For you, picking Sarah Palin
was about winning an election,
not necessarily about who's gonna
be best as vice president.
My job is to give
political advice.
We needed to do
something bold
to try to win the race.
If you had it
to do over again,
would you have her
on the ticket?
( Whistles )
( Cell phone rings )
- Hello.
- Man: They fuckin' hate me, Steve.
Who's that, sir?
Limbaugh, Hannity,
Coulter.
They're dancing on my grave
like it's fucking Mardi Gras.
That may be true,
but there's an upside
to being in last place.
You can say
what you truly feel.
- You think I've been holding back?
- Steve: I do, Senator.
The surge is working,
but no one else
is brave enough to say it.
Romney, giuliani,
huckabee--
all your opponents
are hedging.
Even you hesitated
at the last debate.
A great man once told me,
"I would rather
lose the election
than see the country
lose this war."
And I meant it, Steve.
Then say it, sir.
John McCain doesn't say
what's popular,
he says what's right.
My advice would be
to get some old
pow buddies together
and travel the country
in a small caravan.
Stay in shitty hotels,
do American legion halls,
v.F.W. Posts,
have a few beers
and enjoy yourself.
You're right,
God damn it.
( Groans )
I don't know what the hell's
wrong with me.
You get so caught up
in winning,
- you start to lose yourself.
- It's gonna be easy because
there's only one message
you need to get across.
Yeah? What's that?
John McCain
puts country first.
Would you consider
joining us?
Even just for
a few weeks?
Senator, there is no one
in this race
I admire more than you,
but I promised my wife
that I would
sit this cycle out.
I know that, Steve,
but will you just
think about it?
Just do that-- just think
about it, will you?
Of course, Senator.
- You promise?
- I will, I promise.
Great, I'll call you
tomorrow.
- Okay.
- Thanks, Stevie boy.
Fuck.
Senator McCain today
re-shuffling
his most senior
campaign staff.
John McCain wins
the New Hampshire primary,
a huge comeback for
the Senator from Arizona.
You hear them chanting
behind me--
"Mac is back,
Mac is back."
Reporter: A big win for John
McCain in South Carolina,
a win that he will relish.
The question on
the campaign trail was
can a souffle rise twice?
John McCain wins the republican
presidential nomination.
What a historic night.
And they said
we were dead.
Next stop:
The white house.
( Crowd cheering )
( Crowd chanting )
Obama! Obama!
( Chanting continues )
( Crowd cheering )
Barack:
People of Berlin
and people of the world,
the scale of our challenge
is great.
The road ahead
will be long.
But I come before you
to say that we are heirs
to a struggle for freedom.
We are a people
of improbable hope
with an eye
towards the future,
with resolve in our heart.
Let us remember
this history
and answer our destiny
and remake the world
once again.
Thank you, Berlin.
God bless you.
- ( Crowd cheering )
- Thank you.
If he heals a sick baby,
we're really fucked.
We're down by 15.
If his convention speech
is as good as that--
it'll be better.
Rick: Then we'll be
trailing by 20
going into St. Paul.
It's an uphill battle,
John.
Well, as chairman mao
was fond of saying,
"it's always darkest before
it's completely black."
Senator, it always concerns me
when you quote chairman mao.
This guy is raising money
like he's some sort
of a human ATM Machine.
John, if there
ever was a time
to run a reverend Wright ad,
this is that time.
- Absolutely not.
- I agree.
There's footage of his own reverend
saying "God damn America."
It's the single
best weapon we've got.
I want to run a fucking campaign
that my kids can be proud of,
and that precludes
attacking a black reverend.
I think we're going
about this all wrong.
This man is on the cover
of every news magazine.
He's on the cover of every
entertainment magazine.
He's got 200,000 people
screaming for him in Berlin.
And what has he done?
A man of no accomplishment
has become the biggest
celebrity in the world,
and we keep trying to reach up
and pull him down.
What we need to do
is ask the American people
a very simple question:
Do you want a statesman
to be your next president...
Or do you want
a celebrity?
Try it.
( Music playing )
Woman: He's the biggest
celebrity in the world.
( Crowd chanting )
Obama! Obama!
Woman:
But is he ready to lead?
With gas prices soaring,
Barack Obama says no
to offshore drilling
and says he'll raise taxes
on electricity?
Higher taxes,
more foreign oil--
that's the real Obama.
Great job, Fred.
I thought we were
the grown-ups in this race.
- ( Music playing )
- John, it's his girlfriend.
Man: This is a cautionary
tale, John.
It's what I'm
talking about.
( Both laugh )
Yeah, right.
Yeah, let's--
- let's watch it again.
- No, I can't, I can't! Please.
See, that's what
I'm talking about.
Rick: Now can you
believe these guys?
He wants lieberman
on the ticket.
- Of course he does.
- Disaster.
Or historic.
- Or historic disaster.
- John loves him.
It would be a strong move
towards bi-partisanship.
Guys, the base
is already concerned
that John is not
a true conservative.
Now, I don't think picking
a pro-choice Jewish democrat
who just happened to be
Al Gore's running mate
is going to alleviate
that concern.
Maybe we have McCain
make a one-term pledge.
He announces in some huge
speech that he and a democrat
are joining together
for one term
so that the parties
can come together
and solve this country's
greatest problems.
Maybe, with
a one-term pledge.
Nothing says country first
like picking Joe lieberman.
Well, if it's gonna work,
it has to remain
absolutely secret,
right up until
the convention.
If it gets leaked,
the right will kill it.
Reporter: John McCain's decision
to put Joe lieberman
front and center
at his convention
has the unique distinction
of unsettling
both democrats
and Republicans.
I think the idea of him
being the republican
vice presidential nominee
would split the convention.
In the cabinet, fine.
Not as v.P.
Bad choice.
Conservatives will bolt.
Comedy team of McCain
and lieberman.
Maybe they'll play
Atlantic city this summer.
Thank you.
So what the fuck
happened?
Lindsey Graham was trying to
build support for the idea
- and it leaked.
- God damn it, Lindsey.
Well, if it's
any consolation,
my numbers show that
if you pick lieberman
or any pro-choice
candidate,
core supporters
will be less likely
to support you.
And you gain
very few independents.
Overall,
it's a wide-net negative.
We've made a lot of calls.
Some people don't even think
lieberman can make it
through the convention.
Others say,
yeah, he can,
but he's gonna rip
the party in half.
But Joe is perfect.
We're both mavericks
that are hated by the
assholes in our own parties.
It could have a tremendous
healing effect on the country.
We can't win
without our base.
Lieberman is
the right thing to do,
but the wrong way to win.
- Who all have we vetted?
- Romney, crist, pawlenty.
- We're trying to vet bloomberg.
- Who can we win with?
- None of them.
- None of them?
John, Obama just changed
the entire dynamic.
Steve:
It is a change year, sir.
We desperately need
a game-changing pick,
and none of these middle-aged
white guys are game-changers.
So... what?
I just fuck off and die?
Well, the data shows we have
four things we have to do.
We have to win back
the independents,
we have to
excite the base,
we have to distance ourselves
from the bush administration,
and we have to close
the gender gap.
How bad is the gap?
It's fatal.
You've got a 20% advantage
with men, which is great,
but a 20% deficit
with women.
You've got to pick up
Because if you're trailing
by more than five with them,
you lose.
So find me a woman.
All right, ladies.
Who's it gonna be?
Meg Whitman supports
abortion rights.
Pro-choice, pro-choice.
- Who are you?
- These solar arrays combined
will allow us to produce
( Keyboard clicking )
To make sure
that risk management
is the best that
we can do to secure...
( Keyboard clicking )
But as you know, the turnpike
ends here in Augusta.
At that point...
What was her name?
Woman:
Once Alaska is allowed
to very responsibly and
safely develop our resources,
we'll lower costs of energy
across the United States,
and then we'd be able
to secure the nation
with a clean, domestic
supply of energy.
And I say that, Charlie,
even personally.
My one and only son,
my 18-year-old,
he just signed up
for the United States army.
He's at boot camp
right now.
And I'm thinkin',
you know,
this kid is doing all
that he can within his power
to help secure and defend
the United States.
Every elected official had
better be asking themselves,
are you doing as much also?
Are you doing
all that you can?
She's a star.
She's so passionately
pro-life that at age 44,
she decided
to keep a child
that she knew mid-term
had down's syndrome.
And there's a lot more
that the base will love.
She has an 80% approval
rating in Alaska.
- The highest of any governor in the country--
- 80%?
And she got it
by taking on the oil lobby
and the republican
establishment.
She's the one who killed
the bridge to nowhere.
( Laughs ) I fought Ted
Stevens for months
on that stupid
fucking bridge.
Rick: Plus, she is
a devout Christian.
She's got a son about
to deploy to Iraq,
attractive mother of five.
- She likes to moose hunt.
- Moose hunt?
This is a woman
with a gun, John.
I mean, come on, the base is
gonna be doing back flips.
What does salter think?
Uh, he's worried that
she's a creationist.
Yeah, and that's exactly
why the base will love her.
Women will love her.
Plus, she gives you
distance from bush.
Furthermore,
she's so outside the box
that she helps you
recapture the Maverick label,
which will win back
independents.
She's everything we need.
You don't think she might be
too outside the box?
Huh. Well, that's what makes
her such a Maverick choice.
So is picking lieberman.
That'd be pretty
goddamn mavericky.
Sir, we live in
the age of YouTube
and the 24-hour
news cycle.
How else
do you think a man
who has absolutely no
major life accomplishments
is beating an American
hero by double digits?
He's simply sailing on his
charisma and star power.
We need to create a dynamic
moment in this campaign
or we're dead.
You think she's that good?
She could be.
And we can vet her
in five days?
We can.
The vet has to be
as thorough for her
as it was for all
the other candidates.
Culvahouse says
he can do it, so...
The clock
is ticking, sir.
If you are going to seriously
consider the governor of Alaska,
you have to call her now.
( Crowd noise )
Woman: You know, Governor,
these gas prices
- are killing us.
- Oh, my goodness, don't I know it.
They're killing
me and Todd, too.
Hey, how are ya?
But once Alaska
is allowed to very safely
and responsibly
develop our resources,
we'll lower cost of energy
across the entire nation.
You keep giving
'em hell, Governor.
