Cornballer
Member
As a few people have pointed out, it's up now for streaming. I edited the relevant info into the OP.
MITT - Netflix Documentary on Romney's election campaign (Streaming now on Netflix)
- Thread starter ezekial45
- Start date
- Status
HalfBakedProphet
Member
This is really interesting, its awesome to see people behind the scenes of a presidential campaign being candid.
Asking Mitt's son to answer a question the way he would in an interview and then answer again honestly...lmao
Edit: this is the type of thing I could watch for hours. I want a longer cut
Asking Mitt's son to answer a question the way he would in an interview and then answer again honestly...lmao
Edit: this is the type of thing I could watch for hours. I want a longer cut
SteveWinwood
Member
I'm loving this so far.
ZombiePlatypus
Member
Watching it right now. Holy shit this documentary has so far done a better job of humanizing him and making him relate-able than this entire campaign.
If he and his party didn't stand for the antithesis of my beliefs, I'd feel pretty bad watching this.
If he and his party didn't stand for the antithesis of my beliefs, I'd feel pretty bad watching this.
SketchTheArtist
Member
Great doc.
The part where the two sons make jokes that are a bit humiliating him after the 2nd comment was cringe-worthy. Loved it!
The part where the two sons make jokes that are a bit humiliating him after the 2nd comment was cringe-worthy. Loved it!
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
He uses a iron on a shirt... while he's wearing the shirt? wow
SteveWinwood
Member
We've all been there.
It was a pretty fascinating look into what its like to run for President of the United States. I hope people are able to put aside their feelings about Romney as a politician and just appreciate the film as an examination of what the campaign process does to people as human beings. It's not about the political aspect at all.
j_k_redtail
Member
There is - it's called Double Down.
Thanks! I hope this comes in epub and audiobook formats.
WeaponJohnnyX
Member
So excited it's up been waiting since December when I watched the trailer.
Deadly Cyclone
Pride of Iowa State
So did Netflix plan this the whole time? Way back to '06? I wonder if this started off with another documentary then Netflix funded it.
Spider from Mars
tap that thorax
Them skipping the entire primaries was a bummer. I wanted to see that bloodbath again.
The campaign staff denied him access, which is ultimately the reason he chose to focus on the family.
Netflix simply purchased distribution rights.
Jack Scofield
Member
It was nice to see another side of him. He seems like a genuinely nice person.
Tim the Wiz
Banned
His team seemed incompetent with their 'be aggressive at all costs' mandate in the general election, which at least one son spied the drawbacks of insofar as actually connecting with the people, Christians praying for stuff like their own aspirational achievements still kind of throws me for a loop, and when Romney compared his early days at Bain Capital to the difficulties of being a small business owner I almost threw up (although, to be fair, he did show some self-awareness of how much farther his dad had to travel to become a governor), but otherwise I really enjoyed the peak behind the curtain.
One of the Romney kids said something extremely insightful too. Basically: You wonder why politicians are often so uninspiring? Well, what sane person would go through such an insane process.
One of the Romney kids said something extremely insightful too. Basically: You wonder why politicians are often so uninspiring? Well, what sane person would go through such an insane process.
RustyNails
Member
Saw Mitt. Here are my observations.
Mitt Romney was surprisingly well-aware of things. He knew people called him flip flopper and it annoyed him very much. He was well aware of the fact that Obama's flub of a first debate was not extraordinary, and therefore he did not gloat about it. He was aware that Obama will come back strong. Actually the most fearful I've seen him in the entire documentary was right before the second debate. Guy was visibly shaking, whereas before the first debate everyone around him is fretting but he is calm as a cucumber. He knew Obama was coming back to destroy him in the 2nd round. This was counter to what I thought before I saw this documentary. I thought Mitt lived in a bubble and couldn't see beyond his hubris, but again he is cognizant of lot of things.
