The trailer for HBO’s “Game Change” is out, and it features a full dose of Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin, portraying the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee on the verge of falling apart in the closing weeks of the campaign.
By James Oliphant
The much anticipated film premieres in March. Though it uses the book by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin as source material, the movie seems to have largely jettisoned the extended conflict in 2008 between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to more squarely focus on Palin’s explosive debut on the national political stage.
In the clip, John McCain advisor Steve Schmidt, played by Woody Harrelson, tells the candidate that he needs something dramatic to alter the trajectory in his campaign, something to capture the “YouTube” 24/7 news cycle. Enter Palin, who scores with her rollicking speech at the Republican National Convention before beginning to wilt under the glare of the media spotlight.
Schmidt and McCain’s team soon find to their dismay that not only is Moore-as-Palin thin on policy and disinterested in prep work, she is fiercely independent, bucking her campaign handlers at every turn. “I am not your puppet!” she barks.
The real Palin, who lately has been trying to insert herself into the GOP presidential fight between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, criticized the book when it was released for being inaccurate.
The release of the film (scheduled for four days after the “Super Tuesday” slate of GOP primaries) is likely to provoke another round of clashes between Palin’s defenders and detractors.
Many scenes are documented and played out in this movie for television that show a clear lack of interest and character of the unknown hal- term governor Sarah Palin.
Movie Quote: ”We have to win this thing….I so don’t want to go back to Alaska”
Feb 02, 2012 @ 13:48:21
“We have to win this thing….I so don’t want to go back to Alaaaaska” Bwhahahahahahahahaha!!!
I’m pretty sure that I mentioned several times that Palin is ‘Not Doing This For Naught’!
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=6141033&page=1
Feb 03, 2012 @ 00:59:48
Syrin, go to YouTube and search for “Singing in the Rain Switcharoo” and see if Jean Hagan’s character Lina sounds anything like your old high school chum. Am I imagining it?
Feb 04, 2012 @ 23:48:50
Yes, that sqeak is familar and hard to take. Love the clip thanks for posting.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 07:31:48
That’s why Levi’s account of Sarah Palin after her failed VPOTUS bid rang so true. Sarah Palin didn’t want to go back to Alaska, she didn’t want to go back to being the Governor (not that she every worked hard at it), She saw the bright lights and couldn’t let them go.
Sarah Palin really dropped the ball if she had any desire to actually be VPOTUS or even POTUS one day. She should have returned to Alaska, finished out her term and studied.
Instead, she became the reality tee vee “politico,” looking for any chance to be noticed and a quick way to become rich doing the least amount of work possible.
Thankfully, Sarah Palin is short sighted and lazy and, frankly, incapable. She might have actually been a contender if she’d done the work after returning to Alaska.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 20:55:30
Exactly! Well said! It was scary to watch our country (parts, anyway) embrace the proud stupidity, bigotry and nastiness of this woman.
I thought she was obviously out of her depth during the campaign, but back in 2008, I was still concerned that she would go back to Alaska, STUDY (Oh, how little we knew of her then!!), build up her credentials by serving her term and being a “true” voice within the GOP.
But, she quit; she grifted; she floated along…and sank.
*Phew!*
Feb 02, 2012 @ 13:50:30
Some GOPpers are saying the same thing about old Mittster. Name a firebrand as a VP choice. Yeah, that worked so well for McCain. I think he’ll pick Santorum to sew up the nutter fundie and catholic vote.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 20:57:17
Oh snore~ I nearly fell asleep reading your POST about those two nyquils…
Feb 02, 2012 @ 13:52:39
I believe that bloggers and reporters should be going back to the beginning of Palin’s origins on the national scene. Pin her words and deeds to what is currently happening.. Palin’s last 4 years of media history can reveal much if reiterated with present facts!
Another interesting point in article from 2008…. ‘Palin surprised the campaign last week when she said her medical records would be released. Those records have yet to be made public.’
Feb 03, 2012 @ 04:18:30
Sarah will never release her medical records, anymore then Trump will release his financial records.
However Syrin, I dearly loved the heading of this. Sarah falling apart, that is good news.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 14:56:50
The purpose of the press is not to write the news, but to sell papers and increase the price of ad space. They gravitate to what their readers are willing to read and buy. Palin still sells. Trump, “You’re fired.” sells. Sadly, it’s the candidates who are low on intelligent dialogue and high on drama who get any attention.
I was upset that Huntsman didn’t make it, yet it is he would be a smart choice as a VP for an intelligent conservative ticket. He was the best choice to head it. Now we get not the best, but whomever we end up with.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 16:24:44
I’m sorry– I am sick and lost my point here!
What I was getting at is that we end up with the Sarah Palin-level candidates because of the articles that we click on at the news sites. They are also easy for less talented newswriters to write about.
Syrin, what do you think about an essay on how to argue, and which candidates know how to argue in the classical style? There are, I recall with my foggy brain, three pillars of an argument: logos, pathos, and ethos. These were, words, how the words were delivered, and the reputation of the speaker to the audience (was the speaker perceived as knowledgable, ethical, having the best interest for the audience, etc.)
We also need to consider the questions being asked in the debates. Debates should be the test for candidates. If I am giving a history test, I don’t care if you know that Columbus sailed to the New World in 1492– I will ask you why he sailed in 1492, and what the economic impact was for the next hundred years. With politicians, I’d be asking about the effects of their choices, Supreme Court decisions, what they felt would be long & short term effects of certain decisions… I feel that the debates have been dumbed down and that not enough preparation is going into them.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 08:23:48
geez..do you actually think any of this stuff is real? its ALL BS
the real purpose of newspapers is NOT to sell ad space(MANY papers lose LOTS of money) but to keep the propaganda flowing and the idiot american people the dumbest people in the world.
and btw palin is NOT supported by many people and does not have much influence in the republican party and does not sell anything and that includes newspapers.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 18:23:42
Mitt cannot choose Huntsman, because the GOP will NEVER support two Mormons on a ticket. My guess is they will again look for a woman, but someone sane this time. Not that it matters: Obama will win in a landslide.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 19:51:21
What woman would they choose who isn’t crazy? Bringing in an unknown is wrong; if we realized anything with xg, it’s that not just anyone can step up from out of nowhere and learn the ropes and carry on. Do you think he might tap Condoleeza Rice, or a high ranking female military officer with international experience?
Feb 02, 2012 @ 15:06:01
I like how reviews are saying she wasn’t completely surprised receiving that call while attending the State Fair, after all, she’d been flashing her ‘accomplishments’ like a bonobo monkey to conservative kingmakers since she got into office.
You got to admit, the overreaching underachiever was shooting for the stars – she is a victim of that huge chip on her shoulder, she just can’t help but think her looks and her ability to talk loud with a swinging dick made her qualified, likeable and talented.
Her ‘gutteral’ instincts have served her well enough to catapult her onto the national stage, she just didn’t have the juice to play in the big leagues or back up the manufactured narrative that she was anything she marketed herself as (Let’s play stump the candidate. . .fungible commodities, flagging the molecule.)
Had she remained Governor even without a nod from McCain, she’d already be digging her political grave with Troopergate, the per diem fiasco and whatnot. She most likely would have lost her second bid for another term.
Let’s face it, she was a one hit wonder, McCain’s lifeline only expanded her shelf-life of composure and electability.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 08:42:32
wrong…..palin was a small time loon that had a small but fanatical following.
picking her was an example of the contempt politicians and the ruling class have for average people because they assumed the people to be so dumb and easily manipulated that palin would sell well to them once put on a short controlled leash.
and they had every reason to believe they could fool the dumb sheep that pass for people in this country.
but something unexpected happened along the way…palin was SO BIZARRE and SO UNINFORMED AND STUPID and SO FULL OF HATE that it was impossible to even fool the sheep as the more people saw of her the more they didnt like anything about her.
and that remains true today as she finds herself stuck back in her loony bin(house) away from the real world and the real players.
she REALLY is that BIZARRE and she REALLY IS MENTALLY UNSTABLE and they all know it.