Aw, thanks.
Nice talking to ya.
Mom, can we go on
the roller coaster now?
Yeah.
No, of course, honey.
- Hey, Bristol?
- Yeah?
Can you hold Trig?
I'm gonna take Piper on the roller coaster.
- Sure.
- There you go.
- There you go, buddy.
- ( Cell phone ringing )
- Mom.
- Just one second, hon.
This is Sarah.
Thank you for coming on
such short notice, Governor.
Should this go
according to plan,
we will take you to meet
Senator McCain at his compound
first thing in the morning.
Now, if he chooses you
to be his running mate,
you will instantly become
one of the most famous
people on the planet.
Your life will be
investigated,
manipulated, distorted,
and you will lose
any semblance of privacy.
Knowing this,
are you 100% committed
to going forward
with this project?
Absolutely.
I have a servant's heart.
And if you really think
I can help this ticket,
if you really think
I can help this country,
then absolutely--
I'll do this with ya.
Your private life
will be subjected
to harsh,
often unfair attacks.
Nothing can
prepare you for...
How ugly this can be.
Not--
I do understand that.
Here's the deal.
I went through
a tough primary in Alaska,
and I know how ugly
it can get.
Well, Governor,
things can get
quite a bit rougher
on the national stage.
I don't know,
Alaska's pretty rough.
Steve: Now, you and
Senator McCain
have a difference of opinion
on several issues.
He is pro-life, but he's
in favor of exceptions
in the case of rape, incest or
a mother's life being at risk.
- You are not.
- That is correct.
I am unapologetically
pro-life.
Senator McCain supports
stem cell research.
- You do not.
- That's true, I do not.
John McCain would never ask you
to contradict your beliefs,
but we expect you
to support his positions.
And we may ask you
to appear in ads
advocating those positions.
Do you have
a problem with that?
No, I don't.
Not at all.
Senator McCain can count
on my full support.
I would be so proud to be
a member of his team.
Do you reject
the theory of evolution?
I'm the daughter
of a science teacher.
My dad showed me
fossils growing up.
I know about evolution.
I accept evolution.
But I will never deny
that I see the hand of God
in this beautiful creation
that is earth.
I'm really glad
that you're asking me
these types
of questions.
Why is that?
It's important that you know
exactly what you're getting.
A.B.:
John, let me be very clear.
Every other vet we did was over
a four-to-eight-week period.
This vet has been compiled
in absolute secrecy
in less than five days.
I understand.
Well, in doing
a vet this fast,
there's certainly
the possibility
that we may have
missed something.
Yeah, I got it.
What do you think, a.B.?
I like many of her answers
in the questionnaire.
And in the interview, she hit some
of my questions out of the park.
Now...
There are more potential
land mines with Palin
than with
the other choices.
She told us she has
a teen daughter who's pregnant.
That should not prevent this
from moving forward,
but we don't know
what else could pop up.
But are you impressed
with her personally?
I am.
She has a great
life story
and she's extremely
poised and confident
for someone
in her situation.
But you have a candidate
who's only been governor
for 18 months.
Before that, she was the
mayor of a small town
with 10,000 people.
She undercuts your
best attack on Obama
that he's too inexperienced.
Well, that's played out.
We lose by five if we stick
with experience.
You think she's ready
to be president?
I don't think she's gonna
be ready on January 20th,
but I think she has the smarts
to get there eventually.
Give me
the bottom line, a.B.
High risk...
High reward.
You shouldn't have
told me that.
Why not?
I've been a risk-taker
all my life.
- Hi.
- Hi. How are ya?
Great.
Thanks so much for coming.
Thank you for having me
at your beautiful house.
Well, come on in.
Please.
( Indistinct chatter )
John: One of the things
I'm most proud of, Sarah,
is my independence.
And I'm very impressed
with how you've bucked
the republican
establishment in Alaska.
Well, I am wired to be kind
of independent there also.
And I thought if I'm gonna
truly run the state
on behalf of the people,
I'm gonna have to do it
without that
good ole boy network.
I love the way you squashed
Stevens' bridge to nowhere.
Yeah. I am pro-growth
and pro-infrastructure
for Alaska,
but not at the expense
of the American taxpayer.
I told congress
if we wanted a bridge,
we'd build it ourselves.
You remind me of myself.
We're both reformers
who are not afraid
to thumb our nose
at our own party.
Senator, you're
an American hero.
I'm just Sarah
from Alaska.
What do you guys think?
I know a guy
like Tim pawlenty
isn't exactly
the game-changing pick
you all seem
to think we need,
but he's young,
he's energetic.
He has solid
conservative credentials.
With pawlenty,
we make the base happy.
And we know what the hell
we're getting.
Pawlenty's ready
to be president.
Steve?
Well, there are
unknowns with Palin,
and certainly
it could go bad.
But if it were me, I'd
rather lose by 10 points
going for the win
than lose by one point
and look back
and say, "God damn,"
we should have gone
for the win."
Salter: Our slogan's
"country first."
Lieberman and pawlenty
are country-first choices.
Sarah Palin
will be perceived
as a self-serving
political maneuver.
You may not only lose
the election, John.
You just might lose your
reputation right along with it.
I'm not running
for my reputation.
I'm running
to be president.
Yes, sir.
( Bell dings )
It is absolutely crucial
that not a single person
know you're the pick.
Surprise of your announcement
will stop any momentum
Obama might get from
his convention speech.
That's smart.
You seem totally unfazed
by all this.
It's God's plan.
This election has
never been about me.
It's about you.
( Crowd cheering )
You understand
that in this election
the greatest risk
we can take
is to try
the same old politics
with the same old players
and expect a different result.
Barack:
Change happens.
Change happens because the
American people demand it...
Because they rise up and insist
on new ideas and new leadership
and new politics
for a new time.
You're about
to meet our nominee.
You are the seventh and eighth
person to know about this.
- ( Knocks )
- It's Steve.
- Come in.
- ( Door opens )
Barack:
Because I've seen it...
Hi. Come on in.
I'm just watching Obama's
big, fancy speech again.
Governor, this is
Matthew Scully.
- He'll be your main speechwriter.
- Nice to meet you.
Steve: And this is
nicolle Wallace,
- former white house communications director.
- Hi. How are you?
Steve: And this is
Governor Sarah Palin
from Alaska.
Yes, of course.
Congratulations, Governor.
It's a real honor
to meet you.
Great to have you
on board.
Hey, come here.
Lookit. Look at this.
- ( Crowd cheering on TV )
- I didn't know we were running against a Greek God.
Sarah:
They sure do love him.
- They're gonna love you more.
- Barack: America, we cannot turn back.
( Distant crowd cheering )
Governor,
you are the nominee
for the vice president
of the United States.
You will no longer
be carrying your own bags.
Yes, sir.
And never
call me "sir."
You can call me
Steve, schmidty,
Kojak, potsie, shithead--
anything you want.
I will call you
governor or ma'am.
Well, I don't curse, so I'm
gonna have to call you potsie.
Very good, ma'am.
These gentlemen are
secret service agents.
They will take you
into the arena.
And if everything goes
according to plan,
they will be with you
the rest of your life.
Everything's gonna change
the moment you
walk out that door.
Are you ready, Governor?
I'm ready.
Breathe.
Welcome, Governor.
( Distant crowd cheering )
( Crowd cheering )
Thank you.
Thank you for
that wonderful welcome.
I'm very happy today to
spend my birthday with you
and to make a historic
announcement in Dayton...
( Crowd cheering )
...a city built on hard,
honest work of good people.
( Crowd cheering )
The person I'm about
to introduce to you
was a stand-out
High School point guard,
a concerned citizen who became
a member of the p.T.A.,
then a city
council member...
- Say a prayer.
- John: ...Then a mayor,
- and now a governor.
- Say a prayer.
- Say a prayer.
- Say a prayer.
John: ...To celebrate the anniversary
of women's suffrage,
a devoted wife
and a mother of five.
John: My friends
and fellow Americans,
I am very pleased
to introduce to you
the next vice president
of the United States,
Governor Sarah Palin
of the great state of Alaska!
( Music playing )
Just have fun.
This is a fantastic
rollout, Steve.
I can't believe you were
able to keep it a secret.
I had to confiscate
her kids' cell phones.
No hurry.
- Sarah: Thank you.
- Woman: All the way, Sarah!
And I thank you,
Senator McCain,
for the confidence
you have placed in me.
Senator, I am honored to be
chosen as your running mate.
It was rightly noted
in Denver this week
that Hillary left
in the highest, hardest
glass ceiling in America.
( Crowd cheers )
But it turns out
the women of America
aren't finished yet
and we can shatter that glass
ceiling once and for all.
We gotta get her ready
for her convention speech.
She'll need a vocal coach,
a foreign policy expert,
hair and make-up consultants
and a stylist.
No doubt.
( Music playing )
And if I was
a movie star
I'd sip honey
from a pickle jar
in the back
of my limousine
and they'd call me
an icon
and I'd be looking
back at you
from the cover
of a "people" magazine...
Not-- not too tight.
I guess it's all
for the taking...
I love these Johnny choos.
My sister says
i've got to see it
and believe it,
and I believe it...
Woman:
Oh, my gosh.
I believe it
- What do you think, Todd?
- It's cool.
( All laugh )
- Nice, dad.
- Mom, you look beautiful.
Aw, hey, look at you.
Look at your fancy shoes.
- You look so awesome, mom.
- Girl: Yeah, it really looks good.
- You look great, willow.
- Thanks.
- So do you.
- So good.
Look at Trig's
little shirt.
Woman: Okay, if you
all come with me,
it's time for
your campaign photos.
- Girls: Bye, mom.
- Todd: Okay. Let's go, guys.
- See you in a bit, hon.
- Yeah.
Governor, this is
your new staff--
Tucker eskew,
senior media advisor.
- It's a pleasure.
- Nice to meet you.
Chris Edwards,
your deputy chief of staff.
- Hi.
- Hi.
And my husband,
mark Wallace,
former ambassador
to the united nations.
He'll be
a senior advisor.
We're all honored to be
on your team, Governor.
- The honor is all mine.
- Shall we sit?
Well, our first order
of business, Governor,
is we need
to find out
if there are any
unexpected surprises.