Mitt Romney is a jovial, spontaneous, witty guy. Having fun and always joking around. He has a very pleasant and endearing personality except when he talks about politics. Then he makes me want to punch him. I never got to see this side of him during the campaign, which is why I always wanted to punch him in 2012. His kids are ok dudes, but they actually live in a bubble. Which reminds me, they live in the fox news bubble as well. That was sad.
The surprising lack of diversity in the documentary. In the crowds, the campaign or the staff. Republican party is toast if this keeps up.
Really wanted to see behind the scenes discussions of 47% comments or superstorm Sandy and Christie-Obama bromance in the documentary. Very disappointed to not see them.
Mitt probably hates McCain more than Obama.
Mitt Romney was surprisingly well-aware of things. He knew people called him flip flopper and it annoyed him very much. He was well aware of the fact that Obama's flub of a first debate was not extraordinary, and therefore he did not gloat about it. He was aware that Obama will come back strong. Actually the most fearful I've seen him in the entire documentary was right before the second debate. Guy was visibly shaking, whereas before the first debate everyone around him is fretting but he is calm as a cucumber. He knew Obama was coming back to destroy him in the 2nd round. This was counter to what I thought before I saw this documentary. I thought Mitt lived in a bubble and couldn't see beyond his hubris, but again he is cognizant of lot of things.
Mitt Romney is a jovial, spontaneous, witty guy. Having fun and always joking around. He has a very pleasant and endearing personality except when he talks about politics. Then he makes me want to punch him. I never got to see this side of him during the campaign, which is why I always wanted to punch him in 2012. His kids are ok dudes, but they actually live in a bubble. Which reminds me, they live in the fox news bubble as well. That was sad.
The surprising lack of diversity in the documentary. In the crowds, the campaign or the staff. Republican party is toast if this keeps up.
Really wanted to see behind the scenes discussions of 47% comments or superstorm Sandy and Christie-Obama bromance in the documentary. Very disappointed to not see them.
Mitt probably hates McCain more than Obama.
Absolutely loved this. I'm a total political junkie and I can not even imagine how this guy got this kind of access. We've never seen this closely the inside of the critical moments of a presidential campaign, much less successive ones.
I was riveted. Bravo. Didn't need to be a good film. Didn't need a message. Could have just been a super cut of crazy back door campaign footage and it's still a 10/10 in my book for the access alone
I was riveted. Bravo. Didn't need to be a good film. Didn't need a message. Could have just been a super cut of crazy back door campaign footage and it's still a 10/10 in my book for the access alone
I agree with every part of your assessment especially your comments about "the bubble."
PoweredBySoy
Banned
I thought so too. It was a very endearing documentary. That said, I still would never want this man as president.
This family lives in multiple bubbles - some of which they are self-aware.
HalfBakedProphet
Member
its interesting how adamant his inner circle was that the second debate wasn't that bad. "This was just what you needed!" ...and the whole time Romney was just shaking his head. He was much more realistic and grounded than the tone deaf guy I imagined he was from the campaign. That's politics for ya, I guess.
Joel Was Right
Member
There was some interesting analysis post the 2nd debate on the net at how Fox News cost Romney the 2nd debate with their endless coverage of Obama "not categorising it as a terrorist attack" prior to the actual debate. Romney's team picked up on it and used it.
Ironic really
Ironic really
This reminds me of that Ted Haggard documentary that follows him after he was ousted from his church; It humanizes him.
In this movie Romney turns out to be a genuinely likable guy, but it is light on the inner workings of the campaign, and it rarely dwells into political opinions.
I guess he would not be quite as likable if we heard his honest political opinions. There are a few hints that that 47% comment didn't come out of nowhere.
In this movie Romney turns out to be a genuinely likable guy, but it is light on the inner workings of the campaign, and it rarely dwells into political opinions.
I guess he would not be quite as likable if we heard his honest political opinions. There are a few hints that that 47% comment didn't come out of nowhere.
