This Town, Leibovich - B--

                   The author is the chief national correspondent for The New York Times magazine and was formerly with the Washington Post.  Those credentials exempt him from being part of (yet, not really) the in crowd in Washington that refers to the nation's capital as 'this town'.  The book is seriously funny at times and certainly an enjoyable read. But the tales of Harry Reid, Jon Coburn, Chuck Schumer, Haley Barbour, Paul Ryan, and Dick Gephardt are in the end, not funny at all. Add the endless players who have flitted back and forth between public office and private gain, and you have a demoralizing reminder about why things don't seem to work in America.  I had long since concluded that the pursuit of re-election monies and then, sky-high profitable books, speaking engagements, and consulting fees after leaving office, is the 'problem' in our country. This book, which reminds us that almost all the former Majority Leaders and Speakers of the House are still in town and hustling away, confirms my beliefs.