Rating: 
Summary: Sue Al !!!
Review: I fired today because I fell asleep at work! I picked up this book last night and could not put it down till the sun came up. It's Al's fault I lost my job and he sould be held responsibe for my wakeful night of distrubing truth and humor.
Rating: 
Summary: Introducing Mr. Al Franken
Review: I first encountered Mr. Franken on the original Saturday Night Live over a quarter of a century ago. I loved that show but never quite understood why Mr. Franken was on there. He wasn't funny and detracted from an otherwise superb show. Since that time I have learned why Mr. Franken needs to have a platform to speak his views and why he uses comedy as that platform. He is obsessed with conservatives, so much so that he goes to great lengths to prove his views even to the point of, at best, distorting the facts (to give him the benefit of the doubt). He always assumes the motives of those he critiques are evil and works from that base. He is of the type that believes that 'the end justifies the means' and whatever it takes to destroy what he knows is bad is okay in the big picture. He is an intellectual eliteist from the same camp as the Clintons and the Gores, etc. These are people who believe that the general population is stupid and thay need to think for us. Since the end justifies the means, so whatever they need to do to force their ideas on the stupid commonors is justified. While at the same time always pretending to be 'one of us'. On the one hand the liberals want everyone to think like they do and on the other hand the conservatives want everyone to act like they do. Both sides seem to be out of touch with real people. Mr. Franken uses comedy because it allows him to be slanderous and insulting while avoiding the legal penalties. In the end he is niether funny nor insightful. Hiding behind comedy to spew his hyper-crital judgements is niether fair or balanced. He may be very intelligent but that horsepower isn't able to get to the pavement in this project. In the end it's a lot of wasted energy, both for the writer and the reader. This is one to avoid.
Rating:
Summary: Neither fair, nor balanced, nor well written
Review: I found a copy of this book (?) in an airline clubroom, where it had been discarded by the owner or previous reader. After merely a few pages it became obvoius why it had been tossed aside. I skimmed through the remainder of the publication and found only more shrill, ultraliberal, tired argument presented with a total lack of writting style, logic, or intellectual content. As I left for my flight, I tossed it in the trash bin where it most certainly belongs.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed this book a great deal
Review: I found Al Franken's book 'Lies and the Lying Liars who
tell them' of great interest. The wide range of subject
matter provided was most informative. However, I believe
that Mr. Franken takes Ann Coulter too seriously. People
should understand that Ann Coulter is first and foremost
an entertainer and her books are indeed entertaining. No
serious student of history or modern politics could consider
Ms. Courter anything more than the conservative pundit she
is.It becomes obvious when reading her books that her strong
points do not include rational analysis of historical events
or history in general. Vitriol and sarcasm are at the
forefront of her critical works. Why Ms. Coulter is so
enamored with Joe McCarthy is anyone's guess, however, I
believe that this infatuation is just further proof of her
inability to grasp difficult historical lessons. It is clear that Coulter is just too young to understand
the reality of the era of 'Tail-gunner Joe' and the truly
awful results of his misdeeds. I may be naive, but I
believe that our educated and mature citizens will recognize
her sophomoric prattle for what it is and not elevate her
standing further. Franken's book is a must for anyone interested in the game
of todays destructive discouse on politics. He has done
a service to all of us that have endured the 'fair and
balanced' approach from the right for the last ten years. Keep up the good work Mr. Franken
Rating: 
Summary: Very amusing book that both left/right should read
Review: I found Franken's "Lies" book to be a very amusing, intelligent and easy read. It sheds a lot of light on the games and deceptions that some politicians and a lot of the media engage in. He does a great job of researching the facts in his book and showing how people like O'Reilly, Hannity and Coulter distort facts for their own objectives and have no real journalistic integrity. I think both so-called liberals and and those in the center will enjoy this book, but those on the "right-wing" will naturally avoid it. I think Franken is a bit too glowing in some of his comments regarding the Clinton administration, but all in all, most of his comments ring very true once he lays out his research into topics such as politics, 9/11, and economics. (fyi, for the sake of disclosure, i voted for GWB in 2000, but won't be doing same in 2004)
Rating:
Summary: Not a political commentator
Review: I found the book childish and wouldn't recommend a writer that makes his points with ad hominem attacks and not facts.
