Bush's Brain.

• Author: Kreyche, Gerald F.
• Position: Book Review

BY JAMES MOORE AND WAYNE SLATER JOHN WILEY AND SONS 2003, 395 PAGES, $27.95

Here is a book whose publication date had the best of timing, as the President has been in the center of the news with his twin wars on terrorism and Iraq. Citizens are wondering what makes him tick, this man "with the soft voice ... who governs hard" How did he get to be so politically powerful when he seemed to be such a reluctant candidate? The authors, James Moore, an Emmy Award-winning newscaster, and Wayne Slater, Bureau Chief of the Dallas Morning News, say the answer is simple: Karl Rove guided him along the path of success. They maintain that Rove is nothing less than a type of copresident, who wields tremendous influence and without whom George W. Bush probably never would have been successful in politics. They refer to the political advisor to the Presidentas Bush's Brain and make a strong case for their claims. This book, then, is primarily about Rove, and not Bush.

It is not unfair to characterize the work as muckraking as, after all, muckraking goes hand in hand with politics. One almost has the impression that the authors strongly dislike Rove, but admire his successes, reluctantly giving the devil his due.

The book contains the usual biographic material about Rove's parents, their divorce, his mother committing suicide, Karl's own divorce, and his never having earned a college degree. Contrast is made with the President's academic background, all gained in the eastern-Ivy League tradition. In some ways, the two men are a study in contrasts, with both enjoying a symbiotic relationship. Bush's strong points are in genuinely liking people and appearing to be just like those he meets. Rove's are in being a fund-raiser, as well as an expert political analyst getting the most out of the numbers game of polls, keeping an eye on changing demographics, and knowing how to manipulate the media, work over people, start whispering campaigns, etc. He not only visualizes the big picture, but micromanages it as well. The President compliments him as "the man with a plan."

If anything, Rove is single-minded and, from high school on, where he was a champion debater and self-acknowledged nerd, he...