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on June 29, 2016
Just a note to fans of the HBO movie, which prompted me to go back and read this. I was surprised by how little of this book is actually about the Palin aspects of this groundbreaking election. The main focus by far is the Clinton-Obama rivalry and ultimate reconciliation. It's still a great book, but if you are looking for a lot more depth on the inner workings of the McCain-Palin campaign, there is not a lot of additional insight or detail here.
VINE VOICEon February 18, 2010
Heilemann and Halperin write a revelatory book for our current political climate. Right off the bat, let me state that it appears no one in the book has denied the stories or quotes from this chronicle. So I am rather confident, these knowledgeable journalists had great sources and speak the truth. Some of it may be embellished but the book is a great page turner.
As a political junkie during 2008 campaign, I thought I knew it all, but I was not privy to many of the disclosures in this book. Let's review some:
Hillary Clinton: I knew she thought she would walk into the nomination, but with all her know-how, she really underestimated Obama's organization and Bill's lack of influence. I was sort of shocked that many of the senators had secretly approached Obama to persuade him to run, knowing that Hillary could not win. She is too divisive and naïve about loyalty. It was fascinating that Hillary strongly supported Obama for Senator; I did not know that she braved a snowstorm to arrive in Chicago to help him. I also was shocked she had a transition "team" in place before the primary.
Obama: Calculating and rather arrogant. I was a bit surprised with his flashes of anger but he seemed to sail through muddy times - Jeremiah Wright being the worst. It's hard to believe he survived that travesty which gives me hope that he can overcome his less than stellar first year.
The Edwards: Wow, fascinating. I really did not know he is such a cad and Elizabeth is a sharp-tongued shrew. I don't understand how those two believed if he did win the nomination, his cheating becoming public knowledge, that he could win. It would be death for a Democratic victory. I was not surprised that he was so confident he wanted to make a deal with Obama that Obama could be his Veep. The Edwards fall from grace was disheartening. His loyal staff deserves applause and sympathy.
Now Sarah Palin, not too many surprises for me. She is the anti-intellect and probably the cleverest politician in the group. She was not dedicated to public service (i.e. quits governorship) and duped so many shallow voters. I did not know that she could not recall Biden's name during the VP debate, hence her request to call him Joe! She did slip up once during the debate and referred to him as O'Biden.
These journalists wrote a tight, fascinating narrative of the campaign. It was a game changer and they helped change it providing us with the superb anecdotes. I have since heard both of them on news shows and they are astute and continue to support their statements. Maybe they should run for office!
As a political junkie during 2008 campaign, I thought I knew it all, but I was not privy to many of the disclosures in this book. Let's review some:
Hillary Clinton: I knew she thought she would walk into the nomination, but with all her know-how, she really underestimated Obama's organization and Bill's lack of influence. I was sort of shocked that many of the senators had secretly approached Obama to persuade him to run, knowing that Hillary could not win. She is too divisive and naïve about loyalty. It was fascinating that Hillary strongly supported Obama for Senator; I did not know that she braved a snowstorm to arrive in Chicago to help him. I also was shocked she had a transition "team" in place before the primary.
Obama: Calculating and rather arrogant. I was a bit surprised with his flashes of anger but he seemed to sail through muddy times - Jeremiah Wright being the worst. It's hard to believe he survived that travesty which gives me hope that he can overcome his less than stellar first year.
The Edwards: Wow, fascinating. I really did not know he is such a cad and Elizabeth is a sharp-tongued shrew. I don't understand how those two believed if he did win the nomination, his cheating becoming public knowledge, that he could win. It would be death for a Democratic victory. I was not surprised that he was so confident he wanted to make a deal with Obama that Obama could be his Veep. The Edwards fall from grace was disheartening. His loyal staff deserves applause and sympathy.
Now Sarah Palin, not too many surprises for me. She is the anti-intellect and probably the cleverest politician in the group. She was not dedicated to public service (i.e. quits governorship) and duped so many shallow voters. I did not know that she could not recall Biden's name during the VP debate, hence her request to call him Joe! She did slip up once during the debate and referred to him as O'Biden.
These journalists wrote a tight, fascinating narrative of the campaign. It was a game changer and they helped change it providing us with the superb anecdotes. I have since heard both of them on news shows and they are astute and continue to support their statements. Maybe they should run for office!
on January 14, 2014
This is a well researched book. You will find that many of your favorite political figures have feet of clay. Heileman discloses the sleazy side of politics. After reading it I was depressed about Washington and all of the power brokers but, most importantly I fear there is no way to fix it without a completely public funded election system.
The book makes it obvious the system is entrenched with huge money and that creates power, greed and more greed. We can no longer believe one person one vote is an American reality. The Supreme Court's ruling that corporations are people entitled to vote with their checkbooks has changed the face of power forever! We have a system that allows them to give as much money as they want to any cause that furthers their interest. Good policy bills are rarely passed and even if they are they don't get enacted as written.
