or Powell's or me• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show
•
"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket
•
"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I’m the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming
May 10, 2007
George Tenet Not World's Most Self-Aware Person
From George Tenet's new book, p. 12:
In many ways, I am my father's son. He was a very trusting man, loath to say anything bad about anyone...Dad believed in inclusiveness. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
MICHAEL (to Pentangeli): This used to be my father's old study -- it's changed...My father taught me many things here -- he taught me in this room. He taught me -- keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Now, if Hyman Roth sees that I interceded in this thing, and the Rosato brothers failed him, he's gonna think his relationship with me is still good.
1. Tenet appears to have completely misunderstood the meaning of this saying, which doesn't actually have to do with being nice to people.
2. It's a little weird to say your dad taught you this, given that most people associate it with Michael Corleone saying his mob boss father taught it to him.
Posted at May 10, 2007 04:47 PM | TrackBackTenet's bulb is so dim it actually makes the room darker.
Posted by: En Ming Hee at May 10, 2007 04:58 PMWell I certainly hope his enemies take baths and use deodorant. Having said that I think we should ponder the advisability of people who are not writers writing books about themselves. I mean did his father really teach Tenet that or did Tenet just watch the movie some time ago and somehow mix it up with his own memories of dear old dad. This could explain much as far as how Tenet ran the CIA. And if this is any example of how Tenet’s book is written all I can say is it must be the worst conglomeration of insipid, mealy mouthed and dishonest kind of writing ever to have graced the world. Other than that it must be pretty good.
Posted by: rob payne at May 10, 2007 05:52 PMWell, there's more than one mob, who knows? Maybe Tenet's Dad was someone's Godfather.
Posted by: Mike Meyer at May 10, 2007 07:46 PMWhen I was a child I was told, you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose - but your relatives are assigned to you by destiny.
And speaking of advice that a child might possibly misunderstand, Mark Twain said, "Always do right. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
My dad never taught me anything about enemies, but he did teach me to drive a stick shift, as well as encouraging me to learn to type at a young age. I drove a stick shift today, and I'm typing right now.
Posted by: mistah charley, ph.d. at May 10, 2007 07:54 PMI believe it's an old Greek saying but that's not to say most today don't associate it with the Corleone character, and it's certainly true that Tenent and perhaps his father, were clueless about the real import of the proverb.
Posted by: Maezeppa at May 10, 2007 10:31 PMAs a child I was taught that you can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose. But maybe Tenet keeps his enemies so close he can pick their noses. Now that's what I would inclusiveness.
Posted by: Jean at May 11, 2007 05:22 AMTenet was the head of the biggest Mob in the world... obviously he's gonna be influenced by Vito
Posted by: almostinfamous at May 11, 2007 12:28 PMIf we are supposed to keep our enemies closer, why did we have to go fight them over there so as to not fight them over here?
Posted by: Saheli at May 11, 2007 04:14 PMYou are all a bunch of morons. Having read the book and having some firsthand knowledge into how governmant is run, poor Tenet was not only handed a white elephant (job no one wanted) but he also beacame the perfect fall guy. Also, the saying is an old Greek adage.
Posted by: jo at June 2, 2007 07:50 PMYou are all a bunch of morons. Having read the book and having some firsthand knowledge into how governmant is run, poor Tenet was not only handed a white elephant (job no one wanted) but he also beacame the perfect fall guy. Also, the saying is an old Greek adage.
Posted by: jo at June 2, 2007 07:50 PM
