The Hill to Die On – The Battle for Congress and the Future of Trump’s America
This is an insider’s look at today’s Washington politics. The authors gained access to the likes of House Republicans like Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif) and Minority Whip Steve Scalise (La) and others like Freedom Caucus co-chairs Mark Meadows (N.C) and Jim Jordan (Ohio) along with now retired Paul Ryan (Wis). This is a blow-by-blow account of Congressional in-fighting of the worse kind while recognizing that there are members on both sides of the aisle who believe they can make a difference to benefit their constituents and the country. The authors are insiders themselves-they run Politico’s morning newsletter, Playbook and provide the reader with a fresh look at the evolution of key political battles during the first two years of the Trump administration.
Review: This is a page turner for those who love to read about how a dysfunctional Congress has operated over the last two years and a half years since President Trump took was elected. It is largely told from the standpoint of Republican leaders who were in charge while Trump was doing his best to overturn every convention that defines Washington. This book reflects what is wrong with American politics as it solely focuses on political leaders-their fragile egos, their desire to strike out at others regardless of the cost and their unwillingness to work with one another. It does not provide the reader with any insight from the political rank and file-the voters. It confirms what so many of the cynics on both sides have said and continue to say about Washington politics. The pursuit of power while forsaking the impact on the lives of everyday Americans leaves the reader feeling hopeless and discouraged.
Curtis Schaeffer