findyourgoldenhour's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this!! I'm a closet political junkie and it was fun to read all the behind-the-scenes insider information about the most amazing campaign in my lifetime. A quick and compelling read despite it's length.
antigonus's review against another edition
4.0
Wanted to squeeze this book right before the 2016 Iowa Caucus. It deals with the 2008 race for Democratic nomination extensively with interviews, insider accounts, reactions, timelines, etc. This is the best (& significant) part of the book
An overview of the Republican nomination as well as a relatively detailed general election are also covered. The pace is fast and the writing keeps flowing smoothly. Well worth a read if you are interested in this particular race.
An overview of the Republican nomination as well as a relatively detailed general election are also covered. The pace is fast and the writing keeps flowing smoothly. Well worth a read if you are interested in this particular race.
bookkat's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this behind the scenes look at the last election. It was a real eye opener for me and I loved learning more about motivations, egos, political intrigue. The majority of the book deals with the Clinton-Obama race, with a little Edwards thrown in. There is surprisingly little about Palin, but what there is reveals a person who was falling apart much of the time, because she was in so over her head. The audio version was very good, with the only sour note being the mispronunciation of the town of Kissimmee, Fl.
dakkster's review against another edition
3.0
It was interesting to find out what happened behind the scenes during the 2008 election. It doesn't exactly paint Clinton, Palin, McCain or Edwards in a positive light. Looking back, it's amazing how badly run McCain's campaign was. He was lucky to get as far as he did but his team really dropped the ball on picking Palin as his running mate.
Clinton is depicted as spiteful and narrowminded. Entitled to power, out of touch...
Honestly, as a European, it's astounding to see what kind of knuckleheads actually get into office in the US. The American political system badly needs to be replaced by something more dynamic, less money-driven, something where there is more than two big choices.
Clinton is depicted as spiteful and narrowminded. Entitled to power, out of touch...
Honestly, as a European, it's astounding to see what kind of knuckleheads actually get into office in the US. The American political system badly needs to be replaced by something more dynamic, less money-driven, something where there is more than two big choices.
wreichel's review against another edition
4.0
This book is fascinating from start to finish, but no one is left unscathed. George Washington would spin in his grave to learn about the antics of not just our modern-day politicians but their spouses and handlers as well. There is no one to admire and not a statesman among them. It solidifies the notion that the American people are merely a pawn in a huge political game. And what the book truly brings to light—unintentionally perhaps—is how complicit the press has become. They are fully aware of the tomfoolery, lying, infidelity and double-dealing that occurs in Washington, but they are too busy playing the game themselves to report it. Or, in the case of these authors, they hoard the information for a tell-all book.
mkesten's review against another edition
3.0
This book about the 2008 US presidential race confirmed something I have known for some time: you have to be a little unbalanced to want the job. It doesn't pay that much. Every aspect of your life is examined under a microscope. The race to get the job is exhausting, and once you've got it you wish you hadn't.
That said this book told me a few things I probably hadn't considered before. For example, my wife would have made a better Vice-President than Sarah Palin. I kid you not. John McCain couldn't possibly have believed he would be elected when he asked Palin to run with him. Or he is insane.
Hillary Clinton emerges as a favorite of the authors, and, it seems, of Obama himself. The book ends with Obama begging Hillary to become his Secretary of State. In hindsight, it was a good choice. However, the scene reminded me of something Lyndon Johnson is credited with saying: that he felt a lot more comfortable with his enemies inside the tent pissing out, rather than outside the tent pissing in. I'm not sure of Obama's motives for hiring Clinton. I don't think anybody will ever really know.
I don't really feel enlightened about why either Hillary or Barak ran for this office. You'd probably have to know these people very well to understand it. You don't really run the US government as President. You preside over it....and argue with the legislators.
The back and forth of the race for the Democratic leadership was a thrilling story, but I'm glad that wasn't me in the story.
That said this book told me a few things I probably hadn't considered before. For example, my wife would have made a better Vice-President than Sarah Palin. I kid you not. John McCain couldn't possibly have believed he would be elected when he asked Palin to run with him. Or he is insane.
Hillary Clinton emerges as a favorite of the authors, and, it seems, of Obama himself. The book ends with Obama begging Hillary to become his Secretary of State. In hindsight, it was a good choice. However, the scene reminded me of something Lyndon Johnson is credited with saying: that he felt a lot more comfortable with his enemies inside the tent pissing out, rather than outside the tent pissing in. I'm not sure of Obama's motives for hiring Clinton. I don't think anybody will ever really know.
I don't really feel enlightened about why either Hillary or Barak ran for this office. You'd probably have to know these people very well to understand it. You don't really run the US government as President. You preside over it....and argue with the legislators.
The back and forth of the race for the Democratic leadership was a thrilling story, but I'm glad that wasn't me in the story.
corgi66's review against another edition
4.0
An incredibly fast and light read. Always skeptical of deep background, but you can at least see the conventional wisdom of campaign insiders. It does not seem they are in disagreement on any of the campaigns or any of the candidates.
It's a non-fiction work which is essentially written like a political novel.
While I think the attraction is seeing Sarah Palin behind the scenes, it composes a sliver of the book, but also the funniest parts. I literally laughed out loud reading the Palin and Biden debate preps.
It's a non-fiction work which is essentially written like a political novel.
While I think the attraction is seeing Sarah Palin behind the scenes, it composes a sliver of the book, but also the funniest parts. I literally laughed out loud reading the Palin and Biden debate preps.
futurepres13's review against another edition
5.0
This was the fascinating account of what goes on behind the scenes of a presidential election (a topic that I knew almost nothing about. It was also interesting to read this a decade later and see how everything turned out. I also entirely missed this election so I finally caught up with what happened.
annakmeyer's review against another edition
3.0
Beyond gossipy, and totally anonymously sourced. It's hard to know what is really true. And it is very Obama-centric, though I don't know if that's bias or recent history.
Still, there was one bit about Hillary that I loved (sums up my life):
"She believed passionately in a more activist government, in a progressive agenda, and she was tired of seeing Democrats flounder in their aims simply because they lacked a coherent message, organizational skills, and a crisp, high-sticking strategy."
Still, there was one bit about Hillary that I loved (sums up my life):
"She believed passionately in a more activist government, in a progressive agenda, and she was tired of seeing Democrats flounder in their aims simply because they lacked a coherent message, organizational skills, and a crisp, high-sticking strategy."