a Net Neutrality debate with him at a Christmas party. So, of course I had to read his book.
Issa was the Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, overseeing many big investigations that showed the shortcomings of our government. Despite much of the politics involved, he gives his perspective here about his goals. I understand that it does have a bias, but he claims to have only been focused on the outcomes and not the politics. The picture he paints does this. However, I still wondered about it at times.
Regardless, the line that he took I too believe in. It was, "We exist to secure two fundamental principles. First, Americans have a right to know that the money Washington takes from them is well spent. And second, Americans deserve an efficient, effective government that works for them. Our duty on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee is to protect these rights.'
'Our solemn responsibility is to hold government accountable to taxpayers, because taxpayers have a right to know what they get from their government. We will work tirelessly, in partnership with citizen-watchdogs, to deliver the facts to the American people and bring genuine reform to the federal bureaucracy." - Mission Statement of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Issa points out that our government has many shortcomings and is especially not well run. It's a shame that more of this is not shown to the public. That is unless it's attention grabbing headlines.
This book was concise and well written. It did get a little tedious when it felt like Issa was going through his laundry list of defending his work. But other than that, it was a good read about the Committee, the players, the obstructionists and its purpose. His focus on how technology could improve our government with transparency was interesting. I am not sure if I agree, but he felt that all information should be available to the public for accountability and that it should be accessible.
He highlighted a recent debate that would shutdown the free internet, where the DOJ would use websites to monitor and follow postings. He highlighted the problem with this sentence, "Imagine a world without Free Knowledge." That was powerful and showed what was at risk with this type of regulating of the internet.
One thing that Issa didn't highlight that he may have done that Sen Grassley did and does was that I feel gave Senate investigations more legitimacy was that Grassley would not make it headline grabbing, but instead only published his findings after the conclusion. Rarely did he use the committees to grandstand to make spectacles.
The chapter on his work with CA Gov Davis' recall was new to me and I enjoyed reading about how he played a key role in Gov Schwartzenegger's ascension.
Regardless, the book made me feel like Issa was and is a problem solver in Congress and not a politician focused on politics, but rather what is in our nation's best interests. I may be wrong, but what he said often resonated.
Issa was the Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, overseeing many big investigations that showed the shortcomings of our government. Despite much of the politics involved, he gives his perspective here about his goals. I understand that it does have a bias, but he claims to have only been focused on the outcomes and not the politics. The picture he paints does this. However, I still wondered about it at times.
Regardless, the line that he took I too believe in. It was, "We exist to secure two fundamental principles. First, Americans have a right to know that the money Washington takes from them is well spent. And second, Americans deserve an efficient, effective government that works for them. Our duty on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee is to protect these rights.'
'Our solemn responsibility is to hold government accountable to taxpayers, because taxpayers have a right to know what they get from their government. We will work tirelessly, in partnership with citizen-watchdogs, to deliver the facts to the American people and bring genuine reform to the federal bureaucracy." - Mission Statement of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Issa points out that our government has many shortcomings and is especially not well run. It's a shame that more of this is not shown to the public. That is unless it's attention grabbing headlines.
This book was concise and well written. It did get a little tedious when it felt like Issa was going through his laundry list of defending his work. But other than that, it was a good read about the Committee, the players, the obstructionists and its purpose. His focus on how technology could improve our government with transparency was interesting. I am not sure if I agree, but he felt that all information should be available to the public for accountability and that it should be accessible.
He highlighted a recent debate that would shutdown the free internet, where the DOJ would use websites to monitor and follow postings. He highlighted the problem with this sentence, "Imagine a world without Free Knowledge." That was powerful and showed what was at risk with this type of regulating of the internet.
One thing that Issa didn't highlight that he may have done that Sen Grassley did and does was that I feel gave Senate investigations more legitimacy was that Grassley would not make it headline grabbing, but instead only published his findings after the conclusion. Rarely did he use the committees to grandstand to make spectacles.
The chapter on his work with CA Gov Davis' recall was new to me and I enjoyed reading about how he played a key role in Gov Schwartzenegger's ascension.
Regardless, the book made me feel like Issa was and is a problem solver in Congress and not a politician focused on politics, but rather what is in our nation's best interests. I may be wrong, but what he said often resonated.
December 1, 2016
Great book on the inner workings of Congress and the non-transparency of the Obama administration, even outright obstruction
September 2, 2016
I’m not quite sure how to review this book. Partly because I can’t figure out what the point of the book was. Was it supposed to be a biography of Issa or an expose of Washington corruption? It does both, but neither well.
