Game of Thorns: The Inside Story of Hillary Clinton's Failed Campaign and Donald Trump's Winning Strategy Hardcover – February 28, 2017

I was reluctant to read another book about the election but this book is informative and well written. The book does more than refresh your memory about the race as it goes into the backgrounds of both candidates.Wead provides details on old and largely forgotten scandals involving the Clintons including Tyson Foods, Whitewater, Travelgate, Filegate, Vince Foster, Chinagate, Pardongate, and all the sexual assault charges plus Monica Lewinsky. Chinagate is particularly relevant today as the media is treating the Russian-influence issue as something unprecedented. Chinagate in the 1990s involved millions laundered from the Chinese government to the DNC and the Clintons. At least 21 were convicted of violating election laws but the Clintons managed to escape.Wead makes two revealing observations about the race with the first being character. Hillary tried to make character an issue by claiming Trump was temperamentally unfit (because he didn't act like a career politician). But two-thirds of the public (CNN poll) believed her to be dishonest and untrustworthy so her character ended up being the bigger issue.The second was leadership where Wead explains that a person claiming leadership qualities must earn them. Hillary was touted as having outstanding leadership qualities due to her positions as First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State. But she would have gotten none of these without Bill Clinton so her leadership was not really earned. No one had any trouble identifying Trump's leadership qualities.A critical point was when NBC launched its October Surprise against Trump with the Access Hollywood tape 48 hours before the second presidential debate. Trump responded quickly by bringing four of Bill's sexual assault victims to the debate. The result was basically a wash.Wead was a special assistant in the first Bush White House so he has a lot experience. He supports Trump but this book gives a lot of valuable information to any reader.

In the last 55 years or so, I have thousands of books but only one of them have I read twice- this one. It is a great insider analysis of both camps' activities but its power is its summary of the Clinton family history of corruption that has characterized their entire public life. It is shocking. It covers decades and lays bare the ruthlessness and greed of two power mad politicians who figured out early that politics is the pipeline to Fort Knox. That is, if you are as smart, tough, morally low, cruel and cold blooded as the Clintons. The frightening part is their willingness to destroy any and all who threatened their path of progress to wealth and power, whether the legions of Bill's sex partners or Hillary's team of power partners who surrounded her throughout her political career. To say that they refined the art of personal destruction is an understatement- they turned it into an art form. One of the most chilling chapters described all the people Bill Clinton pardoned on his last week or so in office. Criminals, terrorists, tax evaders- people that law enforcement had spent years chasing, capturing and prosecuting- enemies of America- all to garner votes for Hillary's political future.I don't want to detail all the lurid intrigue here. If you have any interest in politics and wonder how the country has sunk so low that people like this can rule-that's their view, not govern- this nation, read this book.

