Saturday, October 12, 2013

Nation & World

Publishing war begins over Tenet's CIA book

Paul Bedard
Posted 10/31/04

Finally, a Washington book that should be worth reading--and one that publishers are scrambling to buy. It's former CIA Director George Tenet 's story of running the agency under former President Clinton and President Bush and in the wake of 9/11. Tenet and lawyer Robert Barnett just wrapped up two weeks of shopping the book proposal around in New York, and a whopping 12 publishing houses want in. "There was a VERY enthusiastic reception," E-mailed a Tenet ally. Publishing insiders said the advance could top $5 million for the former top spy, who's not expected to pull any punches in writing about his seven years at Langley. A publisher will be picked in November, and the book could hit stores by late '05 or early '06. On the New York tour, we're told, Tenet provided a summary and told war stories, and publishers signed agreements not to reveal what they heard. Tenet's getting some writing help from his former spokesman Bill Harlow, himself the author of the military thriller Circle William. We hear the White House is happy that the book summary is being kept secret until after the election.

Condi Rice makes Homer's book
Do you think Condoleezza Rice and "pork barrel spending" sound like food? No? Well, welcome to Homer Simpson 's world, neatly spelled out in The Homer Book, part of the new Simpsons Library of Wisdom. "My mouth gets all nice and watery" when he hears things like Condi's name, Homer fesses up. "Then I find out that it's all a big lie. Those jerks aren't talking about food at all!" The paperback, along with The Bart Book --both out soon--will be must reading among Washington celebs eager to see if they made it into the world of D'oh-dom. Consider Homer's enemies list: PBS, Beltway insiders, conservative talk-show host Sean Hannity, former President Bush, and even the French. In the advance copies shown to Whispers, both Bart and Homer of Fox's The Simpsons do show they know politics. Note how they describe Simpsons characters, like Bart's mortal enemy, Sideshow Bob: "Turn-ons: Buddha, the Republican Party." Homer, on the political affiliation of Waylon Smithers, aide to nuclear plant boss Montgomery Burns: "Log Cabin Republican," a reference to the gay GOP group.

Rushing marriage?
Talk radio king Rush Limbaugh 's crush on CNN's Daryn Kagan may be moving past the hand-holding stage. Friends of the lovebirds tell us that they are whispering about marriage, just as soon as Limbaugh's third divorce goes through. They add that he's even talked with Kagan's family about living happily ever after with the TV anchor. "He's really sweet," says a tipster.

Justice Hillary
Hold on to your, ah, cloaks. One scenario making the rounds in Washington is that if Sen. John Kerry is elected, he'll nominate New York's Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to the U.S. Supreme Court. There she'd judge as a "law-and-order feminist" to build credentials to eventually run for president after Kerry. Sound crazy? Senate and even White House insiders said some moderate and female Republican senators might go for it and OK the confirmation.

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