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Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime |  | Authors: John Heilemann, Mark Halperin
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $27.99
Buy New: $15.50
as of 3/11/2010 21:48 CST details
You Save: $12.49 (45%)
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  reviews
Sales Rank: 42
Media: Hardcover
Edition: X
Pages: 464
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.7
ISBN: 0061733636
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.932
EAN: 9780061733635
ASIN: 0061733636
Publication Date: January 1, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9780061733635 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
"This shit would be really interesting if we weren't in the middle of it."
Barack Obama, September 2008
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| Customer Reviews:
 An Insiders' Look at Washington Politics and Campaigning March 12, 2010
Charles E. Jones (Woodland Hills, CA USA)
Although I would have liked to read more about Sarah Palin, this book gave an insight into what it was like to be a female running for the office of the President of the U.S. It illustrated how the hopeful candidate has to put in 16 hour days and still appear fresh and competent after a long journey that does not seem to have an ending.
It left it up to the reader's conclusion as to whether Bill Clinton was an asset or a pain-in-the-neck. Would Hillary have been better off without her husband's good intentions? Hillary Clinton defied the odds of the insiders and came back time after time to win primaries when she had all but been counted out.
John Edwards was an also-ran because of his internal conflicts with his wife and his womanizing. He ended up willing to settle as the attorney-general in the new administration.
John McCain's race for the White House was doomed when he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, mainly due to the fact that the vetting process for Palin was incomplete and poorly organized.
The 2008 race for the presidency was so successful for Barrack Obama, the first African American president, because he ran his campaign like a well-oiled machine, relying on the internet for small donations ($10) and an extremely well organized grass roots campaign. Obamas' expertise as a Chicago community organizer was a valuable experience that helped him run his smooth and popular campaign.
I believe that "Game Change" will be a guide for political aspirants in the years to come.
Fun read for the political junkies March 11, 2010
S. R. Schnur (ME USA)
"Game Change" is about the 2008 election campaign. It is not about what positions the candidates took on issues, but, rather, about the demeanor of the candidates and the conduct and management of the campaigns. It reads like a novel, and I found it fascinating. I, however, am a political junkie, so consider the source.
The book starts with the pre primary debates, although it doesn't describe all the players or all of the debates. Ron Paul, who, in my opinion, won at least one debate was hardly mentioned. Mike Gravel, who similarly won two early debates before he disappeared from them, wasn't mentioned at all.
Having said that, there is lots of mention of the inner workings of the other campaigns. Neither one of the Edwards came out looking good despite the fact that, in my opinion, John Edwards won at least one debate. Apparently a lot of what we learned after the campaign was already known by the insiders, and it was a good thing he was not nominated.
Since I had followed the campaigns so closely, there were few surprises. We see that Hilary Clinton, who knew her stuff and had had Whitehouse experience, ran a loose disjointed campaign. She definitely appears to be more of a policy wonk than an executive and is probably perfectly suited to the job she has now. The book explains how Obama persuaded her to be his Secretary of State.
We see how McCain rushed into decisions without all the facts. I did learn how nasty a temper he has from a description with of a "discussion" he was overheard to have with his wife. (I would have left him on the spot and the next time I got in touch with him would have been through lawyers.)
We already knew that Joe Biden puts his mouth in gear before he engages his brain at times but that he is honest and knowledgeable. In my opinion he won at least one of the early primary debates.
We all knew that poor Sarah Palin was tossed into the national scene with no background whatsoever. She is quick and witty but was way out of her league, and her trainers knew so little about her that they managed to compound the problem. The authors found her a sympathetic figure.
The authors misjudged Lieberman whom they called a liberal except on security, but who is a conservative except on the environment. He definitely was under consideration for McCain's vice president.
And we see through it all that Obama, besides understanding the issues, is methodical about finding out all the facts before making a decision and has good executive ability - with his well run campaign as an example. He doesn't make a decision without thinking of the long term implications and always does his homework. He was competent in the debates, but he did not shine.
The book is easy to read and gives us good insight into the personalities of the players. I had trouble putting it down. (I think the most surprising thing in the book is how many of the candidates used foul language. I suppose the reason Clinton shocked me is that I remember hearing the word f***k only once all the time I was growing up, and she grew up in the Midwest. I am, however, pre baby boom.)
 hard to put down March 11, 2010
although you know the outcome the stories of what happened behind the scenes of both campaigns were enthralling
What Happened On The Way To A Presidency March 11, 2010
Brett Benner (Los Angeles, CA USA)
At the end of the day I don't know how much is actual fact and how much is made up, but it sure makes for an entertaining read. In the current world of twittering, facebooking and incessant blogging the mystique behind what goes on in Washington has pretty much been cratered. So it wouldn't surprise me if many of these events weren't in fact true. Yet by the end, more than painting general pictures of the candidates at times with their worst behavior exposed, it really shows how human these people are in the face of extraordinary circumstances and pressure. I mean, seriously, who'd want these jobs!
Reads like a novel March 10, 2010
Ohyler M. Russell (Dolton, IL USA)
This book, although informative, reads like a novel. You'll have a greater depth of knowledge about the occurrences behind the podiums and speeches in the political arena. It is a true page turner. I felt I knew each person a little bit better.
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