The biographical part, and it is a considerable part, is very abbreviated. Oh, it’s thorough. It covers his entire life and political career to date, but it reads like a list of important dates and accomplishments. Interspersed are a few random facts, such as what particular car he owned at the time or that an incident would be helpful to him in his congressional career. But it drug mostly because it was very choppy reading. There just wasn’t a good flow from sentence to sentence or paragraph to paragraph.
The expose section was a little better, but it also felt very rushed. He took some time to explain the history of the Congressional Oversight Committee, and that was interesting. Then he reviewed some of the most prominent scandals of the past few years. However, it was in the same choppy hurried fashion as the biographical part. Sometimes it read like a string of headlines. There was a lot of I did this, or I made that better, or I fixed this. Occasionally, it came across as a little braggadocious.
If you have followed the news at all in the past few years there won’t be very many surprises. I learned a detail or two that I hadn’t known, but it doesn’t go very deeply into any of the scandals. I couldn’t agree more with his conclusions. Washington could definitely benefit from more accountability and transparency, and I support his efforts one hundred percent. He should definitely keep up the good work he is doing. This book conveys that clearly enough, but the biography distracted from that point.
All in all, it would have been better if they had stuck to writing either a biography or an expose. It just got too cluttered and hurried by combining both in one book. Issa makes a better Congressman than an author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Faithwords/Center Street for the chance to read this book for free and review it.
The biographical part, and it is a considerable part, is very abbreviated. Oh, it’s thorough. It covers his entire life and political career to date, but it reads like a list of important dates and accomplishments. Interspersed are a few random facts, such as what particular car he owned at the time or that an incident would be helpful to him in his congressional career. But it drug mostly because it was very choppy reading. There just wasn’t a good flow from sentence to sentence or paragraph to paragraph.
The expose section was a little better, but it also felt very rushed. He took some time to explain the history of the Congressional Oversight Committee, and that was interesting. Then he reviewed some of the most prominent scandals of the past few years. However, it was in the same choppy hurried fashion as the biographical part. Sometimes it read like a string of headlines. There was a lot of I did this, or I made that better, or I fixed this. Occasionally, it came across as a little braggadocious.
If you have followed the news at all in the past few years there won’t be very many surprises. I learned a detail or two that I hadn’t known, but it doesn’t go very deeply into any of the scandals. I couldn’t agree more with his conclusions. Washington could definitely benefit from more accountability and transparency, and I support his efforts one hundred percent. He should definitely keep up the good work he is doing. This book conveys that clearly enough, but the biography distracted from that point.
All in all, it would have been better if they had stuck to writing either a biography or an expose. It just got too cluttered and hurried by combining both in one book. Issa makes a better Congressman than an author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Faithwords/Center Street for the chance to read this book for free and review it.
August 1, 2016
In this mixed up election year, it’s nice to have a voice from the inside. Congressman, Darrell Issa, served as Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for four years and is ready to share his side of the story.
Now, I am not naïve enough to think that there isn’t a Republican slant to any book written by a Republican; just as I would assume a Democratic slant written by a Democrat. That being said, I do believe that he does a relatively good job of keeping “sides” out of it. I believe that he is sharing what he really saw happen over the last few years.
Topics such as Benghazi, the market crash, and Hillary Clinton’s email scandal are all included as these were real issues that he dealt with as chairman. It is very interesting and important to hear all sides of the story. I definitely recommend this!
Thanks again to Hachette Book Group for giving me this book in exchange for my review. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
Now, I am not naïve enough to think that there isn’t a Republican slant to any book written by a Republican; just as I would assume a Democratic slant written by a Democrat. That being said, I do believe that he does a relatively good job of keeping “sides” out of it. I believe that he is sharing what he really saw happen over the last few years.
Topics such as Benghazi, the market crash, and Hillary Clinton’s email scandal are all included as these were real issues that he dealt with as chairman. It is very interesting and important to hear all sides of the story. I definitely recommend this!
Thanks again to Hachette Book Group for giving me this book in exchange for my review. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
July 16, 2016
Worthwhile and educational
Though not particularly deep, and a short easy read, "Watchdog" is revealing and at times infuriating. Issa lays out facts that can be frustrating and inspiring. Every citizen should read the book to get a basic understanding of the current failures of government and the tools available to monitor and correct.
Though not particularly deep, and a short easy read, "Watchdog" is revealing and at times infuriating. Issa lays out facts that can be frustrating and inspiring. Every citizen should read the book to get a basic understanding of the current failures of government and the tools available to monitor and correct.
September 9, 2016
Great book
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews