Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight, By Karl Rove

“Courage and Consequence” was a very good read in my opinion. Mr. Rove did a wonderful job filling the pages of his book with recollections from his time in politics, on his philosophy about elections, and the body politic itself. He takes the occasion to set the Bush record straight as well. He also takes time along the way to deflate some of the myths that have surrounded him, and he gives us a glimpse of the man that he is.The book is packed with details, insights, and glimpses behind the curtain of the White House during the Bush Administration, where he successfully launched George W. Bush with two nail-biting campaigns. He was Bush’s leading aide, "Senior Advisor" and "Deputy Chief of Staff" would turn out to be mere job titles in this coveted area, where he had direct access and major influence over a the President of the United States. Read this book if you want more insight into the events that occurred during the Bush Administration. Don’t read it if you dislike the man, or you have an ax to grind with him, GWB and or the Republican Party. On second thought, strike the last sentence. Read it anyway.

I was caught up in the narrative right away with this book. It started with his younger years with the College Republicans, and it quickly moved to memorable topics the public took an active role; 9/11, the Florida recounts, the Kerry Campaign, No-Child-Left Behind, immigration reform, among other controversial legislation and events during the Bush years. I was taken back to the disquiet and unease that we all felt immediately after 9/11. That was a very real and emotional chapter. I saw the sense of national pride that surfaced throughout the country, and then the slow descent into partisan rancor and liberal surrender that followed. Another remarkable discussion occurred on the Florida recounts. I felt the sense of relief when the flawed exit polling that led to false exuberance among the media in 2004. It was all a powerful reminder that history is happening around us all the time. And my favorite chapter was towards the end, when Karl was assigned to get a father, that lost two sons in the War on Terror, a job as a Navy doctor. The father wanted to continue serving his country and mourn his sons in his own way. The wish was granted.

More than anything for me, this book helped to humanize the writer and the person. Those that hate him with a fire and passion are not rooted in rationality. Those that love him ascribe to him as a political tool. All too often it’s easy for people to get caught up in the emotion of a campaign, legislation that is adverse to some part of the populace, or a point of view or social agenda that the other side disagrees. This book does best to show you the man behind the caricature the media has created. You will see his earnest belief in Bush and what he did for this country. I have a different perspective on the Bush Administration although I disagree with some of the policies that were pushed forward. My greatest frustration and disappointment was on the Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson chapters. Karl had genuine fear of being unjustly indicted by Patrick Fitzgerald for unfounded reasons. The reader can see the real man as he is during the discussion through 9/11 and the emotional toll that it took on him. He is very emotional when he describes a scene just after President Bush addressed the nation from the Oval office on 9/11.

Rove is clearly a very talented and successful man. I do enjoy watching his analysis on Fox News and I wish more people would listen to his current reflections on politics. What I enjoyed most about the book, however, was the simple and matter-of-fact way that he dealt with his critics and their attacks on him. He spent more time debunking some of the bigger myths about things he “accomplished”, than he did touting the significant achievements that he did have. The book was more a calm recitation of the facts than it was a defense of his years in the Bush White House. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a political junkie like me. It is a bible for anyone that wants to participate in a campaign. I give it a five star rating. I hope you would agree.