Feb 04, 2012 @ 13:05:12
What was really arrogant and stupid of the GOP is that they thought they could throw this ‘good Christian mother who is also a very popular governor’ out there and actually convince we Hillary supporters that any old woman was better than voting Democratic. They truly believed that, and they chose Sarah for her looks and her ‘charm,’ nothing else. And her charm faded fast. I watched her speech, expecting to see the next GOP superstar, and interested to see how a mom of that many, supposedly still nursing an infant, would perform. Well, I was seething about five minutes in when she started in with the lies about Obama and Democrats. She lost me right there, and as I learned more about her and saw the manic crowds, I was more determined than ever to not vote GOP. I also gave to a political campaign for the first time in my life (I am 58.)
Feb 05, 2012 @ 17:59:27
So true, she was on her way down when Troopergate began exploding in front of her face. I think that was the reason she gave each Alaskan the $1,200. She is absolutely evil incarnate and politically she looks for any advantage. Sort of like how she played basketball. The Janet Napolitano segment on Charlie Rose showed her for what she is … a snake in the grass. She thought she was so charismatic, but she was basically a glib idiot. I was embarrassed to be a resident of Alaska when I saw it.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 16:16:47
anAlaskanAlsoII
I need to be reminded of those little details..
My husband holding an awesome sign! http://www.flickr.com/photos/henkimaa/2906828664/
Ever hear this story?
I knew that Sarah was going to be the nominee for many reasons. I told many people of my predictions and yes, got laughed at… Finally, the horror of my prediction was standing right in front of me. I was sought out by Sarah’s sisters during the fair of 2008, (which was 1 week before the announcement Aug 29) Heather came into my booth of 23 years and started accusing me of destroying their family with my lies. Heather came in first saying I was pathetic to be lying about children.. ie: Bristol being pregnant. Well, I never spoke of Bristol’s pregnancy, I only mentioned on ADN Blog that Sarah should care about the welfare of her children rather her own. And Sarah, your children need you much more than Alaska! Anyway.. Heather got an ear full! I reminded Heather that it is her sister that is destroying your family! It was lil Sarah that was being investigated for ‘ABUSE of POWER’ and unethical behavior. I also gave her a warning as she stood in the YES for Christ booth H-4 at the Alaska State Fair that GOD’s hand is not on Sarah. And that she should read Galatians 5:22-23 .. Sarah does NOT possess the fruit of the Spirit. GOD said, You will know ME by their fruit!! 2 Tim 4:3. I told Heather that if she thinks the bloggers, reporters, media are bad now? Just WAIT until the National media get a hold of you and your misguided family! Oh, Molly came in during the week after Heather. Molly ran in and proclaimed that God doesn’t live here as she puts her arms up in the air. All this as she chased her little one around the booth because they were lovin on some Veggie Tale stuff..
Feb 03, 2012 @ 06:46:40
What a strange, pathetic family.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 16:36:47
The point is, that both Clinton and Obama were, and are, intelligent adults who know politics. They’re both reasonable enough to know that while you can oppose each other in some things, in other things you work together. That’s why the Game Change story about their “fighting” has faded. There’s no story, if two political opponents work together.
Sarah, however, is a dumbass. (That’s a professional term, BTW.) She’s a street-shrewd ignoramus with an overinflated ego in a shrunken soul. I fully believe that she is bipolar, has a learning disability, was sexually abused at some point in her childhood, and has gotten her way all her life because her parents taught her that if she makes herself unpleasant enough, they’ll give up and let her do what she wants.
