The annotated Sneed
Wednesday, Mar 4, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Allow me to annotate today’s Sneedling…
The poison pen: Disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich reportedly spent 12 hours Tuesday writing his tell-all book on a legal pad and wearing a special “writer’s jacket” to get him in the correct frame of mind, according to his publicist, Glenn Selig.
Writer’s jacket or straight jacket? And, seriously, he spent 12 hours doing just one thing? He never did that when he was governor, unless it was pace around his home office and jabber at the wall, pretending he was president or maybe Secretary of Energy.
• • A Blago blackout? But the book’s publisher, Michael Viner, tells Sneed there will be no media appearances by Blago until the book is finished. “Well, that has yet to be determined,” Selig told Sneed. The tome is due to be published by Phoenix Books in October.
Great. At least we’re getting a respite from the insanity. And, hey, the book will be published just in time for Halloween. How fitting. I think I’ll scream. Also, he’ll probably still be on his book tour when the February primary comes around. That’ll be joyous fun for all Illinois Democrats.
• • The backshot: Viner, who once served as an advance man in Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign, helped produce several hits by the late singer Sammy Davis Jr.; was once married to actress Deborah Raffin, and produced TV miniseries based on author Sidney Sheldon’s books.
The publisher may have had a fine career, but Blagojevich’s literary agent is Jarred Weisfeld of Objective Entertainment. Here’s the guy’s bio, via Larry, provided without comment except for the obligatory: “Oy.”
• • The foreshot: Viner, who hopes the book becomes a classroom text, tells
Wait a second. Back up there. He hopes the book becomes a classroom text? With all those stories about boozed up philandering politicians? So, it’s for colleges, then? He can write at that level? Do we want our children reading this drivel?
• • The foreshot: Viner, who hopes the book becomes a classroom text, tells Sneed: “the book is not a question of his guilt or innocence, but not being treated fairly. It’s much more a rainbow story than a black and white story. He [Blago] understands that part of his downfall was caused by him — but it does not justify the treatment he received.”
So, he won’t explain how he broke the law, he’ll just fill two hundred pages whining about how badly he was treated by that mean Madigan guy. I can’t wait.
And, by the way, what the heck is a rainbow story? I looked that up on the Google and couldn’t figure it out. I’m sorry, your annotator is stumped.
A buckshot? Although Viner tells Sneed he has not been contacted by hotshot Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel — rumors surfaced Ari may have been trying to put the “kibosh” on the book’s publication.
• • The upshot: A phone call to Emanuel’s Endeavor Agency netted a “no comment.”
The book ain’t even written yet and they’ve already cooked up their first cheap publicity stunt.
Your turn.
* Related…
* History offers little help in predicting success of Blagojevich’s book
* Blago book could be jackpot — or crackpot
* Final vote on Blago: Don’t buy the book
* Blago Book Gets Reaction
* SJ-R: A shameless, shameful deal by Blagojevich
* Help Blagojevich find a tell-all hairstyle
- bored now - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 7:17 am:
while i can’t think of a cheap publicity stunt for the governor, i would like to ask, who is his ghost writer?
- Stooges - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 7:55 am:
Something tells me he spent the day in his pajamas watching the cartoon network. I won’t buy his book, but I’d pay to see what was on the legal pad after his 12 hour stint as an author.
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 8:01 am:
@Stooges
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
(over and over and over..)
- OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 8:03 am:
“rainbow story” isn’t what it seems, is only comprehensible when looked at a certain angle and fails to have a pot of gold at it’s ill defined end.
As for his writers coat why do I suspect it looks like the coat Homer wore when he taught a community education class where he put tweed patches on the elbows of a leather coat.
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 8:13 am:
Let the bidding begin!
How much will you contribute to me in order to have a bit of amnesia?
- Rufus - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 8:22 am:
Rich, This is a great opportunity for you! You should write a book about Blago’s term as the governor. You know more an anyone else about the shanagans that went on. Time it for the release at the same time as Blago’s and it will be a best seller!
- Elliot Ness - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 8:36 am:
“But the book’s publisher, Michael Viner, tells Sneed there will be no media appearances by Blago until the book is finished”
At this point, after this statement, shouldn’t we assume that he will hit the airwaves tomorrow?
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 8:58 am:
Sounds like a six figure book to me.
It is about Blagojevich, Blagojevich, Blagojevich, Blagojevich, Blagojevich, and oh wait, Blagojevich!
- archpundit - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 9:02 am:
What the agent’s bio leaves out is that the guy pitched the show, sold it, then went to ODB in prison to get him to do the show.
There is a theme with at least two of his clients.
- Jake L. - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 9:05 am:
Richard Roeper’s column today details the fine books published by this man. Nicole Simpson’s friend, a Menendez brother, and some other luminaries.