The press are gonna be
digging deep into your past,
so we need to prepare answers
about your background.
Oh, gosh.
I can't think of anything
I haven't already disclosed.
( Reporters clamoring )
The wasilla librarian
claims that as mayor
she tried to ban books.
Is that true?
What about the allegations that
Trig is not really her child?
Did she attend a pentecostal
church where they speak
- in tongues?
- ( Reporters clamoring )
This source we talked to intimately
involved in Palin's vetting
admitted that aside
from those they talked to
involved in
so-called troopergate,
they didn't talk to any
character witnesses in Alaska--
why was the vet so bad?
Listen, granted,
he only had a few days,
but culvahouse
did clear her.
- Oh, with what? Wikipedia?
- There's no way this vet was thorough.
What? What did he miss?
He had troopergate.
He had bridge to nowhere.
No one went to Alaska to interview
her colleagues, her enemies.
There was no political
vet whatsoever.
These charges
are such bullshit.
I mean,
Trig isn't her baby?
What, speaking in tongues?
- She does.
- Rick: I don't care.
Is the first amendment
no longer law here?
Is she not entitled
to her religious beliefs?
You're missing
the point, Rick.
John is getting slammed for
making an irresponsible choice.
- We picked her.
- No, you two picked her,
then slapped her on the butt
and shoved her out there
under a banner
saying "country first!"
You're a real prick, mark.
- Salter: Fuck you, schmidt!
- Fuck you!
All right, all right!
Let's just get through this.
Come on.
Troopergate. What--?
Tucker: The Alaska
safety commissioner
is claiming that he was fired
because he wouldn't fire
Palin's brother-in-law,
trooper Mike Wooten.
And what were the charges
against trooper Wooten?
Besides the fact that he was
divorcing Palin's sister?
Yes. Do we have any
information that shows
trooper Wooten
should have been fired?
Yeah, Wooten
was accused of drinking
from an open container
from his police car,
tasering his
and illegally shooting
a moose without a permit.
Steve:
Jesus Christ.
Okay, coordinate all responses
with their Alaskan council.
Let's try to keep it
a local matter.
Bridge to nowhere.
I thought we were good on this.
She had the project squashed
after she was elected,
but ran on a platform
to build the bridge.
It's a huge flip-flop.
God damn it.
How could she
not tell us that?
What the fuck is the Alaska
independence party
and was she ever
a member of it?
The a.I.P. Is a political
party whose sole platform
is the secession
of Alaska from the union.
Well, ain't that a hoot?
Now, was she ever
a member of it?
Steve:
Well?
We know Todd Palin
was a member for many years.
We can't confirm
if she was ever a member.
Okay. Call our people
in Alaska right now
and find out if she was.
It's 3:00 A.M.
In Alaska right now.
Thphphones don't
work there at night?!
We're under attack
here, people!
You're gonna have
to raise your game.
I can assure you
that Obama's people
are all over this shit.
In the last 24 hours,
I have been asked questions
by the national media that are
outrageous and disgusting.
I have been asked
when her amniotic fluid
started to leak with regard
to her last birth.
It's shameful.
So when did it
start leaking?
She's fought
the oil companies.
She's taken on corrupt
special interests.
These accusations
are totally sexist.
Never in my life
have I seen a candidate
more attacked by
the liberal media.
Smear after smear
after smear.
Are you sure
we have to do this?
Bristol couldn't stop crying
when I told her.
Are youit's going to
we havecome out tomorrow
with or without
our statement, Governor.
A positive from this
is that given the timing
of Bristol's pregnancy,
it makes it physically impossible
for Trig to be her baby.
So we can put that
absurd rumor to rest.
"We're proud of Bristol's
decision to have her baby
and even prouder
to become grandparents."
We're not proud
that our teenage daughter
is pregnant, Maria.
And I don't want to send
a message that teen pregnancy
is something to be proud of.
I want that line out.
Of course, Governor.
I'll change it right away.
Reporter: Governor Palin's
17-year-old daughter Bristol
has been seen holding her baby
brother Trig at campaign events.
What the American people
didn't know until today
is that Bristol
is five months pregnant.
Her parents issued
this statement:
"We're proud of Bristol's
decision to have her baby."
I specifically wanted
that line taken out,
and you ran it
without changing a word.
Rick:
You're absolutely right.
The campaign takes full
responsibility on this.
Maria's gonna personally
apologize to you.
How the flip
did this happen?
Senator McCain is somewhat
a fly-by-the-seat-
of-his-pants type of guy,
and it does occasionally create
a little chaos in the campaign.
Well, I want Maria gone.
Governor, this was a mistake.
Maria feels terrible.
She's an excellent
press secretary.
My 17-year-old daughter
is being made fun of
by every talk show host
in the country.
I want Maria gone, period.
Of course, Governor.
She's gone.
Done.
Who makes that call?
- That'd be you.
- ( Sighs )
The idea that if something
happened to John McCain
who is 72 years old and who has
had two bouts with melanoma,
- and she could step into the presidency--
- ( Knock at door )
- It's just ridiculous.
- ( Channel changes )
Man:
The real sequence, Rachel,
is she said "please"
and "thank you,"
and then "thanks,
but no thanks,"
only when the congress
had de-authorized the bridge...
Hi, Governor.
I just wanted to check in,
make sure
you're doing okay.
Should John McCain consider
replacing Sarah Palin
on the gop ticket?
I want to talk
to the press.
I want to set the record
straight on this stuff.
I'll just go put
trig's p.J.S on.
Hey, there.
- There you go, baby.
- Just gonna put your PJ's on.
Now, we don't want you
to talk to anyone
until after
the convention
because no one knows
anything about you.
If you answer these
ridiculous allegations,
you'll be defining yourself
in a defensive posture.
But isn't the press
defining me right now?
No news story lasts
more than 48 hours any more.
News is no longer
meant to be remembered.
It's just entertainment.
So if you hit your convention
speech out of the park,
the next news cycle will be
the comeback of Sarah Palin.
Yeah. I can do that.
Now, everyone's heard a lot
of crazy stories about you.
Now it's time for you to tell
the world who you really are.
You tell Senator McCain
I won't let him down.
And good evening from the g.O.
P. Convention in St. Paul.
All eyes will be
on Senator McCain's
V.P. Choice,
Governor Sarah Palin,
when she takes the stage
at the r.N.C.
She's likely
never seen a night
fraught with
so much anticipation,
expectation and pressure.
The food's terrible, but I hear
it's gonna be worse in Iraq.
- My boy's so brave.
- Come on, mom.
Thank you for inviting me,
Mrs. Palin.
Thank you for cutting
your mullet, levi.
I really appreciate it.
I didn't really
want to at first,
but I think it looks
way better now.
I think it does, too.
Sorry to interrupt,
but the palins need
to go to their seats.
- Bye, mom.
- Okay.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Hey, she's gonna
be fine.
- Really?
- Absolutely.
Is she gonna be okay?
I'm more concerned
about one on ones.
How bad?
I'm not sure how much she
knows about foreign policy.
She didn't know why North and South
Korea were different countries.
( Sighs )
Okay, let's keep
the press away from her.
We have five days
to bring her up to speed.
She'll be fine.
Shshe's on in five minutes.
I've gotta get up there.
Good luck.
Man: In choosing
Governor Sarah Palin
as his running mate,
John McCain has chosen
- for the future.
- ( Crowd cheers )
Governor Palin represents
a new generation.
She's already one of the
most successful governors
in America
and the most popular.
Let's get John McCain
and Sarah Palin elected,
and let's shake up
Washington
and move this country
forward!
( Loud applause )
You're gonna do great.
Woman:
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Governor of Alaska
and the next vice president
of the United States,
Sarah Palin!
( Music playing )
Sarah:
Thank you.
Mr. chairman, delegates,
and fellow citizens,
I will be honored to
accept your nomination
for vice president
of the United States.
Thank you.
Our nominee is a man
who wore the uniform
of his country for 22 years
and refused to break faith
with those troops in Iraq
who now have brought
victory within sight.
Good, good.
She's really good.
We were so blessed
in April.
Todd and I welcomed
our littlest one
into the world--
a perfectly beautiful
baby boy named Trig.
( Crowd cheering )
Sarah:
Children with special needs
inspire a very,
very special love.
She's amazing.
To the families of
special needs children
all across this country,
I have a message for you.
I pledge to you
that if we are elected,
you will have a friend and
advocate in the white house.
She's incredible!
Before I became governor
of the great state
of Alaska...
I was mayor of my hometown.
I guess a small-town mayor
- is sort of like a community organizer.
- ( Crowd laughs )
Except that you have
actual responsibilities.
Now I know why they
call her "Sarah barracuda."
( Laughter )
( Chuckles )
I love those hockey moms.
You know they say
the difference
between a hockey mom
and a pit bull?
Lipstick.
Yeah!
She just came up
with that.
Join our cause
and help America
elect a great man
as the next president
of the United States.
Thank you.
And God bless America.
- Great job! You did a great job!
- Couldn't have gone better.
- Congratulaonons.
- My God!
She did it without
a teleprompter.
It broke halfway
through her speech.
- You're kidding.
- No.
If that happens to me
tomorrow night, I'm fucked.
( Crowd cheering )
We can win this!
Oh, oh, oh, ohh
and up, up, up
can only
go up from here
up, up
up where the cloud's
gonna clear
up, up, there's no way
but up from here...
Thank you for calling.
Yes, we do take credit cards.
- I'd be happy to...
- I've got $500.
We're grateful for
every dollar we get.
Yes, Sarah Palin will be giving
a speech in Florida this week.
Thanks.
Hey. Here we go.
- Thanks for coming.
- I love you.
( Chuckles )
Hi. Hey. Hi.
- God, this is crazy.
- I know, they really love her.
Sarah:
How are ya? Hey.
- Hey, what's your name?
- I'm Sarah.
- ( Gasps ) Sarah?
- Yeah.
That's my name, too.
That's amazing!
- I know.
- Oh!
Hey, thanks for coming out.
Thank you.
We never felt welcome to go anywhere
before we saw you
give that speech.
Oh, thank you.
Thanks so much.
Look at you.
I want to look at how handsome
my son Trig's gonna be
when he's all grown up.
She understands that you can't
solve problems with government,
that government
is the problem.
