You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
299 reviews for:
Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
John Heilemann
4.08 AVERAGE
299 reviews for:
Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
John Heilemann
4.08 AVERAGE
The best line in the whole book is from John McCain, speaking of the Republicans:
"Why would I want to be the leader of a party of such assholes?"
"Why would I want to be the leader of a party of such assholes?"
More gripping than a lot of genre fiction I've read lately. I found it especially interesting because I followed that election pretty closely, from the perspective of a wonk, and this narrative filled in many of the gaps.
Imminently readable tome about the 2008 election, i swallowed it in one weekend.
In general, you like and hate each candidate at various times for the self-centeredness and lack of management skills. The fact that they all love to use the F-bomb shouldn't have surprised me but it does. I still thought, somehow, niaevely that these people occupy a different plane of existence than I do. While that is true economically, its not true morally or intellectually, that is clear in this book.
The whole American electoral process is not enviable or glamorous. People paint themselves as one thing and are all too often not what they project themselves to be. But a lot can be in the eye of the beholder--and in the case here, 80% of the time you do not know who the beholder is? a 20 year old idealogue or a veteran campaigner whose advice may have been disregarded, hence their bitter take on one of the candidates or their spouses?
As expected, the Palin pick was really misconceived and poorly managed scenario for her and the US citizen. The need for a "Celeb" trumped the need for someone who actually understands the world and our place in it, historically, culturally, economically--and had an interest in the world outside Alaska.
I'm not sure the title works, GameChange.--that is the ending salvo about Clinton's appointment as Secy of State--bringing two bitter candidates together.
Its too early to tell (Fox aside) if Obama has created a historic change as the GOP has lost site of the role of Congress/Senate which is to govern our land not just stay in office at all costs.
Recommended
In general, you like and hate each candidate at various times for the self-centeredness and lack of management skills. The fact that they all love to use the F-bomb shouldn't have surprised me but it does. I still thought, somehow, niaevely that these people occupy a different plane of existence than I do. While that is true economically, its not true morally or intellectually, that is clear in this book.
The whole American electoral process is not enviable or glamorous. People paint themselves as one thing and are all too often not what they project themselves to be. But a lot can be in the eye of the beholder--and in the case here, 80% of the time you do not know who the beholder is? a 20 year old idealogue or a veteran campaigner whose advice may have been disregarded, hence their bitter take on one of the candidates or their spouses?
As expected, the Palin pick was really misconceived and poorly managed scenario for her and the US citizen. The need for a "Celeb" trumped the need for someone who actually understands the world and our place in it, historically, culturally, economically--and had an interest in the world outside Alaska.
I'm not sure the title works, GameChange.--that is the ending salvo about Clinton's appointment as Secy of State--bringing two bitter candidates together.
Its too early to tell (Fox aside) if Obama has created a historic change as the GOP has lost site of the role of Congress/Senate which is to govern our land not just stay in office at all costs.
Recommended
I already knew most of this stuff, so it wasn't a great book. I should have read it closer to when it came out I suppose. Or not read so much about the election.
There were some tidbits of interesting behind the scenes drama. It basically reinforces that we picked the right guy for president for sure. Beyond a doubt.
The attacks on Obama were indeed as ridiculous as they seemed and Palin was even more reckless a choice than she looked. She got less vetting than the Sec of Dept of Agriculture and it blew up in their faces. Reliving the antics of the McCain campaign was interesting. So glad that pair didn't make it to the WH! The campaign at one point thought she was mentally unstable. Wow.
Wanted to hear more about why McCain/Palin thought Rashid Khalidi was a good attack, but that one wasn't mentioned. Most of the other ones were, though.
There were some tidbits of interesting behind the scenes drama. It basically reinforces that we picked the right guy for president for sure. Beyond a doubt.
The attacks on Obama were indeed as ridiculous as they seemed and Palin was even more reckless a choice than she looked. She got less vetting than the Sec of Dept of Agriculture and it blew up in their faces. Reliving the antics of the McCain campaign was interesting. So glad that pair didn't make it to the WH! The campaign at one point thought she was mentally unstable. Wow.
Wanted to hear more about why McCain/Palin thought Rashid Khalidi was a good attack, but that one wasn't mentioned. Most of the other ones were, though.
Not too into national politics, but heard good things about this book and am kind of intrigued by the players.
This book is between four and five stars for me. I do think it was "amazing" - as far as research, structure, and narrative go - but I also only "really liked it."
Anyway. After reading this book, I am equal parts disillusioned, vindicated, horrified, and enlightened. The story of the 2008 presidential election - especially the democratic primary - is a fascinating one. I do kind of wish I never had to find out that the f-bomb is a favorite word among politicians, though. (Except for Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, bless their hearts.)
Anyway. After reading this book, I am equal parts disillusioned, vindicated, horrified, and enlightened. The story of the 2008 presidential election - especially the democratic primary - is a fascinating one. I do kind of wish I never had to find out that the f-bomb is a favorite word among politicians, though. (Except for Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, bless their hearts.)
Finally read this, but it was kind of too late. I didn't really learn much I hadnt read elsewhere. Still, it was fun to read.
informative
I finally got around to reading this book - a quick and dirty political tell-all of the 2008 election that was, for the most part, entertaining. I can honestly say that for all of its inside scoop (uncredited, of course) there was not anything hugely revelatory. Politics is a supremely dirty business and those involved can only keep their hands marginally clean for so long. I do think it highlighted how some of the decisions along the campaign trail get made in such a reactionary way that it can only lead to great success or instant failure (cue Sarah Palin to center stage). The juicier parts of the book not only tracked some of the biggest miscalculations of the season, but also the personal debacles and dysfunctions of the candidates and their entourage. The dysfunction prize probably goes to the Edwards' - John comes off as a narcissistic tool who trashes his professional hopes for a fling with a vapid, hippie groupie, and Elizabeth is portrayed as an elitist harpy who plays the valiant and scorned wife in public while privately making the lives of everyone in their circle a living hell. It is hard to look away from the train while it is wrecking. As for Palin, I don't think it adds more than we already know. In other words, she was a woefully miscast show pony way out of her depths.
It is interesting to revisit the Obama/Clinton contest these four years on now. In 2008, Obama was charmed. As the book portrays, he made nary a misstep and the press was in his corner every second along the way. Now we, and the press, feel no problem in pointing put the cracks in the facade we built and supported to the top. Contrast this to Clinton who was seemingly reminded at every step of the campaign that she was held to an entirely different standard than peers, not only because of her gender but because if her history and the potential albatross of her husband. Every potential misstep or gaffe was given a thorough rendering in the press. Now, Clinton enjoys the highest approval rating of her career and of the entire Obama cabinet.
Politics is a fickle beast.
It is interesting to revisit the Obama/Clinton contest these four years on now. In 2008, Obama was charmed. As the book portrays, he made nary a misstep and the press was in his corner every second along the way. Now we, and the press, feel no problem in pointing put the cracks in the facade we built and supported to the top. Contrast this to Clinton who was seemingly reminded at every step of the campaign that she was held to an entirely different standard than peers, not only because of her gender but because if her history and the potential albatross of her husband. Every potential misstep or gaffe was given a thorough rendering in the press. Now, Clinton enjoys the highest approval rating of her career and of the entire Obama cabinet.
Politics is a fickle beast.