- ShyBoy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 9:15 am:
“Rainbow story” is just another term for “the great technicolor yawn”.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 9:19 am:
If we consider blago to be the fool, then what does this tell us about sneed? if I may suggest “Who’s more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?”
- Leave a light on George - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 9:22 am:
I would like to apply for the job as fact checker for Blago’s book. Life time employment I think.
- downsized - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 9:50 am:
200 pages written in crayon, I can hardly wait
How appropriate since everything he did was “For The Children”
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 9:57 am:
==looks like the coat Homer (Simpson) wore==
Nicely played, OneMan! Clothes do make the man, but clothes do not a writer (or smart person) make. I still maintain the “six-figure deal” includes the two cent decimal points, and possibly even the dollar sign. But you gotta pay the bills, I guess…
- anita - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 10:02 am:
In business school, one of my management classes included readings from Henry Kissinger’s autobiography, to teach us about power.
Maybe Blagojevich’s book will be the cautionary tale taught along side.
- jaundiced eye - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 10:04 am:
Sneed is so irrevelant and unaware that she is used as an unquestioning conduit by every 4th rate politician and PR person. Why would anyone even bother to print all the “inside scoop” she presented today? Blago as an author? Where’s the market for such a book? Typos and bad grammar aside, Jim Laski’s book showed self-examination and self-awareness on his part. Blago is incapable of either trait. Business must be slow for Sneed … no insider stories about Eddie or Anne Burke in a long time … so instead, half-baked “exclusives”. What a waste of paper and oxygen.
- Deep South - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 10:05 am:
Book tour? There might be one stop in Illinois but then it is on to visit the NY/DC axis of bobbleheads.
- Tired of the Mess... - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 10:07 am:
Can we only hope that the “six figures” is tied up after the indictments rain down?
Definitely written in crayon, yeah definitely, definitely…
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 10:12 am:
Members Only jacket, I bet.
- fedup dem - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 10:25 am:
Of course it will be a classroom text, with the class being “Spotting sociopathic politicians and avoiding them at all costs!”
- stones - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 10:29 am:
Would love to see this special “writers jacket” that he wears for inspiration….
Hey, on second thought, where can I get one of those?
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 10:30 am:
==He hopes the book becomes a classroom text? With all those stories about boozed up philandering politicians? So, it’s for colleges, then? He can write at that level? Do we want our children reading this drivel?==
English professors are always looking for new fiction for students to analyze. And they have to have bad examples…
- True Observer - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 10:55 am:
All that sweating.
Because there is no earthly reason Blago should lie and the public that buys the book will know it.
Poli Sci classes carry the same old recycled hash text books year after year.
Blago’s can be be used in both Applied and Theoretical Political Science Curriculums.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 11:03 am:
Writing a tell all book while awaiting indictment and then trial strikes me as odd. I hope I am not misinterpreting the former Governor’s motives but I suspect he won’t be completely forthcoming regarding his alleged criminal activities.
- Jake from Elwood - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 11:05 am:
Can’t you just picture Blago in a vintage fat Elvis jacket and Adidas running pants? He is probably using some sort of ostentatious pen, perhaps even a quill. All that he is missing is a beret and an ascot.
- the Other Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 11:39 am:
I may be mistaken, but wouldn’t anything Blagojevich wrote and sent to an editor — or co-wrote with a ghost writer — be subject to a subpoena? And if the subpoena is directed to the editor or ghostwriter, there would not be a 5th Amendment privilege?
Genson did the right thing by quitting. This guy will be impossible to defend. I bet he’ll end up testifying on his own behalf, thereby sealing his fate.
- SangoDem - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 12:03 pm:
“Also, he’ll probably still be on his book tour when the February primary comes around. That’ll be joyous fun for all Illinois Democrats.”
It will be more joyous for some than others. Reformers like Quinn, Quigley and Boland won’t mind. It might not be so fun if your last name is Madigan or Daley.
- EmptySuitParade - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 12:31 pm:
Looks like the media has been duped once again. They still have not demanded the so-called contactct…..they know Blagoof has not worked 12 hours in a week on any topic….except shakedowns…..they let some print on demand “publisher” do a media item on how there is a media blackout .
Huh.
And there is wonderment on why the biz is sinking.
Seems clear to me.
- Ahem - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 12:37 pm:
Playtime for Blago, as usual. Yawn.
- Northside Blogger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 1:16 pm:
Check out the “Books” tab under Blago’s literary agent’s website - there seems to be more credibility than Rich gives credit.
- Second Edition - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 1:54 pm:
His second book should be even better - you know the one describing the trial and life in prison
- Ghost - Wednesday, Mar 4, 09 @ 4:02 pm:
the 50 dollar question, who is the ghost writer forced to work from the handwrittent notes.