Got the book after seeing Jack Abramoff on 60 Minutes. Quick read to start, then kind of bogs down. May be partly due to some of the highlights of the book already shown and discussed on 60 Minutes. Or could be the repetitive descriptions of his deal making. Doesn't seem to be much remorse. He saw his role as a lobbyist whose job was to do whatever he had to do to help his client. Which he did- right or wrong, ethical or unethical, legal or not. Would love to know what was left out of the book. It was interesting some the people he met and worked with along the way from his Young Republican college days e.g. Grover Norquist. The book does a nice job of illustrating the corruption in Washington and how easy is is/was to buy votes. Appalling yet fascinating. This nonfiction tale outlines the grassroots rise of today's parties (1970's to now) and the dirty back alleys that encompass our current political system. While Abramoff's objective is clearly to exonerate himself, at least morally, he offers a relatively non-partisan reveal into the sordid reality that our United States gov't has become. James Madison would be appalled.
A pathetic story, but as a lobbyist myself, an interesting read.
—Darryl
A sad, Faustian book, beautifully written and touched my heart.
—sandesh
SM
—Roheff