Heilemann spares no one including the main stream media as well as the 24hr propaganda networks.
If and when a politician leaves office the next likely career is as a lobbyist that sells to the highest bidder. Heilemann discusses the revolving door from the Capital Building to K Street or to other too BIG TO FAIL corporations.
I do not intend to stop voting but I will do it with a heavy heart realizing that it will not make a difference!
The book makes it obvious the system is entrenched with huge money and that creates power, greed and more greed. We can no longer believe one person one vote is an American reality. The Supreme Court's ruling that corporations are people entitled to vote with their checkbooks has changed the face of power forever! We have a system that allows them to give as much money as they want to any cause that furthers their interest. Good policy bills are rarely passed and even if they are they don't get enacted as written.
Heilemann spares no one including the main stream media as well as the 24hr propaganda networks.
If and when a politician leaves office the next likely career is as a lobbyist that sells to the highest bidder. Heilemann discusses the revolving door from the Capital Building to K Street or to other too BIG TO FAIL corporations.
I do not intend to stop voting but I will do it with a heavy heart realizing that it will not make a difference!
on November 5, 2015
Just really interesting if you like politics. Kind of a kiss and tell which I understand could irritate people. But to me the most amazing thing is how hard this is on the candidates all of them. What a negative environment of destructive criticism they must face. It guarantees that many able bodied people will not run. I believe Karl Rove and Lee Atwater engineered many of the kinds of attacks we see today. I do not want this to be partisan because Both sides now do this routinely. I believe this is helping destroy public discourse in our society. Its unfortunate, because it is making our country ungovernable. Politics always was a hard contact sport as you read history. I think we are now taking it to a new level. Our current level of public discourse speaks for itself. If we really want to change the game. Finance Reform all campaigns publicly funded run on national TV limited to 3/4 months of debates each week on TV/internet paid for by public taxes. Maybe 10 million dollars spent whatever way the candidates wants public funding Presidential only. Overspending disqualifies a candidate. No one else may use the TV or other media for political messages. Other candidates to get into public debates would have to achieve a certain level signatures to allow them in debates.
Let the Koch brothers donate 900 million to public charities and not political campaigns. Goodby to 90% of lobbyists.
Let the Koch brothers donate 900 million to public charities and not political campaigns. Goodby to 90% of lobbyists.
on March 30, 2017
Wonderful book about the Historic 2008 election and all of the players that were in it. I loved the part about the general election, especially on the chapter on the VP's and how their was tension in both camps, and not just Palin's. Good narrative account to go along with the news coverage and get inside the campaigns. I wish they did more on the downfall of Edwards and what an utter disgrace he became.
on February 20, 2010
Unlike others who blast this book for not being history or gossip, the author's state up front that history requires time and more perspective so I didn't buy this book expecting history or disappointed that it didn't deliver on that account. This book did deliver as an insider's recent perspective on one of the most historic and exciting presidential races of recent history (sorry Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford). For those reviewers who criticize this book as gossip, did they really expect politicians and their staff to talk on the record -- especially when all of the main characters are currently serving elected or other positions in government? If so, it demonstrates a level of naivete that I was surprised these same people didn't express wonderment that Obama, Clinton, McCain and Palin didn't provide advance praise to cite on the back of the book jacket. The authors claim to have over 280 sources and many conversations are quoted verbatim, suggested a high-degree of first party sources.
Overall, I thought the "Game Change" did a good job of being non-partisan. One might argue that the amount of Republican coverage in the book indicates a liberal bias --- a highly dubious argument in my mind since the Democratic primary was the more highly contested and frankly more historically significant in that we would either have the first African-American or first female nominee of a major party in American history. Additionally, this book was no paean to Obama. The author's didn't tread lightly on the fact that he can be as ruthless and cut-throat as any other politician out there. They also provided all of the varied perspectives his foes and colleagues share of him, not a love fest by any means.
It is fascinating to sneak a peek behind the curtain of such a varied cast of characters. We almost always get the package that they want to paint for us --- or the mis-steps they make in the public eye. However, just as they character traits that enable them to excel as public figures, they all have character flaws like we all do. After all that we now know about John Edwards, would we expect a flattering portrait from "Game Change"? Certainly not. Whether you like Sarah Palin or not, is it a surprise that she might not have been prepared for the Vice Presidency of the United States? Probably not. Are we surprised by the Clinton's ruthlessness? Please. Or McCain's lack of organization? Not if you've been following the Senator's career.
For people who are not highly partisan, this is a fascinating and entertaining read. Can I understand why it would anger and inflame those highly partisan folks on both sides of the aisle? Certainly. However, if you have the least bit of interest in politics or the last election, enjoy this book. It is not the definitive historical account of the 2008 election. Given the proximity to the election, a historical perspective would challenge credibility and certainly be far surprassed by true historians once more time has passed. Whatever way you look at it, the election was a riveting drama and this book does well against that criteria.