This is a timely book that was doubtless hurried through the press. It is a comprehensive look at the primary and general-election campaigns completed last November. As expected, it devotes more attention to the republican primary campaigns because of the number and strength of their candidates and the drama of the successive events.The book also looks to the past. There is an extended account of Trump’s family history, the death of his elder brother, DT’s relationship with his father, and so on. This account includes some pop psychology which is nevertheless persuasive. DT wanted to please his father but he did so, in part, by not following his advice. His father was successful in Queens and Brooklyn but considered Manhattan a step too far; he attempted to dissuade DT from taking on the behemoth, while DT couldn’t bring himself to avoid the challenge.The history with regard to HRC is essentially a history of corruption. Since many contemporary readers are aware of HRC’s interactions with the FBI and law enforcement in general but not aware of those interactions’ deeper background, we get an extended summary of Travelgate, Whitewatergate (the latter too complex and convoluted to be fully delineated), the cattle futures’ scandal, the handling of the bimbo eruptions, and so on. Many will not be aware of the story of the Arkansas fry cook who, once allied with WJC, was able to channel hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Chinese government.This is perhaps the most useful part of the book for contemporary readers, since the history of the election is one that most of us watched unfold day by day, month by month. For some the recounting of the election (especially the ‘certainty’ of the pundits and pollsters) will be a kind of ritualistic experience, one in which we watch a drama play out whose end we already know, with the ‘certainty’ of the HRC partisans becoming one of the greatest examples of so-called ‘dramatic irony’ in aesthetic and political history.Partisans on the right and some new discoverers of the facts involved will as always be struck by the vicious cruelty imposed on the victims of WJC’s predatory behavior. This may be exceeded, for some, by the treatment of the White House travel office staff.When the book was initially hyped there were promises of grand insider revelations, but there are comparatively few such passages and those are not counterintuitive. For example, HRC’s well-known contempt for the members of the Secret Service and the military has long been documented, as has her abusive and coarse language and propensity for propelling physical objects. The most interesting insider passages (for me at least) concerned Mike Pence’s discussions with DT and his acceptance of the VP offer and the role of Reince Priebus in developing the ground game which DT absolutely required for victory. There are no rash suggestions (e.g., new speculation on the death of Vince Foster), but rather gentle reminders that, e.g., the birther movement predated DT.The book is quite fair. Some of DT’s rants and ‘unfortunate’ statements are quoted at length and in detail. The author catches the strengths, rhythms and strangeness of DT’s speech.Bottom line: this is a workmanlike account of the recent campaigns and election with a host of lively details. It is written fairly but from a republican point of view. Those who wish to relive those events will find this book extremely helpful. Those who are not aware of the Clintons’ past actions will find this book to be very informative.

As expected, this is a partisan alt-right perspective on the election campaign written by a fauning sycophant. I knew that when I bought it however. It is useful however to understand the alternative facts universe which is out there in play. It also worked as a short course revision summary of some of the less savoury aspects of the Clintons (lest we forget). Another candidate next time please Democrats.

Only when trump was ahead in the poles was he a racist etc . The Clinton's ordered the now established Russian pee gate investigation . The Clinton creature was found to be reckless as best of handling classified information . Clinton factually promised war with Iran and to shoot down Russian planes . The left's alternative facts through left wing media .

An excellent read with links at the end of each chapter to the sources mentioned in the text. An insight into the world of US politics.

On reading this book...The story suddenly came to an abrupt end? i could not believe how short this story was. Or did i not receive the Whole Book download?Did anyone else find this!!!!

thank you

Trump's faults are glided over but every scandal for the Clintons gone over in detail. I read to the end but wish there was a Halperin/Heilemann book this time

For anyone who really wants to know the truth - this is the book.

Very interesting book overall couldn't put down.

Spends more time on past Clintons' sins and less on the actual campaign than I would have liked. Nevertheless an excellent portrait of the players as human beings.

I say this not because the book would be bad, or badly written. Not at all. It just demystifies the Clintons and especially Hillary. Who has in Germany and many other european countries a big reputation. Of course she's a she which might be half of the glory. So, how dare the american people not to vote her as president ?I was, and I am no friend of Donald Trump, but like many other, especially in Germany, the news and the daily bashing against him and the government drove me to listen to the other side. And I realy enjoyed it.Thumbs up for this..

An interesting book, just couldn't stop reading it. The only part that could be improved was the last one - I was looking forrward to some interesting info on the last moments of the election, but it was just too brief.

portrays fairly,and interestingly,both Trump and Clinton, and shows them both as human beings with all their virtues and vices

because they knew the clintons as crooks from bill's presidency..... this is one of thethesis of the book. but in a way the author, who worked for bush, has lost me very early on, because he cites rumours as facts. of course he will not even give the source. this is so unprofessional, i'm really disapointed. and i'm no clinton friend at all. read hitchen's book about clinton plus the one by amy cochiz of the nytimes instead.

The style of writing is beautiful. Keeps you engaged. Like a suspense thriller, right from page 1 till the last. Well written.

I really appreciated the back stories, the small details that only a historian of American presidents could provide to fill the gaps.