Matt's Reviews > Peril
Peril
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by
Anyone who knows me has come to realise that I live for a great political book, be it fiction or not. Anything to do with Trump, while likely non-fiction (as long as it has not been penned by one of his sycophants), has aspects that leave the reader unsure if it has to be fictional, primarily because the truths are usually so far-fetched. Bob Woodward and Robert Costa have crafted a sensational look into the end days of the Trump White House and beginning of the Biden Administration. Working with deep cover interviews, the journalistic pair have crafted something that reveals a great deal about domestic and international politics during this time, as well as the lingering stresses left by The Donald when he finally left the White House. A must-read for fans of Woodward’s past Trump-based political books, and surely one that any political nut would enjoy as well.
The time period that one might consider ‘transition’ between the Trump and Biden Administrations was rife with worry and trouble. Anyone who did not live under a rock is aware that the January 6 (2021) insurrection of the Capitol was proof positive that Trump and his fanatics could not accept democracy if it did not bend in their direction. The authors explore this in detail, offering insights not only into the events outside, but the sentiments of politicians on both sides of the aisle, as well as the manipulative nature of Trump in trying to overthrow the election results. Much has been said before on the subject, but Woodward and Costa offer some intriguing insights into how Republicans felt and did not readily admit.
The issues here spill over into something more troubling on the international scene. Trump’s rhetoric and sabre rattling sentiments left many countries on high alert as to what could happen should he choose to use the weaponry at his disposal. During the aforementioned insurrection, the Chinese were particularly worried about potential military action against them, led by a man who could not handle loss in the democratic arena. Let us set aside the irony of China worrying about democracy and focus on the possible fallout of Trump using the nuclear football as a last ditch effort when he cold not get his own way. Temper tantrums are his usual way of handling the situation and this would surely be one way of exerting a final form of control.
The authors explore the transition time quite effectively and how Biden’s people prepared for what was sure to be a rocky start to their four years in office. With a smaller House and a Senate that was literally split down the middle, Biden had to use Congress to pass his ideas, while having to cater to the needs of many in order to make any progress., These struggles, which only added to the uphill battle, made things a lot ore difficult for Biden, who sought to reverse many of the Trump-era blights without dismantling the entire system and starting anew. The authors explore some of the early and frustrating struggles left to them, as the Biden Administration sought to move forward in some fashion.
While this is but an overview of the numerous struggles within the book, there is a definite sense of angst and political turmoil left by The Donald during his last few months in office. Worse than the politician who shreds and burns all correspondence to keep the successor from being able to do their job, the Trump Administration injected doubt into an election that proved to be run like most others, instilled panic unless the results came out a certain way, and a bitter feeling of camaraderie that supersedes what is needed to run a country effectively. Politics may be based on opposing viewpoints, but there has to be some coming together to work collectively to make a difference, albeit without sacrificing one’s own values.
Having read a number of books by Bob Woodward in the past, I knew what to expect with this latest piece. All that being said, his work with Robert Costa added another layer of investigative work and insightful reporting. The authors dig deep into the issues before them and pull no punches, using great deep cover interviews that permit the speaker to share openly and without blowback. The book flows well, though does not always work in a chronological fashion, making it somewhat difficult to follow at times. The thorough insights into the day to day spiralling out of control by Trump and his sycophants makes things all the more exciting for a fan of politics to read. I can only hope that the reporting and analysis does not stop and that Biden can be assessed as rigorously as Trump was, though the outcome will surely be less troublesome, as there is only one man who cries foul and cannot accept the truth!
Kudos, Messrs. Woodward and Costa, for this sensational look into the world of US politics, as it keeps proving that nothing is out of the realm of the possible.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
The time period that one might consider ‘transition’ between the Trump and Biden Administrations was rife with worry and trouble. Anyone who did not live under a rock is aware that the January 6 (2021) insurrection of the Capitol was proof positive that Trump and his fanatics could not accept democracy if it did not bend in their direction. The authors explore this in detail, offering insights not only into the events outside, but the sentiments of politicians on both sides of the aisle, as well as the manipulative nature of Trump in trying to overthrow the election results. Much has been said before on the subject, but Woodward and Costa offer some intriguing insights into how Republicans felt and did not readily admit.
The issues here spill over into something more troubling on the international scene. Trump’s rhetoric and sabre rattling sentiments left many countries on high alert as to what could happen should he choose to use the weaponry at his disposal. During the aforementioned insurrection, the Chinese were particularly worried about potential military action against them, led by a man who could not handle loss in the democratic arena. Let us set aside the irony of China worrying about democracy and focus on the possible fallout of Trump using the nuclear football as a last ditch effort when he cold not get his own way. Temper tantrums are his usual way of handling the situation and this would surely be one way of exerting a final form of control.
The authors explore the transition time quite effectively and how Biden’s people prepared for what was sure to be a rocky start to their four years in office. With a smaller House and a Senate that was literally split down the middle, Biden had to use Congress to pass his ideas, while having to cater to the needs of many in order to make any progress., These struggles, which only added to the uphill battle, made things a lot ore difficult for Biden, who sought to reverse many of the Trump-era blights without dismantling the entire system and starting anew. The authors explore some of the early and frustrating struggles left to them, as the Biden Administration sought to move forward in some fashion.
While this is but an overview of the numerous struggles within the book, there is a definite sense of angst and political turmoil left by The Donald during his last few months in office. Worse than the politician who shreds and burns all correspondence to keep the successor from being able to do their job, the Trump Administration injected doubt into an election that proved to be run like most others, instilled panic unless the results came out a certain way, and a bitter feeling of camaraderie that supersedes what is needed to run a country effectively. Politics may be based on opposing viewpoints, but there has to be some coming together to work collectively to make a difference, albeit without sacrificing one’s own values.
Having read a number of books by Bob Woodward in the past, I knew what to expect with this latest piece. All that being said, his work with Robert Costa added another layer of investigative work and insightful reporting. The authors dig deep into the issues before them and pull no punches, using great deep cover interviews that permit the speaker to share openly and without blowback. The book flows well, though does not always work in a chronological fashion, making it somewhat difficult to follow at times. The thorough insights into the day to day spiralling out of control by Trump and his sycophants makes things all the more exciting for a fan of politics to read. I can only hope that the reporting and analysis does not stop and that Biden can be assessed as rigorously as Trump was, though the outcome will surely be less troublesome, as there is only one man who cries foul and cannot accept the truth!
Kudos, Messrs. Woodward and Costa, for this sensational look into the world of US politics, as it keeps proving that nothing is out of the realm of the possible.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
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Louise
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Feb 25, 2022 12:00AM
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Thanks. Sarah. One can never get enough proof that Donald is a hot mess!
(there are too few Collins, Romneys, Murkowskis in the Senate)
Woodward seems to have had more "access" (at least in past administrations) to presidents and their staffs than any journalist of his time. I find it heartening that he has a young collaborator's energy to do the work.
(some have criticised his reporting as being too protective of future access)
Woodward and Costa offer some intriguing insights into how Republicans felt and did not readily admit.
Did they offer an explicit summary of those insights - "who" were they (what were their roles/offices/positions)? I'd be pleased to have a better indication of private disappoval of that loose cannon.