March 2, 2018

What price is enough for Hope Hicks to write the kind of book that has The Daily Mail effusing...

... "EXCLUSIVE: Hope Hicks' $10 million payday! The departing coms director is flooded with offers as publishers scramble for a book deal to spill the secrets of Trump's inner sanctum and her affair with wife abuser Rob Porter"?

She hasn't accepted $10 million, nor should she.
High-powered New York literary agent Eric Myers told DailyMail.com that Hicks could easily get a $10 million advance, 'If she really did promise to throw the office doors wide open and tell all. 'However, that may not be likely as she is a longtime close friend and defender of Trump, and may not be inclined to do that. Plus, there would undoubtedly be matters of legality and national security to be weighed. If a book were to happen, it would undoubtedly be the subject of an auction among the major publishers, which would be a key factor in driving up the amount of the advance.'

Another prestigious literary agent who has represented Pulitzer Prize-winning political journalists, among other high-profile, celebrity clients – and receives a fifteen percent commission on every book sold -- told DailyMail.com: 'Hope Hicks was a star Washington insider. 'I always saw a book coming from her when the time was right. Now the time's right. Overnight she's become a potential goldmine A $10 million advance is not out of the question for her to tell the true, untold, inside story about life in Donald Trump's White House and inner circle. She probably knows more than the first lady – about that, I wouldn't be surprised. And I think everyone will be interested in the true story of her relationship with Trump. Is he a father figure to her – or something more? There's just so much speculation about their relationship. Look, here's a gorgeous young woman with no political experience who suddenly becomes one of the most influential woman in the White House who has the president's ear 24/7."
Look, Bill Clinton got $15 million in 2004 to write a book about himself that no one had any reason to think would contain a damned thing that was revealing or that cut against the interests of his party and his close associates. Hillary Clinton got $14 million in 2014 to write "Hard Choices," and it wasn't a hard choice to pocket $14 million to crank out dull PR that no one wanted to read. And Barack and Michelle Obama were handed $60 million for what? We haven't seen it yet, but you can bet 60 thousand dollars that they're not putting themselves into the hands of opponents of any of their friends or suffering struggles of conscience deciding how much to betray the confidences of anyone they care about.

Maybe Hope Hicks — who is 29 years old — is so tired of it all that she's ready to retire into a life of idle rich person, so she's tempted to throw away her ongoing reputation by selling what would count as the "the true, untold, inside story about life in Donald Trump's White House and inner circle." But even the Obama's $60 million number is not enough. She's lived alongside a billionaire, by whose standard $60 million doesn't even make you rich. I'd say even $100 million is not enough to flip Hope Hicks to betray her relationship with Donald Trump.

Now, if she's seen "chaos" inside the White House and genuinely thinks there's something horrible going on and needs to warn us about it, then — if it's bad enough — she should should betray the relationship, and she should do it without taking any money at all. It can't be, first, let me have that big publisher's auction, nail down the money that will set me up for life, and then I'll tell you a set of Michael Wolffish tales.

I say: Hope, you are 29. Don't sell out. At any price.

ADDED: I know: I got carried away. There is a middle position. Make a $10 million deal for a book that is pure vanity: My lovely times, with that wonderful man, Donald Trump.

54 comments:

David Begley said...

I agree with Althouse. Hope is no Judas.

Lexington Green said...

She could be looking at massive legal bills. She will need to fund those expenses.

roesch/voltaire said...

If Trump can flip flop on gun regulations within twenty four hours then I guess people close to him can also flip especially if large sums of money are involved

the 4chan Guy who reads Althouse said...

Not unlike bribery.

We will give you ten million dollars if you tell us what we want to hear.

Yet if a tabloid news show pays someone for their story it is considered a reason for the story to be discounted out of hand.

In the old days this would be the time when Playboy would offer her money to do a nude layout.

Don't laugh: that nude Playboy layout made Jessica Hahn a superstar.

The Germans have a word for this.

tim in vermont said...

I guess people close to him can also flip especially if large sums of money are involved

You mean like 145 million dollars, say from Putin cronies into the hands of our Secretary of State? Used to partially fund a 17 million dollar payday for a part time job for hubby? This is a time will tell moment.

John said...

How good are her job prospects? She was only making $106k at the White House and she's 29 so I doubt she has all that much squirreled away.

David Begley said...

Lexington

And that’s a big reason why good people don’t want to work in DC. This whole fake Russia probe has reportedly bankrupted General Flynn. Scooter Libby was completely destroyed when the Special Counsel knew who the leaker was; an aide to Colin Powell.

The Left excels at Lawfare in every phase.

Alan said...

Misplaced apostrophe.

tim in vermont said...

Ten million dollars is not a lot of money to flush away your career as a turncoat at 29, if you are used to living a certain kind of life in Manhattan. Even the Brits hated Benedict Arnold when he lived there after the war. At the end of the day, when they are done with her, they will toss her away as one more deplorable.

rhhardin said...

There's a bigger market for a Playboy spread. Who cares what she thinks.

rhhardin said...

Stealing from Armstrong and Getty

An autobiography, multi-volume. Volume II, middle school.

