Urusa’s Comments (group member since Sep 06, 2011)

Urusa’s comments from the MHS AP Language group.

Eddie wrote: "In the last part of the book, I found a very interesting quote that, I feel, pretty much embodies the argument and theme of the novel:

“Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.”

When I ..."

I agree Eddie, especially since Stanton just seems to be portrayed as being selfish. Throughout the book the only vibe that I got was that he only cared about what he got: supporters, press, action, media, ALL ON HIM. Even after the death of Libby, you'd expect him to stand up and acknowledge her death after all she had done for the Stanton's since the beginning, and yet he just used the information she had left for him to move forward. I really like how you give the characters a new insight. I hadn't seen Picker as being a "saint" and Stanton as the "sinner" but after your analogy it makes complete sense because that is exactly what they were. After everything Picker had been through, his past had gotten the better of him and he was a true person, who wanted better for the nation. But the sinner, Stanton, did everything in front of the press and got ahead because he can easily manipulate his way through. This was a good book, very funny.

In the last chapter of the book, in my opinion, the main claim was used to summarize how politics work. At the end, after everything that had happened for Stanton, Henry, and the death of Libby. Henry promised Daisy and himself that he was done with the race, but at the end of chapter 8, the book leaves the audience wondering if Henry would keep his word. Since in the end, Stanton says to Henry that he cannot get away from politics because, politics is in him. And I believe that was one of the major claims that was presented throughout the book - politics cannot be gotten out of unless you die. A great example of that would be Libby, who murdered herself after feeling burdened with everything that was going on with Stanton and the race.

Another part of the story that really caught my attention was our main focus as a group: Political Scandals. After Picker had opened up to Stanton and told him everything about his past, he trusted Stanton to not use his past against him. And even though Picker was recovering from his past, and in my opinion was the better person, dropped out of the race for someone he thought had his back. In the end Stanton was willing to throw Picker's trust and Picker under the bus to get ahead.

Basically, no one can be trusted.

OH, and did you guys catch on to this, I think Henry is Stephanopolous! Because so much of what happenens in this book compares to All Too Human! Its just a jumble of new names, but the same meaning and plot! Weird.....

Rupinder wrote: "I agree with you Eddie, on the topic of having people -who don't necessarily agree with each other on ideals or beliefs, but still come together to make a team. I think it does make perfect sense, ..."

I can completely understand where you are coming from here because I thought the same thing when Stanton remembers that Charlie was his uncle and introduces him to Henry towards the end of their meeting. It was kind of sketchy since you don't just remember someone's related to you. And it was even worse when Henry asked Charlie if he was a Medal of Honor winner, and Charlie just replied, if Stanton says so. I can see where you're coming from and these were the events in the book that led to my conclusion that the book was going to be about the scandals, the lies, and anything deceitful that politicians do to get themselves to seem all mighty and powerful in order to win. For example, Stanton uses his charm and common courtesy to get supporters, especially when he went to visit his friend Johnson. He talked to the sectary nicely to show Henry how easy it was to get people on his side. In the end he obviously didn't care, especially when he knew he had the support, and moved on to wanting to know where Johnson was.

So far in the reading I find this book to be hysterical because of all the irony, and because of the "satirical" representation of what politicians actually do. Compared to our last book, "All Too Human," this book gives us a new look into the life of a politician through a dirtier looking glass.

For example, in the beginning of the novel, I thought Stanton was going to be generous, loving, leader as Clinton was described in the other book - this opinion being solely based on the fact that Stanton is a representation of Clinton - because of the touching story he tells his dyslexic and under-educated audience. But then the story takes a dramatic turn when Stanton comes out of the room, barely dressed with the librarian following, and Stanton calmly stating that he had just learned something "inspirational" from her. Then as the chapter continued, more scandals of the politicians life appeared with the conflicts of only wanting popularity, money, and winning.

So from the first three chapters, I must say that I think the book is going to about the political race and all the things that are done by the supporters of the candidates to get their person elected, even if it means being power hungry. And so far, the book has done a great job at showing how supporters do their best to bring other candidates down, especially Ozio by reporting the small rumors to scare him off and humiliate him, and coming on top with all their resources in hand.

After reading the epilogue I can fully understand where you are coming from with the truth behind Clinton's true actions. The epilogue really stunned me as well because through out the book Stephanopoulos never said anything that went against Clinton. So after you pointed out that he really did always try to see the importance of protecting Clinton rather than knowing him, it relates to my idea that even after he had resigned he continued to protect him until it got to the point where Stephanopoulos sort of felt betrayed himself for thinking that Clinton really did "need" him the way he said he did.

