John Heilemann

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.… (mais)

This was an interesting book about the 2009 Presidential campaign. The authors don't name their sources but somehow they came up with a lot of gossipy tidbits and detailed conversations. They related many behind the scenes discussions and snide remarks that took place between the candidates and their wives, the advisers, and other politicians, etc. The authors covered both the Democratic and Republican campaigns from the primaries to Election Day. The main cast of characters were the Obama's, Clinton's, Edwards, McCain's and Palin's.… (mais)