The Big Enchilada: Campaign Adventures with the Cockeyed Optimists from Texas Who Won the Biggest...

The Big Enchilada: Campaign Adventures with the Cockeyed Optimists from Texas Who Won the Biggest Prize in ... | Stuart Stevens | Insider's look at what REALLY happened in last election

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The Big Enchilada:...

	The Big Enchilada: Campaign Adventures with the Cockeyed Optimists from Texas Who Won the Biggest Prize in ... Stuart Stevens, 2001 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 12 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Six years ago he owned a baseball team. Now he's the leader of the free world. "The Big Enchilada" is a comic anthem to the wild and improbable crusade that propelled George W. Bush into the White House and to the close-knit group of Texans who made it happen, written by "the Bush campaign's Renaissance man" "(Time" magazine). Writer and political strategist Stuart Stevens has been hailed by Martin Amis as "the perfect companion: brave, funny, and ever-watchful," and "The New Yorker" has praised him for having "a wonderful eye for the curiosities of human behavior." Here he tells the surprisingly funny, adrenaline-fueled story of the Bush campaign the public never saw -- from the Austin coffee shop where Stevens watched Karl Rove sketch out the Republican master plan on a napkin to the small Methodist church in Crawford, Texas, where the blue-jeaned future president prepared for the make-or-break debates that no one expected him to win. He offers the inside view of the rise and flameout of maverick John McCain; the struggle to come up with a message that could be heard over a booming economy ("Times have never been better. Vote for change," campaign aides joked); and the fierce debates over the upside and downside of "going negative" against a vulnerable adversary. Above all, Stevens turns the familiar political tale of disillusionment on its head. From the moment he arrived in Austin to join the campaign -- "Stevens, get in here and let's bond!" the governor said -- he discovered the peculiar pleasure of working with people who not only respected and admired their candidate but actually "liked" him. They faced formidable obstacles, from a nation surfing a vast wave of peaceand prosperity to an experienced opponent whose seasoned advisers bragged that the campaign would be "a slaughterhouse." But Texans, as Stevens learned, are a confident bunch, and the Bush crowd remained convinced they would win the biggest prize of all -- even on the brink of losing. This is the story of what it was like as only an insider could tell it.

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Whoa! Politics is actually entertaining

Wow! No matter what your political bent, this book is a quirky peak into the political subculture of presidential campaigns. Althought this book appears to be 100% political, the story really revolves around the stressful, intense, and humerous life of political marketing. It's also a great biography of George W. Bush. It reinforces the notion that Bush is really a genuine guy. What he lacks in political saviness, he definitely makes up in sincerity and honesty! Well written book deserves a read!

Insider's look at what REALLY happened in last election

Heard the taped version of THE BIG ENCHILADA by
Stuart Stevens, a top aide for George W. Bush's presidential
campaign . . . l very much enjoyed it--despite having thought
that I was overdosed on information on what took place . . . little did I know!

Stevens presents a real insider's look at what actually happened
during both the campaign and infamous recount . . . I found
myself laughing out loud many times, most often at Gore's
ineptitude.

One such example comes to mind: Stevens and other top Bush aides find themselves puzzling over Gore's demand that no cameras be placed behind him during the debate. "It's so his bald spot won't show," Stevens finally realizes. Everyone chuckles.

I also liked reading about the preparation for the Bush/Gore debates . . . it was interesting to find out how the Bush team had somebody "pretend" to be Gore . . . at one time, this individual wanders over to Bush and tries to stare him down . . . a bemused Bush comments, "Is he
really going to do that?"

If you're a political junkie, this is a MUST read. But it should also be enjoyable reading for anybody interested in marketing, history and even humor.

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It Is A Bit Spicy

The author comes right out and tells you that he is a big supporter of president Bush. Given that he worked on the 2000 Bush presidential campaign, that comment is not too surprising and given the wink-wink objectivity that some authors try to insert into these type of books, it was a bit refreshing. This book delivers exactly what it is selling, an insiders account from the 2000 Bush presidential campaign that is humorous, biting and pro Bush. The author was part of the team that put together the television ads. One of the reasons this book is so good is that this author makes a living getting peoples attention with, partially, words. The book is sharp and crisp, there are no parts that really lag. He keeps the story moving at a nice pace and finds ways to make even room service ordering interesting.

I think the two most interesting parts of the book for me detailed how the campaign and Bush dealt with the debates and the view of the Gore team from the opposing bench. I found the detail of how Bush prepared for the debates to be insightful, especially now that he has been in office for four years. Plus all the nit picking rules that go into the actual debate set up are well worth your time (one has thoughts of Koran peace treaty negotiations). I thought the other section of the book that was not only humorous, but also very telling was the comments on how the Bush team thought Gore was doing. The Bush team, as well as almost political junky in American, just could not understand how Gore could let a huge lead in the polls and all the history, economic prosperity and peace advantages he had slip away. Gore's mistakes are detailed in the book and it really goes to show you how a bad team can make all the difference in a campaign.