Overall, I thought the "Game Change" did a good job of being non-partisan. One might argue that the amount of Republican coverage in the book indicates a liberal bias --- a highly dubious argument in my mind since the Democratic primary was the more highly contested and frankly more historically significant in that we would either have the first African-American or first female nominee of a major party in American history. Additionally, this book was no paean to Obama. The author's didn't tread lightly on the fact that he can be as ruthless and cut-throat as any other politician out there. They also provided all of the varied perspectives his foes and colleagues share of him, not a love fest by any means.
It is fascinating to sneak a peek behind the curtain of such a varied cast of characters. We almost always get the package that they want to paint for us --- or the mis-steps they make in the public eye. However, just as they character traits that enable them to excel as public figures, they all have character flaws like we all do. After all that we now know about John Edwards, would we expect a flattering portrait from "Game Change"? Certainly not. Whether you like Sarah Palin or not, is it a surprise that she might not have been prepared for the Vice Presidency of the United States? Probably not. Are we surprised by the Clinton's ruthlessness? Please. Or McCain's lack of organization? Not if you've been following the Senator's career.
For people who are not highly partisan, this is a fascinating and entertaining read. Can I understand why it would anger and inflame those highly partisan folks on both sides of the aisle? Certainly. However, if you have the least bit of interest in politics or the last election, enjoy this book. It is not the definitive historical account of the 2008 election. Given the proximity to the election, a historical perspective would challenge credibility and certainly be far surprassed by true historians once more time has passed. Whatever way you look at it, the election was a riveting drama and this book does well against that criteria.
on May 7, 2016
Game Change is almost like two books: an incredibly detailed, 267-page dissection of the race for the Democratic nomination, followed by a scant, rushed-through account of the Republican primaries and the general election.
The first part does its job well, taking the reader inside the Clinton, Obama and Edwards campaign for a detailed look at the campaigns and the people who ran them. The second part simply feels light and inadequate, almost as if the authors ran out of time. Surely there must have been some interesting stories out of the Romney campaign (which gets a handful of pages), Mike Huckabee (a few scattered paragraphs) or Ron Paul (one single mention, lumped into a paragraph with five other candidates), but the authors don't get into them. The general election is similarly given short shrift. Although there's some interesting stuff about the selection of Sarah Palin, the book races so quickly through the fall campaign that when the narrative reaches November, the reader is left thinking "Wait -- that was it?"
The first part does its job well, taking the reader inside the Clinton, Obama and Edwards campaign for a detailed look at the campaigns and the people who ran them. The second part simply feels light and inadequate, almost as if the authors ran out of time. Surely there must have been some interesting stories out of the Romney campaign (which gets a handful of pages), Mike Huckabee (a few scattered paragraphs) or Ron Paul (one single mention, lumped into a paragraph with five other candidates), but the authors don't get into them. The general election is similarly given short shrift. Although there's some interesting stuff about the selection of Sarah Palin, the book races so quickly through the fall campaign that when the narrative reaches November, the reader is left thinking "Wait -- that was it?"
on January 17, 2016
I was looking forward to reading the book, thinking that it would elaborate on the selection of Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate in 2008 and her character and performance during the campaign. I think this was a reasonable expectation because this was the exclusive focus of the HBO movie, which I enjoyed immensely. However, it is not until around page 280 of a 444 page book that McCain's name is even mentioned, let alone Sarah Palin's. In the book I found Sarah Palin to be a rather minor, almost incidental figure, the vast majority of the book being devoted to the competition between Obama and Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and then the general election campaign between Obama and McCain. There is absolutely nothing in the book about Palin that is not in the movie. That being said, I found the book very informative, well-done and enjoyable reading, but not what I expected when I ordered it. As a result, I was a bit disappointed, but still found the book worthwhile reading. I would recommend it to people as long as they understand what they are getting is quite different from the movie.
on September 21, 2012
This book was recommended by a friend. I usually read novels, so I wasn't sure I'd like this kind of book based on hundreds of interviews to piece together the history. I was wrong! This is interesting stuff... I think it gives a real insight as to what goes on behind the scenes to make a presidential campaign come together. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a small country with an army to pull off a successful election.
The personal tidbits of each candidate was most interesting (McCain's fragile personality, Hillary's Bill problems, Obama's toughness, etc.). Learning what the candidates felt about each other (Romney was a joke then as now). Detailing the grueling schedules they put themselves through. The Sarah Palin debacle was amusing as well.
I enjoyed it enough to look forward to a similar book regarding the 2012 campaign!
The personal tidbits of each candidate was most interesting (McCain's fragile personality, Hillary's Bill problems, Obama's toughness, etc.). Learning what the candidates felt about each other (Romney was a joke then as now). Detailing the grueling schedules they put themselves through. The Sarah Palin debacle was amusing as well.
I enjoyed it enough to look forward to a similar book regarding the 2012 campaign!