Rating:
Summary: Both hysterical and sad
Review: I found the book to be a very funny account and could have laughed harder if not for the sad state of affairs it reveals about our nation. Thanks to the author for setting the record straight and for caring about the truth. Americans are, unfortunately, being duped by many of today's political authors, but Franken is not one of them. And not only is he not one of them, he is also excellent at revealing how the others get away with it - to which I must say, "Shame on you Ann Coulter!" He gets his point across with a delightful presentation of the facts and humor - what a novel idea!
Rating:
Summary: Drop the name-calling--we are all Americans!
Review: I found the book to be funny and ironic and sad. I am not a fan of Franken on SNL. I guess I'm too old for SNL retreads to amuse me--I remember better days. But there is some substance in Franken's books. By the way, the use of "left" and "right" in association with political parties comes from the location of seats in some European legislative buildings. And the words liberal and conservative don't connote anything terrible. Both approaches have validity and benefit. Protect and maintain the good things, for example our Constitution which assures our rights and protects our liberty. Discard what is destructive, such as slavery and withholding the right to vote. Franken and many other observers of those currently in power, have persuasive evidence of wrong doing. Some "right" or conservatives officials in our government, have clearly gone to extremes to defend those who pose as conservatives in order to cover radical, illicit, and illegal activities. Congress, in giving away our constitutional rights, has been neither conservative nor liberal, but has been astoundingly STUPID. The President, and those close to him, told Congress a story about WHAT they should fear and WHO they are to blame for it, without geniune evidence it appears, in order to coerce Congress into giving away the rights of the People. That is unconstitutional. There are way too many criminals, convicted and otherwise, running around the White House. Franken is irreverant, sarcastic, and rude when stating his case. That does not make him wrong... or right. (I made a joke!) Why haven't more Americans (and I include the members of the so-called news media--they are not exempt from the demands of citizenship) asked WHAT Bush and his cronies will get out of it, and WHO will get screwed because it? Dammit, I want my Constitutional rights back! Wake up people. Our problem is not some alien bogeyman. Our President has lied to us and stolen our rights as free citizens of the United States of America. He dishonors his office and his country. It is our duty to go to the polls this fall and replace the radical lawless liars along with the members of Congress who sold us out. Ours is a country of the people, by the people, and for the people, and it is up to us to maintain that trust as long as we live. Be a real patriot. Vote.
Rating:
Summary: lots of facts and very funny, though of course biased
Review: I found the book to be well-researched and very informative. Putting a humorous spin on things makes it enjoyable to read, as well. I thrilled at reading so many instances of catching people outright lying to the public, and on that merit I rate the book very highly. (I think people on the 'left' often lie as well, mind you, but that's obviously not going to be the focus of this book - it's unfortunate everyone feels the need to choose one of two sides these days and come out swinging.) However, I feel that sometimes his personal feelings on issues cloud his presentation of 'facts'. For example, I understand he was affected deeply by the death of a friend, and the attacks by the 'right' surrounding the memorial service were over-the-top and generally unfounded, but I think that most people would agree it degenerated into a tasteless display at times which Mr. Franken seemed to imply was merely somewhat inappropriate. I find it easy to believe that someone could have no problem with prostitution but be offended by disrespect for the dead, something Mr. Franken seems to disagree with me on in his take on Jesse Ventura's reaction. This is a book about uncovering lies, though, and lies he finds in abundance. I strongly recommend this book, but suggest balancing what you get from it by doing some of your own research - watch/read some of the shows/books he bashes and decide for yourself. While I find some folks like Coulter beyond redemption, I think O'Reilly's show can be interesting at times. On a side note, I've noticed a tendancy of some reviewers to disagree with one point made in the book (for example, a former soldier's take on the "Clinton military" section) and then rate it one star. He made his case, but then discredited it by giving the book the lowest possible rating when it seemed to be the only issue he had with it. My point? Apparently the "bash mentality" embraced by this and similar books on the 'right' catches on... let's hope most people leave it in the realm of humour.
Rating:
Summary: Read the book and the reviews - then decide
Review: I found the book very entertaining and well written / researched, though perhaps a bit puerile in some of the humor. It made me fear for the course on which our country seems to be headed. Even more frightening, is the tone / vitriol of most of the negative reviews I've read. It only reinforces the message of the book. Perhaps the most frightening review is the one from the reader in Texas who doesn't care that his "messengers": Coulter, O'Reilly, et al, are lying, as long as the "core message" gets through. HELLO!?! What does it say about the "core message" if it relies on lies!?! "By their fruits shall you know them" seems to say it all!
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