Rating: 
Summary: Man, is it good
Review: I've been a liberal for a long time. I love it. It just makes sense. This book is great at pointing out all that is wrong with conservatism. Every time I turned the page, I knew I was in for a chuckle or even prolonged laughter on the humorous yet scary truths that were uncovered about our favorite neighbors to the right. And you know what? All the bad reviews on here point out that Franken stoops to name calling and 6th grade debate quality...yet that is what the review itself is doing. The right is very hipocritical when they attempt to shoot down their opponents. It's sad to realize that the only thing that keeps the right going is the love of the almighty dollar. Nobody cares if the world goes to hell, as long as they can have their money...which is what is happening today. But this goes into my rant about how the Bush administration is the death of America, and that is discussed in this book a lot better than I could ever discuss it.
Rating:
Summary: The only counter-argument is mud
Review: I've been hesistant in writing a review of this book. It is a loud obnoxious argument for the left and against the right. It advertises to be nothing less, so on that end it is a success. But Franken's success doesn't come from wrapping himself in an ideology and expousing it. Instead it comes from his attack at the belief that conservatives, being God-fearing patriotic people are therefore truthful. They aren't and he goes after that point viciously. In the left wing, where tolerance and acceptance are considered virtues, it had been considered bad taste to stand up and shout down those who oppose you. Franken has recognized that the anti-intellectual arguments used by the right for so long can swing both ways. Which isn't to say that his arguments aren't intellectual, only to say that they aren't presented in an overty intellectual way. What makes the book even more painful for conservatives is that they have no counter-argument for it. They are not used to being on the receiving end like this. Whereas a normal response would be a shouting down, they find Franken shouting back and shouting louder. And so they've resorted to name calling and lawsuits. That's Franken's victory, if a shallow one.
Rating:
Summary: Surprising Comedy
Review: I've just finished reading Franken's book, and I am really impressed. This book is really funny (Franken's dark wit is great--I've always liked it) but, more astonishingly, very well researched. It's not just a screed--this book gun's are loaded. I read a transcript of O'Reilly interviewing Ann Coulter about "Treason". In it, he says that Franken is just a vile person, and agrees with Coulter that she is far funnier. WhaWhaWhat! This book isn't a mean spirited attack--it is a reaction to these truely nasty books like Treason and Let Freedom Ring. It was nice to see someone say "hold on, wait a minute." The only bad thing about this book is that Franken really is a party-line Democrat. I don't think party-liners are really liberal. He defends Clinton and the rest so vehemently, you would think that they don't do anything bad either. It's a little too black and white for me. However, that only comes once in a while. Overall, a great, funny read.
Rating:
Summary: A blast of fresh breeze!
Review: I've just finished this tome and am limp with laughter and adrenaline. Mr. Franken takes no prisoners, and skewers his subjects with outrageous -- but absolutely accurate -- assertions about their dishonesty. He and his (serious) researchers uncover and explain the facts that unravel the many political lies that have been reported in the media over and over again in the past decade, and most recently, since 2000. Readers can do their own detective work and hold Franken to his own avowed standards of truth, and you'll find he can back up everything he says. Try this book. You may not like it, but you won't be able to shrug it off.
Rating: 
Summary: Have you actually read the book?
Review: I've just gone through reading 8 pages of the reviews, just to see what people are saying. In 96% of all the negative reviews, there is no mention of specific discrepancies toward Franken's allegations, just vague comments. It leads me to believe that it's not even being read by those who have chosen to take the time to log on and write a negative review on something they've never read. Come on be honest. There's no way you could walk into a Barnes and Noble and even hold that book for more than a minute, much less fork over your hard earned money. I bought it and I was just waiting for the cashier to look at me odd or have someone in line spit on me. It never happened, I bought it late at night when the crowds were lighter. Anyway, Good Book! I recommend. How's that for a review!