The bond between Hillary and Stephanopoulos in my opinion also plays a really important role not only because of the "blaming" incident but also because through out the memoir, Hillary was mentioned as if she was just a shadow on the wall. Her importance was rarely mentioned but when it was mentioned it was about the impact she had on the presidency and the role she played trying to defend herself and her husband. The bond between them proves to be strong at the end of chapter 16 when they say their farewells with "I love you." Stephanopoulos protects Hillary and shows the strength that she had through out the Clinton scandals and hardships.

After reading the epilogue I take back what I said about Stephanopoulos liking Clinton and totally agree with you on his dislike towards him as a man not as a President.

In the last section of the reading Stephanopoulos introduces the audience a type of betrayal that occurs in the White House by people that are meant to be on the president’s side. I think that from this section of the reading Stephanopoulos wanted the readers to understand that president is a real person because they trust and need help from others when certain situations approach them however they end up getting stabbed in the back. Morris was Clinton’s advisor for many events his presidency. Morris stole files and leaked them to the press letting out “scandals” 416 that the office had been a part of. Stephanopoulos is trying to make clear that even the president can’t control all the things that happen to them. Clinton had no control over the news that was being spread about him. When news reported that Morris had been telling a lie, Clinton’s name was cleared, Morris resigned. Even after Stephanopoulos resigned leaving the office after they had “survived” 427 many altercations with the press and within themselves, Stephanopoulos still favored Clinton. When Clinton was accused of sleeping with the intern, Stephanopoulos took his side.
In my opinion the dialogue that represents the whole memoirs meaning would be the one between Monica where she asked him “does your president tell the truth?” and he answered “he does his best” 433, because throughout the memoir all Stephanopoulos really did was try to prove Clinton innocent, show the readers the problems within the office, and the struggles they face to make the best of America. Stephanopoulos main purpose of the memoir was to try his best to tell the truth about the Clinton presidency.

Warda wrote: "In the pages I have read so far in All Too Human by George Stephanopoulos, Stephanopoulos, has been through many changes to where he was. His Greek lifestyle/family taught him to be responsible and..."

That's true Warda and as the memoir continues he presents the same case repeatedly that the government is "needed" and the "media" is behind the bad image of the government officials. In the first chapter, when Stephanopoulos went for his first live interview for the president, the reporter was enraged at the president for kicking the reporters out of their previous office to downstairs away from where everything happened. It proves that the media doesn't always have the best intentions on their mind that need to be taken into consideration.
Another instance when Stephanopoulos tells the reader about the corruptness of media is when he introduced the problem with Kimba, who had an illegal nanny, and would have to step down from being a candidate for the position of attorney general, except she had to wait until more important news about the Family and Medical Leave Act was reported. Stephanopoulos knew that if the news about Kimba was reported right away it would take away from a more important news cast that needed to be aired, the Family and Medical Leave Act. The media finds it more important to report on the scandals that entertain the viewer rather than report was is most critical and necessary to the nation.
Everything I read now reminds me of Postman.

Eddie wrote: "A major portion of our reading this week was about the Whitewater Scandal/incident during Clinton’s presidency. One of the important points that Stephanopoulos makes in Chapter 10 (The Weekend I Wa..."
I agree with you Eddie. I think that Stephanopoulos did a great job trying to convince the reader that the media sometimes isn’t the most reliable source to believe in when it comes to personal presidential or any higher official’s business. In Chapter 6: Bungee Jumping Without Rope, he gives readers a view into the life of the President went they go to the camp for the weekend to get to know everyone in office and try to set goals for the upcoming year. The reporter Ann Devroy was upset at them for going on a retreat to get to know each other because it wasn’t traditional. So when she went to do her news report Stephanopoulos had to make sure that she was doing her job by staying loyal and only reporting what actually happened at the retreat.
One other incident where media played an impact on the Presidents appearance was the day he had to wear a warm up suit for the evening news (132) so that the American citizens could see that the president was also a normal person just like them. Media over the ages has had an impact on the presidents because they have tried to make a president seem as if he is just like everyone else in the nation. It’s true that he is, but a president also has the responsibility for being a role model and the picture for whole nation. If he’s dressed in a warm up suit no one is going to look at him and think of him as a role model. I know I wouldn’t, I would just laugh at the picture.

