Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns have talked to hundreds
of politicians from both parties for their book. The time frame covered in the book
from Trump’s last year and election to Biden’s first year is somehow strange,
as the main event after Trump’s loss in 2020 in politics is this year’s
election. However, the book describes the very painful task of getting anything
through Congress and then for the President to sign. The authors do not mention
the three judges appointed by Trump who have a profound effect on any election
law that would come up during Biden's term.
I read the end chapters of the book first. They describe Biden’s
leadership as weak, although the response to the early pandemic and the funding
during that time are praised. The Build Back Better program was so huge that
its collapse due to two of his own senators was a huge loss. Now what remains
of the bill is on hold, but the momentum has stalled for the goals of the
Democrats. When the bridges and roads are built, a year or two from now, voters
will not remember that Biden funded the construction projects.
No election law can be wrapped up before the important
election. Many of those things are covered in the book. If the politicians
mentioned are not familiar with television programs, the reader will not be
able to remember everything and flip to later pages. It should be noted, however,
that the congressional process now is normal and that Republicans have not
supported Democrats since 2009 when the Obama term began. A few few centrists
(Collins, Murkowski) could come along for a few laws and there was a consensus
in the stimulus package after the recession of 2008. This time, even during the
pandemic, financial support for their own states did not result in much consensus.
Of his own politicians, Biden always had to deal with Manchini’s demand for a
“bipartisan” effort, he always needed a few Republicans to support him. Biden’s
skills as a mediator almost paid off, but he can’t do anything for the two senators.
They end up opposing the final bill, but for two different reasons.
The attack on the Capitol in January of 2021 is described from
all angles. After January 6th, with an initial shock and denouncement of Trump, the Republican concern was mainly for keeping their own seats and any reaction from Trump voters. There was
no consensus, weeks later McCarthy and McConnell began to take back their
words, like many Republicans. McConnell was an exception, he is not talking to
Trump anymore. No photos of him with Trump at Mar a Lago. Trump did indeed lose
some supporters in Congress, with several announcing his retirement.
At the beginning of the book is a detailed account of the
final stages of Trump, about a hundred pages long. The pandemic and the loss of
the election were the only things on his mind. He is mainly a cartoonish figure
with no desire to hash out a solution that takes effort or new laws. There is a
lot of insider talk from politicians and their staff. The book mentions Trump
as party leader a year after the election. The goal is only to win the 2020
election, again.
His revenge for opponents in his party via primary candidates
is currently underway, but in the book there is only a long list of Trump’s enemies in his
party. They are now being retaliated against. No 2022 events are covered.
McConnell is now Old Crow for Trump. A good number of senators are safe, as they
have a six year term.
Nothing very new is published here, but criticism of Trump
is all over the place, no longer hidden. Sometimes a direct quote is missing,
but all Republicans have been identified and rated through interviews with staff
and related parties.
On the Democrat side there is less inside stuff, as the
criticism of the issues and Trump is all in the open. The relationship between
Biden and Harris is not always positive and their close associates have been
questioned.
