Is Our Children Learning?: The Case Against George W. Bush

by Paul Begala

He was a poor student who somehow got into the finest schools. He was a National Guardsman who somehow missed a year of service. He was a failed businessman who somehow was made rich. He was a minority investor who somehow was made managing partner of the Texas Rangers. He was a defeated politician who somehow was made governor. You can hardly blame him for expecting to inherit the White House.
"Is Our Children Learning?" examines the public life and public record of George W. Bush and reveals him for who he is: a man who presents the thinnest, weakest, least impressive record in public life of any major party nominee this century; a man who at every critical juncture has been propelled upward by the forces of wealth, privilege, status, and special interests who use his family's name for their private gain.
A Texan, political analyst, strategist, and partisan, Paul Begala has written a devastating assessment of the Bush brand of politics.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Humor, History

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2000

About the author

Paul Begala is a political consultant, a commentator, a prominent liberal, and a former advisor to President Bill Clinton. He gained national prominence as half of the political consulting team Carville and Begala. Until June 2005, Begala was a co-host of CNN's political debate program, Crossfire. He is Research Professor of Public Policy at Georgetown University Public Policy Institute. Currently he is teaching at the University of Georgia School of Law as a Sanders Political Leadership Scholar.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so it's not that great of a book, really. But it's really funny...and VERY scary at the same time. This guy is our president? Seriously?!

[John Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still hard to believe this fellow ran the USA for 8 years...!!

[MsBrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you think George W Bush is unqualified to be president, after you read this book you'll be praying for the next election. Begala does a great job at exposing Bush for exactly what he is-a rich kid who somehow made it into the white house. Begala offers at least one Bushism at the start of every chapter; he also utilizes his great sense of sarcasm and humor to keep the reader from putting the book down. What also makes this book strong is that Begala gives overviews on how Bush handles many different topics such as education, the environment, and social security. Begala does a great job at simplifying things for the reader and he also excels at citing his work well to give it legitimacy. It is greatly disturbing to know that the president is against lowering classroom sizes, he skipped a year in the national guard, and he thinks there's no such thing as a hate crime! We need more authors like Begala to show things as they are and also to infuse the books with a little humor too.

[Courtney Himes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously?! This dude ran our country for eight years!? I have to look at it this way....He might be a really bad president (more like a puppet), but he really is a funny down to earth kind of guy. You just have to watch the movie made about him.

[Ckg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a teacher. I found this book both frightening and amusing. While I do NOT like Bush, I have equal distain for Obama. I have been a man without a president for a long time now. I only mention that so you know my point of reference.

[Tony Petry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty boring actually, Paul Begala really hates Bush and explains why, at times it seems like the author is also jealous of George Bush. This book is just on Bush imagine if we done the other presidents like this too.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny even in the early days....

[Stephen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here is my review of the book in a nut shell...

"Dear Al Gore,

I think you are neat. Will you go out with me? Please check one...

[ ] Yes [ ] No

Love,
Paul"

[Glitter · Rating 5 out of 5]