Game Change Is Not A Movie, It’s A Cautionary Tale

[Tennessee Gal]

“It’s not that she doesn’t know the right answer, it’s that she clearly doesn’t understand the question.”–Fareed Zakaria on Sarah Palin during the 2008 Presidential Campaign.

There is much to admire about the HBO film, Game Change, made from the book by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. There is the Palin-channeling performance of Julianne Moore as well as the terrific work by Woody Harrelson as Steve Schmidt, McCain’s Senior Campaign Adviser, Sarah Paulson as fellow McCain adviser, Nicolle Wallace and Ed Harris as McCain himself. The attention to detail and the blending of actual footage with the actors playing the real life characters is impressive and seamless. The no-fat direction and sharp screenplay certainly serve the source material well too.

~snip~

Sure, we all remember the many verbal gaffes by the 1/2 term Governor of Alaska during the debate, the disastrous Charlie Gibson/Katie Couric interviews, and the extraordinary parody work by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live, but to see the McCain team trying to coach Mrs. Palin up on World War II while pointing at Germany on a map of the world (and actually saying, “This is Germany“) is something else altogether. As Steve Schmidt put it, “She doesn’t know anything.”

Even worse than that, is the point in the film where the McCain team is cheering the Vice Presidential Debate performance of Mrs. Palin like their team just won the Super Bowl, when in truth, they were just pleased that she didn’t completely crater. In some ways, it may be the most cynical depiction of a political event I have ever seen. They knew she was completely unqualified, but they were only interested in victory. Now, of course, that was their job, but it sure as hell doesn’t match up to the McCain 2008 motto, “Country First.” Not by a damn sight.

More: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/03/11/game-change-is-not-a-movie-its-a-cautionary-tale/

[lunatica]

1. We truly did luck out with those interviews

Without them we would have never realized how clueless she is about the world until she was sent on her first international assignment.

Here's my favorite facepalm:

[Johonny]

2. The thing is for every Palin that lost in 2008

we seems like we put scores more in the House and state offices in 2010. I really don't think most of those new tea party people would do half as well as Palin. We laugh at Romney, Santorum, Newt and Paul but good god those 4 people are geniuses compared to the next generation of Rethug about to go national after this 2012 election cycle. Can you imagine when the tea party freshmen start moving to the senate and presidential level? We dodge Palin in 2008 but it seems impossible another Bush like president will be prevented. The Republican party seems to offer nothing but those level of people in the future.

[Tennessee Gal]

6. You are right, Palin was the beginning.

McCain and the rest unleashed a special kind of loonies on this nation when they picked a dim-wit like her without the slightest effort in vetting her.

It was just the beginning of the right wing extremists getting elected.

We can only hope that the nation will awaken before November and look for some sanity in the candidates they vote for.

[tridim]

3. One of the best horror flicks I've seen.

We came so close to complete disaster. Thank gawd the American people wised up just enough to stop it.

[niyad]

4. I have only been able to stand watching a couple of minutes here and there, but each one makes

me sick. I want to send a note to that idiot steve, telling him exactly what I think of him giving us that grifter.

too bad the last comment in the film wasn't true--"in 48 hours, nobody will remember her"

[tridim]

5. I felt most sorry for Steve. He was the first to recognize the huge mistake they made.

Though if were really smart he wouldn't have suggested her name in the first place.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

7. For me the most shocking moment came towards the end

Palin started going completely rogue. She said that she was the one bringing millions into the campaign coffers, not McCain. She was the one bringing out thousands to hear her speak, not McCain. She said she would do what she wanted, not what her handlers wanted. When the situation was described to McCain, he stated that he couldn't be sure she wouldn't screw him if he tried to intervene and control her.

[Tennessee Gal]

8. No guts.

Just a smarmy politician totally lacking in integrity putting the very future of this nation at risk.

I could not think less of McCain if I tried.

He should retire in disgrace.