When she talks about her faith,
you can tell it's for real.
When she talks about guns,
you can tell it's for real.
I've got five kids, too,
and there's
something about her--
she's talking to me.
And nobody talks to me.
CNN has us even
with Obama.
- Are you kidding me?
- Hey, Gallup has us up by five.
She's given us
exactly what we needed.
We've made more money
in the last few days
than we did
all last month.
I've never seen crowds
like this in my life.
- They love her.
- She's a bigger star than Obama.
We can really
win this thing.
I really understand
your frustr--
I'm sorry, pool.
It's not gonna happen today.
- ( Reporters clamoring )
- Sorry.
- Five minutes!
- Views matter.
Did you know that
Todd Palin is an Eskimo?
Oh, yeah, Steve?
That's really interesting.
Seriously,
he's a Yupik Eskimo.
We're gonna take some serious
blowback from the press
if we don't let them
speak to her soon.
- They're really getting pissed.
- I know, yeah.
Well, I don't know
how ready she is.
Nicolle,
you worry too much.
We always knew she'd
be weak on foreign policy.
We'll get her up to speed.
Steve, I don't think foreign
policy is her only weakness.
Sorry to bother you,
governor. Okayto talk?
Sure, I'm just reading the e-mails
from the prayer warriors.
These guys are awesome.
I just want to take
a moment to inform you
of how thrilled
Senator McCain is.
You're exceeding
his wildest expectation
for what a running mate
could achieve.
I am so happy to hear that.
These are the largest crowds
I've ever seen
in my entire
political career, ever.
Really? Yeah, I just--
I just love talking
to people on the rope lines,
getting to hear
their problems.
It's-- it's really
moving to me.
Well, you know,
that comes across.
You're a transformative
figure, Governor.
You-- you could be the
party's next Ronald Reagan.
Holy jeez, I--
yeah, he's--
he's my hero, so...
Mine, too.
So, uh...
The next step is just-- we're gonna
start doing some interviews.
Great. I've been dying
to talk to the press.
Also, I feel like I could
really help you there.
I've always been very, very
open with the press in Alaska.
The reasoning behind
holding you back
is the entire press corps
is in the tank for Obama,
so all they want in life
is to trip you up
with obscure questions.
- Gotcha questions.
- Gotcha questions.
So we just want to make sure
you're fully prepped
before we unleash them.
What about the local
Alaska papers?
There are no
local papers any more.
Anything you say goes national
the instant you say it.
Yeah, got it.
Okay, so I think
the best way to prep
would just be to go through
some sample questions.
Sure, let's do it.
Um, let's start with
something simple.
Uh... how do you
plan on maintaining
our alliance with
greabrbritain on Iraq,
even though support
for the war there
is at an all-time low?
I think the United States
has always maintained
a great relationship
with the queen.
And John McCain
will continue to have
an open dialogue with her.
Uh, Governor,
the queen is not the head
of government in england.
She's the head of state.
Well, then, who's
the head of government?
The prime minister.
( Indistinct chatter )
You rang?
- The cavalry has arrived.
- ( Chuckles )
- Thank you, gentlemen. Come on in.
- You bet.
Yeah.
Well, I, uh--
I think we should start
by prepping the governor
with Russian
economic policy
as it relates to
post-cold war tensions
during the pre-putin era.
I was thinking something
a little bit simpler.
How much simpler?
This is Germany.
They were
the primary antagonists
during world war I
and world war ii.
Biegun: And in world war ii
, they were aligned with
Japan and Italy to form
what was known as the axis.
Randy: Currently,
we're in the middle okay.
Of what I like to call
the three wars.
That's Afghanistan, Iraq,
and the global war on terror.
Governor, would you-- would
you like to take a break?
No way.
This is flippin' awesome.
Now, with Afghanistan,
after 9/11...
Reporter: ...
Already put a protective wall up
around the family,
especially the key players.
Look at Bristol, Sarah Palin's
daughter, who is pregnant.
We've seen her, we've seen her boyfriend
levi, the father of her child,
but we haven't really
gotten to talk to them
about whose idea
it was to get married
and why, for example,
levi on his MySpace page
- says he doesn't want kids--
- Woman: That isn't anybody's--
Bristol: Why won't they
just leave me alone?
I'm so tired of it.
( Sobbing )
Any grownup who makes fun
of a teenage girl
is a terrible person.
And we'll forget what
she said, honey, okay?
Okay?
My e-mails were hacked.
I know, governor, and we're on it.
I promise you.
Did you know that
my daughter's cell phone
is online and she's getting
crank calls?
Did you know that my family
is being threatened?
Governor, you have every right
to be upset, and I am sorry.
I've already contacted
secret service
and they're gonna
increase security.
( Stammers ) Can you-- can you
protect my e-mails, Steve?
Can you--
can this campaign
at least do that?
Nicolle:
Charlie Gibson is good,
so I'm sure the questions
will have some depth.
Don't be afraid to elaborate
if it's a subject
you feel comfortable with,
like energy.
Are you okay, Governor?
Why aren't there any McCain-Palin
lawn signs in Alaska?
Well, Mr. Obama
has five times
the money we have.
Five times, and...
Alaska is only three electoral
votes, and it's solid red.
I'm concerned about
my standing back home.
Todd and
are hearing things,
and I can't talk
to the Alaskan press.
What are you hearing?
Things.
None of it's good.
Can you at least do a poll to
check my approval rating there?
Governor, that would cost
the campaign $60,000.
I'd feel a heck
of a lot better
if I knew where I was at.
Absolutely.
We will do the poll
for your peace of mind,
just this once.
Sarah:
Great. Thank you.
So, can we get back to
prepping Charlie Gibson?
Sure, I'm ready.
Let's do it.
- You ready?
- Yes.
Do you think the fed
did the right thing
in their dealing with
the bear stearns collapse?
Our economy is hurting,
and the federal government
has not provided
the sound oversight
that we need
and that we deserve.
I think we need
a little bit of reality
from wasilla
main street there
brought to Washington, D.C.,
so that the people there
can understand how the
average working-class family
is viewing bureaucracy
in the federal government.
( Clears throat )
Governor...
Do you know
what the fed is?
In what respect, Charlie?
No, no.
This is me, Steve,
asking do you know
what the fed is?
Um...
( Clears throat )
Stands for the federal
reserve system.
No, please.
Don't write, just listen.
The fed is responsible
for all monetary policy
in the United States.
On any fed or
bear stearns question,
just say the fed took
the appropriate action
that was needed
at the time.
Okay?
Got it.
Your oldest son is proudly
heading off to Iraq next week.
Who do you see as the primary
enemy at this point?
Radical islamist extremists.
Can you be more specific?
The terrorists
who are hell-bent
on destroying our nation.
Governor, do you know
why we're in Iraq?
Because Saddam Hussein
attacked us on 9/11.
No. No, uh,
Al qaeda attacked us
on 9/11.
Not Saddam Hussein.
No, it was Al qaeda.
And that's why
we're in Afghanistan.
Do you know
the primary differences
between the war in Afghanistan
and the war in Iraq?
Steve: Um, excuse
us for a moment.
Can I get some more information
about Afghanistan?
Of course, Governor.
- Should we cancel?
- We can't.
Even fox is pounding us
for hiding her.
- We'd get murdered.
- When you interviewed her,
didn't you ask her
about national security?
Foreign policy,
domeicic policy?
I thought culvahouse
would cover that.
So what did you ask her?
I just-- we talked
about if she would
back John's positions
when they conflicted with hers
or if she was prepared
for her life to change.
There were no
policy questions.
You guys didn't grill her
because you wanted it to work.
I wasn't in charge
of the vet, nicolle.
She's a great actress, right?
Oh, the best.
Why don't we just
give her some lines?
( Bell dings )
I've come up with
a list of questions
that I think Charlie's
most likely to ask.
If you memorize
these answers,
I'm sure y'r're going
to nail this interview.
How do you know
he'll ask these?
I was the white house
communications director.
It's my job to figure out
the questions.
"Shushkashvili."
Saakashvili,
the president of Georgia.
Shashkashvili.
Saakashvith--
- saakashvili.
- Saakash-vili.
Let me ask you
about some specific
- national security situations.
- Sure.
Let's start with Russia
and Georgia.
Do you believe
the United States
should try to restore
Georgian sovereignty
over South ossetia
and abkhazia?
First off,
we're gonna continue
good relations
with saakashvili there.
I was able to speak
with him the other day,
and we've gotta
keep an eye on Russia.
For Russia to have
exerted such pressure
in terms of invading a smaller
Democratic country unprovoked
- is unacceptable, and we have--
- You believe unprovoked?
- Yes.
- I do, I do believe unprovoked.
And we have to
keep our eye...
She's a red-light
performer.
Sarah: ...Under
the leadership there.
What insight
into Russian actions,
particularly in
the last couple of weeks,
does the proximity
of this state give you?
They're our
next-door neighbors.
And you can actually see Russia
from land here in Alaska.
Charlie: Do you consider
a nuclear Iran...
- Damn it.
- ...To be an existential threat to Israel?
And I can see Russia
from my house.
( Audience laughs )
Amy poehler: I believe global
warming is caused by man.
And I believe it's just
God hugging us closer.
( Audience laughs )
Poehler: I don't agree with
the bush doctrine.
Tina fey: And I don't
know what that is.
( Audience laughs,
applauds )
Man: She initially did
not understand this,
and I think that people can
make what they want of it,
but was I, or anyone, confident that
Sarah Palin now has the wherewithal
to be president of the United States?
I don't think so.
A conservative friend called me
up and said "I just can't do it.
I don't know if I'm voting for
Obama, but I can't have her--
"she shouldn't be in Washington,
let alone the white house."
( TV turns off )
Governor.
Governor Palin.
We really should prep for
your Katie Couric interview.
Fine.
I wrote a brief synopsis
on the collapse
of lehman brothers
and the financial crisis.
If you internalize
this document,
you should be able to field basic
questions about the bail-out.
( Phone chimes )
Governor...
The dow just dropped
Lehman is collapsing.
The world economyisis on th.
I am pretty sure the bail-out
is going to come up--
( touch tones beeping )
Okay. Um...
( Phone chimes )
Whdodon't we come back to it
after we've warmed up a bit?
I've put together a list
of the questions...