I don't think being nice around your family when there are cameras filming is some amazing thing to be applauded. The documentary humanised him somewhat but he is not a good person to those not in his clan. The 47% speech behind closed doors exposed him as the heartless and divisive man he is. He is a man who was given the best education money can buy, political connections and wealth but despises those who feel the government should provide something as basic as healthcare. The epitome of "fuck you, got mine". He shows some self-awareness when acknowledging what his father did but he doesn't seem aware enough that not everybody has a daddy with money and power to give all the things he takes for granted or what it would be like to look after his sick wife if he were poor and without insurance.
AdventureMike
Member
I very much liked this documentary and will definitely recommend it to others. As others have said, this humanized Romney more than his terrible campaign staffers ever could have tried to. I don't want to go in a huge diatribe of every part, but a few important things stuck with me at the end:
- He is a nice guy. A lot of people get on him about his wealth and such but he doesn't seem like he is out to hurt anyone, especially during the portions of the 2008 election.
- The 2008 election was the time I think he might have been better as an individual. The bubble hadn't really been erected quite as strongly as it is now and I think he might have actually been a decent to good president. He didn't want to keep Washington going on the status quo and really looked like he wanted to change things up.
- In contrast, the 2012 election really showed the Romney family, especially Ann buying into the bubble and it was an interesting look to their beliefs at that juncture. After four years of Obama's presidency, she is sitting there saying essentially the same stuff half of us do in the poligaf thread: "Why don't they understand that they're wrong???". They seem to legitimately believe that America is going to collapse because of Barack Obama and he is destroying the country. They go on and on about how small businesses are being taxed out of being able to run and we "Just don't get it". Their entire campaign is centered around "We need to save them from themselves.
- Upon losing the election, rather than reflecting on their own beliefs or the bubble or what not, they double down into praying that we essentially make it through the dark times (No race joke intended there). That it will somehow only be through the grace of god himself that America doesn't completely collapse on itself in the next five years. It feels like they resign to say "Okay America, you get what you voted for you idiots. Enjoy it while we hide in Massachusetts and latch onto our money like we're in a fallout shelter".
- He is a nice guy. A lot of people get on him about his wealth and such but he doesn't seem like he is out to hurt anyone, especially during the portions of the 2008 election.
- The 2008 election was the time I think he might have been better as an individual. The bubble hadn't really been erected quite as strongly as it is now and I think he might have actually been a decent to good president. He didn't want to keep Washington going on the status quo and really looked like he wanted to change things up.
- In contrast, the 2012 election really showed the Romney family, especially Ann buying into the bubble and it was an interesting look to their beliefs at that juncture. After four years of Obama's presidency, she is sitting there saying essentially the same stuff half of us do in the poligaf thread: "Why don't they understand that they're wrong???". They seem to legitimately believe that America is going to collapse because of Barack Obama and he is destroying the country. They go on and on about how small businesses are being taxed out of being able to run and we "Just don't get it". Their entire campaign is centered around "We need to save them from themselves.
- Upon losing the election, rather than reflecting on their own beliefs or the bubble or what not, they double down into praying that we essentially make it through the dark times (No race joke intended there). That it will somehow only be through the grace of god himself that America doesn't completely collapse on itself in the next five years. It feels like they resign to say "Okay America, you get what you voted for you idiots. Enjoy it while we hide in Massachusetts and latch onto our money like we're in a fallout shelter".
Bulbo Urethral Baggins
Banned
I watched MITT last night and was pretty impressed. It was good but not great. Romney still lost, so that put a damper on things. Damn, I want to punch that Candy Crowley. And McCain is really an ass, isn't he?
Did anyone else see the change in Romney from the first election to the second? He became much more serious and stressed and became less of himself. It made me think how much his campaign handlers were influencing him. If he would have let more of himself shine through, he would have been better off. Too many people telling him what to do and say killed him, imo. He's obviously a bright man. That came through very well. He had a good grasp of everything, even to the point of calling himself a flawed candidate.
You're not flawed Mitt. Everyone else is.
