Let's Stop Beating Around the Bush

Summary:
Author Jim Hightower is not, as the title of his recent book about the George W. Bush administration indicates, a fan of equivocation. "The Bushites are–let me put this politely as I can–NUTS!" he writes, "They're insane. They're zealots totally dedicated to implementing their plutocratic, autocratic, militaristic, and imperialistic vision of America." The chapters in Hightower's book are prefaced by a series of reasons Bush fans may give for supporting the President followed by blistering and often highly entertaining refutations of those reasons. However, Hightower phrases the pro-Bush reasons to sound as boneheaded as possible, thus giving himself an easier time shooting them down. Meanwhile his down-home humor and polemical wackiness can be tiresome, occasionally getting in the way of efforts to clearly make a point. But don't be fooled by the wackiness: Hightower has done his homework and presents disturbing evidence of the dangers of Bush policy, particularly in the areas of food safety, personal privacy, and the environment. Unlike many on the left, he largely avoids the war in Iraq and the reasons given by the Bush administration for fighting it but that focus on domestic life helps Hightower avoid the pitfall of attacking everything Bush has ever done and being left to spend only a limited amount of time on each. Let's Stop Beating Around the Bush was published in July of 2004 just as the presidential election was heating up and it is very much a book of the moment, featuring references to the need to win the election and attempting to give those who oppose Bush some talking points for when they talk to those who support him. Neither those talking points nor this book are likely to change any minds but Jim Hightower's humor and energy provide are welcome in an election season. –John Moe

From AudioFile
Author and radio host Jim Hightower's got his branding irons red-hot and ready to scorch "the Bushies" and their ilk, along with other corporate road hogs. With gentle barbs and Texas charm, Hightower twangs his way through a litany of crimes and moral felonies carried out by some of America's most well-known leaders and companies. His call for fairness to American laborers at the mercy of Wal-Mart and the sweatshops whose goods fill its shelves reveals a heart as big as Texas. Hightower manages to provide data to support his accusations, so the hog-roast isn't entirely fun and games at the Right's expense. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine– Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine –This text refers to the Audio CD edition.


Review
Don’t’s just read it—take Hightower’s message to heart, take action on it, and take your country back!” (Michael Moore, author of Stupid White Men)

Book Description
America in 2004 is color coded—and it’s not just a matter of red, white, and blue. The terror alert bounces from yellow to orange. The economy offers up a hundred shades of red ink. The environment is turning brown. National security is cloaked in gray shadows. And Jim Hightower covers it all with uncommon insight, political fearlessness, and laugh-out-loud humor.

America’s #1 populist gives us Let’s Stop Beating Around the Bush—a hard- hitting, fact-filled review of the real state of the union that you won’t get from the establishment media. With his daily radio commentaries and award-winning monthly newsletter, no one has chronicled the madness of King George the W, the wimpiness of corporate Democrats, and the aggressive avarice of Wall Street with the thoroughness and tenacity of Hightower. Now he brings that investigative punch into this wild and woolly book of fiery essays.

With his satirical “Six Perfectly Good Reasons to Re-elect George W. Bush;” his mix of damning indictments and uplifting stories; and side bars, cartoons, games, and puzzles, Hightower has done the impossible: He has created a subversive read that makes politics fun again.

Download Description
"The bestselling grassroots guru is back with his incisive take on the state of the union and life today in the good ol' USA America in 2004 is color coded-and it's not just a matter of red, white, and blue. The terror alert bounces from yellow to orange. The economy offers up a hundred shades of red ink. The environment is turning brown. National security is cloaked in gray shadows. And, as he did in the bestselling Thieves in High Places, Jim Hightower covers it all with uncommon insight, political fearlessness, and laugh-out-loud humor. America's #1 populist gives us Let Stop Beating Around the Bush-a hard-hitting, fact-filled review of the real state of the union that you won't get from the establishment media. With his daily radio commentaries and award-winning monthly newsletter, no one has chronicled the madness of King George the W, the wimpiness of corporate Democrats, and the aggressive avarice of Wall Street with the thoroughness and tenacity of Hightower. Now he brings that investigative punch into this wild and woolly hook of fiery essays. With his satirical "Six Perfectly Good Reasons to Re-elect George W. Bush;" his mix of damning indictments and uplifting stories; and side bars, cartoons, games, and puzzles, Hightower has clone the impossible: He has created a subversive read that makes politics fun again."

About the Author
Jim Hightower, national radio commentator, columnist, and bestselling author, broadcasts daily radio shows on more than 120 stations around the country. He delivers upward of one hundred speeches a year spreading his message of progressive populism and hope across America.