Have any of you seen this movie? I saw it for the first time tonight. Yes, it's pretty old (Gov Clinton's campaign for the WH). But it is quite interesting and reminiscent -- and oddly parallels the latest news about John Edwards and his infidelity.
After the fold:
When Clinton ran against Bush in '92 (please tell me that's right), I wasn't into politics at ALL. I hated politics. I didn't understand politics. I was registered as an Independent. Who knew right from left? I'd never even heard those terms back then. I couldn't even tell you, definitively who I voted for in that election. And NEVER would I have believed back then that I'd turn into the political junkie I am now?
The War Room claims to provide some inside view into political campaigns. For the time, I suppose that was true -- very little internets and no Youtube. It was kind of striking to see the Clinton campaign using a video cassette of footage in Brazil showing Pappy hired a company there to print his campaign paraphernalia.
I'll try not to bore you with too many details. The film's purpose, IMO, was to show the brilliance of James Carville running that campaign. I'm sure he was brilliant b/c the odds were stacked against Bill winning. But I think the movie failed to show his brilliance.
It was funny to see younger Carville and Stephanopolous working side by side. Paul Begala was a minor figure in the movie. It touched upon the controversial relationship of Carville and Matalin (who is shown SINGING a song into a reporter's mic during the convention -- EWW). Some things about the relationship were comical. I'm still mystified by that relationship. Also, I was a bit horrified at what the aging process has done to the two of them.
Okay, I didn't see much in the way of campaign secrets. But the whole Gennifer Flowers issue was pretty-well covered. I only recalled the 60 Minutes piece (not shown in this movie) when the Clintons were confronted (and denied) Bill's affair with Flowers. A 12-year long affair? I hadn't recalled that information.
Right away, I thought about John Edwards and all of the talk about how (had he gotten the dem nom) we would lose any chance of POTUS by our party b/c of said affair. But wait! Clinton PULLED IT OFF!
Accusations came up over and over again. He (his staff) countered with denials. IMO, what he did was worse than what Edwards did (only assuming this was his only affair). I don't recall the Dems getting this peeved over BC's indiscretions (like I said, I didn't follow politics so I could have missed it). I mean Gennifer Flowers played a TAPE of BC coaching her in the cover-up.
So far, this Rielle woman doesn't seem to want to expose Edwards. She seems a little flakey:
http://www.newsweek.com/...
Clearly, she has something against Elizabeth Edwards. I can't help but wonder why. Did JE tell her things about his wife?
I'm stopping myself here -- from digression over the film. Before I post my poll, I'll leave final commentary (paraphrased):
Carville told his staff that they had to be tough and fight back. He said if "we" (dems) don't win this one, we'll never win again b/c the Republicans are better at fighting. He said that if "we" do win, we'll be able to take back our party. We won, and we did take back our party. Then . . . we lost after eight years. The country has gone to hell in a handbasket. I wonder if Barack has seen this movie b/c I get worried sometimes.
Thoughts?