Fortunate Son By James Hatfield.

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Today on Cinemax, I watched a documentry (or something close to one) about the author and publisher about the book fortunate son, a controverisal biography of George W. Bush, Im sure you all remember it and the controversy it came with when it was published and re-released a few times, but Its just...Wow. I ordered a copy of the book. It seems amazing to me in a sense of all that was going on and then with the 'suicide' of the author (automatically my mind when to mar. monroe and that whole suicide controversy) Has any else head/read this book before, and/or have something to add? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1887128840/104-9758871-9481551?v=glance&n=283155 In reply to:If you want to find out more about public officials, start with the books they don't want you to read. Fortunate Son, James Hatfield's swan song, amasses the singlemost informative and chilling overview of Bush the Younger, a man of wealth, privilege, and arrogance nearing Shakespearean proportions. In the wake of its destruction by its original publisher, subsequent revival by Soft Skull Press, as well as the tragic suicide of its author, this book has undergone several revisions. This third revision, featuring a new forward by Greg Palast and Mark Crispin Miller, is as outstanding as they come, the antithesis to all of the Neoconservative-sanctioned Bush books flooding the market. Approached as a cautionary tale, Fortunate Son's enormous scope is as insightful as it is well-written. An amazing work by an author whose brilliance resonates through every chapter.

I have heard of it. Don't really recall anything about it. Haven't read it, and most likely won't. That's not really my kind of book. I'm sure it's good if you say it's good, but I prefer something written around the 1900's, romantic, etc.

I havent read it, only ordered it. The authors whole life was ruined because he told the truth. if nothing else deppresses me, its that.

I heard of it and I've seen a movie about it. I haven't read the book. The author makes some compelling charges, and some or most of them may (or may not) be true, but the author, unfortunately, comes across as a crackpot.See this page for a Washington Post article and Soft Skull press release upon James Hatfield's death.[It would be funny to see a New York Time book review where the writer said, "I heard of the book, but I haven't read it and I don't intend to. Excuse me while I get back to Chaucer."]

the author was apparently mentally unstable, but ive never seen anything that made me think about something as much as that thing i watched did. They absolutely butchered him and destroyed his whole life right to where he killed himself. I cant wait to read the book, Im facsinated at this point.I mean, he'd have rather killed himself then go back to prison for life.

I don't see the big problem with the drug bust or the slight of hand trick. I sincerely doubt any person could go through their whole life and never do anything that would cost them their shot at the presidency. I blame the way we scrutinize people in public positions as the reason for it's necessity. ANY misjudgment and you’re damned to hell. And any of us with children know, you would go a long way to help your kids. If you're in a position to make something like that go away, I would dare to say a great many of us would. If my child was always getting into those kinds of problems I would of course make him take his lumps. But, if this was the first/only time deal you bet I'd do it. Would any of us let a mistake that is so insignificant ruin or kids lives? And if you yourself would do it how do then vilify others for doing it? The world is not a fair place, some people have an easier time of things than others. Some people have life handed to them and other struggle to even stay alive. That is the way life is. Would you trade you place with a person in Ethiopia? Does answering “no” make you a bad person? In our lives we may not feel like we live a life of privilege but if you take a step back and look at the grand scheme of the world, we do.

In reply to:Would any of us let a mistake that is so insignificant ruin or kids lives? And if you yourself would do it how do then vilify others for doing it?You'll have to ask George W. Bush that question. When he was the governor of Texas, plenty of people of all ages were put into prison for various and sundry drug offenses. The governor had no problem with that. Yet he said that people should give him a break for his own youthful indiscretions.Bush, on the other hand, was still having his "youthful" indiscretions through his thirties.Form what I've seen, people who get busted for drug offenses are screwed if they don't have a decent lawyer; people with good lawyers usually do pretty well. You can be sure that Bush had the best lawyers money could buy.The ugliest thing about Bush is his breathtaking hypocrisy, whether it's about his substance problems, his "military service", or other things.[By the way, W.'s brother Jeb, the governor of Florida, has a daughter with a terrible addiction problem.]

In order for him to have stepped in and kept all those people out of jail, he would have had to over turn the Federal drug laws.
If he had made an effort to do so it would likely had caused his "secret" to come out, ruining his chance to be president. Is it wrong for person with a drug problem to have aspirations?
I wouldn't call them youthful indiscretion, but I don't think it should ruin someone's dreams either.
Some are more privileged than others. It's just a fact of life. I don't hate people or even get angry with them because they have advantages that I don't.
When you complain about other people privileges what I'm hearing you say is, "I'm not privileged enough." And it's not very becoming of you. As if you'd say, "No thank you, don't clear my record. I'd rather go to jail like everyone else.", if you were given the same option.
And no matter what his niece will NEVER be president.

If Bush wasnt so angry about the truth thats in the book (because if it is lies in the book, then it wouldnt be able to be published) but the bush family went way the hell out of their way to not get it published, they made this authors life hell for telling the truth that led to his suicide.

You don't seem to understand. He fully supported Texas's harsh drug laws. He was Mr. Hardass Law-and-Order.This reflects the mentality of our Chief Executive:In reply to:Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer criticized Gov. George W. Bush for making fun of an executed Texas woman in an interview Bush gave to Talk magazine. "I think it is nothing short of unbelievable that the governor of a major state running for president thought it was acceptable to mock a woman he decided to put to death." Just before her execution date, Tucker appealed for clemency on the grounds that she had become a born-again Christian. Bush's reply: " Please,' Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation,don't kill me!' "Gary Bauer is no liberal.

I can't honestly say I wouldn't try to stop someone from ruining my kids chances either. I would hope that I would do the right thing but I really don't know. And his notes to family and friends listed other reason not just the book, drug problems and criminal problems. And no one makes you commit suicide. It's a selfish act that you do for your self.

It depends on whether or not they did anything illegal. Meanwhile, the lives of many people who didn't have the advantages of rich and politically influential family have had their lives damaged and ruined in the Texas prison system.

> And no one makes you commit suicide. It's a selfish act that you do for your self.

That's a simplistic generalization. I don't know why the author killed himself (assuming he did); he seemed to be a pretty troubled person. But people have a wide variety of reasons for committing suicide, and I strongly disagree with your statement.

He killed himself because the federal goverment wanted to get rid of him. They were looking around for something - anything to put him away forever. his whole life was closing in on him and he had no way out. not to mention, there are remarkable reselmblances to Kurt Cobain and Marylin Monroe about his Suicide.

The Documentary is called Horns and Halos, if anyone wants to watch it.

You don't think Kurt Cobain killed himself. lol And if the federal government wanted to put me in jail they would have to fabricate a case. Which I wouldn't put passed them, but they were only digging up stuff he actually did. So he should have gone to jail. If he didn't like that fact it's on him. You don't want to do the time, don't commit the crime. Unless Mommy or Daddy is someone powerful.