Amy Goodman and David Goodman The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media That Loves Them Review

Overall Rating

The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media That Loves Them
Amy Goodman and David Goodman
Hyperion, May 2004, $21.95, 342 pp.
ISBN: 1401301312

If a reader has to choose one expos book on the Bush Administration amongst those of Woodward, Clark, Dean, etc. the Goodman siblings is the one to select. One just needs to read the authors' logical argument on the Bush "oilopoly" to understand why especially in light of the alleged oil deal with the Saudis and the oily r sum s of much of the leadership.

The Goodmans' analysis of the Iraq War ignores the pronounced ever changing root reasons for armed combat, but instead follows the money of who gained (via contracts); the authors make a powerful case that major Bush campaign donors are the winners while soldiers and their family members, and the American tax payer pay the price. Underlying this and other arguments is their basic tenet that professional gurus manipulate the media using incredible spins and leaks of "dis and misinformation" that Spielberg would envy, and the worst gimmick to date is the in your pocket access that rigs the journalist's feelings. Can one really say something negative about the troops who feed a reporter, keep them safe, and share stories about home? Though readers will wonder why Amy has not been declared an enemy combatant, this insightful cautionary tome condemns the loss of truth, justice and the American way of freedom under the pretext of spreading democracy to oil slicks.

Harriet Klausner