Rating: 
Summary: A Witty & Astute Look at The RIght-Wing Media
Review: I am only halfway through this book, but have found Al Franken's book to be both entertaining and enlightening. He reveals for all to see just how much some of our suppossed journalists on the air are willing to lie to advance their cause and the right-wing agenda. It doesn't take an Einstein to see that these people are anything but fair and balanced, but Franken's book sheds new insight into the background and factual misrepresentation of these people. Right on, Al! Keep up the great work. Conservatives who are so quick to give this book 1-star would do well to open their eyes--the Republican Party does not have the best interest of middle-class America in mind. And the character of those on the Right is far below that of Clinton, in my opinion. Al makes a good case for that here. Buy this book, read it. You'll never again trust the national news media with such blind faith again.
Rating: 
Summary: Really just comedy and nothing else.
Review: I am pretty middle of the road when it comes to politics (or at least that's how I see myself), and I'll take Bill O'Reilly any day over Al Franken. O'Reilly has integrity, enthusiasm, and his views are those of an independent thinker. Look at Franken's criticisms of O'Reilly: Franken says O'Reilly was once a registered republican, Franken says O'Reilly is not where he says he's from, and he offers several examples of O'Reilly losing his cool. Okay, so here's Bill O'Reilly, who has 3 books, is on TV every night and on the radio every day, and this all that Franken can talk about??!! Franken merely adapts the liberal agenda and puts it in his own voice-- at least O'Reilly, like or hate him, has his own views. Franken is not an independent thinker, he is a pawn of the liberal media.I don't mean for this review to be about how O'reilly is better than Franken, but I think that by contrasting the two it is easy to see Franken's extreme short-comings as a writer and an analyst.
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Summary: The book FOX news did NOT want you to read!
Review: I am really enjoying this book...was amused that FOX news sued Al Franken and tried to stop publication...It really does address the right wing steamroller hysteria that has swept our nation. I highly recommend it. This book is not only informative but will make you laugh. Amazon's 30% discount price is great, too!
Rating: 
Summary: political pornography
Review: I am relieved that Franken is only a scam artist as his book is deceptive and dishonest. He attacks Ann Coulter for stating that Evan Thomas (newsweek)is the son of Norman Thomas (socialist pres. candidate) and puts a "transcript" of a conversation he has with Evan Thomas proving she is wrong that norman is not evans' father. One point for franken, but franken then does what i thought was what the book was suppose to expose, he deceives his readers by failing to inform us that norman was evan's grandfather. Coulter made a mistake confusing Evan Sr. with Evan Jr. but her point still holds up. Franken attempts to deceive us by not telling all the facts. That's dishonest. Game, set, match, Coulter. I stopped at that point as it is absurb to write a book to expose "lies" and use deception to attempt to do it. Franken makes Coulter's point for her by using the exact tactic he accuses her of. I have to say i was a little worried (i enjoyed coulter's book) as i had read that franken had 14 fact checkers going after all the "lies" but it seems that fair and balanced is on the cover but not in the book. It appears to me that coulter made a couple of mistakes in her book (earnhardt in NY times and Evan thomas' grand father) but those two mistkes are inconsequential to her overall thesis. Franken proves her right by employing deception to make a point rather than the whole truth to prove a mistake.
It is sad that franken could not play it straight with his readers. Save your money, borrow it (like i did), read it for a laugh and a confirmation of Ann coulter's book Slander.
Rating: 
Summary: Buy this book...even if you're a right winger...
Review: I am utterly dumbfounded at how efficient the right-wing lie machine works. Unfortunately, there are too many morons willing to just gullibly swallow it down. This books seems to just start exposing the tip of this iceberg. My only negative comment about the book is that I found myself wanting more substance and depth on items such as the fiscal ineptitude of the current administration and more about how they're pushing religion down everyone's throats through various quiet legislation maneuvers.
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Summary: Fox news is "fair and balanced",the biggest joke of all! ...
Review: I am very happy to see someone finally has the balls to stand up to the conservative media bullies and their mean spirited, race baiting, hateful rethoric. These(very wealthy)so called "champions of the common man" like to wrap themselves in the flag and brand anyone who disagrees with the conservative agenda a traitor or worse, a terrorist.The sad part is that up until now no one in the "liberal dominated" media has been brave enough to call them on their facts or question their conclusions.The so-called "journalists" in the corporate media should be ashamed of themselves for allowing these misrepresentations and outright lies to be aired in the mass media completely unchallenged. I guess the fear of being branded as un-american or upsetting their corporate bosses is greater than having the guts to live up to their journalistic responsibility to expose the truth.
