Game Change Nails Palin.

[chieftain]

She is a lazy publicity hound. You can almost sympathize with her when she is being pressed to learn a quantum of information that 100% of DUers have internalized years ago.She refuses to work, but when the GOP gurus figure out that she is an actress rather than a serious student of public policy, she blossoms. The movie shows clearly that as long as she can say her lines and bask in the adulation of her public, she is well satisfied. A gig as a FOX commentator is her highest calling.

[pangaia]

1. Jeeze, do you mean you actually watched it?

You have more courage than I have. :&gt

[GiveMeFreedom]

2. It is ...

the best comedy of 2012.

[chieftain]

3. I have worked in a lot of campaigns and

this caught the inner workings quite well.The tension between wanting to win and doing the right thing for the country is palpable. Palin presents McCain,Schmidt and Wallace with moral dilemmas. McCain ignores the problem. Schmidt devises ruses which minimize the ability of the electorate to understand what a disaster, Palin would be in a position of responsibility. Wallace works her heart out for the ticket but in the end, cannot bring herself to vote for it. It wasn't courage that got
me to HBO tonight, it was interest in the political process. I was rewarded for the effort.

[elleng]

4. Ditto. Well said.

[chieftain]

10. Thanks.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. Most helpful review yet. Thank you.

[chieftain]

11. Thanks.

[unionworks]

15. Outstanding review!

Thanks for your insight.

[chieftain]

19. Thanks

[msanthrope]

17. Agree with everything you said...

Can't imagine working for such a soul-sucking campaign.

[loyalsister]

26. That is the perception I have gotten interviews, etc.

You don't have to like someone to feel some sympathy for them.

I've gotta admit that for an unskilled politician with a severe lack of self-awareness and a big ego, going from mayor to governor to VP might actually have seemed like a natural progression. From what I understand, when she went into scripted beauty queen mode she did okay.

In a way it's almost like Bush without the family name, money, expert handlers, and full institutional support.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

6. I've been dying to see it since I saw the trailer

Don't have cable though- I'll just have to wait for the DVD.

[chowder66]

8. I too didn't think I had the courage

but I thought well I will give it a few minutes. I watched the entire movie. It really was quite good and interesting. While it focuses on McCain/Palin it also shows the dilemmas and political machinations. It was interesting to see the moments when people started to realize they had a problem in Sarah. Irresponsible and dangerous comes to mind when watching this. While I knew that during the primary this portrayal painted a picture that was clear yet painful. I see nearly everyone involved in that campaign as making some very serious mistakes for the win. Nearly setting this country up for potential disaster. I wanted to feel sympathy for each person but I just couldn't. It made me glad to have averted the disaster but mad as hell we came that close.

Palin - emotionally complicated and possibly a bit clinical but also vacant in many ways
McCain - They seemed to be trying to say sorry John, lets try to redeem his reputation. They portrayed him mainly from his best days way before this election. Mainly in the years before he just kind of went off the rails.
Schmidt - Pragmatic, smart and doing the job he was paid to do with the exception of that little mistake of not making sure the vetting process was coordinated and given a post-mortem. Oops!
Wallace - um, crying over not voting is not something that washes away your sin. So to speak. I'm glad she seemed to grasp some of the red-flags quickly but to just not vote was not a redeeming moment.

All of these people involved (wonder who they're working for today?) would have had to known at some point that it went into dangerous territory but they kept going for the win at the risk of the nation. I am seeing exactly the same thing happening today with the Republican contenders. The nation pushed back, elected President Obama and this is a very good reason to push back again in November.

[chieftain]

9. Good analysis.Thanks for sharing. eom

[chowder66]

12. Thx. eom

[Ruby the Liberal]

13. Thank you for the recap

I am hoping to see this on Pay-per-view in a few days and several of you (in your reviews) have convinced me to followup on that, so thanks.

[ohheckyeah]

20. Well said

and the acting, I think, that was excellent. Woody Harrelson delivered a great performance.

[chieftain]

21. I know the buzz has mostly been about Moore but

I thought Harrelson stole the show. I like Ed Harris but I thought he was a miss. The guys who played Salter and Davis were good. And the woman who played Wallace was excellent.

[ohheckyeah]

24. I wasn't impressed with Moore myself.

Frankly, Tina Fey did a much better job as Palin. I don't know how she would have done in a movie like this but with Moore, Palin's voice was a hit or miss thing.

Yes, I agree that Harrelson stole the show. Harris didn't capture McCain at all, IMO. And yes the actors who played Salter, Davis and Wallace were good.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. It was excellent

Watch it. I really enjoyed it and had originally not intended to see it. Really glad I did now.

[Odin2005]

7. The scenes of her practicing her responses to questions made me facepalm.

That woman is an idiot.

[Texas-Limerick]

27. What is the backspin?

Said Katie Couric to Sarah Palin
"What do I think?
Read the Fox link
They write my own opinion"


Why America fought Germany she couldn't explain
And you can bet she wouldn't remember the Maine
But she has the Revolution down pat
Telling the story in a tri-cornered hat
About the midnight ride of Ichabod Crane

"2012 will be my year at the bat'
Despite reports of a marital spat
'I know if I do what I can
Todd will be 1st Ladies Man
And you can't refudiate that'

[intaglio]

14. The Freepers will hate it

Can't wait for their response

[ecstatic]

18. I checked to see their reaction, and apparently they're

all going to be canceling their subscription to HBO (supposedly). I didn't see anyone admit to watching it (but that was last night).

[HopeHoops]

16. Even if I hadn't gotten laid in ten years, there's NO WAY I would nail Palin.

Ewww.

[Politicub]

23. It's wonderfully campy. Sarah Palin as mommie dearest. N/t

[PDittie]

25. I have a confession

I felt something I never thought I would ever feel for Palin: a moment of empathy.

It was when they had moved vice-prez debate prep to Arizona, and McCain suggested that his doctor/neighbor join them for a barbecue at which she would be observed for signs of mental instability. During the party Steve Schmidt goes over to the doctor and asks him what he thinks. The man says, "Well, for a woman who just had a baby, has a teenage unwed pregnant daughter, and a son in Iraq, I think she's doing pretty good. YOU, on the other hand, look like shit."

I guess I'm a real bleeding heart after all because that touched me for a few seconds. Feel free to flame away.

By the way, Nicolle Wallace (she was on This Weak with George Snuffleluffagus this morning) says the movie is 'true enough to make her squirm'.

http://news.yahoo.com/former-sarah-palin-adviser-says-game-change-true-152953317--abc-news.html