Rating: 
Summary: The Truth at Last!!
Review: Just finished reading the last page. God how we needed this book. Why has it taken a SNL graduate to tell America about the vicious deceitful tactics of the Right? Anyway, Al Franken has done a thoroughly honest job, and managed to be funny as hell at the same time. Go buy this book now, and buy 3 or 4 more to give to friends. Really, it's that good and it's important to get the word out on how the Right has hijacked this country.
My only complaint is there was not enough material on the wacko Christian right.
Rating: 
Summary: This is one guy who knows how to kid on the square!
Review: Just finished the book, and loved it. Sure, there are weak spots, like the lack of critical perspective on Clinton, who Franken seems to think could do no wrong. Of course, by comparison with the White House's current occupant, that would appear to be the case. I am a liberal who thinks that it was appropriate for Clinton to be impeached - not for his infidelity, but for being the respresentative of the Execuative branch and lying, in that capacity, to the representatives of the Judicial and Legislative branches. I also think it was appropriate for him not to be removed from office. Bush is something else entirely, as are the sycophants who would not know how to say a critical word about anything he says or does. Franken is thorough in his indictments of the pundits and the media companies whose perspective is so thoroughly inclined. In many cases, research is not required for refutation of O'Reilly, or Hannity, or Coulter: mere application of elementary logic is sufficient. I very much appreciate that Franken says that the issue is not bias to the left or right, but bias toward the sensational, the scandalous, and so on.
As to those reviewers who are making snarky comments about this book, you may take note that most of them never make any mention of anything inside its covers. Their criticism is based, it would seem, on not liking the fact that Franken is not a sycophant like them. I'll make a deal with them: I won't review Ann Coulter's books, which I never intend to read, if you don't review Franken's or Moore's or Palast's books, which you have never read. If you are going to be critical, read the book, then make your comments with citations which prove that you know whereof you speak. Otherwise, we'll know you're telling the truth because your mouths will be closed. Just kidding. On the square.
Rating:
Summary: Fair to Lairs? Yep, and Somewhat Balanced.
Review: Just finished this one (got it Tuesday, finished Wednesday, with time out for Banacek, oh course), and I laughed almost all the way through. Al Franken takes the various overreaching lies of the right (wingnuts, freepers, ect) and points out the truth they seem to ignore. He uses actual facts! Real footnotes! Real endnotes! Quotes people IN context! A-MA-ZING! Truly.
The silliness of Coulter, O'Reilly, Hannity, and Goldburg are revealed under Al's sharp humor (uh, REAL humor, instead of just meanness... how strange), not to mention the continuing comedy that is George W. Bush. Tragic comedy, that is. There is real anger in Al's book, anger at the way these people are taken seriously, anger and frustration that the uninformed might be taken in by the nonsense that Coulter and her ilk spout.
Al is hilarious in his visit to Bob Jones U, in his dissection of the aforementioned list of 'wingers, and in the short stories 'Operation Chickenhawk', and 'The Gospel of Supply Side Jesus" (both illustrated by comics artist Don Simpson, of 'Megaton Man fame). Most of all, I enjoyed and was moved by the chapter on the Wellstone Memorial, and how the Republicans twisted the pain and emotion mourners felt over the death of friends into a political club to beat the Democrats with. Frankens' anger and wit are sharp and cold in this chapter, heartfelt, and a little bewildered at the cynicism of the Republicans. Must be read to be believed. I know that the left has lies of its own to answer for, but sullying peoples' reputations for cheap political points is not the way either party should be acting. As Tucker Carlson would say, it's nauseating. Thanks for this book Al!
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a liberal who can hit back!
Review: Just for balance, this book was necessary. It's tiring to hear about the liberal-dominated media when there's a conservative-dominated best-seller list. Not only is Franken hilarious, but he knows how to get his facts straight!
Rating:
Summary: Al Franken is the Anti-Fox
Review: Just got the book yesterday and I am nearly through. The chapters on Ann Coulter and Bill OReilly are a riot. I really enjoyed how he methodically dismantles several assertations in AC's book. If you liked Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot, they you will love this book as well. It is funny, and factual.My thanks to Fox for giving this book so much publicity. I was planning on getting it from the library, but when I heard about the suit I assumed it must be a great read. Thanks to the publisher for moving up the release date as well
Rating:
Summary: Fair and Balanced AND Funny, pulls no punches.
Review: Just got this book as the release date was moved up. Fox Broadcasting's suit against Franken was dismissed as totally without merit. What were they thinking? Al Franken skewers the right with their own words. In case after case, he shows how they have used outright lies and deceptive tactics to misrepresent anyone who opposes their way of thinking. His writing is amusing, but don't think that because this book is funny it's not accurate. Franken painstakingly researches his facts, and this is exactly what the Ann Coulter's and Bernie Goldberg's did NOT do, and why skewering them is 'like shooting fish in a barrel'. This book is a must read for liberals and conservatives alike. If you're conservative, you must read this to find out what your representatives in the media are doing: spouting outright lies that make conservatives look foolish.
Rating:
Summary: Anyone who does not like this book hates America
Review: Just Kidding, but I'm "kidding on the square"... TeamFranken does an excellent job of exposing the rabid right-wing media zealots. Among his exposes are the revelation that Bill O'Reilly lied about his Peabody Awards (his claim, two awards; Peabody says none), Coulter's lies about the New York Times (She claims that elitist biasled them not to cover important stories, Team Franken proves her wrong) and Bush, Cheney, Rove, and Wolfowitz, and Ashcroft's lies about nearly everything. (see pages 1-379) I wanted to be the first to review this book, so I could prepare you for what will inevitably follow. Somewhere on this very page, someone will refer to Al Franken as untalented, call him "Al Qaeda" and compare him to other slackers like James Carville, Mario Cuomo, and Franklin Delanor Roosevelt. Another review will say that his brand of unfunny leftist humor is shrill and spiteful (unlike Rush Limbaugh's joke about calling a 13 year old Chelsea Clinton a dog.) And yet another will tell you that although he is a liberal, he is ashamed at the rhetoric in this book and will never vote for a Democrat again (To this I can only say, shame on you Senator Lieberman.) Take these reviews with a grain of salt, because they will be written by bitter, angry men who have never brought a woman to orgasm. To TeamFranken, I offer a hearty salute, and the sincere hope that we can get the lying liars out of office.
Rating: 
Summary: Got a "1" cause there ain't Zero.
Review: Just makes you glad that idiots like this don't run the country. He is yesterday's news, living in memory of Monica, Bill and Hillary, An era where all respect went out the door with the White House china and silverware. It has one redeeming value -makes good fuel for the cabin cookstove next winter!
Rating:
Summary: Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced
Review: Just more lies from an ultra-liberal liar who himself got caught lying and using Harvard Stationary to do it. Liberals are so obviously frustrated by the truth that it's driving them mad. Reading this garbage proves that Conservatives have been right all along about the anti-American left.
Rating:
Summary: If you don't like the truth, then don't buy this book!
Review: Just picked up "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right" tonight, and I can't put it down. Wonderfully written, brilliantly funny, and brutally honest. Read this book before you vote this year. Every American needs to know the truth.
|
