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Grand 'Oprah,' Poor History (franchising of the presidency )
washingtonpost.com ^ | Thursday, June 24, 2004 | Richard Cohen

Posted on 06/24/2004 9:31:51 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay

BOULDER, Colo. -- The good news for Bill Clinton is that his book, "My Life," sold about 100,000 copies at Barnes & Noble stores the first day it was on sale, a record for the chain. The bad news for Bill Clinton is that the book sold about 100,000 copies at Barnes & Noble stores, a record for the chain. The book may make Clinton rich. It will not rehabilitate him. The pity of it is that Clinton went for the bucks. That's understandable, since he never had much money and left office with a mountain of legal and other debts. But ever since Jerry Ford pioneered the franchising of the presidency -- there was virtually nothing he would not do for the right fee -- huge riches have awaited any former occupant of the White House. Solvency would have come to Clinton, if it has not already, even without his $10 million book advance. Clinton took the money -- and the obligation that came with it: write the sort of book that could be promoted on "Oprah." Clinton more or less did that. The early reviews have been eviscerating, particularly the one in the New York Times. Its chief reviewer, Michiko Kakutani, somehow managed to read 957 pages in what must have been about a day and pronounced the book a mess -- "sloppy, self-indulgent and often eye-crossingly dull." Other reviews have reached similar conclusions (although some feel otherwise), but suffice it to say that it is not being universally hailed as a triumph -- a book as brilliant as its author. My own hurried perusal of the tome leads me to support Kakutani. Although in his acknowledgment Clinton thanks his editor, Robert Gottlieb, for teaching him about "hard cuts," it sometimes seems that nothing has been cut. We get, for instance, an appreciation of the Grand Canyon in late afternoon: "It was amazing the way the rocks, compressed into distinct layers over millions of years, changed colors as the canyon darkened from the bottom up." Nice, but can we move on?

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: clinton; mylife; review; washingtonpost
All that needs to be said in a review: "Clinton took the money -- and the obligation that came with it: write the sort of book that could be promoted on "Oprah." Clinton more or less did that."

Didn't watch the show.

Did the audience attending the Oprah - Clinton dog and phony show get a signed copies placed under their seats(the norm)?

1 posted on 06/24/2004 9:31:52 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay

The Book should be named "Butt-wipe written by Butt-wipe."


2 posted on 06/24/2004 9:37:37 AM PDT by sgtbono2002 (I aint wrong, I aint sorry , and I am probably going to do it again.)
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To: fight_truth_decay

Clinton was always after what ever Clinton could get, the Country or anything else was and still is of secondary importance.


3 posted on 06/24/2004 9:44:38 AM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)
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To: Libertarianize the GOP

I read a thread on here yesterday where the AP actually used the word "swoon" in reference to women lining up to see his him at his booksigning. Sure enough, I saw a newspaper at work yesterday, and that was the headline. Sickening.

All the women in my family see him as the disgusting pig that he is. Slick Willie is repulsive, in his words and actions, and I feel sorry for any women who cannot see that.


4 posted on 06/24/2004 9:51:09 AM PDT by LisaMalia (In Memory of Sgt. James W."Billy" Lunsford..KIA 11-29-69 Binh Dinh S. Vietnam)
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To: fight_truth_decay
[Whoring himself is] understandable, since he never had much money and left office with a mountain of legal and other debts.

The billyblythe-clintons robbed the White House, and made a fortune while they were there. Who does this guy think he's kidding?

5 posted on 06/24/2004 9:59:37 AM PDT by bannie (Liberal Media: The Most Dangerous Enemies to America and Freedom)
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To: fight_truth_decay
a book as brilliant as its author

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooo tired of hearing of this man's "brilliance". He was "brilliant" in the way all psychopaths are, in lying, cheating and manipulating others with no regard for the consequences of his acts on others, caring only about what it could gain him.

6 posted on 06/24/2004 10:14:21 AM PDT by CaptRon (Pedecaris alive or Raisuli dead)
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To: fight_truth_decay

100,000 books with the US having a billion people and we don't know how many the demoncRATS and the DNC bought to make the book look good? Give it about a month, then check to see how many bought the book and how far the price decreases. Should be interesting and most telling.


7 posted on 06/24/2004 10:26:11 AM PDT by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: CaptRon

You know I am sooooooooooooooooo tired of hearing or reading about this book, I PLEDGE now not to post any more "..My Lies..ah..ah My Life" stories in FR. Raises my left hand, switches to my right!

Respectfully
fight_truth_decay


8 posted on 06/24/2004 10:36:31 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: CaptRon

These constant ridiculous claims that Bill Clinton is "brilliant" are becoming extremely annoying to those of us who actually are.


9 posted on 06/24/2004 11:23:59 AM PDT by HHFi
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To: fight_truth_decay

I've met Bob Gottlieb. He's a very smart guy. He may not have persuaded clinton to make the cuts, but he'll still make a pile of money off of this book. Maybe all the more because clinton lets it all hang out. Best sellers are seldom well written. It's the juicy tidbits that people read them for.

As for bill clinton needing money to pay his legal bills, forget it. He will never pay those bills, or any other money he owes. He's a natural stiff artist.

Plus I can't believe he left office with less than a couple of billion in Swiss banks. He is said to have ripped off over a hundred million from his Mena Airport drug dealings. He has plenty of money, he just refuses to ever pick up the tab as long as he's surrounded by people who will let him freeload.


10 posted on 06/24/2004 12:46:23 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: fight_truth_decay
The early reviews have been eviscerating, particularly the one in the New York Times. Its chief reviewer, Michiko Kakutani, somehow managed to read 957 pages in what must have been about a day and pronounced the book a mess -- "sloppy, self-indulgent and often eye-crossingly dull." Other reviews have reached similar conclusions (although some feel otherwise), but suffice it to say that it is not being universally hailed as a triumph -- a book as brilliant as its author.
Oh, no, the book *is* as brilliant as its author. ;') Clinton isn't some kind of great genius, he's merely a clever sociopath and ass-kisser. But bad reviews will proceed from all those who defended his lifelong misconduct and lies (and his lying), and of course from those worried about and defending the Kerry campaign.
George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent

11 posted on 06/24/2004 12:56:33 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Unlike some people, I have a profile. Okay, maybe it's a little large...)
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To: Cicero; Jim Robinson

Question: Would you know of an article posted on FR some years back on Clinton and his relationship with crooked cops, drugs, good old boys back in Arkansas etc..his early years as an attorney? Sorry I am vague..was a very long story on FR, book almost or should have been. Was one of the best reads on here and would like to find it again.

Thought someone might remember. Have searched but..may never find it again and would like to reread.

Thanks


12 posted on 06/24/2004 7:43:52 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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