Overall I liked the book. It is not a complete view of the campaign, only the view from the Bush team. It does not really cover the recount drama and could not be used as the end all be all of year 2000 campaign books. But what is does do is entertain the reader and give him or her a few insights. I think the only negative I could find in the book was the author kind of let his hair down on the last few pages and took a number of shots at all things Democratic. It seamed like some sour grapes at the end and the book would have ended just as well without it. Then again I would assume this was a little preaching to the choir from the author. If you are a huge fan of president Bush then this book will be a nice read for you. If you are a rabid Gore supporter then I would suggest looking else where.

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What happened?

One might be tempted to pass this book up for a couple of reasons.First it was published in 2001,so it must be out of date.Second,with a title like this it must be some Redneck book;and a waste of time for astute political junkies,regardless of stripe,to be bothered with.If you feel that way,you're going to miss one of the best chances you will get to find out where GW came from,and what chances he thought he had in winning against Gore.This book is written from the inside view of those who put together Bush's campaign as well as the character of the man who totally surprised the pundits by winning over Gore, who was believed to have the election all wrapped up.It will also show you that Bush's opponents still believe in their own biasas over reality ,and lost again in 2004.
In the book it is clear that Bush's team put things together and it was a guiding principle not to use polls to make policy.We have seen this principle adheared to through his first term and continuing into his second term.Voters respect a President that knows where he wants to go,is open about his intentions,stays the course in spite of continual sniping from opponents,and does what is right and lets the losers play the poll game.The presidents in the past who followed that principle have won the support of electors of both parties.Just a brief aside from the book;look at what is going on in the media today,filled with polls showing how great things are for the Democrats and how nobody agrees with Bush.It seems that they still haven't figured it out that it is not debates and polls that win, but trust and who the voters believe who will best lead the nation,uphold the laws and lend respect to the office of The President of the United States.
Another thing that comes through in this book is the respect Bush's team had for Gore,s organization but they decided to give it a fair fight.The one thing that you don't see is a deep hatred the left wing has for Bush mirrored to their opponents.
In the last election,it was clear that Bush certainly didn't win the debates,but then again,the people were voting for a President ,not a debate winner.
I Strongly recommend this book for a good insight into Bush and you'll see he has remained true to his principles.Even if you have disagreements with him,you know his intentions and where he stands.Most of all,he will give the job his best and the office the respect it deserves.If other people and countries have a problem with that;so be it!I just wish my country would see what a great friend the US has been instead of looking to the UN and EU all the time.The chant we get here from the left-wing liberals and socialists is "Oh,we like America,It's just Bush we hate."Most of them are so deluded they even believe it.

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Raunchy, partisan and insightful look at 2000 campaign

Most people view politics like an enema: an unpleasant but occasionally necessary procedure to make the system function properly. It is easy to forget there are people, some quite gifted, who derive actual pleasure from campaigns. These technocrats, whether they be James Carville or author Stuart Stevens, sometimes prove as intriguing as the people they try to elect. In The Big Enchilada, Stevens explains how the hired guns can be just as jaded as everyone else and still excel and take great pride in their chosen profession.

The Big Enchilada is witty, surprisingly raunchy, and insightful. There have been few books written about the actual 2000 presidential campaign. The Big Enchilada focuses primarily on the propaganda war and the other nuts and bolts work that preceded the Tallahassee train wreck. As a result, the reader gets a feel for the loyalty George W. Bush inspired among his campaign advisers, spin doctors, and media consultants. From the moment political guru Karl Rove diagrams the Bush campaign on a napkin until Vice President Al Gore makes his second concession speech, media consultant Stevens explains how an insular, Austin-based organization triumphed over an incumbent's heir apparent in a time of peace and prosperity.

Stevens is at his best when he describes absurd people and moments, such as the demand by the oft-hapless Gore campaign that no cameras be placed behind their candidate's bald head. The author also lays bear the rank hypocrisy of Senator John McCain, who ran on a campaign finance reform platform yet shook down political contributions from the very people over whom he had oversight.

The weakest aspect of the book is Stevens' unflagging loyalty to George W. Bush. In the author's eyes, now-President Bush could do and did no wrong. It would have been nice to see some of the president's dirty laundry without a lame apologia. Also, some of the author's one-liners fall flat although that is the exception rather than the rule.

The people who dedicate themselves to public service and who play the hardball of politics make democracy work. Stevens shows why there is no dearth of hired guns and foot soldiers in the battles that make the system work.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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