Synopses & Reviews
Jeb Bush, Florida's governor and a dutiful prince, was groomed his entire life for the presidency only to learn that life isn't fair when his far less industrious black sheep brother beat him to the job. S. V. Dáte, who, as Tallahassee bureau chief of the
Palm Beach Post, has covered Jeb for eight years, rejects the trend in political journalism that focuses only on
American Idol-like artifice who's up and who's down and what are the latest poll numbers? and muckrakes his way to the core of Jeb in this revealing account of his Florida years. This was no easy task, for in Jeb's kingdom dissent is frowned upon and journalists are supposed to be accommodating stenographers, not steadfast reporters. Dáte soon became the biggest journalistic thorn in Jeb's side, producing award-winning stories that revealed the real winners and losers of Bush's policies.
Jeb's second and final term as Florida governor ends in January 2007. He leaves office a popular man in his home state, and revered by the national Republican Party's conservative base. True, Bush fatigue may result in Jeb settling for the vice-presidency in 2008 he's already discussed this possibility with John McCain and maybe NFL commissioner in 2007, but his day will come, and Dáte shows us why: Jeb, unlike his brother George, is a policy wonk, knows how to take charge when a natural disaster strikes, is a workaholic, eloquently speaks without notes, and, at six-four, has a larger-than-life charismatic presence that makes even opponents say: "I want him to like me."
Review
"[A] sharply written and somewhat troubling chronicle of Bush's tenure....It's not a pro-Bush book, but neither is it the kind of hatchet job some readers might expect, and others will crave." Booklist
Review
"[R]evealing....There is scarcely a positive note in the book, save that Dáte finds Jeb personally likeable in some measure....After reading this, voters may find no compelling reason to support Jeb, either." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
Written by the bureau chief of The Palm Beach Post, award-winning journalist Dáte takes an honest and revealing look at the successes and failures of Bush's two-term stint as Florida governor and his potential to lead the Republican party in the coming years.
Synopsis
Jeb Bush, Florida's governor and a dutiful prince, was groomed his entire life for the presidency, only to learn that life isn't fair when his far less industrious black sheep brother beat him to the job.
S. V. Date, who, as Tallahassee bureau chief of The Palm Beach Post, has covered Jeb for eight years, rejects the trend in political journalism that focuses only on American Idol-like artifice--who's up and who's down and what are the latest poll numbers?--and muckrakes his way to the core of Jeb in this revealing account of his Florida years.
This was no easy task, for in Jeb's kingdom dissent is frowned upon and journalists are supposed to be accommodating stenographers, not steadfast reporters. Date soon became the biggest journalistic thorn in Jeb's side, producing award-winning stories that revealed the real winners and losers of Bush's policies. Jeb's second and final term as Florida governor ended in January 2007. He left office a popular man in his home state, and revered by the national Republican Party's conservative base. True, Bush fatigue may result in Jeb settling for the vice-presidency in 2008-he's already discussed this possibility with John McCain-and maybe NFL commissioner in 2007, but his day will come, and Date shows us why: Jeb, unlike his brother George, is a policy wonk, knows how to take charge when a natural disaster strikes, is a workaholic, eloquently speaks without notes, and, at six-four, has a larger-than-life charismatic presence that makes even opponents say: "I want him to like me."
About the Author
S. V. Dáte, Tallahassee bureau chief for The Palm Beach Post, is the author of Quiet Passion: A Biography of Senator Bob Graham and four critically acclaimed novels.