Mr. Groovington said...

Call me a sap, but she might be in love with Rob Porter, and thus...

Ann Althouse said...

"She could be looking at massive legal bills. She will need to fund those expenses."

Force the publisher to take on that entire expense.

Ann Althouse said...

I was imagining her going to work on the 2020 Trump campaign, but I'm not seeing anyone talking about that.

Seems to me she left immediately after T declared he was running and hired a campaign manager.

Birkel said...

For $10,000,000 I will write the book these publishers want.
For $20,000,000 I will throw in this set of steak knives.

Sebastian said...

"Hillary Clinton got $14 million in 2014 to write "Hard Choices," and it wasn't a hard choice to pocket $14 million to crank out dull PR that no one wanted to read. And Barack and Michelle Obama were handed $60 million for what?"

Political bribes. The American prog oligarchy paying its fixers, the fixers extracting protection money.

Birkel said...

Lexington Green: "She could be looking at massive legal bills. She will need to fund those expenses. "

The first sentence is pure speculation based on wishcasting.
The second sentence assumes the first bit of wishcasting true and moves from the appropriate tone of "pulling it out of my ass" to the assured "will need".

This is how propaganda is done, boys and girls and others.

Bob Boyd said...

She'll get a lucrative TV news role of some kind.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

roesch/voltaire said...
If Trump can flip flop on gun regulations within twenty four hours


Flip/flop implies a bistable state. Trump is a multiverse of states, none of them stable.

Ralph L said...

Do non-presidents have to submit a proffer to publishers?

David Brock did OK.
Bill Kristol not as well as his dad, so far, but we'll see.

Bob Boyd said...

I envision a TV talk show featuring Hope on a set that looks like a driveway. Every week she's washing a different muscle car, wearing cut-off jeans and a halter top while interviewing some political guest who is prominent in the news that week. Hope will handle the soapy sponge and the guest will rinse with the hose.

Hot Rods and Hot Takes?
Hope and Hot Rods?

Hagar said...

Mueller would open a whole separate section to deal with Hicks and her book, even before she started writing, so no, I don't think she is going to write one.

TheGiantPeach said...

She should take the money. The diary will become public soon enough anyway (after she is served with subpoena). Might as well cash in while she still has a scoop or two.

holdfast said...

She’ll get a gig on Fox, or move back to the Trump Hotels business. You don’t leave someone with that much potentially dangerous information out in the cold.

David Begley said...

Ann:

The big money in political campaigns is the commission for placing ads on TV and the internet.

Just ask Mike Murphy who made a fortune from Jeb!

Hope could do that. Easy peasy.

William said...

A force field of drama surrounds a beautiful woman, no matter how sedate or conventional she might otherwise be. If she says nothing, we'll invent our own drama. I won't read the book. I don't know how she will define self serving, but it will be self serving. The movie version might be ok. There's a good chance that she will turn out to be better looking than the star who impersonates her. Outside of JFK, that's never true of Hollywood biopics. She will almost certainly be smarter than the star who plays her........I see it more as a trilogy. That's the best way to milk it. The first volume will document her relationship with Porter. It could tell of their brave struggle together to overcome the toxic masculinity that American culture demands of its men. That should keep everyone happy for awhile and whet interest in her next book, a two hundred page expose of the sexual hijinks common in the up market condo business. The last volume that details her troubled relationship with Donald Trump can be timed to appear during the last year of his first term.

traditionalguy said...

Her agent will need to explore Playboy and Penthouse centerfold spreads. She can add in an affair with Trump and hs Generals and get 100 million easy.

Rob said...

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

Hope will sing the tune. But let's leave her feathers out of it.

Michael said...

Anyone offering $10 million would be paying her to make stuff up, a la Michael Wolff.

Ralph L said...

There's no profit in porn unless you kardash.

Yancey Ward said...

$10 million to Hicks would come with so many attached riders on the contract that she might have to lie to get it. Now, if they offer her $10 million to write what she wants to write, then should take their money.

The Godfather said...

If anyone were really offering $10 M for Hicks's book about the Trump White House, it would be for a book that trashes Trump. Suppose she were to tell the proposed publisher: Look, during my time in the White House I saw a President who is a patriot trying to do the best job possible; he was faced with a mess created by the last three administrations, and he devoted his every waking hour to cleaning up the mess. That's what my book would say. The publisher would say, Good bye and don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

Earnest Prole said...

When did telling the truth become "selling out"?

readering said...

Does anyone here know what her voice sounds like? Going on three years in a communications position and not a single memorable statement attributable to her. I don't see a future on Fox or best seller list. More likely fabulous wedding.

langford peel said...

She will be loyal to the God Empero

The God Emperor is vastly different from the normal grubby politician. He has many opportunities to bestow largess on his favorites. A post in his corporate empire. A significant place in his campaign. He truants her and that is priceless.

This speculation is the mindless prattle of fools. Dismiss it as the nonsense that it is and focus on the fact that the globalist are continuing to remove his loyallists. Schiller. Bannon. Corey. Hicks. Now they are going after his family full bore. That is a bridge to far.

