Howard Fineman Promotes His New Book

Maybe it was the economy; or the location; or maybe it was the topic (Great American Debates); or maybe a surfeit of books about American politics in the Washington, D.C. area nowadays, but, whatever it was, Howard Fineman drew a crowd of fewer than 20 persons to his new book signing Wednesday night at the Tyson's Corner Borders bookstore.


When he spoke at Politics & Prose on Connecticut Avenue on the northwest side of town May 1, the crowd likely was double or even triple 20.


His title of his book is: The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country. Mr. Fineman is a columnist for Newsweek and a "pundit" who regularly appears on "Hardball" with Chris Matthews and "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann.


I got there too late for his book presentation. The Q+As are always the most interesting part, and I wasn't disappointed. The people who came were all senior citizens, average age, 65; all Caucasians, probably more males than females. The store was the least populated with customers that I've seen, and I'm a frequent visitor. Lots of empty seats.


Anyway, what did he say? No way, Hosea, that Condi Rice will be John McCain's running mate: Too much baggage and negative vibes which permeate the State Department, and lack of domestic policy experience.


George Bush is "too insecure intellectually and personally to listen to anyone who doesn't agree with him and who he doesn't know. I know him well and have covered him for years."


Obama appeals to a lot of Republicans.


The press went to sleep at the wheel after 9/11, and was bullied by the White House. The only Washington news outfit which reported events unafraid was Knight-Ridder: "Not the networks, not the New York Times." Mr. Fineman said an unnamed actress compared 9/11 for him to a "bad divorce" when judgment for several years afterwards was/is questionable.

Iraq: "I agree with Thomas Friedman with what he said this morning (in his column): We are in the Middle East where we are not loved, not respected. We're following Osama Bin Laden's play book."


"If we leave, the Iranians are going to come in and take over Iraq." (Ed's note: Well? So what if it does?)
"We were lied to. Colin Powell used up all his credibility at the U.N. He misled everybody. George Tenet is a buffoon. Cheney and all the others at the White House went to war against the C.I.A. No one asked about the consequences of our going 'in there' (Iraq)."


He reluctantly answered a question: "I know this sounds callous. I have to tell you, war is a great story" and it's much sexier (not his word) than no attack. When asked about the dwindling coverage of the war, Howard Fineman said: "The American people have become desensitized to it. They don't want to hear bad news."

I am as sure as rain that many, if not all the blurbs on the book jacket and most others, are written by persons who have never read the book which they acclaim. And when do these "authors" have time to write books? Not to single out Mr. Fineman, but I dare say many political books (and others) are written by "ghost riders" who sit down and slam something on paper just to get the damned things out to satisfy the publisher and earn money quicker. "Poor" Cindy McCain.