John Kerry answers what his favorite political book was this year

[beachmom]

http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/John_Kerry_0A974704-427A-4B4F-9CE9-20D37C023D07.html

Bob Woodward’s “The War Within”. Amazing piece of reporting on Iraq and the surge. Boggled my mind to see how much access Woodward was given and how much highly classified information he had—including decision memos to and from the President, for heaven’s sake! Fascinating to read how the President played the players against each other to reach his goal of putting the surge in place. It would be a good read for the President-Elect as an example of how much internecine warfare occurs in a White House, and given the strong willed personalities in his, the Obama White House will not be an exception.

Interesting.

[karynnj]

1. That is interesting

The funny thing is that it may mean that Woodward saw more highly classified information than Kerry and other Senators. It is interesting that Kerry says the President played them against each other - so many people speak as though Cheney or Rumsfeld Etc caused everything and Bush was just there. They let Bush off the hook - Kerry doesn't.

It is interesting that he suggested that Obama read it.

[JI7]

2. i also like it that Kerry isn't just responding to what was an enjoyable read

but rather what he learned from the book itself. it wasn't just whether woodward wrote a good book, but what he got from what woodward wrote and connected it to just overall politics of this administration.

i haven't liked woodward ever since that earlier book he wrote and how he seemed pro bush but i might read this book to try to understand what Kerry is talking about.

[TayTay]

3. The good Senator also advised someone to read

"The Forever War" by New York Times Iraq War correspondent Dexter Filkins. He said that it was a very good explanation of Afghanistan, among other things.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/books/review/Stone-t.html

Long excerpt from the book: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/magazine/24filkins-t.html

[MBS]

4. he mentioned that one in the Cambridge forum n/t

[BlueIris]

5. Snerk. JK is a wise (and clever) man. nt