Rebel in Chief: Inside the Bold and Controversial Presidency of George W. Bush

By Fred Barnes

Book Overview

"You can't worry about being vindicated, because the truth of the matter is, when you do big things, it's going to take a while for history to really understand." -President Bush, in an exclusive interview with Fred Barnes for Rebel-in-Chief With Rebel-in-Chief , veteran political reporter Fred Barnes provides the defining book on George W. Bush's presidency, giving an insider's view of how Bush's unique presidential style and bold reforms are dramatically remaking the country-and, indeed, the world. In the process, Barnes shows, the president is shaking up Washington and reshaping the conservative movement. Barnes has gained extraordinary access to the Bush administration for Rebel-in-Chief , conducting rare one-on-one interviews with President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and many other close presidential advisers. That access, along with Barnes's extensive independent reporting and interviewing, produces an eye-opening look at this highly consequential-and controversial-presidency. Rebel-in-Chief reveals: How Bush acts as an "insurgent force" in the nation's capital-"a different kind of president" who is turning the Washington establishment on its ear How Bush is redefining conservatism for a new era-and creating a new Republican majority The inside story of how Bush has revolutionized American foreign policy-and how the president's crusade for democracy would have been anathema to Bush himself only five years ago When and why Bush decided to go into Iraq, even knowing that he was putting his political future at risk How a White House aide you've probably never heard of is shaping the Bush vision The surprising and important ways Bush's faith affects critical presidential decisions How Bush has outmaneuvered his political opponents and surprised members of the press who have dismissed him as an intellectual bantamweight How Bush routinely defies conventional wisdom because of his contempt for elite opinion and halfway reforms ("small-ball," he calls them)-and why he usually wins George W. Bush billed himself as a "different kind of Republican." He has proved to be a different kind of president, too. And Fred Barnes's riveting behind-the-scenes account helps us understand how much this "Rebel-in-Chief " is reshaping the world around us. Also available as a Random House AudioBook and an eBook From the Hardcover edition.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307336506
• ISBN13: 9780307336507
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (CA)
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Solid explanation

I found Mr. Barnes writing and reasoning very solid. It helps you understand how this President works. After reading the book there is only one conclusion; no poll number; no harping from Democrats; nothing will make this President change his mind from something he thinks is right. We may not think it is right but we didn't stand for election.

Rebel-in-Chief: How George W. Bush is Redefining the Conservative Movement and Transforming America

This was an eye opening and no fluff book about the complicated man and our President, George W. Bush. Even though I voted for him and have been a strong supporter of his, I have on occasion wondered "what is he thinking", but after reading this book, I have a much broader sense of "what he is thinking" and I appreciate him even more. Fred Barnes is a no-nonsense guy and it comes through loud and clear in this book. It's easy to read and understand as Mr. Barnes winds his way through some very complicated and cumbersome issues, he is a true professional. It was refreshing to read the truth whether it be good or bad without any bashing and ugliness intertwined. We need more political authors of this magnitude and honesty.

A Review of the Book - Not The President

This is a review of the actual book, not the President. Like him or hate him, he is a leader and he gets stuff done and he's changing the way things are done. If you want to read a book about the influence of this man and how he's changed the Presidency, and what he's been up against and overcome, this book is for you. It is inspirational and revealing. A great chronicle of how one man can effect change. You can judge the result of that change for yourself -- but from a literary perspective you won't want to miss this well written and researched account of the sweeping changes of GWB.

You can tell the one-star-ers arent reading the book, so typical of the true thought police in this

Enjoyed this book, and thankful for getting a little more of the other side of the story. If W was a communicator in the mold of Ronald Reagan, he would be having a much better time of it. The haters on the left would not be successful in picking off the uninformed, middle of the roaders who are constantly bombarded with their propaganda. Barnes obviously likes the president , but is not a snivelling toady, like for instance Schlesinger was with Kennedy, or the press is with Hillary.