With keen inside analysis and great stories drawn from astonishing access to Washington's key players, Pennsylvania Avenue takes us behind the scenes to show what really happens on the first street in America and how that affects the country. The last decade produced one of the greatest political transformations in American history: a shift from the Reagan revolution, which had begun to dismantle the Democratic establishment. Since the Reagan era, the way Americans pick their representatives has undergone changes that have produced a new kind of politician and new institutions, turning upside down the way things get done on Pennsylvania Avenue. Seib and Harwood expose the forces that produced this great change and reveal how contemporary politicians are making the new power game work, along with the consequences for us all. "Essential reading for anyone interested in the inside workings of American politics." "Among their peers, John Harwood and Gerald Seib are respected as the gold standard of deep and honest reporting. Some journalists pretend they know what is going on; Harwood and Seib really do, as they prove once again in this evocative and insightful book." "Fresh and stimulating…Through a series of sharp vignettes and character sketches, the authors…take readers behind Washington's facades, showing how business really gets done…Harwood and Seib's calm tone and bipartisan focus give Pennsylvania Avenue a neighborly feelas its authors stroll down the street." "Informative and timely…[Readers] will come away with a greater knowledge of how the Washington power game is played." "In transactions from the Dubai ports deal debacle to the public relations battle over Wal-Mart and behind-the-scene machinations of the war in Iraq, the authors examine the influence of the powerful who don't let ideology get in the way of the deal. Harwood and Seib examine Washington's earlier history and the new strains produced by unprecedented ideological polarization, devoid of any of the personal camaraderie of the past. They conclude by exploring prospects for the future as both political parties recognize the gridlock and make efforts to soften the sharp edges." "Policy wonks will enjoy this solid, well-reported portrait of life in the District, while insiders will look for their names in the index."
