No Way to Pick a President: How Money and Hired Guns Have Debased American Elections

by Jules Witcover

Book Overview

As the United States marks its first presidential election of a new century, Witcover shows us how professional mercenaries -- with little party loyalty and diminished political principles, driven by an insatiable need for money -- are poisoning public life. At the same time, politicians themselves have condoned and even encouraged these developments, responding to the demands of a media-driven age in which the press corps pursues its own quest...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415930316
• ISBN13: 9780415930314
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Why Did We Not Listen to Him Before 2000

Based on the titles of his other books it looks like some of the chapters of this one were plucked right out of his other work. Oh well, the book was good with interesting comments and some common sense points being brought up. The author basically takes the reader through all the issues he thinks are causing problems with the current presidential election process. From the fund raising process, the primaries and the Electoral College. The last item being the most interesting to read after the 2000 elections as the book was written in 1999 and it hit on the problems with the Electoral College. What was pleasing to me is that the author did not just provide examples from the last few elections but dug into history to bring out examples that detailed that the state we are in has been progressing this way for years. I was also pleased to find that I could not detect a major bias one way or the other. His comments seemed to take on both parties and were grounded in common sense and fair play. I was also amused by the section on picking the Vice President. He really let Bush 1's VP Dan Q. have it. The author's insight comes from his many years in the political reporting field and makes the book an enjoyable read for political junkies everywhere. I found I enjoyed this book far more then Drew's "What went wrong" which covered many of the same topics, but was not as well written. Overall the book was entertaining and offered some interesting insights. Given the topic it may be best suited for political junkies.

An Excellent Critic Of Our System By Someone Who Knows

Witcover spent 20 years as the premier political chronicler of the US electoral system. With Marathon in 1976 he took the mantle from TH White (who wrote the timeless `Making Of The President' books in the sixties) and later with the help of Jack Germond wrote a serious, suburb book for every election from Reagan in 80 to Clinton in 92. Here he distills his vast experience and knowledge into a careful, detailed critic of the political process, peppered with concrete examples and insightful commentary. He points right to the culprit, MONEY. One need not agree with Witcover's solutions to be riveted by this excellent book. Recommended for anyone interested in politics. I also highly recommend Witcover's many books on the specific campaigns, most of which are sadly out of print.

Witcover as Psychic?

There has been much debate about the propriety of retaining the Electoral College, designed by the Constitution's framers, in the wake of the controversial 2000 presidential election, in which Albert Gore won the popular vote but George Bush, following the Florida recount controversy, emerged as winner by obtaining more electoral votes. Since Jules Witcover's "No Way to Pick a President" came out before the 2000 election, and devoted much attention to the subject of the Electoral College and why it should be abolished, was the author a psychic? The answer is that he did not need to possess psychic powers to see the importance of the topic. He had a long background of political professionalism and has seen our system deteriorating for some time. As well as covering the topic of the Electoral College, Witcover devotes much time and attention to the evolution of what it has become. He is highly critical of a system increasingly taken over by public relations and advertising pundits offering snappy one-liners and spin control at the distinct sacrifice of broad discussion of the major issues confronting America domestically and internationally. Witcover cites the diminishing numbers of voters who cast ballots in presidential elections, along with the complaints of citizens indicating how turned off they have become with the system.Witcover scrutinizes the role of the political consultant in the system, giving a historical analysis of the phenomenon, its roots, and where it has taken us. He cites the success record of pioneers in the field, the team of Spencer and Roberts in California. Witcover explains how they conscientiously boosted the image of former motion picture actor Ronald Reagan, carefully cultivating a positive image that took him initially to the governorship in California, then the presidency.The author, a veteran of many presidential campaigns,provides both an overall perspective and possible reforms to make the system more wieldy and palatable to voters. Witcover has co-authored several books with Jack Germond about presidential campaigns they have jointly covered.

No Way To Pick A President

I enjoyed reading this book. It rates high because it is timely and actually gives a plan to cut back on the tremendous waste of time and money in our system of choosing a President. Strong medicine sweetned with wit and style. Worth reading.