Rating: 
Summary: unabridged audio
Review: I really enjoyed this unabridged audio.
I am neither a democrat or republican and I think both sides have some good ideas.
A very eye opening and in depth look at some of the right wing liars. It always amazes me how so many people believe everything they here on talk radio and TV (this is true on both sides of the political spectrum). That someone like Franken can break it down and analyze it and find the lies makes great reading.
Franken narrates in his usual and hilarious manner.
I highly recommend the unabridged cd.
Rating: 
Summary: I Hope Conservative Americans Read This Book
Review: I really hope that not only Utne Reader subscribers are reading Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them and that mainstraim conservatives read it and realize that if anything both their moderacy and credibility is being hijacked by the lunatics Franken skewers in this book. Also, Franken admits when he has messed up, as in his shamefilled detailing of his "Clearchannel" debacle and his admissions prank on Bob Jones University. He also pretty much rips his targets up in a hilarious manner although I don't think that he does this because they are conservative, but instead because they are liars.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't get me wrong...
Review: I really like Al Franken - however, when you are sending your kids to a religious (Jewish) school and knocking Christians (Bob Jones U.) for having a religious based institution, it really doesn't come off that well to a lot of readers, many of whom have already gone severely to the right - Also, it doesn't show a whole lot of prudence to glorify public schools that you don't send your own children to. Franken is good in some respects, but ends up acting more like a limousine liberal - at least his son had it right about BJU when he pleaded with Al "Dad, leave them alone!"
Rating:
Summary: a lotta laughs, and a good lesson!
Review: I really like Al's alternate title - "Bearers of False Witness and the False Witness That They Bear" - because it brings home a point that underscores his whole diatribe: the current Administration and its propaganda mill are particularly despicable because they are so smugly self-righteous about their duplicity. I appreciated his deliberate hyperbole and frequent sarcasm, and found myself uncharacteristically cheering for his from-the-hip bravado, despite my aversion to such behavior among decision-makers. I found most chapters had enough humor to release the sense of outrage, with the exception of the Paul Wellstone story, which I ultimately felt deserved the serious treatment it was given. More than anything else I am grateful for the lesson learned, that it is so easy in this day and age to corroborate information that there is no need to take his or anyone else's word for anything. Case in point is the "frankenlies" website that was linked by a recent reviewer. I took the trouble to check it out - I mean REALLY check it out, and found in just a few clicks of the mouse that in many cases, their own sources discredit their arguments. I also took the trouble to check out a goodly number of Al's more disturbing factoids, such as the contemptible hypocrisy of the "No Child Left Behind" Act, and found them to be right on target. No wonder Bill O'Reilly turned off his microphone!
Rating:
Summary: Some good points, but shrill and not terribly funny.
Review: I really liked Al Franken when he was funny. I also liked Woody Allen when he was funny. Problem is, neither of them are right now. Allen just lost it. Franken, sadly, decided to take on the mantle of Political Philosopher and Left-Wing Pundit. Unfortunately, he isn't all that up to the task and, in all honesty, it's a sad waste of his considerable skills as a comic.But, people buy his books in large numbers, perhaps out of thirst for a courageous liberal voice to stand up to the booming chorus from the right on conservative talk radio and an increasing number of cable news channels. That thirst is understandable. Right now, the drought of articulate, sensible politicians on the left is the worst I've ever seen. Sure, we've got our share of Democrat attack dogs (like Howard Dean), but if you've watched even Dean in pointed interviews, he collapses. Tim Russert turned Dean into mush in one recent appearance. There is no reason for this deficit. There are smart, articulate liberals out there, and on many issues, liberals hold the moral high ground. But, Franken just isn't the right man for the job. I'm not sure who is, but it's not him. Franken's book takes a chapter from the right-wing kooks he critiques. He is as selective in his facts and stories as Limbaugh, as defensive O'Reilly, as overbearing and kooky as Coulter. Granted, he can be funnier, at times, than all three, but not here. He's too busy pontificating than turning the witty phrase. He goes for the lowest common denominator for humor, sadly. The other thing he does is he fails to counter the most powerful conservative propaganda of all: That the left doesn't have a point, they don't have a plan, they don't have an alternative. I know this isn't true, but Franken all but proves me wrong. And the problem, I think, is that like so many liberals, he doesn't have the courage to actually say what he really believes. Why? Because the liberal point of view is in the minority. Always has been. Except for support for government programs that pump out money and jobs, the core liberal principals just aren't in sync with most Americans. And, as a result, many liberals have dropped them (Bill Clinton, the prime example--see, e.g., opposition to the death penalty, aggressive wealth re-allocation, opposition to prayer in school, aggressive equal rights programs), or don't speak about them. These are unpopular views, but some of them are just plain right. Sure, Franken effectively points out the self-proclaimed conservative spokespeople who play fast and loose--even pathologically, it seems, in some instances--with the facts. No surprise there. They are marginally trained windbags who are more entertainers than savants. And none of them are serious journalists. Is it any surprise that they'd get caught up in manufacturing a world that supports their ideology? But there is just as much stuff that the lefties manipulate and get wrong--with some intentional misrepresentation to boot. If you want a discharge of gas from the left as pungent and potent as that from the right, buy this book. If you want a chuckle at the expense of being mean-spirited and downright nasty at times, buy this book. But if you want someone who actually has a message, who won't stoop to the level of those he seeks to pillory, go elsewhere. Where? I sure as hell don't know right now, but if there's a liberal out there with a plan and the courage to talk about unpopular, but moral positions, speak now. Before it's too late.
