Who Says You Have to Rip to Rate?

Years ago when I was preparing my first book, a publisher asked me whether I planned to rip anyone... really bash 'em.

I said no.

She replied, "Pity. That stuff sells."

Now, I'm not one to brag, but that book of mine spent a lot of weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list. So, who says you have to rip to rate?

Enough folks, I guess, because we keep seeing it. And reading about it.

Whether it's Alan Greenspan zinging President Bush. Or now the former head of Mexico doing the exact same thing.

Greenspan says the president was a disappointment on economic matters. Vicente Fox, and I quote, "the cockiest guy I have ever met in my life," a veritable "windshield cowboy."

I wonder if Mr. Fox ever told the president that, to his face.

I doubt it.

Save it for the book.

And I wonder when Mr. Greenspan was up for reappointment at the Fed whether he bothered to diss President Bush then?

Again, I doubt it.

Now to be fair to both Mr. Greenspan and Mr. Fox, both men say nice things about this president too. But as savvy authors in their own right, they know it's the bad stuff folks talk about.

Because the bad stuff sells books. Good stuff does not.

Funny, I never found that to be the case myself.

I don't know. All I do know is that if you have to wait a life to get back at others in your life,maybe, maybe, you need to get a life!

Watch Neil Cavuto weekdays at 4 p.m. ET on "Your World with Cavuto" and send your comments to cavuto@foxnews.com