- ( Phone chimes )
- That Katie's most likely to ask.
I used to work with Katie, and I
know she'll ask about abortion.
Did Steve do
the Alaska poll yet?
- I think it's being done as we speak.
- Bet he didn't even do it.
Can we try and get through
just a few questions?
I know you're upset,
Governor.
So why don't you get
a good night's sleep,
and I will come back
first thing in the morning
to prep you when
you're feeling better?
( Phone chirps )
I'm gonna leave this
for you to...
- Look over.
- ( Phone chimes )
It's the worst financial crisis
facing the American people
since the great depression
of the 1920s and '30s.
The president's massive
financial rescue plan
under fire from
the left and right.
Biegun: Good evening
from the Ford center
at the university
of Mississippi at Oxford.
We're here for the first
of three debates
between Senator
Barack Obama--
Steve, Steve, let's not
worry about that crap.
It's all bullshit.
I'm here at the podium.
- Let's do the fucking debate.
- ( Door opens )
Hey, John.
Sorry to interrupt.
I just spoke to our guy
at treasury.
The bill does not have
enough republican votes.
God damn it.
Paulson thinks
the entire world economy
is on the brink of falling
off the cliff, so...
We're checkmated.
If the bail-out doesn't pass,
we're screwed because
bush, and thus you,
will be blamed for it.
- If you pass the bail-out--
- The Republicans will despise me
- for supporting a bail-out.
- Rick: That's it.
This is it, guys.
I mean, this is
the whole fucking election.
Now, we think you should
suspend the campaign,
postpone the debates,
go to Washington,
and try to negotiate
a bi-partisan compromise.
You need to make
a bold move, John.
This is a big risk.
I mean,
that's a big gamble.
We gotta do something.
I mean nothing can fuck me
more than this.
Nicolle: Governor, have
you had a chance
to go over the briefing
materials on the bail-out?
I really think we need
to try and nail down
a simple two-sentence response
to the economic crisis.
- It's gotta be supportive of the concept...
- That's enough powder.
...Of the bail-out, but also
disappointed that we're at this point,
making it clear that changes
need to be made to the bill.
Oh, you need it
a little higher?
I can do that.
I can do that for you.
That jacket looks fantastic
on you, by the way.
It's too open.
- Don't you think so
- Yeah, it looks wonderful.
Really great,
really nice.
It's a great color.
Do you want me to read
the paper to you?
"Senator John McCain has requested of
his opponent, Senator Barack Obama,"
a postponement
of the upcoming debate
so that both Senators
may return to Capitol Hill
to address the needs of the
country in this crucial time.
"Senator Obama has said--"
I hate this make-up.
I hate it.
I don't like my hair this way.
I like my hair up.
Governor,
you look amazing.
I look fat.
I'm sick of looking fat.
- You don't look fat--
- Can I get some more tape?
- ( Phone ring))
- Yeah.
I don't know
if we should do Couric.
She's having
a mini-meltdown.
Well, we can't have McCain
cancel the debate
and Palin cancel Katie Couric
in the same week.
I know,
but I'm really worried
about her.
She won't respond
to anything I say.
Maybe we should bring McCain
in and see what he thinks.
He doesn't want
to deal with her.
I haven't even told him
that she doesn't know anything.
You haven't told him?
Look, he doesn't
want to know.
The world economy
is on the brink of collapse.
Can you just... prep her
in the car ride over?
Uh, I can try.
Okay, good.
Try. Thanks.
Knowing Katie, I'm sure
she's going to ask
about your stance
on feminism.
- Did you get the numbers?
- The what?
My approval rating
in Alaska.
They're not in yet.
I am trying
to trust you people,
but you're making it
really hard for me.
I'm sorry, Governor.
I'll call Steve
right away about it.
Yeah, like that'll
do anything.
Nicolle: What are you
working on, Governor?
It's a questionnaire from the "mat-su
valley frontiersman" in wasilla.
You know,
an Alaska paper.
Don't you think
we should prepare
for your national
Couric interview first?
No, nicolle, I don't.
This is my priority.
I am not going to ignore
the people of Alaska any more.
You've cited Alaska's
proximity to Russia
as part of your foreign
policy experience.
What did you mean by that?
That Alaska has a very
narrow maritime border
between a foreign country,
Russia, and on our other side,
the land boundary
that we have with Canada.
It's funny that
a comment like that
was kind of made to--
( Stammering )
I don't know.
You know, reporters.
- Couric: Mocked?
- Sarah: Yeah, mocked.
I guess that's
the word, yeah.
Well, explain to me
why that enhances
your foreign policy
credentials.
Well, it certainly
does because our--
our next-door neighbors
are foreign countries.
They're in the state
that I am the executive of.
Have you ever been involved
with any negotiations,
for example,
with the Russians?
We have trade missions
back and forth.
We do.
It's very important
when you consider even national
security issues with Russia,
as putin rears his head
and comes into the airspace
of the United States
of America,
where do they go?
It's Alaska. It's just
right over the border.
Katie: And when it comes to
establishing your world-view,
I was curious-- what
newspapers and magazines
did you regularly read before
you were tapped for this
to stay informed
and to understand--
Sarah: I've read most of them,
again with a great appreciation
for the press,
for the media.
What ones specifically?
I'm curious.
Name one fucking paper.
All of 'Em.
Any of 'Em
that have been in front of me
over all these years.
Oh, my God.
What have we done?
If John McCain wins,
this woman will be
one 72-year-old's
heartbeat away
from president
of the United States.
And if that doesn't scare
the hell out of you, it should.
In fairness,
probably most people
can't name
a supreme court case.
But most people
are not campaigning
- to be vice president.
- Right, right.
It's not that she doesn't
know the right answer.
It's that she clearly does not
understand the question.
This is way beyond
anything we have ever seen
from a national candidate.
Why'd you make me
do Katie Couric?
Did you see the coverage?
Did you?
Are you there?
Are you listening to me?
Yes, Governor.
I'm here.
Katie was a logical choice.
She's been very fair to us
this entire campaign.
You call that interview fair?
Yes, Governor, I do.
I certainly don't.
She was out to get me from the get-go.
No, she wasn't.
The interview sucked
because you didn't try.
What do you mean,
I didn't try?
You didn't fight back
like you did
in the Charlie Gibson
interview.
When you didn't
know the answers,
you clawed your way back
and it went fine.
You just gave up.
Nicolle, it wasn't my fault.
I wasn't properly prepped.
You weren't properly prepped
because you wouldn't listen to us.
You never listen
to your advisors.
Because you're
overwhelming me
with too much information.
I don't want to do
these interviews.
I want to do
what I want to do.
We're just trying to help you
get through this, Governor.
All we want is
for you to succeed.
Yeah, well,
you're not helping.
You're just screwing me up.
You're telling me what to say,
what to wear, how to talk.
I am not your puppet!
Now I understand
what Hillary meant
when she said she had
to find her own voice.
Yeah, 'cause you're
just like Hillary.
( Scoffs )
You have ruined me.
You have ruined
my reputation.
I am ruined in Alaska!
( Beeping )
This is Steve schmidt.
Leave a message.
Steve, it's nicolle.
I will gladly resign if you
want to blame me for Couric.
But if you want me to stay, then
I'm back on McCain's bus tomorrow
as I never want to deal
with that woman ever again.
Poehler: What lessons have
you learned from Iraq
and how specifically would
you spread democracy abroad?
Specifically, we would make
every effort possible
to spread democracy abroad
to those who want it.
( Audience laughs )
Poehler: Yes, but specifically
, what would you do?
We're gonna promote freedom,
Usher in Democratic
values and ideals,
and fight terror-loving
terrorists.
Poehler: But again, and not
to belabor the point,
one specific thing.
( Audience laughs )
Katie, I'd like to use
one of my lifelines.
( Audience laughs )
- Poehler: I'm sorry?
- Fey: I want to phone a friend.
Woman: ...Friday's debate
should proceed.
- ( Sighs )
- Barack: We've been working around the clock
...and presidents are going
to have to deal with
more than one thing
at a time.
Woman: A new cnn/time
opinion research poll
- show Obama surging in key battleground states...
- Son of a bitch.
...Like Pennsylvania where he
is now up by nine points.
Governor, I just
want you to know
I got your Alaskan
poll numbers in,
and you'll be
pleased to know
- that you're in the low 70s.
- Sarah: Fine.
( Sighs )
- Why are they fucking me like this?
- Who?
The press!
They used to love me.
Now all they want to do
in life is fuck me over.
I can't believe
Katie did that to me.
And did you hear what olbermann
said about me last night?
Sir, you've got to stop
watching Keith olbermann,
or fox, for that matter.
It's all just bullshit.
Now, sir,
you should have a beer
and watch ESPN, okay?
And while
you're watching it,
think about what
the people who watch ESPN
really need in their lives
right now.
I thought Katie liked me.
She does.
And the questions were fair.
It was Governor Palin
who gave a terrible interview.
That poor girl.
She wasn't ready for this.
Yeah, I'm afraid
you're right, sir.
And YouTube is making it
exponentially worse.
People are watching
Katie Couric and Tina fey
over and over again.
It's playing like
an infinite loop on the web.
No presidential campaign has ever
had to deal with this before.
But she's gonna do a good job
in the debate, right?
Yes, sir.
She'll be great.
'Cause if it goes like Couric,
I don't think we can recover.
I agree, and I promise
she'll be great.
I hope you're right.
I hope you're right, Steve.
It's gonna be fine.
( Sighs )
Okay, this one came up
in the '96 debate.
Is there a magic bullet
to solve the problem
of public education?
If not, what is
the best solution?
Uh, Governor?
Governor, would you like
something to eat?
Yeah, I think you should
eat something, Governor.
How about
a diet Dr. pepper?
Would you like--
could you?
Governor?
I miss my baby.
I miss sleeping with my baby.
She constantly slips
into these catatonic stupors.
And then when we do
finally get her to work,
she writes all the
information down on notecards,
but she can't
remember any of it.
( Sighs )
Steve, did you do an
approval poll in Alaska?
- She keeps bringing it up.
- What the fuck?
I did that stupid fucking
poll a week ago.
I told her
she's in the 70s.
Yeah, well, I don't think
she believes you.
She says you made
those numbers up.
Okay.