Rating:
Summary: I've loved Al Franken--
Review: I've loved Al Franken....for as long as I can remember. Viewing
his first appearance on SNL..."It's me, Al Franken", I chuckled
to myself thinking this boy is definately gonna amount to some-
thing, as nothing was more important than that we remember his
name--and we do. It's been a pretty depressing period for us, Liberals--grinding
our collective teeth through Sunday's Fox News, and O'Reilly's
Rabid Rants. But our Hero does us proud in this latest Magnum
Opus! Everything we ever wanted to spit through a blow-gun at
the Bunglers of the Rabid Right, is between the well-designed
covers of this priceless tome. A must read! I haven't chuckled
this much in--well--? years.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasant Mix of Hilarious & Outrageously Hilarious!
Review: I've made a fool of myself all week reading this book on the subway and in other public places by laughing out loud, trying to suppress the laugh, then involuntarily snorting and finally giving up and just laughing out loud again. It is that funny. More important, however, is the message the laughs surround: we are in trouble if we let the current reportage of news continue and don't hold accountable those who have no interest in "fair and balanced" and for that matter, wouldn't know "fair and balanced" if it peed on their heads. Franken presents example after well-researched example of misleading reporting/writing or just downright lies. I felt a call to arms, though I was laughing so hard I dropped my weapon. I will pick it back up again because this book has motivated me so.
Rating:
Summary: Should be mandatory reading.
Review: I've never been a fan of SNL, but I picked up Franken's previous "Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot" for the title alone. It's a great book. Buy it if you don't have it. And buy this one, too. Also great. Nice to see Fox (and Bill O'Reilly)'s commitment to the First Amendment by trying to sue to stop publication of this book. Anyways, but it.
Rating:
Summary: Better political commentator than humorist
Review: I've never been a great fan of Al Franken's humor. Usually, I've found him mildly funny at best. But he stood up to the Fox Network, who found him such a threat that they sued him on the grounds that they owned the words "fair and balanced" (now that's funny), so I felt like buying his book was the least I could do. And to my surprise, I found myself enjoying it. No, by the standards of commedians, he's kind of run-of-the-mill. But by the standards of political commentary--where a guy like Rush Limbaugh is regarded as funny--Al Franken is hilarious. And under the humor is some real meat. He does an excellent job of documenting how the right wing has elevated character assassination and lying into a political tool powerful enough to elect a president. Along the way, he demolishes the myths of the liberal press, Al Gore's exaggerations, and Clinton being soft on terrorism. I was sorry that he didn't devote a bit more space to the lies being told about Hillary Clinton, but maybe he's saving his ammo in case she ever does decide to run for President. Franken is at his best when going head-to-head against right wing extremists like Coulter, Limbaugh, and O'Reilly, although it's a bit like shooting fish in a bucket. I didn't much care for the "Operation Chickenhawk" chapter, in which he shares his vision of what might have happened if draft-dodging hawks like Bush, O'Reilley, and Gingrich had actually gone to Viet Nam (they end up fragging John Kerry). This is more the old Franken. Stick with the facts, Al. It is welcome to see the lies and exaggerations of the right met with some righteous anger. Still, Franken cannot really match the bile of those he attacks. You never get the feeling that he actually hates these guys the way they clearly hate so much about America. Perhaps that is a good thing.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, Insightful & Frightening!!!
Review: I've never been a huge Franken fan -- my only prior exposure to him was on SNL where I found him amusing, but not particularly funny. Then I picked up this book. It absolutely made me laugh out loud!! It also shed some light on how the media has a bias toward conservatism and outright lying -- and it's terrifying when you realize that this entire country is at the mercy of one nasty boob from Texas and the interests that line his pockets. Unlike Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity, Al backs up his information with a series of detailed footnotes and references. When he makes a mistake, he tells you -- he even has the decency to admit when he's gone too far and you feel his genuine remorse for these instances. And unlike other reviewers of this book, I actually READ THE WHOLE THING!! I'm not a knee-jerk liberal, but I am someone who realizes that it's about time those of us who believe in taking care of each other, the environment and telling the truth to stand up and be heard. I would recommend this book to liberals and conservatives alike -- in fact, there's much to be learned for both sides. Keep an open mind and you just might learn a thing or two!! Excellent read!!! Keep up the good work, Al!!
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