Did anyone else see the change in Romney from the first election to the second? He became much more serious and stressed and became less of himself. It made me think how much his campaign handlers were influencing him. If he would have let more of himself shine through, he would have been better off. Too many people telling him what to do and say killed him, imo. He's obviously a bright man. That came through very well. He had a good grasp of everything, even to the point of calling himself a flawed candidate.
You're not flawed Mitt. Everyone else is.
Truth >>>> A Candidate Winning
It's hilarious when the candidate is more humble than his followers. Absurdity defined.
Bulbo Urethral Baggins
Banned
Winner: "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it"
Bulbo Urethral Baggins
Banned
True. I'd even like to see a documentary like this with Obama.
T
thepotatoman
Unconfirmed Member
Wow, going by this topic I guess politicians have this whole politics thing wrong. What politicians really need to do is just to not state any political position whatsoever and instead show clips of being nice to your family and being sad when things don't go your way.
I guess debates should be scraped in favor of political reality tv shows instead since that's how people really want to choose their next president. Do you guys really think all the other politicians treat their family and staffers like crap and don't feel emotions when they make gains or losses?
It was an interesting documentary, but there's nothing here that disputes the main worries about Romney's disconnect from the majority of america. It's funny that the only time politics really got talked about was when Ann Romney went on a "won't somebody please think of the small businesses" rant.
The scariest thing to me is that Romney does apparently base his tax policy on completely unverifiable anecdotal stories using math that's potentially very funky, and that it's not just a political ploy to appeal to voter's emotions, unless of course he was doing it for the documentary's cameras.
I guess debates should be scraped in favor of political reality tv shows instead since that's how people really want to choose their next president. Do you guys really think all the other politicians treat their family and staffers like crap and don't feel emotions when they make gains or losses?
It was an interesting documentary, but there's nothing here that disputes the main worries about Romney's disconnect from the majority of america. It's funny that the only time politics really got talked about was when Ann Romney went on a "won't somebody please think of the small businesses" rant.
The scariest thing to me is that Romney does apparently base his tax policy on completely unverifiable anecdotal stories using math that's potentially very funky, and that it's not just a political ploy to appeal to voter's emotions, unless of course he was doing it for the documentary's cameras.
Can't even keep the subjects on track can you Bulbo, deflection upon understanding.
SteveWinwood
Member
As others have said yep he was amazingly grounded and realistic especially when he was surrounded by cheerleaders. "That was great!" "Nope and here is why..."
Either that or he's a huge pessimist.
Either that or he's a huge pessimist.
Bulbo Urethral Baggins
Banned
I don't feel like getting into an argument about Candy Crowley's obsession with semantics.
She admitted Romney was right. Let it go Ami. Let it go.
How many cheerleaders can a man take?
for real.
NullPointer
Member
I like a candid view but a lot of this just seemed random. The 47% incident, for being as important as it was, was entirely glossed over - no reaction and no introspection and no elaborations - you also don't see any more of the background behind his positions beyond "businesses pay too much to the government". Thats it.
Everything with his family is the most shallow of strategy sessions or the rest of the pack trying to calm his nerves. Thats 95% of this.
Its a different angle than we usually see but I know no more about the actual person and his ideas and motivations after watching that than I did during the run-up to the election.
Everything with his family is the most shallow of strategy sessions or the rest of the pack trying to calm his nerves. Thats 95% of this.
Its a different angle than we usually see but I know no more about the actual person and his ideas and motivations after watching that than I did during the run-up to the election.
Except she didn't, which is why you said you want to punch her. She admitted that Romney was wrong, that Obama did call it a terrorist act, and you guys were so furious that anyone would dare to use reality to put an end to one of Romney's lies that she was on a shit list ever after. That's how transparent you guys are: incapable of thinking for yourselves.
obijkenobi
Member
That's pretty much how I feel about this. I assumed that Romney liked his own family going into this so....that was confirmed. It's nice that he is thankful his dad was successful I guess.
EDIT: Also, did I miss it, or did they completely ignore any sort of conversation on why they chose Ryan as his running mate?
- Status