- She is becoming completely irrational.
- Becoming?
I don't even like
to say this,
but has it occurred
to you guys
that she might be
mentally unstable?
Mark, look, the debate
is in five days.
What do you think?
I think this debate will
be a debacle of historic
and epic proportions.
Well, that's encouraging.
( Elevator dings )
What would you say
best qualifies you
to be John McCain's
running mate?
John McCain has that streak
of independence in him
that I think is very, very
important in our leadership today.
I have that
within me also.
And that's why
John McCain tapped me,
to be a team of mavericks,
of independence
as a team member
on this, um--
in this new team.
Um, I'm gonna do
that one over again.
- Mark: Yeah, sure.
- Sarah: John--
Governor,
important to remember
that you don't need
to say anything specific.
Okay? If you don't know
the answer to the question,
just bring it back to the general
theme of reforming America
or pivot to one of your
stronger suits, like energy.
Yeah, 'cause that's where
I'm most comfortable.
That's pretty clear.
Let's try
another question.
Biegun:
Global warming--
Governor Palin,
do you believe
that global warming
is man-made?
Um... ahem.
I think all this talk
and gibber-gabber
about where global warming
comes from defeats--
defeats, you know, the point
that it's getting hotter
and that we all need to be
very concerned about heat.
And, um...
That, um...
I-- I--
forgot it and
it's not in this--
mark, all the cards are
supposed to be in this pile.
- Okay.
- Sarah: It's not in this pile.
I think we need
to take a break.
Can you all leave us
alone for a minute?
( Door closes )
Steve: The debate
is in four days,
and this isn't working,
Governor.
I know.
I think you should get off
this no-carb diet immediately.
This goofy diet
is bad for you,
and I'm alarmed
by your weight loss.
Governor, the Katie Couric
interview didn't go well.
And it wasn't
nicolle Wallace's fault.
It wasn't
Katie Couric's fault.
It wasn't the liberal
media's fault.
It was your fault,
because you didn't prepare.
And there can never
be another instance
of something not going well
because you didn't prepare.
Hey.
Hey, hey, hey.
Look, you had
a bad interview.
It's okay, it happens.
You know what Ronald Reagan
said caused pollution?
Trees.
- Reagan said that?
- He did.
He said trees
cause pollution.
And he not only
won the election,
he went on to be
a great president.
I just-- I don't want
to let John down.
( Phone buzzing )
Stevie boy.
We have a problem, sir.
What-- what's going on?
It's Palin.
She could be on the verge of a
complete nervous breakdown.
I don't know what to do.
We threw her into the deep end
without a life preserver.
Yeah, and we're drowning
with her, sir.
We need to get her back
with her family.
She needs to be
surrounded by--
by people who love her.
Hey, let's get 'Em
all out to sedona,
out in the open air.
My neighbor's a doctor,
and Cindy can invite him over
for a barbeque or something,
and he can observe her
and see
if it's truly serious.
But let's just
get 'Em to sedona.
It'll do wonders for her,
I know it.
Yes, sir.
Absolutely.
- ( Music playing )
- There'll be
greener pastures
cross that border line
we'll see new horizons
my darling
far beyond
the great divide
Oh, hey!
I missed you guys so much.
- Hi! Mommy, mommy!
- Oh, my goodness!
( Chattering )
Got someone
who wants to say hi.
- Hi!
- ( Bristol laughs )
- Steve: What's up, doc?
- Hey, how you doing?
That depends.
How's she look?
For a woman who's
just had a baby,
has a pregnant teen daughter
and a son in Iraq,
I'd say not half bad.
You, however,
look like shit.
They keep piling
all this stuff on me,
and I just can't
remember everything.
- Are you getting some of it?
- Yeah.
Some, but I have to talk
for like
Do you remember
when you debated halcro?
He had no notes,
no papers,
and he could spout off
all these facts and figures?
You were so intimidated...
Until you looked out
at the audience.
What'd you realize?
That none of what
he said mattered,
because no one knew
what he was talking about.
It's the same thing here, baby.
It's just more people.
You're getting
yourself in trouble,
because they're
trying to turn you
into something
that you're not.
You gotta do what you do.
Just talk to people
the way you talk to them.
And they'll love you.
They always have.
I love you, first dude.
I love you, too...
Mrs. vice president.
- Mm-hmm.
- ( Laughs )
( Faucet running )
( Knocking at door )
( Knocking )
Steve, what's up?
How many questions does Sarah Palin
have to answer in the debate?
And how long
is each answer?
Two minutes with pivots.
So if all we have to do
is get the best actress
in American politics
to memorize 45 minutes'
worth of answers,
then why did
we waste five days
trying to get her to understand
what any of this shit means?
Governor, I didn't know
you were going for a jog.
- I have a different strategy.
- I need to clear my head for a bit.
Well, we really
need to prepare--
I really need
to go running, Steve,
'cause it's gonna
make me feel better.
Can you understand that?
Of course, Governor.
I think we need to get rid
of these notecards.
- They're not helping.
- Okay.
I hate those
flippin' cards anyway.
Now, what we
need you to do
is to memorize 25 answers
and four attack lines.
Do you think
you can do that?
Yeah, I can do that.
And you're gonna be great.
( Murmuring )
Sarah: And we are to be that
shining city on a hill,
as president Reagan
so beautifully said,
and that we are
a beacon of hope
and that we are
unapologetic here.
Mark:
Governor Palin,
nuclear Iran is one
of our gravest threats.
What would a McCain
administration do to stop it?
On the subject
of "nucular" Iran,
senator o'biden and I
are most likely in agreement.
They cannot be allowed
to acquire "nucular"
weapons, period.
Course,
when dealing
with ahmadinejad
as a leader of Iran.
It was Ronald Reagan
who said that freedom
is always just one generation
away from extinction.
We don't pass it to our
children in the bloodstream,
we have to fight for it
and protect it,
and then hand it to them
so that they
shall do the same.
We will fight for it.
And there is only
one man in this race
who has really ever
fought for you,
and that's Senator
John McCain.
- ( Cheering, applause )
- Mark: Yeah!
Yeah, she's back!
Sarah Palin is back,
ladies and gentlemen.
Whoo!
- Great job, Governor.
- It was pretty good, huh?
Pretty good?
It was amazing.
There's just one slight
adjustment I want to give you.
You need to call him
senator biden,
- not Senator O'Biden.
- That's what I called him, senator O'Biden.
- You just said it again.
- Said what?
- O'Biden.
- Right. Senator Biden.
- That's it.
- Oh. Biden.
- No, no, there's no "o."
- No, I meant "oh," as in "oh, I get it,"
not "o" as in o'Biden.
Oh.
Okay, well,
let's practice it.
Governor, do you agree
with senator biden's
position on the bail-out?
- Senator o'Biden--
- Others: Biden!
Doggone it!
( Cell phone rings )
- This is Sarah.
- Track: Hey, mom.
Hey, honey.
How are ya?
I'm good. I'm--
- i'm good, mom.
- Where are you?
Um, I'm not really
allowed to say.
Okay, sweetie,
but you're safe?
Yeah, no,
i'm fine, I'm fine.
I just wanted to wish you
a good debate.
Thank you.
- Did you study?
- I did.
A lot.
I'll be praying for you.
Please, I'll need it.
Come on, mom,
you're gonna do great.
- I love you.
- ( Helicopter hovering )
I love you so much, track.
- Man: Fall in!
- I gotta go, mom.
No, no, no. Just--
just another minute.
No, I'm really sorry,
but I really gotta go.
You're gonna do
great tonight, okay?
Thank you, thank you, but,
sweetie-- sweetie, you be safe.
- ( Helicopter hovering )
- I will.
Bye.
You okay?
My son is safe.
My son is safe.
Well, what we are
going to see
is probably
the most anticipated
vice presidential debate
that I have covered ever.
A lot, a lot of pressure
on Sarah Palin.
As for Joe Biden,
it's sort of a,
first of all,
do-no-harm night for him.
No one has questioned
that he is qualified
to be vice president.
He needs to--
both of them,
need to talk about the top
of their tickets.
- ( Mouths words )
- After all, this isn't a race to be vice president
so much as it is
to be number two
to the top people
on the ticket.
On the Joe Biden side,
you will see
an effort to say,
"look, Sarah Palin..."
Hurry.
Pray with me.
What should we pray for?
Just pray that
we win the debate.
Mom, that would be cheating.
Okay.
We want to welcome
our viewers
in the United States
and around the world.
I'm wolf blitzer,
together with the best...
We've been waiting for this
night for a long time...
I did this same walk for
Geraldine ferraro in 1984.
Holy jeez, that's cool.
This is your toe mark.
Okay.
Two, pull back wide
on her entrance, please.
Ready, two.
And take two.
( Music playing )
Woman: Good evening from
Washington university
in St. Louis, Missouri.
I'm Gwen ifill
of the "news hour"
and "Washington week"
on pbs.
Welcome to the first
and the only 2008
vice presidential debate
between the republican
nominee,
Governor Sarah Palin
of Alaska,
and the Democratic nominee,
Joe Biden of Delaware.
Tonight's discussion will cover
a wide range of topics,
including domestic
and foreign policy matters.
Each candidate
will have 90 seconds
to respond
to a direct question
and then an additional
two minutes
for rebuttal
and follow-up.
The specific subjects and
questions were chosen by me
and have not been
shared or cleared
with anyone on the campaigns
or on the commission.
The audience
here in the hall
has promised to remain
very polite--
no cheers, applause,
no untoward outbursts...
- Biden. Biden. Biden.
- ...Except right at this minute
as we welcome Governor Palin
and senator biden.
( Audience cheering )
Nice to meet you.
Hey, can I call you Joe?
You can call me Joe.
- Why-- why is the mic on?
- No, no, no, it's cool.
They're gonna think
it's some kind
of Machiavellian
Jedi power-play.
- ( All laugh )
- From your lips, Steve.
Gwen:
Welcome to you both.
The House of representatives
this week passed a bill,
a big bail-out bill--
or didn't pass it,
I should say.
The senate decided
to pass it
and the house is wrestling
with it still tonight.
Was this the worst of Washington
or the best of Washington
that we saw play out?
Thank you, Gwen, and I thank
the commission also.
I appreciate this privilege
of being able to be here
and speak with Americans.
