Derision Points: Clown Prince Bush the W, the Real Story of his "Decision Points" Paperback – November 1, 2010

Have not read this book cover to cover but what I've read/skimmed makes me wonder what was made up and what was not. The Author has presumeably added filler to make the festive plate more substantial. "W.s" Yale days are related in a prosaic style which actually enhances the humor. Not a compound, complex sentence I could find. Some folks might say, "W." himself would not read them, anyway.But this deadpan-style writer suggests that our "43rd" was quite the partier - until he was about 43. He became the President. This book, in an often hilarious way, describes how a Family dynasty, guys like Karl Rove, a Supreme Court stopping a recount [I guess it's in there someplace], and a small town Newpaper Editor can pave the way...to a 10 trillion dollar debt, two wars, and an attempt to turn over our ports to the UAE.Read this book before you read "Decision Points".

Cartoons depicting leaders in less than flattering light have always been popular: trace journalism back to the beginning of this country and there will be cartoons and quips about the faux pas rates of those in high places as we developed into a mighty world power. These bits of infamy are meant to entertain, to parody, but also to nudge the public to think about the whole picture of a person in the limelight. One of the most cartoonized Presidents in American history has been George W. Bush: his flapping ears tied on to a pea-sized head that contained an even smaller sized brain that embarrassed the nation with his choice of words and his misrepresentation of facts are a lasting part of his legacy.Ted Cohen is a reporter for the Portland (Maine) Press Herald who discovered George W. Bush's 1976 drunk driving arrest in Kennebunkport, Maine-'a story that mysteriously eluded the national media, which claimed to have combed through every inch of Bush's background. Cohen discussed the arrest with Editor Russell, and the two agreed that it was old news and that Bush's past drinking problem was no secret. Russell put it out of his mind. (Cohen, however, didn't. )' Now Cohen has decided to write an hilarious book about Dubya, ('Who Elected Him Anyway?") is part of the full title of CLOWN PRINCE BUSH THE W. What Cohen presents in this book is not a diabolical roasting of a past president, but instead the reporter turned author takes the opportunity to examine Dubya's past, revealing that he was a naughty mischief maker of a child, studies his relationship to 'Mummsy' Barbara Bush and his distant relationship to his oil magnate father, George Bush Sr., and uncovers his general personality quirks that always found available mischief to fill his otherwise idle hours The family apparently groomed their children to become politicians, except in Dubya's case he was not the least bit interested. Cohen takes us through the prep school years where alcohol consumption and some rather obnoxious derring-do skills did little to prepare him for Yale. Cohen visits the Bush Kennebunkport, ME mansion and shares some hair-raising tales about the future president. He sweeps through his relationships with friends, with women, and his ascent to the highest office in daddy's nation. Alcohol is a major character in this story and Cohen hints that this love affair may have influenced some of Dubya's thinking (?) processes.If readers take umbrage with Ted Cohen's tale then we really are in trouble as a nation. It is so much healthier to have a chuckle such as this book provides than to embarrassingly hide the public image Dubya projected. The book is not written in studied prose, rather it seems more like the slangy communication we see on blogs and Facebook and twitter. But it is a healthy little laugh: fact is often funnier than fiction. A quick read, this, and a good accompaniment for summers at the beach, or wherever...Grady Harp, August 10

Love parody..love counterpoint... could find neither here. Picked it up and browsed about 40 pages at a party. A good, well decent enough, skim read. After a good 15 minutes I thought.. "What college student wrote this drivel?" Childish, trivial and seemingly pointed at simply character assassinating a man this so called 'author' disagrees with. (It must REALLy be easy to get published these days. Time to start my long promised novel as I guess finding a publisher is no longer an excuse). No facts... just rambling diatribes trying to convince the reader that his opinions must me my (your) truths. I skimmed thru about five sections and it never got better...so I quit qasting my time. My recommendation? Save your money and if you find a copy at a party... visit the buffet... you'll find less tripe.

Mr. Cohen illuminated several tidbits about the President that I did not know before, good stuff indeed. Notwithstanding the humorous tone, it was a good read, very entertaining, and he obviously did his homework and worked hard on the book. Definitely recommend. In line with previous tidbits about our former President.

My first reaction to seeing this book title is what a despicable way to try to make a nickel. Shame on Ted Cohen! Shame on the publishers! I will never read this book.

What a waste of time and money, not well done and obviously written before Bush's book was available. Just the author's diatribe and the usual rhetoric that you can get for free.