The War Room

This film about the War Room (so christened by Hillary) of Clinton's presidential election campaign in 1992 is considered a standard setter in political films.  It was filmed 20 years ago, so it's the same age as the Hot Docs Festival, and it was honoured with Cinema Eye's 2013 Legacy Award at the Festival.

Given little access to Clinton himself, the filmmakers focused on senior campaign strategist James Carville and communications director George Stephanopoulos.  For me, Carville was clearly the dominant character in the film.  A brilliant strategist, intense partisan and fierce competitor,  Carville was responsible for the campaign's unrelenting focus on three key issues: "It's the economy, stupid", "Don't forget healthcare" and "Change vs more of the same".  He is originally introduced in the movie as the Ragin' Cajun and he certainly comes across more as a country bumpkin than a slick political operator.

Stephanopoulos, the boyish preppie with a head full of hair, was a wonderful contrast to Carville.  He was an acolyte at the altar of his heros Clinton and Carville.  His speech honouring Carville on the day before the election bespoke his incredible respect for the man.  And his boyish wonderment that Clinton actually made it and he had to start calling him Mr. President instead of Governor was totally endearing.


As always, the Q&A was as interesting as the film.  Most of the other filmmakers carved their films down from over 200 hours of shooting.  Shot in the days of real (or maybe reel) film, Pennebaker and Hegedus only had a total of 40 hours of film, and lived in mortal fear of being ousted from the war room if they didn't behave discreetly and more or less sink into the background.  I'm really glad they brought this film back to Hot Docs for today's audience to see.  It was great.

Hick on a High Wire

Hick on a High Wire.  This description of Sarah Palin is my favourite line from Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin and the Race of a Lifetime, a juicy inside look at the 2010 US nomination and election campaigns. 

Supported by inside sources, the book digs up lots of dirt behind what was seen on the public stage.  Clinton is clearly smart and deeply knowledgeable, but her campaign is ravaged by a totally dysfunctional team, suffering from internal rivalries and the ever-present danger of Bill  (would there be publicity about an affair, would he overshadow Hilary, would he veer off message).   

Edwards comes off as an arrogant lightweight, who studiously avoids facing the truth that his affair has doomed his campaign.  He can't even time his capitulation cleverly enough to earn any concessions.  And the angelic Elizabeth Edwards emerges as a disagreeable and belligerent partner, engaging in nightly arguments with her husband.  

Obama is cool and calm and his team works together well.  They are meticulous in planning for each part of the campaign and in their selection process for VP.  They make few missteps and his opponents seem unable to exploit his vulnerabilities.  Hilary bristles when the press punishes her so relentlessly, but gives Obama a magical ride.  "Why don't people like me?", she plaintively asks.

McCain sleepwalked half-heartedly through the campaign, showing neither energy nor competitive spirit, nor clarity of message.  The big question "How did Sarah Palin get on the ticket?" is answered.  Sheer carelessness.    After vetting at length the five candidates on the short list, McCain concluded no one would be a 'game changer'.  So at the last minute, he resorts to the long list, where Sarah Palin's name had landed based on a computerized search for women Republicans.   They rushed through a sloppy vetting process and Palin arrived for her talk with McCain 12 hours before the announcement deadline.  Game changer indeed!  Even those who worried about Obama being a Muslim with links to terrorism and perhaps not even born in the US would vote for him rather than risk a Palin Presidency.

The description of Palin's arrival in the deep end of the pool, with no qualifications (except that God meant her to be there) was riveting.  When overwhelmed with trying to flash-learn what she needed to know, she would simply dissociate herself from the whole process.

We see flashes of Obama's cockiness (well, you'd have to be cocky to take a run at the Presidency from where he started, wouldn't you?) in private moments.  But one of his most contented smiles is when he has finally convinced Clinton to be his Secretary of State.  

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, despite making some assumptions about its readership - like knowing in detail how the caucus system or that a reference to 42 meant Clinton (42nd President).  I highly recommend this book to anyone.