Reading the book Game Changer: Wow it is fascinating

[demtenjeep]

There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes during campaigns that we don't know about. Not really sure I like how E. Edwards was portrayed but we dodged a bullet when John stopped running. Early on, I was a supporter of his, I liked his message, but I guess he turned into a carraciture of himself and got big headed.

Just now starting Part II. I can't wait.

[gateley]

1. I think I got that, but haven't read it yet. I'd better get on it! nt

[southernyankeebelle]

2. It is an excellent book. I really enjoyed it. I can't wait for the show.

[Suich]

3. I read it a couple of years ago...

and was floored by the Elizabeth Edwards portrayal! Loved the Palin stuff!

[Cleita]

4. Give Edwards some credit for dropping out

even if he wasn't entirely honest with us about why. You will never see Gingrich et al do the same.

[lunatica]

5. I really wish I knew what you're talking about

Could give a synopsis of some sort?

[demtenjeep]

6. I don't want to spoil

it

[RZM]

7. I thought the Elizabeth Edwards portrayal was very interesting

I think that kind of disconnect between somebody's public persona and their personal life is actually pretty common.

Public figures often try hard to shape a positive image and usually put their best foot forward to the media/fans etc. In private, they are regular people like everybody else. And there are lots of regular people who aren't so nice.

[demtenjeep]

8. true,

but the portrayal of her was so far from what we ever knew. Ripping her shirt open on the tarmac and yelling at John to look at her. I never would have thought of her being that insecure and almost crazy.

[RZM]

9. That's just it

We knew her public persona, not her private one. Quite often they are different.

Fresh Air just rebroadcast a 2009 interview with Woody Allen. It's a good example of this kind of thing.

He talks about how far the characters he plays are from him. He claims he's not an intellectual in the least and in his younger days was actually a very good athlete. He apparently flunked out of NYU because he couldn't pass any of his classes, including those in film production.

[indie_voter]

11. Young had a similar story

I read his book The Politician and his account matches what I've read in Game Change. Needless to say, it doesn't diminish all the good she did. I think it's human nature to want to assign stellar qualities to people admired for public lives and deeds even though the public has no idea what that person is really like behind proverbial closed doors.

[RZM]

12. Indeed

Of course she and Young 'had beef,' as it were. She trashed him publicly as well, equating him with Hunter and referring to them both as 'pathetic.' Apparently she resented the loyalty/sycophancy Young showed toward John when he fell on the grenade for him.

[indie_voter]

13. absolutely

There are always two sides to the story and when Young came out with his account there was always the question of what his real motivation was. Game Change gives a very similar narrative but without the messy baggage Young carried. It's also attributed to more than one source and not through Young's eyes if you will.

[jsmirman]

10. I guess there's that stuff

but I was actually really let down by the book.

Having served as an Obama fellow during the three months of summer of 2008, I found that there was very little I didn't already know in the midst of all those pages.

Of course, I may also be bitter that for better or for worse, the whole fellows program wasn't even mentioned. I thought it was a unique and interesting element of the campaign. And I think there were some interesting aspects to the whole thing, like how they had to keep all of us on hold until Hillary finally stood down, how they integrated/tried to integrate our work with the neighborhood teams, how delicate and sometimes difficult the OFA/DNC merger was, a number of about faces and policy changes with regard to the program that I don't want to get into here - I think it's a reasonably good story that was entirely left out.

[lunasun]

14. Never read it-perhaps with the next election as a backdrop it's a good time to pick it up!

Liked his messages but felt duped post baby daddy

Really I keep saying wont get fooled again

[demtenjeep]

15. It really good

you will like it

[indie_voter]

16. my favorite part? The epilogue.

The primary and election was contentious as most remember. Reading the book brings a lot of the uncomfortable divisiveness back to the forefront in proverbial spades. However, I loved the epilogue. It was a postscript which showed that as divisive as politics can be and no matter how nasty it gets that sometimes, in the end, two smart people are able to rise above and work together with honor and dignity.

[demtenjeep]

17. I like knowing the outcome

makes me anxious when I read it.