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

Warda’s comments from the MHS AP Language group.

Urusa wrote: "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 Stephan..."

I really enjoyed the epilogue (and the book in general), it went beyond what the reader would expect in the novel. I feel like the affair with Monica really caused a controversy, but in the end Stephanopoulos believed him and supported him throughout the process. I agree with Urusa that marriage is important and that “Hillary was mentioned as if she was just a shadow on the wall.” I also agree with you on the fact that “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.” But in the end, all she cared about was “political survival,” but Stephanopoulos says that their bond had strenghtened by the “intensity of the White House experience.”

In the last part of All Too Human, Stephanopoulos focuses on the elections and his overall experience at the White House. In the epilogue he mentions all the things he learned from his experience (like balancing his life) and what he did after our years of working with Clinton.
Clinton tired and has done his best during his presidency. I believe that Stephanopoulos proves that. But one thing that I thought was interesting was the idea of “political suicide.” All the want to do is tell the truth, but “the truth hurts.” The president has so much pressure on him that one wrong move can seem like he did commit “political suicide.” Like for example Clinton making a “deal before he has the veto.” All that Clinton tried to do was meant to be “good for him and good for the country.” In the end, the purpose of the memoir is to tell Americans the behind-the-scenes action (sort of) and the truth about Clinton. And also how he was a major impact on Clinton.
(And also the media had a big roll from Clinton's speech's to himself. In the epilogue he mentions that he got arrested due to a “hit and run” but he did not.)
Also I believe that Stephanopoulos was surprised when he heard about Clinton's affair with one of his interns, but it was just “another false alarm.” He was just afraid that “proven charged of perjury, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice by the president ‘could’ cause COngress to begin impeachment.”

Urusa wrote: "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, Stephanopo..."

I agree with you Urusa that “Stephanopoulos’s purpose behind the memoir is to reveal to the audience, who are unaware of the responsibilities of the office.” I also have the same opinion that Stephanopoulos wants to persuade the American people to keeping having hope and trusting the President. But I feel like the book is more on Stephanopoulos himself, and how he handled everything than Clinton alone. But maybe its suppose to be like that since it is a memoir. I feel like the “Dont say, Dont tell” campaign really put a divide and shock on most people. And American are obviously going to blame him since he was the president. Many people can just change their mind by one thing someone does. I like how you use a current example, how “President Obama for a very long time about accomplishing nothing about healthcare.” That really upset many of us. Lastly I like how you say that “the President is only human not a super hero,” which is true. He is just doing his job, but some people really expect way more and what they can give/produce.

Through all the reading Stephanopoulos makes it clear to me that even though politicians like the president have a tremendous load of work to do to protect the country and make it better. Even though that might be seen as “celebrities,” Americans should not lose trust and hope.
Stephanopoulos as keeps bringing up the press. How even with “better preparation wouldn't have stopped the bad stories.” Which means that no matter what they say or do their words and actions will be mixed up, because that’s just what the press do, for some reason I feel like they do it on purpose. The president is human like everyone else in this world, he has a personal life, he has other things to do, but his first priority is to make America a safe and outstanding country. Which people do not respect. Clinton needs the “power to persuade” if he’s going to promise to “reduce the deficit, cut middle class taxes and increase investments in research, education and training.”
One of the topics that was brought up was “discrimination against gays ans lesbians in the military.” I find this interesting, Clinton made a campaign called “Dont ask, Dont tell” which means the military prohibited discriminating against this.
Also through the chapters we also see how Clinton and Stephanopoulos react with other candidates and on live TV and interviews. From editing last minute speeches to discussing about the country’s situations.
On page 154 Stephanopoulos mentions that being a president is like being a “celebrity” which is the “source and sign of power.” This is the same thing Postman said in the last couple of chapters in the book, that politicians are “celebrities.”
Lastly I also like the pictures in the book! They were interesting to look at and read. But there was one picture which really shocked me, its the 8th picture. I just find it funny but weird at the same time that Stephanopoulos’s body position is like that..especially in front of the president and two other. He’s liked slouched..when I imagine the people in the White House I see like seriousness, professionalism and always being well-presented.

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 like how you started to connect the title to the text. I think the words “all” can mean several things like either the politicians/candidates or the Americans who watch/follow the whole political area. Or it can be everyone in general. I’m leaning towards how politician's are “too human,” they want to be perfect in their own way, even though they really cant be because in the end they ARE human. Like you said, we make mistakes, we are not perfect. I think Stephanopoulos wants us to think that politicians needs to step out and be and say who they want to be without being judged on. It can be the same for the general public, if you have something to say or do, do it. Don't be afraid because in the end something might go wrong, you might make a mistake.

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 independent. When he was a six, he use to help his father at church. He would be backstage listening to his father's cues. Being behind the sceen he Stephanopoulos learned "to stay composed in the presence of power and was swayed by the illusion of indispensability."

he interned in his junior year of Columbia with a congresswomen named Mary Rose Oaker. The big legislation debate was about Reagan budget. But before his experience working with her he favored republicans. Reagan inspired most Democratic to vote Republican but it was the other way around for Stephanopoulos, he turned to a Democratic.

Also what I found interesting was everything in/about the government is based on opportunity, threats and rumors. On pages 42-43, I related it to Postmans idea how the “news” is a discourse to media. The news usually has unnecessary and irrelevant information about candidates. Such as the words “Clinton and sex would always be bad news.” It all comes down to Stephanopoulos to use the write words and language in his speeches, so the public wont get the wrong idea. Each word in his speeches that he writes for Clinton counts.

In the first two chapters I have read I think that the main idea/arguemnet is that the government is too “selfish” to care for the “common good.” I agree with Stephanopoulos when he says that the government is good, its just necessary. We need “limits.” Obviously the government needs to do things that the public can keep their attention to but it comes down to what we want it to be not the government officials.

The main purpose of the novel, What is the What is to persuade the readers on the Civil War affected Lost Boys of Sudan, especially Valentino. My favorite part of the story the novel were the scenes when he talks about Tabitha because he was really in love with her. Also I'm still confused on what is the what.