Please, God, be kind.
You know, I think
a good barometer here
when we're trying to figure out
has this been a good time
or a bad time
in America's economy is...
Go to a kids' soccer game
on Saturday
and turn to any parent there
on the sideline and ask them,
"how are you feeling
about the economy?"
And I'll betcha
you're gonna hear
some fear in
that parent's voice...
She's doing great.
We've got 88 more minutes.
Sarah: ...Did we just take a major
hit with those investments?
There is something to be said
also for man's activities,
but also for the cyclical
temperature changes on our planet.
Gwen: Senator, what is true and
what is false about the causes?
If you don't understand
what the cause is,
it's virtually impossible
to come up with a solution.
The chant is
"drill, baby, drill."
And that's what we hear
all across this country
in our rallies,
because people are so hungry
for those domestic
sources of energy
to be tapped into.
We will end this war.
For John McCain,
there is no end in sight
to end this war.
We will end this war.
Gwen:
Governor...
Um... your plan
is a white flag
of surrender
- in Iraq.
- Man: Whoo! Yes!
( Applause )
Gwen: Governor, please,
did you want to respond
to Senator McCain's
comments about healthcare?
Pivot. Pivot!
I'd like to respond about
the tax increases and...
- Man: Yes!
- ( Cheering, clapping )
Darn right,
we need tax relief
for Americans so that jobs
can be created here.
Barack Obama
and senator o'biden,
you said no
to everything...
She just said o'Biden.
Biegun: We're probably the
only ones that heard it.
It was Ronald Reagan
who said
that freedom is always
just one generation away
from extinction.
We don't pass it to our
children in the bloodstream.
We have to fight for it
and protect it,
and then hand it to them
so that they
will do the same.
We will fight for it.
And there is only
one man in this race
who has really ever
fought for you,
and that's Senator
John McCain.
( All cheering )
Mark:
Okay, here we go.
CBS instant poll
says undecideds
give the debate
to biden, 46%; Palin, 21.
Fuck CBS and fuck
their instant poll.
This is the greatest
debate victory
in the history
of the Republic.
Rick: Okay!
You see? You just
had to be you.
Todd:
I'm gonna grab a beer.
- Want one?
- No.
Senator McCain wanted me
to congratulate you
on a fantastic debate.
- You really did a great job.
- Thanks.
Tell John I want to bring up
bill ayers and reverend Wright.
I think it's time
to go for the jugular.
Uh, you'll have to discuss
that with your running mate.
He made it very clear that he
doesn't want to touch Wright.
I'll talk to him about it.
We have to win this thing.
I so don't want to go
back to Alaska.
Hmm.
Stevie.
You know, I think the worst
of this thing might be over.
All she's got left
are speeches.
There's no more debates,
no major interviews.
Yeah. We're doing great.
This was an unbelievable win
for Sarah Palin.
In fact, I think that
it unveiled a level of skill
in communication that
I really have not seen
since Ronald Reagan.
She is a superstar.
- Her ability to by--
- ( Remote clicks )
And she sure is
a breath of fresh air.
I mean, I think people want
someone from
outside of Washington.
She sounded like the future.
Oh, come on, honey.
Why don't you
get some sleep?
- One sec, okay?
- ( Remote clicks )
Man: ...Turned around.
I think she has done it
in the sense that of the
four debaters we've seen,
she was the most interesting,
attractive of them all.
- She is personable...
- I can still win this thing.
...She's got
a sense of humor.
She looked straight
into the camera
while Joe's
talking to Gwen...
This map is now lopsided
in favor of Barack Obama.
John McCain pulling
out of Michigan.
The first domino
in an economic debate
that if John McCain
does not turn around soon,
many see more blue
on this map
and more trouble
for John McCain.
Man: Yesterday, it was
announced that the campaign
is going to leave Michigan
to Obama to win.
- What's going on there?
- I read that this morning also,
and I fired off
a quick e-mail
and I said, "oh, come on!
Do we have to?"
Do we have to
call it there?"
I want to go back to Michigan,
and I want to try.
Steve:
What the fuck?
McCain had hoped to
just score a pick-up.
We made the decision to pull
the ads out of Michigan
because we can't win there.
We need the money
in Pennsylvania
- and Ohio.
- You're making a big mistake.
You know, I know I'm not
an expert like yourself,
but seeing as we're
seven points out,
I don't see why
the vice presidential campaign
can't make
a quick stop there
in the middle
of the night.
And who are you
gonna meet with?
Your press corps
doesn't want
to hear you speak
at 3:00 in the morning.
And there's no such thing as
a vice presidential campaign.
This is
John McCain's campaign,
and this is the decision
that John McCain has made.
You must stick
to the script, Governor.
And what script
is that, Steve?
'Cause I haven't seen
anything resembling
a script this entire
flippin' campaign.
When you publicly
contradict John McCain,
you hurt John McCain.
I know what I know
what I know.
( Button clicks )
And there you have it.
Afternoon, governor.
This is a pro-stem cell ad?
Yes, Governor.
That's the Senator's position.
Yeah, it's not my position.
I'm not saying it.
I thought that--
you guys should have shown
me the script ahead of time.
This is a waste of my time.
Why wasn't I informed
that jeb Bradley
is appearing with me
at the rally?
I don't think we foresaw
that being a problem.
I just googled him.
He's pro-choice.
There's no way I'm going onstage
with anyone who's pro-choice.
Bradley's gone
or I'm gone, period.
Yes, Governor.
Man on TV: The rnc spent
a stunning $150,000
on clothes for Governor
Sarah Palin and her family
according to the federal
election commission reports.
The revelation
that so much money
was spent at fancy
clothing stores
like neiman Marcus
and saks fifth Avenue
could be a huge blow
to the governor's image
as an everyday,
average American.
Several republican donors
have publicly
expressed outrage...
- You watching this?
- Man #2: Yeah, I'm watching.
Un-fucking-believable.
Why didn't
you people tell me
these clothes
cost this much?
It wasn't just
your clothes, Governor.
It was also for the kids,
Todd and your parents.
Sarah:
I want 'Em gone.
Get 'Em out of here.
You know, I buy my clothes
at consignment shops.
I never wanted this fancy crap
in the first place.
- ( Crowd cheering )
- Hey, thanks for coming out.
Hey. Hi, nice to meet you.
- How are you? Hey, hi.
- Man: Governor Palin,
what's your response
to the findings
that the Alaska state
legislature's report
on your involvement
in the troopergate scandal?
I was thrilled to be
cleared of all wrongdoing.
You know you're not
supposed to be here.
Go back to the press risers,
please. Thank you.
You can't say you were
cleared of all wrongdoing.
- Why not?
- Because you weren't.
The report stated that
you abused your power.
That is the opposite of being
cleared of all wrongdoing.
- Then why was I told otherwise?
- You weren't told otherwise.
And why haven't you
released a statement
saying that Todd
was never a member
of the Alaska
independence party?
Because that would be untrue.
He was a member.
He checked the wrong box.
He registered by accident,
and rectified the error
immediately.
He was a member
for seven years!
I'm sorry,
Governor, but...
There is only a few weeks
left in this campaign.
You have got to stop
saying things to the press
that are blatantly untrue.
That is not the kind of campaign
that we are running here.
"Campaign"-- is that what
you're calling this now?
Governor, I admit that this
is a dysfunctional campaign,
but that is what I inherited,
and I am doing my level best
to help us win this election.
And that's what
I'm trying to do, too,
and all you're doing
is screwing me up.
That's all you've done this
entire time, is get in my way.
- ( Crowd cheering )
- Sarah: Oh, oh.
And I am raising millions of
dollars for this campaign.
Hundreds of thousands
of people are coming
to see me speak, not John
McCain, God bless him.
They are coming to see me.
So if I am single-handedly
carrying this campaign,
I'm gonna do what I want.
( Crowd cheering )
Crowd:
Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!
Man: Several McCain advisors
tell CNN they're annoyed
by what one aide called
"Palin going rogue."
God damn it.
I hate it when there's
leaking and backstabbing
after a campaign, let alone
before it's fucking over.
I need you to step in
and talk to her.
I don't know, Stevie boy.
I don't know.
Sir...
I can't control her any more.
I don't know if she's
getting on a campaign plane
in the morning or what
she's gonna say at night.
We need to finish
this campaign
with as much dignity
as possible,
and the only way
that can happen
is if you get her in line.
That's not gonna
do it, Steve.
She might start
turning on me.
Most of these polls
have us trailing
five to eight points.
- So what now?
- John...
I mean, these numbers
do show it.
We've got to make this
about Obama.
We've got to get tough
and we've got
to get negative.
If we go this way,
reverend Wright is still
the best play we have.
Any of you
ever been accused
of having a negro child
out of wedlock
because your adopted daughter
was born in Bangladesh?
And then when she was 16
and googled her name,
I had to explain to her
why president bush's henchmen
called her a bastard
when she was 10 years old.
Yeah, listen, South Carolina--
that was an ugly primary,
but this isn't
the same thing.
I mean, reverend Wright
really did say those things.
That may be true.
But there is a dark side
to American populism.
Some people win elections
by tapping into it.
I'm not one of those people.
Rick: Okay.
So what about bill ayers?
Obama began his career
in the living room
of a domestic terrorist.
Domestic terrorist.
Nothing to do with race.
Yeah, okay.
Ayers is fair.
Okay. Who ouould do this?
And Barack held
one of the first meetings
of his political career
in bill ayers' living room.
( Crowd protesting )
Pallin' around
with terrorists.
( Crowd grumbling )
Woman:
He n not a Christian!
And I am just so fearful
that this is not a man
who sees America
- the way that you and I see America--
- Man: He's a socialist!
As the greatest source
for good in this world.
U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
Crowd:
U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
John: What does Barack
Obama plan for America?
- ( Crowd shouting )
- Woman: Nothing!
In short, who is
the real Barack Obama?
Man:
A terrorist!
We believe that
the best of America
is not all in Washington, D.
C. we believe--
we believe that
the best of America
is in these small towns
that we get to visit
and in these wonderful
little pockets
of what I call
the real America.
- Yes!
- Yeah!
Crowd:
Sarah! Sarah!
For a man who's
written two memoirs,
he's no open book.
- ( Crowd laughs )
- Woman: You got that right.