All Too Human by George Stephanopoulos is a memoir of George Stephanopoulos who writes about his personal views on the Government system in America. After further reading, in my opinion, Stephanopoulos’s purpose behind the memoir is to reveal to the audience, who are unaware of the responsibilities of the office.
Now that I have done some more reading, I am convinced that the main point behind the reason for the memoir is to bring back hope in the American people that have lost faith and trust in the Government, more importantly the President.
On page 133 Stephanopoulos states, “See, a president can make a difference; elections do matter,” and based on this statement I can understand why he incorporates all the information he does that supports the president’s job no matter how horrendous the tabloid news always reports. I think that the whole memoir isn’t trying to erase or fix the scandalous news that was printed about Bill Clinton during his time in the oval office, it’s to show the American citizens that doubt the President’s positions to explain to them that the President tries his hardest to make a difference and even though sometimes nothing comes out of, it isn’t always his fault. For example the bill that was passed, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, in 1992 was not in Bill Clinton’s control because unlike him - who was for homosexuals to serve their country - almost everyone else - Senator, Congress, Collin Powel, and many other government officials-were against the same conditions. So when the bill was passed, the finger was pointed towards the President who had to cover for the discrimination while no one else in the office was judge. If you compare that to now, many people criticized President Obama for a very long time about accomplishing nothing about healthcare. It isn’t all in the President’s control, he’s only a human doing his job, and for his plans to be accepted they have to go through many other rulers before anything can be done.
In my opinion, so far in the reading, I feel as if that’s the statement that Stephanopoulos is trying to make. That the President tries to make a difference in the country, and even though things go wrong at times they never stop trying to make a change; they continue to push and get what’s right done but more people are involved than just one. The President is only human not a super hero.

Eddie wrote: "In the first four chapters of All Too Human by George Stephanopoulos, Stephanopoulos, Clinton’s former political aide, looks back on his childhood to the first few months he has with President Bill..."

I agree that the book seems to be in a bias favor towards Clinton because it seems that Stephanopoulos has a connection with Clinton that is stronger than the supporters he has based on the candidacy. It might be because of the secrets and ideas that Clinton has shared with Stephanopoulos about his life and decisions or something personal that we as readers will find out later in the book. However, I don’t believe that his claim has anything to do with that. I think it might have more to do with the fact that the government has made mistakes and that the politicians are “human” but as humans I think they also have to take the consequences that many politicians don’t seem to get. They kind of just dust it off and move on to a bigger problem and I think that’s what Stephanopoulos is trying to say or develop.

So far I have only read the first chapter and based on the first chapter I feel like his claim or main idea, which ever you prefer has been established. George Stephanopoulos throughout the first chapter makes it clear that the way a government is run is not the way a government should be run but at least it gives him “limits” on which his life can be lived upon. Based on this statement it doesn’t seem as if the government has changed much since the way everything is ruled also doesn’t seem to have changed. Amongst the challenges that the politicians faced Stephanopoulos also reveals some of the scandals that come out that the government wouldn’t believe that the outside world knows about. For example the attack that was casted on Grenada just to get the problem of the Middle East taken out of the headlines for once. It’s as if Stephanopoulos’ claim is that, based on my opinion, is that politicians have lost the true sense of their jobs which means to fix the problems that are major compared to the minor problems that are being taken care of.

In the first chapter he states of his was waved off of the republican side once he heard President Reagans campaign. Some changes aren’t made that simply because people are so bound to their own political states that they simply stop to “care” what is going on in politics as long a side is taken. Stephanopoulos was then pushed to the Democratic beliefs when he worked in the offices with Dukakis because he was able to stand up for all the laws and ideas that Stephanopoulos held himself. Even though Dukakis was being blackmailed from the Bush candidacy for all his wrongs from a previous life, however some of the “facts” were false.

I really like the flashback that Stephanopoulos adds into the book, page 20, where the lady is looking from her box and he starts to wonder about what she might think of the war. It’s like he’s comparing the politician’s final vote on what to do with a problem with the rest of the world: Does the president even consider what is going on in the minds of others? Or if they have considered the damage that is caused? Or even if they have the full support of the nation?

In my opinion I thought What is the What was an interesting book to read because it gave me a view into a world that I was not aware of. I really believe the purpose of the novel is to bring awareness to the audience about the reality of life and how there are horrible things going on to people. The audience, well me in particular,I really learned about a side of a world I was not aware of. It's a real big eye opener. I really liked the way the author told the story, the use of modern day life to reflect back on the past.