In 2008, the presidential election became blockbuster entertainment. Everyone was watching as the race for the White House unfolded like something from the realm of fiction. The meteoric rise and historic triumph of Barack Obama. The shocking fall of the House of Clinton—and the improbable resurrection of Hillary as Obama's partner and America's face to the world. The mercurial performance of John McCain and the mesmerizing emergence of Sarah Palin.
Based on hundreds of interviews with the people who lived the story, Game Change is a reportorial tour de force that reads like a fast-paced novel. Character driven and dialogue rich, replete with extravagantly detailed scenes, this is the occasionally shocking, often hilarious, ultimately definitive account of the campaign of a lifetime.
First Line: "There were thunderstorms in Chicago bringing air traffic to a grinding halt in and out of O'Hare."
Random Quote: "Penn saw Obama as a "phenomenon," and in his experience phenomenons had to be quashed early, before the myths around them grew so potent they were undeflatable. Clinton, too, was increasingly outraged over what he saw as the fawning press coverage of Obama."
Review: I grew up in a family as consumed with politics as we were serious about food. My parents were both anti-war activists and my mother was active in the beginnings of NOW in Memphis. We talked about politics, we argued about politics, and we always always always watched the news. I remember in elementary school being totally bummed out by my father's insistence that we watch 60 Minutes every single Sunday night. It played against The Wonderful World of Disney and I never got to see the stuff that the other kids in school were watching. I really didn't understand what the big deal was. And then there was Watergate.
Image via WikipediaI was 10 years old and spending the summer with my grandparents on my father's side in Seattle. My grandmother was just as rabid about politics as my father. I knew the basics and thought it was pretty terrible that people working for the President (the first one I really remember, by the way, something that makes my mother shudder to this day) would commit a burglary. After that, lots of unsavory stuff came out about it all, but it was sort of on the periphery. I was 10 - I was way more interested in reading James and the Giant Peach
.
Image via WikipediaThe Watergate hearings coincided with my visit to my grandmother and we watched them together twice a day - once during the day and again in the evening after my grandfather got home. I remember those seven days so clearly - my grandmother chain smoking and talking to the television and to me, how much I admired Barbara Jordan and many others that I saw. My grandmother and I talked and talked about what we'd heard. When I didn't understand something, she'd explain and sometimes we'd argue and after that I was hooked. (Yes, I yell at the television, but I yell at the computer too so I'm an equal opportunity yeller.)
Cover of Jimmy CarterMy faith in the office of the President has never been strong. Did I mention that Nixon is the first president I really remember? I have a fondness for Jimmy Carter, if not for all he did (or didn't do) as President, but because I admire his stance on the place of human rights in the US policy agenda and the amazing work he's done to bring people together across the world. He was followed by Reagan (don't get me started), and Poppy Bush, and Clinton (Republican-lite), and finally G.W. You've probably guessed by now that I'm progressive in my political tendencies. By the time we were done with G.W. I was really hoping that the Democratic Party would run someone inspirational and capable of inspiring Americans to do something other than grub for money for the richest 1%. I think Obama has those abilities, but whether or not he's living up to his message is still very much up for grabs.
However it might've gone and whichever side you were on, you must admit that the race of 2008 was a bonanza for political junkies. I loved every single minute of it and watched the news and listened to the radio and read as much coverage as I could from all over the 'net. I talked about it with friends and with my husband and thought about it a lot. I phone banked and donated a little money and did what I could to participate. It was pretty amazing - even from the sidelines.
My favorite book about a presidential race is Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, Hunter S. Thompson's brilliant and insightful look at the 1972 race for the presidency filtered through his own, admittedly trippy, brain. Game Change
is right up there with Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail (although not filled with drug-induced madness - different times). It is very clear that these two reporters have done their homework. They've talked to many many sources, often off the record, and in doing so bring a blow-by-blow account of the race that is a highly entertaining read. This book demonstrates the value of real journalism - the clear writing, the simple telling of the story from as many sides as possible. I miss real journalism - so much of our media has been purchased by corporations that it's incredibly difficult to find anymore. Politics matter and good journalism is an essential part of the political process.
Game Change provides insights in its behind-the-scene look at the campaigns, but it also provides wonderfully gossipy fun and I think both these things are essential. Our interest in politics lies not just in the issues of the day, but also in the personae of our politicians and their interaction with each other and with us. We want to believe we can connect to something human in our politicians because if we can't ... where does that leave us? In most ways this book offers us a peek behind curtains where the Wizard isn't really a Wizard, but probably isn't a nice old man, either.
Monday, November 15th: Social Sense
Wednesday, November 17th: Deep Muck Big Rake
Monday, November 22nd: Big Green Purse
Tuesday, November 30th: Donklephant
Wednesday, December 1st: Marathon Pundit
Thursday, December 2nd: Divided We Stand United We Fall
Monday, December 6th: Ruby Slippers
Monday, December 13th: Whiskey Fire
Wednesday, December 15th: Rude Pundit
Thursday, December 16th: booker rising
Friday, December 17th: Chaotic Compendiums
Tuesday, December 21st Cogitamus and LitBrit
Tuesday, December 28th: blonde sagacity
Wow, I can't imagine having experienced Watergate firsthand - what great discussions you must have had! It sounds like this book was the perfect fit for you. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this tour!
ReplyDelete