Even if you don't agree with Al Franken's positions or politics you owe it to yourself to at least question the veracity and the integrity of those who claim to represent you. If I were a republican I would not be very happy to have these insincere, self-serving hypocrites claiming to represent me or my views...
Rating:
Summary: Not Funny
Review: I appreciate Al's attempt here, but I think his talents are best utilized writing for Saturday Night Live (especially THIS season). Nice try, AL.
Rating:
Summary: It opened my eyes...
Review: I approached this book with more than an ounce of skepticism. I only got the book (the unabridged audio CD version) to pass time on the 10-hour-plus drive from school in Grinnell, IA to home in Louisville, KY. As an avid viewer of Fox News and an avowed fan of Bill O'Reilly (I have read and reviewed all three of his non-fiction books) and the No Spin Zone, despite my disagreements with this loud-mouthed know-it-all on so many issues, I couldn't avoid the hype of Franken and his book, so I figured I would secretly succumb when no one could see me. I remembered the good old days when Al Franken was nothing more than a second-tier comedian on Saturday Night Live. I certainly didn't expect a political masterpiece from him, but was amazed that this is exactly what I found. The breadth and depth of his political knowledge, his wit, his biting sarcasm, and his cynicism towards politics is impressive. Piece by piece he nips away at the dishonest and intrigue with which the right surrounds itself. He gives credit where credit is due, but holds no punches in going after George Bush, Karl Rove, Bill Bennet, Anne Coulter, Rush Limbaugh (I can't wait to hear what Franken will say about the drug addiction) Fox News, et al. Rather than expounding on a vast right-wing conspiracy, he simply responds to their assertions. I don't agree with him on everything (I do believe there is a liberal media bias), but he argues with vigor and honesty. He knows the issues (unlike many of his opponents) and does not patronize the audience. He certainly could not have succeeded without his impressive team of all-star Harvard researchers. They deserve as much credit as he does. Even if one looks at this book through a conservative lens, one cannot avoid feeling changed by it. Yes, he falls victim to some of the same biases he despises (his look at the right is neither fair, nor balanced... he seems to think they are all evil, greedy, racist, homophobic, hegemonic liars, and that liberals are saints), but at least he is honest in his arguments. This shouldn't be the only book one reads, but it is an authoritative response to dozens of conservative books. And this one book probably beats them all, point-by-point. This is definitely a guy I would like to have over for dinner someday. Perhaps when Gephart becomes President, I will see him at the innauguration. ;-)
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: I assume what he says is true, but regardless he is a hilarious writer. Oh and don't watch FOX news, it's bad for your brain.
Rating:
Summary: Who knew it would be this funny? ... and infuriating?
Review: I bought Al Franken's book primarily as a protest vote against Fox's "wholly without merit" lawsuit before Fox dropped it in embarrassment. Also as a vote against the ultra-right-wing political lies Franken promised to expose. And in the hope that "Lies and the Lying Liars..." would top Amazon's best-seller list and inspire other truth-telling authors and commentators to grow some cohones, get an attitude, and rail against the scary conservative tilt in current government. Once I started reading it, though, I couldn't put it down. Finished in a couple of days still wanting more. Appreciated its thorough research (aided by a crew of Harvard brains) backed by footnotes, direct quotes, and clear and irrefutable cites of source publications, dates, speeches, TV shows... I found the book funny and an easy read, with the author's quirky comedic personality showing through, yet the book was enlightening and reflected a depth of thought far beyond the kind of mindless name-calling you're likely to hear on talk radio. One caution: It also got me angrier than I already was regarding President Dubya Bush's miserably failed term, more convinced of his lack of scruples, seething at the underhanded tactics and truth-bending of his apologists and supporters, and even more discouraged about our current state of affairs with the current political "leadership." It also tipped me over the edge toward throwing my energy behind Dubya's defeat in the '04 election (and I've never been politically active or outspoken before). In short: An excellent book; I recommend buying several copies and passing them out to friends and relatives ASAP (mine's already promised to my oldest son, who will vote for the first time next month in California). Caution, though: you'll enjoy its unvarnished truth and wry humor, but if you're someone who can think critically you'll also be infuriated by the lies and by the lying liars it exposes.
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