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Summary: I am a member of the Young Republicans and I loved it
Review: I received an early copy of this book and I have ordered another copy to give as a gift to my Republican father. I recently had surgery and as a result I had to spend a month on bed rest. During this time I wathced a lot of cable T.V. I began to notice many of the same things Al Franken points out in his book. Both the right and the left have their falts, but Franken aptly nails the right on a lot of things. Many times I was laughing out loud while reading this book. It really is a great read! Everyone should lighten up a little and learn to think for themselves.
Rating:
Summary: 2 laughs a page and the facts to make you cry!
Review: I received this book and read it cover to cover in 2 days... I couldn't put it down. First of all, I was laughing harder than I've ever laughed for political satire, and I had at least two good laughs on every page. Secondly, Franken blows big gaping holes in the arguements and even the ideas of modern day neo-conservative icons such as Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reily, Bernie Goldberg, Sean Hannity and the rest of those Media Elite who are constantly screaming and griping about the Media Elite. Really, if every hard core republican would read this book, and check the facts, they would undoubtably at least have to abandon their party (if not their ideals). A good laugh for liberals, a good education for conservatives.
Rating:
Summary: Its hot in the kitchen
Review: I recently read this book and would suggest it to anyone with an open mind and just a little bit of a sense of humor. As my title suggests Fox news must not like the heat when its placed directly on them. Good book.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't call him Al, call him Karl Marx Jr.
Review: I recently saw Al Frankin on CNN introduced as "political satirist, Al Frankin." I'm sorry, saying Al Frankin is a political satirist is like calling Joe Millionaire a method actor. Al Frankin's selective amnesia as rendered him a shill for the Marxist in this country who has bought in to the rhetoric that democrats are good and republicans are evil. The true ignorance of the left ideology is that socialism would cure the anti-American sentiment throughout the world. Do you ignoramuses really want government issued health care with a side order of redistribution of land and wealth? Chase that with a flat tax of 80%! Talk about saturated fat! Well, keep feeding idiots like Frankin and voting for dangerous radicals like Hillary and you will see this great nation neutered to a point of us resembling the 3rd world. You see liberals won't stop until yogurt has more culture than America. Speaking of Clinton, can someone explain to me why he simply arrested the 6 terrorists who orchestrated the first World Trade Center bombings? He tried and incarcerated those poor misunderstood freedom fighters (heavy sarcasm) like they just robbed a taco stand. Surprise, Frankin doesn't address this, nor does he chide Clinton for not even visiting New York City after that first bombing. Some nice appreciation to a state he carried to get elected. But I digress. Perhaps if Clinton went after TERRORISM and not merely six TERRORISTS, September 11 may not have occurred. I guess Frankin's impartial research did not provide him with a moment of clarity.
Rating:
Summary: Fair and a Little Unbalanced
Review: I recently worked for the local paper here. The gentleman who handled the opinion/letters to the editor pages had his desk near me. One day I over heard him commenting about the letters he was receiving from conservative types in our area. He was really struck that so many couldn't seem to express their views without name calling and fowl language. From the reviews posted here, this seems to be a nation-wide phenomenon. Sometimes Mr. Franklin is a little over the top, but for the most part, this book is hilarious. In addition to being funny, he makes a lot of very true observations about those other guys. It's so nice to see other kinds of view points finally showing up in print. There seems to have been very little other than conservative view points published until recently. Now if we could have just one or two talk shows that are a little less conservative life would be really good.
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