Plot Summary
“The Price of Politics” provides an intimate glimpse into the state of the American economy and political system.
How did our economy get where it is today? What have President Obama and our leaders in Congress done to make changes? This is an audiobook for those who long to understand how politics has played a key role in our economy over the past three and a half years.
The Price of Politics takes you inside the minds of our nation’s leaders as they strive to enter our country into a state of recovery following a time that threatened to become worse than the Great Depression. This eighteen-month study sheds an incredible light on our economic status as a nation. Woodward uses actual memos, notes and information derived from the interviews of key players to provide you with accurate and detailed information into this important time of our country’s history. If you’re looking for an in-depth study of America’s economy, including how we arrived where we are today, you’ll enjoy every moment of Woodward’s account. The Price of Politics gives you an accurate report of what changes have been made to propel our country toward being more economically sound. Woodward does an excellent job of informing the reader, even through a day-by-day, and even hour-by-hour analysis of the events that continue to dictate the future of the United States.
Bob Woodward is one of the most prominent investigative reporters our country has ever seen, In 1972, while he was a reporter for The Washington Post, he played an important role when he teamed up with Carl Bernstein and reported on the Watergate Scandal. His news reports, which, along with the reports of others, led to numerous investigative reports the eventually resulted in the resignation of Richard Nixon. All sixteen of the books Woodward has authored or co-authored have become bestsellers.
“I found this book to be very interesting. It shows the “wheeling and dealing” of politics. While Woodward is certainly a Liberal, I believe he’s one from the “old school” and is quite fair in this book. The discussions among our government leaders comes off as customers and used car sales people trying to make a deal. It clearly details the fractions within both political parties, as well as the lack of leadership on the part of John Bohner, the Speaker of the House. How on earth he ever got elected to that position is beyond me. All in all, a book I really enjoyed.”
—
Reese (4 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
See how and why Washington is not functioning.
Bob Woodward’s freshly reported, thirty-five-page Afterword to his national bestseller, The Price of Politics, provides a detailed, often verbatim account of what happened in the dramatic “fiscal cliff” face-off at the end of 2012 between President Obama and the Republicans.
Now it’s happening again. In fall 2013, Washington faces a new round of budget and fiscal wars that could derail the American and global economies.
“We are primarily a blocking majority,” said Michael Sommers, Speaker John Boehner’s chief of staff, summarizing the House Republican position.
It was the land of no-compromise:
On health care cuts over ten years, Boehner suggested to Obama, you are $400 billion, I’m at $600 billion. “Can we split the difference here? Can we land at $500 billion?”
“Four hundred billion is it,” Obama replied. “I just can’t see how we go any further on that.”
After making $120 billion in other concessions, Obama pleaded with Boehner, “What is it about the politics?”
“My guys just aren’t there,” Boehner replied.
“We are $150 billion off, man. I don’t get it. There’s something I don’t get.”
The Price of Politics chronicles the inside story of how President Obama and the U.S. Congress tried, and failed, to restore the American economy and set it on a course to fiscal stability. Woodward pierces the secretive world of Washington policymaking once again, with a close-up story crafted from meeting notes, documents, working papers, and interviews with key players, including President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. Woodward lays bare the broken relationship between President Obama and the Congress.
Download and start listening now!
