This nifty little book (published nearly twenty years ago) serves as a sobering reminder that much of what is deplored in this fin de siecle political landscape has been entrenched within it for quite some time. The author is quick to disprove the notion that political consultants are rootless, ideologically uncommitted mercenaries working at the behest of the establishment. They are, for good or ill, their own sort of establishment and tend to profess to certain political leanings. Certainly, the phenomenon of Dick Morris is nothing new... Sure, Sidney Blumenthal isn't one of the world's great prose stylists, and insultingly obvious literary allusions abound (if I couldn't identify Samuel Beckett, I probably wouldn't be reading your book either, sir), but he writes well enough and gives the reader a good sense of the terrain. One more quibble, however: sure, the author was educated and spent well over a decade living and working in Boston (cradle of liberty my--), but why won't he fess up to having grown up in the Windy City and working, in some small part, for the Democratic machine he describes in such somber detail? Between Beantown and Chicago, I'd pick the latter any day of the week. The Permanent Campaign, published by the Unitarian Universalist Press...the bald eagle..the banner, exhorting the hapless citizen to vote his conscience...like the connections to Freudian psychology, it's almost too much altogether. But, then again, maybe it isn't. That first chapter, opening in the parlor of the home of Edward Bernays, the father of modern American advertising, (and Siggy's nephew, no less) is just fascinating. Oh yes, there's a chapter of Pat Caddell, the whiz kid pollster turned washed up screenwriter turned Warren Beatty cheerleader on the cable news chat shows. The author, on his very best behavior as a journalist, exposes Caddell for the genuine flake he is without the usual invective and ideological zealotry many of his detractors have come to expect. The best chapter by far is that on left-leaning consultant Don Rose, who orchestrated the fall of Richard Daley's corrupt and unloveable heir. But don't misunderstand, this is not a work that dwells on the personal for very long. It would be tedious to explain the politics of the book in detail, as twenty years have served quite well to that very effect. (So there.) For the record, I'm no fan of the New Republic or the Boston Red Sox or the current, odious administration upon which the author has for some time wasted his meticulous labours. But this book certainly deserves to be back in print, for the benefit of all those whose memory spans as far back as two weeks ago and for whom every sad reality of American politics is a new and unforeseen development. Over time, the names and faces have changed (Jane Byrne was but a blip across the screen, wasn't she?) but the story remains the same. [Four stars]

Sidney Blumenthal explores his Clinton years in a profoundly well written book that resolves many questions a caring reader has about that time.

I chuckle when I read how a reviewer was "a Clinton voter" and then proceeds to take both Sidney and President Clinton apart. Only a school boy couldn't see through this childish ploy which is to justify the ill founded opinions of those writing the review.

Take it from a life long Republican who was forced to leave his party due to the low lifes that now occupy it. This is a great book and the beginning of the more accurate look at just what the Clinton years were all about.

The greatest strength of Blumenthal's book (among its many assets) is its ability to transcend the who, what and why of his engrossing narrative to reveal in the fullest dimension yet the cultural war in America which fueled the relentless attack against our last elected President. In fact, the dimension and endurance of that war are fully apparent in the diverse reviews written here about this book.
To echo other reviewers, Blumenthal deserves thanks for writing the first draft of history...and exposing the prosecutors, pundits and reporters who sullied themselves in their attempted overthrow of American government. Blumenthal trades in what these critics do not--the facts. And thus, for them, the truth certainly hurts.

Just the fact that the right wing neoconservatives are attacking this book should encourage every "independent thinking" American to purchase and read The Clinton Wars. As a progressive liberal I am a thinker, learner, reader, and not a "ideology follower" like most right wing neocons. I don't agree with everything Mr. Blumenthal said in this book but it was a good read and will provide great entertainment in debates and discussions. President Clinton is such an intelligent and powerful leader, His charm and charisma is overwhelming. He is still the most important stateman representing the United States around the world and this is unchallenged. This book reinforces President Clintons ability to manage the most powerful country on earth for eight years, win the hearts, minds of people everywhere and reelection in a landside. With jealous conservatives trying to bring down our democracy and prosperity for the Presidents entire eight years, he withstood the attacks. Mr. Blumenthal's writtings take the media to task and exposes the conservative witch hunt as Starr wasted about 20 million tax dollars and found nothing worth the paper he used. What a sad and embarressing situation this put the right wing in for the entire world to see. This book is attacked for no reason other than to scare people from reading it. Attacks will have the opposite effect. I bought the book because of the attacks as I said earlier. Information is knowledge, information is power. Those who wait for others to tell them what to do are doomed to be followers always. I highly recommend this book if you are open minded and enjoy knowlege and both sides of the issue. Looking forward to Hillery's new book as well.