What does Barack Obama
see for America?
He's a Muslim!
He's a socialist!
- He doesn't represent us!
- Man: He doesn't belong here!
Man #2: He hangs out with people
who hate our country.
- Woman: He's not American!
- Man #3: Kill him!
Woman #2:
Send him back to Africa!
Wolf:
Let me read to you, Tara,
what congressman John Lewis,
the civil rights icon,
said on Saturday
in a statement.
He said, "as one who was
a victim of violence"
and hate during the height
of the civil rights movement,
I am deeply disturbed
by the negative tone
of the McCain-Palin
campaign.
Senator McCain
and governor Palin"...
We gotta tone
the rhetoric down.
It's gotten out of control.
We can't even mention
Obama's name any more.
The crowd gets too hot.
This isn't the campaign
I wanted to run.
I can't trust Obama.
I've read about him,
and he's not a--
he's a-- he's a arab.
He's not an amer--
no, ma'am.
No, ma'am.
He's a decent
family-man citizen
who I just happen to have
disagreements with
on certain
fundamental issues.
And that's what this
campaign is all about.
- ( Applause )
- He's not. Thank you.
Woman: Cutting through
the bull tonight,
on the Eve
of the election,
the campaigns are relying
on their lucky charms.
- Vodka rocks, lime.
- Bartender: You got it.
How's he doing?
He's the most depressed I've
seen him the entire campaign.
I can't get him
to stop watching msnbc,
which only makes him
more miserable.
I'm amazed that someone
who has been in politics
this long takes
all the petty stuff
so personally.
And that's why they are
who they are.
Reagan, bush, Clinton--
all they want
is to be loved.
The ones that don't
pathologically need to be loved,
they don't get
the nomination.
They don't get
to be president.
If you'd understood
that fact,
you might have been able to better
handle our Alaskan moose hunter.
God, it was
a tough campaign.
It wasn't a campaign,
it was a bad reality show.
She didn't cost us
the election.
That was bush.
That was the economy.
That was just
the cold hand of fate.
We didn't have a chance.
And if we did win,
would you feel comfortable
with president Palin?
Why not?
Then we would have won.
Come on, guys, listen.
I, too, wish that
the American people
would choose the future
Abraham Lincoln
or Thomas Jefferson,
but unfortunately,
that's not the way
it works any more.
Now it takes
movie star charisma
to get elected president.
And Obama and Palin, that's
what they are-- they're stars.
Primary difference being
Sarah Palin can't name
a supreme court decision,
whereas Barack Obama
was a constitutional
law Professor.
Fuck you.
You know what
dick Cheney said
- when he found out we picked her?
- What?
He said we made
a reckless choice.
When you lose the moral
high ground to dick Cheney,
it's time to re-think
your entire life.
Enough Cheney cracks, okay?
I mean, he's very
misunderstood.
How does he eat
when he's wearing
darth vader's
helmet, anyway?
There we go.
Gentlemen, let's wish
each other good luck.
Who knows,
we could have another
Dewey-Truman
situation here.
Always room for an upset.
Yeah, maybe I'll wake up
with a full head of hair.
You know, if we had just
asked for policy questions
in the briefing,
then we would have known.
I thought culvahouse was gonna
grill her during the vet.
Culvahouse thought
we were gonna grill her.
It haunts me.
Woman:
After a hard-fought battle,
the nation's longest-running
presidential race
comes down to this day--
election day.
Man: Voting is now underway
in all the lower 48 states
as we approach the end
of this historic election.
Man #2: People lined up
across the country
by the millions today.
Woman #2: Turnout looks to be
the highest in decades.
John McCain will carry Kentucky
once again, as expected.
Eight electoral votes,
not a huge surprise.
We are not able
to make a projection
- in the four other states...
- ( Phone vibrating )
That are closing
all their polls
at this hour right now.
And some of them
are battleground states--
Georgia, Indiana,
South Carolina and Virginia.
It doesn't necessarily mean that
it's gonna be close or not...
- ( Elevator dings )
- Where's Virginia?
Man: Negative five.
And Ohio's gone.
- Got it.
- I'll keep you posted.
Call you in 10.
What's going on?
We're gonna lose
Pennsylvania.
And Ohio.
Steve...
There's something
I have to tell you.
What's wrong?
I didn't vote.
I couldn't do it.
I didn't vote.
I couldn't do it.
It's okay.
- Wolf: Soledad.
- Woman: All right, wolf,
we'll take you right to
the voter analysis...
How we doing,
Stevie boy?
We lost Pennsylvania
and Ohio, sir.
( Sighs )
When my grandfather
found out that the Japanese
had surrendered,
he was lost.
He didn't know
what to do with himself.
He came home,
dropped dead
the very next day.
Fought his war,
then he died.
And my dad,
when he retired
from the Navy,
he fell into
a sense of despair
for the rest of his life.
I'm never gonna quit, Steve.
I can't.
I don't know how
to just fade away.
Senator, I--
I just want to say--
( sighs )
What?
I'm s-- I'm s--
I'm so sorry that I...
Suggested her.
Don't be.
Fuck 'Em.
What were
we supposed to do?
- ( Music playing )
- A truly historic night here in the United States.
Barack Obama will become
the 44th president
of the United States.
Piper:
Sorry, mom.
Oh, thanks, kiddo.
I'm really sorry, mom.
Sweetheart.
You did great.
You know that, right?
- Yeah.
- Okay?
Come here, baby.
- It's all right. We're okay. Yeah.
- Todd: Yeah.
I'll take the stress
very literally here.
- Just one quick-- you think?
- ( Knocking )
And on this next part, would
you make sure you bold that?
Oh, Chris, I need you to load
this in the teleprompter for me.
Steve schmidt told me
you weren't making a speech.
No. I am making a speech.
Scully cleared it
with Rick Davis.
So just go ahead
and load it, okay?
Okay.
Okay, so, on the stress
on this one, I'll take it.
- Jesus!
- Hey, sorry.
Steve, I'm getting a bunch
of mixed messages here.
Is the governor giving
a concession speech or not--
I've already sd d this
five times already.
She is not giving a speech.
Well, she seems
to think otherwise.
Well, she's not.
What do you want me
to tell her?
Tell her she's not
fucking speaking!
Okay, well, you both
seem pretty certain--
well, let my certainty
supersede her certainty.
God damn it!
( Indistinct chatter )
Steve.
You want to see me?
Yes. This way.
Steve:
Excuse us a moment.
I understand you've prepared a speech.
Is that correct?
Yes, I have.
I want to salute John
for everything he's done
for this country.
It's not going to happen.
You're not giving a speech.
And why is that, Steve?
You're not giving a speech
because the vice
presidential candidate
has never given a concession
speech on election night.
It's not about you.
It's about the country.
Yeah, well, there's a lot of
things never been done before.
Governor...
This country
has just elected
the first African-
American president
in the history
of its existence.
And it is
the concession speech
that will legitimize
his succession
as commander in chief.
It is a serious
and solemn occasion,
and John McCain,
and only John McCain,
will be giving
this sacred speech.
This is how
it has been done
in every
presidential election
since the dawn
of the Republic,
and you, Sarah Palin,
will not change
the importance
of this proud
American tradition.
"We fought-- we fought
as hard as we could."
And though we feel short,
"the fail--
the failure is mine."
- ( Laughter )
- Oh, jeez, no--
John: I don't feel
that short, mark.
- ( Door opens )
- "Fell short," boss.
- Yeah, thanks.
- "Fell short." It's a typo.
- John.
- Hi, Sarah.
Well, we fought
the good fight.
Mm-hmm, we did.
Now I'm just gonna get out
there and thank America.
I can't wait to get
out there and thank you.
I have a speech written
that is a real tribute to ya.
No, I think these guys
have that covered.
Right, Steve?
Yes, sir.
We have it covered.
I just wanted people to know
what a great man you are.
I appreciate that,
but these guys got it
all worked out.
Yeah, you know, we probably
should get going now, sir, so...
All right. Good.
- Okay. We'll see you afterwards.
- I'll see you out there.
You're one of the leaders
of the party now, Sarah.
Don't get co-opted by limbaugh
and the other extremists.
They'll destroy the party
if you let them.
Remember,
you're a hockey mom.
You just wanted
to make a difference,
and you did.
A big, huge difference.
I'll always be grateful.
Thank you.
- We should go, sir.
- Thank you, John.
My friends, we have--
we have come to the end
of a long journey.
( Crowd moaning )
The American people
have spoken,
and they have
spoken clearly.
A little while ago,
I had the honor
of calling
Senator Barack Obama...
- ( Crowd booing )
- ...To congrat--
please.
To congratulate him
on being elected
the next president
of the country we both love.
( Crowd groaning )
John:
Whatever our differences,
we are fellow Americans.
- ( Crowd cheers )
- Man: Yes, sir!
John: I am so deeply
grateful to all of you
for the great honor
of your support
and all you have
done for me.
I am also, of course,
very thankful to
Governor Sarah Palin,
one of the best campaigners
I have ever seen.
( Crowd cheering )
Still think
she's fit for office?
Eh, who cares?
In 48 hours, no one will
even remember who she is.
John: We can all look forward
with great interest
to her future service
to Alaska,
the republican party
and our country.
( Applause, cheering )
Crowd:
Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!
( Stopwatch ticking )
There were numerous instances
of her saying things
that were not accurate
that opened the door
to criticism
that she was being
untruthful and inaccurate.
And I think that is something
that continues to this day.
And you think
that's fair criticism?
I think that's
fair criticism.
Early on, though,
you apparently said
she doesn't know anything.
In the immediate aftermath
of her selection,
it was clear to us
that we...
Had a lot of work to do.
For you, picking Sarah Palin
was about winning an election,
not necessarily about who's gonna
be best as vice president.
My job is to give
political advice.
We needed to do
something bold
to try to win the race.
If you had it
to do over again,
would you have her
on the ticket?
You don't get to go
back in time, Anderson,
and-- and have
do-overs in life.
( Music playing )
God bless America
again
you see all the trouble
that she's in
wash her pretty face
dry her eyes and then
God bless America again
God bless America again
you see all the trouble
that she's in
wash her pretty face
dry her eyes and then
God bless America again
wash her pretty face
dry her eyes and then
God bless America again.