index index index index Dick Morris, Washington insider turned political analyst, knows all about political strategy. He was once an advisor to Bill Clinton and is credited with coming up with Clinton's famed "triangulation" strategy. In this book, Morris identfies six political strategies that can lead to political success. Interestingly, he provides 20 splendid examples of how these strategies have been misplayed and have led to failure.

The six strategies are:

1. "Stand on Principle"
2. "Triangulate"
3. "Divide and Conquer"
4. "Reform your own Party"
5. "Use a new technology"
6. "Mobilizing the Nation in Times of Crisis"

Sometimes, Morris oversells his explanations. For example, he places Lincoln in the "Divide and Conquer" category, since the Democrats split themselves into three parties in the election of 1860 and allowed Lincoln to win the Presidential election. That makes sense, since the Democrats divided and the Republicans conquered. However, Morris makes it sound like Lincoln maneuvered the Democrats into their crisis as part of his master plan that began with comments and questions raised during the Lincoln/Douglas debates in 1858, rather then simply taking advantage of the split. Lincoln was a political genius, but Morris oversimplifies here.

I mentioned at the top that I am a history teacher. I am also a Spanish teacher and Morris quotes George W. Bush speaking Spanish in a campaign speech: "Muchos espanos viver en ese estado". That's not Spanish. That's not even Spanglish. I've heard Bush speak Spanish. It is nothing to brag about, but it is definitely serviceable. It threw the rest of Morris' research into doubt since he had obviously not even bothered to talk to any Spanish speaker to see if his attempt to write down Bush's Spanish words were even correct. Double checking research is always important. By the way, it should have been "Muchos hispanos viven en ese estado."

So, I give this one a B+. The grade was not really reduced because of the Spanish thing, although it left some nagging doubts and was a major pet peeve.
Dick Morris Fox television network political analyst and former Clinton advisor identifies six strategies used by politicians throughout history. Morris presents twenty case studies--from Lincoln's Civil War tactics to Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign--assessing successes and failures in each. Includes commentary on the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the U.S. government's response. A must read book for all aspiring politicians.Morris is a political strategist and pollster of the first order, with the curriculum vitae and results to prove it. For this book he has distilled and collected from great leaders of the past and present some insights into political leadership. They are observations and illuminations brought out for the readers perusal.

I think the book highlights strong, courageous, decisive leadership, something of a rarity these days. By juxtapositioning those pearls against the mundane and self-seeking politicians, Morris is able to drive home the value of the former.

It should be a primer for those who want to lead. Study the best traits of the best leaders. Many, like Lincoln and Churchill faced immense obstacles and were arguably the man for the hour. Morris also plays out those who attempted great things but didn't have greatness in them. As George Stephanopolous said of Bill Clinton, "When things are in the dumps and getting worse, Morris is the first person he calls." Morris is a genius. Do people really know just how much of Bill Clinton's political life has been shaped and constructed by Dick Morris?? He is the mastermind. Like Karl Rove is now to George Bush, Morris was Clinton's #1 advisor. This book is a must read. No one understands politics like Dick Morris -- he helped start, then rescue, the one President who knew politics was an art -- Bill Clinton. Whatever one may think about Clinton's policies, he was a man who knew how to play the game and play politics, and he got it all from Dick Morris. Morris is the greatest political strategist of the last 50 years (Karl Rove could learn a thing or two from Morris). Morris' principles on how to get ahead in politics can help anyone in any field where competition exists -- business, sports, politics, anywhere in the real world. People should heed Mr. Morris' words if they really want to know what it takes to get ahead at all costs.Dick Morris is the frankest and most outspoken political analyst in America today. His commentary on the Clinton White House, the 2000 election, and the rise of George W. Bush has been marked by the sharpeyed political savvy only an insider can bring to bear.

Now, in Power Plays, Morris provides a revealing context for the machinations of contemporary politics. Casting an eye across the annals of history, Morris investigates 20 of the most dramatic political moves of all time -- from the wildly effective to the disastrous. From Abraham Lincoln splitting the opposition over slavery, to Winston Churchill's emergence from obscurity to lead Britain through WWII; from Ronald Reagan and his conservative doctrine taking over the country, to George W. Bush co-opting Democratic issues under the banner of "compassionate conservatism" -- Morris illuminates these and many other gambits through his uniquely insightful perspective. Equally compelling on successes and failures of the past-including the real reason A] Gore lost in 2000.

Dick Morris is one of America's sharpest political minds. As a professional consultant, he has helped candidates from both parties understand public opinion and win elections--most notably President Clinton in 1996 (an experience Morris described in the bestselling book Behind the Oval Office). He is also a founding father of "triangulation," a strategy Clinton employed to great effect; according to Morris, George W. Bush also uses it quite well. "The identification of certain problems with certain parties or factions opens up a magnificent strategic opportunity: the chance to solve the other side's problems," writes Morris in Power Plays. In other words, if public concerns about welfare dependency drive voters toward the GOP, then Democrats ought to confront this issue head-on. "Solve the problems that keep the other side in business, and it will go broke. Give them what they want and they will go away." Power Plays, however, is not simply a primer on triangulation; it is an analysis of how various political strategies have helped and hindered candidates. Morris writes at length about determining when standing for principle works and when it doesn't, as well as a number of other approaches, including "divide and conquer" and "reform your own party." This is a first-rate book for readers who enjoy the gamesmanship of politics. suria review reviews analysis analyze