Game Change

Say what you want about her, but, Sarah Palin did make interesting copy in 2008. She is one of those candidates who make good copy, --- i.e. was interesting to watch. She was a uniter, and a divider. She was driven, and a puppet. She brought John McCain closer to winning, and cinched his defeat. Pick a side. Maybe, you will find the correct answer somewhere in between.... The movie is a couple of months old, but, HBO has a movie called ''Game Change'' about the 2008 McCain campaign selecting, and, coping with, Sarah Palin. It is a highly fascinationg-- and, by all accounts-- an accurate portrait of a naive woman being thrust onto the center stage of history. And, her enjoyment at her placement. The acting across the board is superb. Julianne Moore as Palin, Woody Harrelson as campaign guru Steve Schmidt, and the great Ed Harris as John McCain. All the information comes firsthand from the participants. Now, it is produced by Tom Hanks, a noted Hollywood liberal, but, it is very fair on how it presents its subject. This is key because it presents its facts as they were, with no spin applied. I will leave it up to you whether you believe they played fair. My thoughts are that they did... It certainly was an extraordinary time in history. It is just four years ago, but, so much has happened. Again, I will leave you all to your own judgments as to whether it was a successful four years. You will be voting that assessment in November. The movie shows those few months between the Palin selection in August 2008 and election night. The focus is clearly Palin, with McCain riding shotgun in the story. At first, Palin's appeal was in the fact she was unknown. She seemed untainted--- a valuable commodity in politics. She was attractive and she had stage presence, also a valuable addition to a campaign. We know live in a political world where what you say is not as important as how you present yourself. Barack Obama was called a rock star. Sarah Palin was called  a great actress. Between them both, John McCain was the lone wolf. He didn't have charisma. Instead, he spoke from the heart, clearly and sensibly. In today's world that is a major handicap... The cracks and flaws in Palin, as related by the movie, came soon after the selection. This sheltered woman was the Governor of Alaska, but, might have well have been from Mars. Woefully unprepared for her new role, there is a shocking scene where she has to be told that Germany was our enemy in World War Two. This scene sets up a series of revelations about her lack of knowledge. This is, of course, very frightening for someone who might be a heartbeat away from being President someday. The tone of the film then shifts from the fear of the McCain advisors that they indeed made a fatal flaw in selecting her, and, her undeniable charisma in putting her in front of a crowd. Even her most bitter critics have to concede her electric personality when on the national stage[ like Obama]. She gives a sensational speech when giving her acceptance speech to be the Vice President nominee. She even throws in an unscripted joke about lipstick. The campaign regains some enthusiasm after this. Then, she meets the media... She stumbles with embarrasing gaffes about Russia being neighbors to her beloved Alaska. Then, a suicidal interview with Katie Couric, in which she shows her lack of knowledge of foreign policy, and, even falters when asked what newspapers she reads. This lets the lions loose in the media [ which is in the tank for Obama]. Tina Fey and ''Saturday Night Live'' pick up the torch and skewer her without mercy. Behind the scenes, Palin is appalled and deeply hurt by these attacks. Because she is a newcomer on the national stage, she does not grasp that this is fair game nowadays for candidates. Her running mate, John McCain, in 2000, was charged by the Bush campaign, with fathering a bastard child-- a false and baseless charge. She is getting the baptism by fire that all novices get... Also, behind the scenes, her behavior turns dark and nasty. She refuses to comply with what is necessary to prepare her for the world. Her ego explodes and she becomes quite difficult for her staff to deal with. They gamely plow ahead in the hope she will put herself in their hands. The film shows these people as selfless and all giving to the goal of getting John McCain elected President. Most major campaigns have in-fighting, but, if this film has a flaw, it is that this in-fighting is not explored. The ''all for one and one for all'' mentality strains credibility, but, I will concede that issue in the overview of the story...  I liked how the film played fair with the Palin family. There are shots of them all together, as if they do everything together as a family unit. The subject of Bristol Palin being pregnant and being lambasted in the media is touched on, but, not in any great detail. And, that is how they should have done it. The Palin family was not the focus of the story. They appear and then disappear. As campaigns should be. The focus of running for President should be the candidate and the candidate alone. Too many cheap shots are taken by all sides in digging up the dirt on loved ones. They should be excluded, unless it is something major that would affect the candidates ability to govern. Hopefully, we will see this procedure of not involving the innocent bystanders in the coming months of Obama- Romney...Towards the end of the story, Sarah Palin loses her ability to see events in a clear and cohesive way. Indeed, there are conversations among the staff on whether she is having a nervous breakdown. This, too, is alarming for someone so close to the White House. McCain shows compassion for his co-candidate. They seem to have just a professional relationship, with no confidences being shared between them. That is because there is no time to be human. All candidates in a election become robots at some point. You have to. The only crack in this veneer comes late in the campaign , when McCain takes the microphone away from a woman who complains that Obama is an Arab and a bad person. McCain deftly takes the microphone and quietly informs the woman that Obama is a good family man with whom he disagrees with on issues. This small moment speaks volumes on the decency of John McCain... The film, of course, follows history with its ending. Then, a strange thing happens not generally known to the public. Sarah Palin wanted to speak a concession speech along with John McCain. This has never been done in the history of Presidential politics. She is firm in her decision when she is told no. She wants to go on and speak. The confrontation between her and the McCain staff is disturbing and fascinating. She has now come into her own and feeling her oats. There is no going back for her. Sarah Palin is now the leader of her party. McCain slows the train of ego for her and she backs down from her demand to speak. But, this woman has gone in a few months from an innocent to a barracuda. Such is the temptation and seduction of power... I highly recommend this movie if you are interested in this story. It is fair. Most of the parties involved in the story have praised its accuracy and tone. The lone exception, no surprise, is Sarah Palin. She seems to still be in her own world. Some love that world, some despise it. My opinion of her was never strong. I voted for the McCain-Palin ticket in 2008, but, because of John McCain, a genuine war-hero and good guy. I wanted him as President in 2000, but, he was steam rolled by the Bush forces. I still believe the world would have been much different had he gotten in then. Certainly, September 11, and, its aftermath, would have been handled better. It is all speculation, obviously. We might never have heard of Sarah Palin....