I think you will see a return of loyalists soon.

Achilles said...

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...
roesch/voltaire said...
If Trump can flip flop on gun regulations within twenty four hours

Flip/flop implies a bistable state. Trump is a multiverse of states, none of them stable.

Trump understands the leftists don't believe a single thing they say and are operating in bad faith. He just uses that to stretch you fools out and flay you. He did exactly the same thing on immigration and he sucked the douchebags in.

Now the entire country knows the democrats don't want a solution to the "Dreamer" issue.

Soon they are going to hear that the democrats are trying to kill off their own proposals on gun control because they might get it.

The people who own the democrat party and the media care only about power. These little issues don't concern them. They are just things they splash in the media to jerk idiots like ARM and R/V around.

Achilles said...

TheGiantPeach said...
She should take the money. The diary will become public soon enough anyway (after she is served with subpoena). Might as well cash in while she still has a scoop or two.

Stupid wishcasting and stalinist cheer leading.

How long before Inga admits she is back again...

stlcdr said...

Write the book, writing what people want to read and ‘know’, take the money.

Then ask the question why it’s not placed in the fiction section in book stores (or the Amazon equivalent).

JaimeRoberto said...

Sometimes I think these publishing houses are just money laundering operations.

chuck said...

Trumps secret to success: hire highly intelligent, competent women. You'd think the Democrats could do that too, but you would be wrong.

chuck said...

Trumps secret to success: hire highly intelligent, competent women. You'd think the Democrats could do that too, but you would be wrong.

Anonymous said...

Given her looks, brains and apparent strength of character Hicks doesn't have to sell out to anybody. She is going to do well at anything she tries.

Anonymous said...

Ah, moderation has been invoked. Had I known I would not have wasted my time to make even a minor comment.

Kevin said...

Take the money. Make the whole thing about what an asshole Michael Wolff was and how the media bought it hook, line, and sinker.

Then you can have round two when they're forced by your good looks and precedent to invite you on their show.

TheGiantPeach said...

Achilles said...
TheGiantPeach said...
She should take the money. The diary will become public soon enough anyway (after she is served with subpoena). Might as well cash in while she still has a scoop or two.

Stupid wishcasting and stalinist cheer leading.

How long before Inga admits she is back again...

Sorry, but it's you who are living in a dream world. The diary is certain to be subpoenaed, just as Donald Trump is certain to be indicted.

The only question at this point is whether he lives out his life in jail (if the charges are bribery, extortion, tax evasion, obstruction of justice, etc.) or if he is actually executed (if the charge is treason).

The only reasonable way for this to end is for there to be a general agreement that the 2016 was stolen with the aid of a foreign power and for Pence to resign and have Trump appoint the rightful winner of the election as VP, and then for Trump for resign. If Hillary decides to pardon "unser Hitler" because she feels it is for the good of the country, that's her decision, and I'd be OK with it, though it more than he deserves.

Darrell said...

TheGiantPeachOfShit said. . .

Nothing worth reading. As usual.

Jim at said...

an aide to Colin Powell.

Richard Armitage wasn't an aide to Powell.
He was Deputy Secretary of State.

Jim at said...

Going on three years in a communications position and not a single memorable statement attributable to her.

Most top-notch Comm Directors don't speak. Spokespersons do that.
A good Comm Director protects the boss and manages his or her messaging.

If they're really good, you never hear anything about them.

Jim at said...

The diary is certain to be subpoenaed, just as Donald Trump is certain to be indicted.

The bitch is back. As a giant peach.
How entirely appropriate.

Michael K said...

Sorry, but it's you who are living in a dream world. The diary is certain to be subpoenaed, just as Donald Trump is certain to be indicted.

Welcome back, Inga.

Nancy Reyes said...

Ivana actually wrote the book about her lovely time with Donald: Called Raising Trump. (referring to the kids). Interesting book about balancing work and children.
But I suspect few have read it because she didn't dish out stuff about the dirty divorce.
So unless she plans to bash Trump (and insult his supporters) the way all those literary agents want her to do, she won't make a lot of money.

Luke Lea said...

Her biological clock is running. She may want to find the right guy (is she hasn't already), get married, have children, and raise a family. At least I hope she does, and I can see how that might require a change of scene. Still I was sorry when I heard she was leaving.

Bad Lieutenant said...

Suppose she were to tell the proposed publisher: Look, during my time in the White House I saw a President who is a patriot trying to do the best job possible; he was faced with a mess created by the last three administrations, and he devoted his every waking hour to cleaning up the mess. That's what my book would say. The publisher would say, Good bye and don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.


Regnery? Whoever gets her book will coin money, won't they? Baen Books? Who would publish her with carte blanche on a $10mm deal? Someone would.

Bad Lieutenant said...


Blogger chuck said...
Trumps secret to success: hire highly intelligent, competent women. You'd think the Democrats could do that too, but you would be wrong.

3/2/18, 2:44 PM



Why doesn't somebody hire her to run Freddie Mac for $25mm a year? That's how it's done, I thought. At least she might not run the country into the ground.