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I have been watching the media (mainstream and conservative) talking about General Patreus. Invariably, the first words out of their mouths is how great a person that he is, hero, etc. etc.
It just seems a little odd to me. Now I think affairs for politicians are taken way too seriously, but how often are they showered with praise after they have one. Just an observation.
She was already working on his career as the topic of her thesis.
One day she apparently decided that a personal interview would be in order and the rest, as they say, is history.
One doesn't need to be "super-qualified" to write a biography. One doesn't even need to be qualified or even meet or speak to the subject of said biography (see D'Souza, Dinesh).
She is clearly well-educated, has a common background so could speak knowledgeably to the general about his career and she was willing to listen to him ramble on and on and on about himself to the exclusion of everything else. And think of the boost to his ego - here is a woman willing to leave her husband and small children to spend time with him. To basically follow him anywhere.
No big conspiracy here, just human nature.
Publishers of any worth require a track record; any tom dick or jane can claim to be an author. Anyone writing a biography of the head of theCIA would, in the standard publishing world, have to have credentials beyond a mere graduate dissertation, and be followed closely (by someone in the CIA) to be sure security was not being violated on any level. A dissertation is supposed to look objectively at a subject, not be a gushing endorsement. What was her "thesis"? That "General Petraeus is a great man"?
It would be interesting to read the book and see what she actually did write. Most probably a piece of glittering PR, with a sprinkling of a few forgivable "faults" in an attempt at objectivity.
Publishers of any worth require a track record; any tom dick or jane can claim to be an author. Anyone writing a biography of the head of theCIA would, in the standard publishing world, have to have credentials beyond a mere graduate dissertation, and be followed closely (by someone in the CIA) to be sure security was not being violated on any level. A dissertation is supposed to look objectively at a subject, not be a gushing endorsement. What was her "thesis"? That "General Petraeus is a great man"?
It would be interesting to read the book and see what she actually did write. Most probably a piece of glittering PR, with a sprinkling of a few forgivable "faults" in an attempt at objectivity.
That would be the point of her having a co-author.
She had access to the book's subject.
Her co-author presumably had the experience and skill that the publisher required.
I agree with the media. Patreus was a good general. As a human being, not so much. His career shouldn't be forgotten. As for his infidelity, that's a weak human condition of which too many suffer. And it seems to be more widely accepted than in previous years.
I think the underlying message (that isn't being said) is that anyone, whether a general or politician (especially a politician), asks you to trust them, believe in them, vote for them, then cheats on their own spouse without batting an eye. If they can't be trusted to honor their commitment within their own marriage, how are voters supposed to believe they won't "cheat" on them, as well?
Best answer, whogo!
None of us get through life without making mistakes.
He did an admirable thing when he stepped down...
not because he was asked to do so, but reportedly because he felt the affair led to a great loss of his personal integrity.
Quote:
Originally Posted by whogo
Great men do stupid things. Just like the rest of us.
Publishers of any worth require a track record; any tom dick or jane can claim to be an author. Anyone writing a biography of the head of theCIA would, in the standard publishing world, have to have credentials beyond a mere graduate dissertation,
This is what you know or what you think? I suspect the latter because if a track record is a necessity Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone would still be sitting on J.K Rollings computer and she and Bloomsbury Publishing plc would not be exponentially richer for the lack of effort.
An West Point, Harvard graduate with exclusive and extensive access to a celebrity general can place a well written and presented book proposal on a publishers desks WILL get a book contract. If they are an untested property (and even if they are) will be paid an advance if and when they place a manuscript on that publishers desk which will then be edited and in the case of non-fiction fact checked by the said publisher. If the manuscript does not measure up to what the proposal purported the contract will be withdrawn and the project shelved. A product is what publishers are looking for, not pedigrees.
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