Nobody knew who Sarah was when she was selected. People were willing to believe that she was capable… somebody who’d been overlooked in the past. That lasted about 3 days, and then they hid Sarah away because she was so ignorant. I wasn’t paying a whole lot of attention, but I remember that they hid her away for a couple of weeks and said they were “bringing her up to speed.” And I thought WTF? Bringing her up to speed? You’re selecting a VP candidate who has to HIDE to be brought up to speed? And people, republicans I mean, actually accepted this! Because it was more important to have a candidate that looked good than a candidate who was actually capable!
And with Sarah, to know her is to hate her. The more people know about her, the less they like her. The more she reveals the more people are appalled. She’s in a total catch-22: people won’t pay attention to her or send her money if she doesn’t keep herself in the limelight. The only way she can achieve the limelight is to be an ignorant, hostile, attacking bitch… so the attention she attracts is never positive.
I’m looking forward to seeing Game Change. Sarah’s already commented, with reference to it, about ignoring some things, sort of taking the high road because haters are going to hate. Yeah, right. Sarah’s never ignored a slight in her life. That’s one thing that everybody says about her: she’s breathtakingly vindictive and she never forgets a grudge. Add that to the natural stupidity and flair for making a fool of herself, and this is going to be one majorly entertaining spring
Feb 02, 2012 @ 17:56:15
Excellent comment and synopsis of who Sarah Palin truly is.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 06:58:58
This is one of the best synopsis I have ever read.
Bravo!
Feb 03, 2012 @ 07:42:55
Great analysis. Spot on. The more people got to know Sarah Palin, the less they liked her (and quickly). That seems to be the case in her personal life as well.
Feb 04, 2012 @ 18:32:14
An excellent description of Palin. I would agree she’s bi-polar and would toss several other psyche abnormalities into the mix. What is so mind blowing is that someone with so many damaging and dangerous problems can force their way into a position of such national prominence where they have the potential to wreak absolute carnage.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 18:28:59
What’s interesting about this is that Trig is rarely mentioned. Here is a woman with a young baby that she is supposedly nursing, and she goes off to McCain’s ranch to be taught how to debate without looking like an even bigger idiot. And where is the baby? Was he weaned overnight? Did her milk dry up by itself? The woman never had nursing boobs, even on that fateful convention night when Trig was reportedly 4 months old. So I think a close examination of that time will reveal that Trig is not hers, that she was never pregnant, and that she certainly was no nursing mother during this time frame.
Feb 05, 2012 @ 18:21:30
I am with you on this Sally. It was a straight-up lie Palin was a nursing mom. I call BS as a mom who nursed her kids. No way at four months would the abrupt discontinuance of breastfeeding be easy. It was absolute hell at 18 months!
Feb 02, 2012 @ 18:38:39
i bet the majority of alaskans love “game change”.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 19:20:31
I think this will vindicate Palin to the objective person. Campaigns are stressful. There’s nothing like them and even the most experienced politico will be affected.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 20:02:42
I think the campaign trail might be similar to med school, where under pressure and little sleep, you show that you know how to deal with people and make correct answers to questions that affect people’s lives.
Feb 02, 2012 @ 21:47:45
?!?
Feb 03, 2012 @ 02:26:53
So you are saying other vp candidates couldn’t answer basic questions,
had no elementary idea about geography, thought health reform was tied
into the bailout, put their pregnant teen daughter on stage in front of millions
of people, got tricked into thinking she was talking to Sarkozy, used Trig until
even republicans got sick of it, and whipped crowds into racist frenzies?
And did most vp candidates end up catatonic, curled up on the floor, refusing
to eat?
In the end Palin tried to force the McCain campaign to let her make a concession
speech on election night. And when they said no—she kept trying until they
literally turned the electricity off on her?
I wouldn’t let Palin walk my dog—let alone come anywhere near a political power center. The only thing that will bring her down is if FOX turns on her.
SHE IS CRAZY. And it has been media malpractice in not just stating
the obvious. She is a scorpion. She can’t help her toxicity.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 06:52:14
You’re being (suspiciously) generous. Sarah Palin was light years out of her league. She doesn’t have the capacity to learn all the things required of her. There’s nothing of substance beneath the surface. And she seems on the verge of a breakdown in every public appearance. Sarah Palin should have blinked.
Feb 05, 2012 @ 18:17:42
You are absolutely right on. Palin was way out of her league and clearly not properly vetted.
It is just creepy Palin comments on vetting. She knows she was inadequate for the VP job. But, then again, she does believe God chose her. Whacko beyond belief!
Feb 03, 2012 @ 07:25:29
Gina– do you think it’s ok if a person can’t handle the pressures of running gets into Office? Even if a person says, “Wow! Running for office is serious sh–! No wonder she crumbled! I would have, and, as I said all along, Sarah Palin’s just like me!” this should probably also teach us that you can’t pluck someone out of nowhere and let them help run the free world.
They need to pay their dues. They have to condition themselves to earn the right to run it. The ego takes a beating in the running. There are people over whose toes you don’t step. You learn to do things so people owe you favors. Balls of brass don’t do it. You earn your way with time and experience, and a lot of graciousness.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 07:38:54
That was my (least) favorite comment after Sarah Palin botched the Charles Gipson interview. The average American didn’t know what the Bush Doctrine was and Sarah Palin is “just like us.” It actually ingratiated her to a certain group of people. As if being clueless about national and international issues is a good thing when you’re running for the second highest office in the country. Luckily, most voters saw her as woefully, even dangerously, ill-equipped. She (and McCain) lost supporters every time she opened her mouth.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 12:43:42
I think this will vindicate Palin to the objective person. Campaigns are stressful. There’s nothing like them and even the most experienced politico will be affected.
You’ve been peddling this line of BS all over the anti-Baldy blogs! Brooklyn….no matter what you call yourself…the real you ALWAYS shines thru….just like Gov Baldy!
This movie will have Gov Baldy laying in that fetal position the moment it premieres…March 10th…..I can’t wait!
Feb 04, 2012 @ 13:09:45
Oh, Gina, Sarah has made sure that no one is objective about her. Just as she had her ‘rill Americans’ when she camoaigned, she has continued to be the most divisive person in this nation. People like me who see through her little charade will not even watch this stuff, because I cannot tolerate five seconds of that voice. People like you (hi, Bristol) will see it and think, “oh, poor Sarah, McCain’s people were so mean to her, and the press picked on her, and poor Sarah.” You are welcome to your opinion, and keep sending money to SARAHPAC. She can’t leave home without your support.
Feb 03, 2012 @ 10:47:59
Very simple. Sarah Palin went through high school and 5 or so halls of higher education and learned absolutly nothing. ZILCH! The World War 1, 2, the Korean conflict? A total blank slate.
She knows nothing and after her Paul Revere little bit of nonsense it is obvious she is incapable of learning anything, but talking points, slogans and bullshit.
She is a numbskull. Worse than Warren Harding who at least knew he was not presidential material and said as much for history. She simply doesn’t know how stupid she is and always will be. No matter how many talking points she has memorized.
She mangles the English language, and you know it isn’t amusing. It is pathetic.
Feb 04, 2012 @ 00:09:22
I can’t wait to see this movie.
Feb 04, 2012 @ 14:24:22
Sarah isn’t on the verge of a breakdown; she’s in the middle of one. She rises out of the fetal position periodically to spastically spew venom and word salad into the living rooms of the mentally and emotionally retarded viewers of Fox News. Her wigs resemble furry roadkill and are often placed rakishly off-center on her head. Her sense of fashion has deteriorated to the point that she looks like she stepped out of a giant blender. It seems that she prefers the nouveau homeless look. Yes, it is like watching a train wreck on an endless loop.
Feb 04, 2012 @ 23:58:50
You have such a way with words, dear!