Rating: 
Summary: An informed liberal replies...
Review: My motivation for buying Al's new book came from hearing him speak and articulate his aim and intent in front of the public at forums around the country. By releasing such a book he has thrown (or rather re-thrown) himself into the mix of best-selling punditry, perhaps the most profitable new book market this side of Michael Crichton or Stephen King novels. The proliferation of these books, coming from either ideological direction, has been, from what I can tell, mostly a misleading, and therefore disingenuous play for the public's mind.Having said that, and having read material from other pundits like Michael Moore, I must say Al makes a very good case (and more fact-based one than Moore) in his book. He takes it upon himself to singularly tear down many arguments from the "right" that various ideological/literary opponents have thrown at the "left" (which amount to pathetically sophomoric and unresearched scream sessions, despite what Ann Coulter's endnotes would have you believe); Charges like treason, slander, anti-Americanism, terrorist funding, terrorist loving, the whole two-faced bit that talking heads on the "right" tout as evidence of "liberal" anti-social behavior. Al, using his satirical wit, makes some rather searing cuts against his literary opponents. His contempt, if not for their person but for their misleading ways, for people like Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity is obvious in both funny and serious ways. This contempt is wielded rather effectively as he deconstructs (many times quite masterfully) their arguments, and goes so far as to point out (for example) statistical misrepresentations made by Hannity in his book Let Freedom Ring. He lets Ms. Coulter have it by simply showing her misguided, sweeping accusations the door, and pointing out the storied lives of many American heros like John Glenn (a Democrat, the kind of person Coulter has nightmares about). He also gets into the nitty-gritty of her literary ways and explains her tricks (she has also been highly discredited by articles on Spinsanity.com and algerhiss.com). Al also proves that there is no particular bias in media, it just depends on the outlets you go to for news. I would say there's equal amount to serve both angles. But beyond knocking down the easy targets, he gets into his red meat: the Bush administration. He has fun with this one, as there is a lot of material to comment on. He points out how so many of our current leaders trumpet a call to military service, but yet have not served themselves, and in Bush Jr.'s case, actively avoided it (though that really isn't something we didn't know already). Al doesn't really get into the Bush administration's business dealings (Michael Moore has made that his mission), but he does take them to task on what they say or have said, versus what they've done after saying those things. He also calls into question their social and international stances, like dropping out of Kyoto and the ABM treaty (why exactly DID they do this?), and providing copious funds for "big meat", and the estate tax phase-out. Al and his team do not mount their all-out attack with mountains of stats to prove their points. Perhaps this is because A) Al is first and foremost a satirist, and B) he would probably tell me a book constructed mostly of stats would be about as fun as reading the phone book, and just isn't his style. Rather, he/they make their points either via humor and facts together, or by frankly taking an argument and logically walking the reader through it, exposing its faults or plain-faced misuse against other more valid arguments. Having said that, he documents some of his sources as footnotes (he rails against endnotes ;) ) and names several websites (www.spinsanity.com is one) that were most helpful in his team's research. However I wish he was a little more thorough in citing sources. He cites sources for about 66% (guestimate) of the facts he prints, and I'd be interested in knowing where the rest of his info comes from. He gained my trust as a reader, but personally I'd just like to know to be sure. The fact that he did consult a few conservative-minded people (not just those he makes fun of), and that he had two on his research team, tells me he was at least focused on getting as much factually correct as possible. From the review Spinsanity.com did on his book, it appears TeamFranken mostly got it right. In the end I was satisfied with Franken's book. He listened to all the unproveable, accusatory effusing from the "right", and finally said "enough". It got him so angry, it aroused his best satirical instincts, and motivated him to write a book against these lies. I applaud Franken for taking on his mission, and differentiating his book from others by getting the story (mostly) right.
Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious. And at times very moving.
Review: My only disappointment with this book is that he has nary a word to say about the ALL TIME Big Fat Lying Hypocrite of the Universe, Mr. William Bennett. How did the "liberally biased press" let THAT idiot off the hook?
Rating:
Summary: Great way to get your political facts while having a chuckle
Review: My title says it all. If you don't have the time or will-power to read detailed tomes about the corrupted right-wing heavies in our government and media, read this book. It's quick, enlightning (e.g. the truth behind Gore's "claims" of having invented the internet and being the subject of the movie "Love Story")and enjoyable to read. A word of advice: don't read this book before bed -- you won't be able to fall asleep because you'll be too riled-up about all of the "compasssionate conservatives'" nasty deeds that you just found out about!
Rating: 
Summary: The rantings of a deranged mind
Review: My true rating would have been negative five stars, but it wasn't a choice. Franken missed his calling. He should have written for Pravda. Maybe North Korea or China could use a spokesperson. Franken is just the left's version of Baghdad Bob. His hypocrisy knows no bounds. If any of the previous reviewers are actually conservatives, I'll leave the county. I'll even go on the same boat with Baldwin and company.
Rating:
Summary: Sooo many reviews. Franken a personal favorite so I'll put
Review: my two cents worth. Franken is a funny, political astute comedian. He (with help from team Franken) has written an excellent book. Is it true? Much of it isn't. He says so. Remember? He's a comedian. This is what he does. Good ones write funny books. Are most conservatives/Repubicans/talk show host (somtimes one in the same) greedy, ignorant, self righteous , hypocrites? Yes. They are also funny. People laugh at them in any case. But Franken is not a elected offical/policy maker... That's good because he wouln't be as fuuny. Intentionally that is.
Rating:
Summary: I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!!!
Review: My wife and I listened to the audiobook of Franken's latest book on the way to Omaha this Thanksgiving. Franken's delivery features his typically sacastic and sometimes smug deameanor, but is largely entertaining... that is if you can be entertained while learning about how blatantly the right wing media and their minders in D.C. consistently deceive the public by twisting and, oftentimes, fabricating the truth to suit their political aims. Franken's drops a big ol' bunker-buster of facts on these slimy snakes and rousts them out of their caves of lies. With each passage, you feel initially amused, but then thinking "Hey! That is downright sickening!" When we arrived in Omaha I was frothing at the mouth to grab the first Republican relative I could find and rip him a new one. My wife talked some sense into me. But if that's the kind of reaction you're looking for in your political satire or if you are a Right Winger that wants some truth with your media, try this one on for size.
Rating:
Summary: Elucidatingly Delightful!
Review: My word Al, you've bowled some columbine with this tome. When I think of all those conservatives just simply boiling in their own beet-root-vegetable broth, I really have to think of that wonderful comment all my friends and I have been hearing out there on the party circuit, "It's time to take the old trolley back to the museum on this one." Bravo, Al! Bravissimo!!!
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing to read.
Review: Naturally, I'd buy this book. I lean in the left. My bias aside, this is definitely at the top of my current events/politcal books. I love the way Franken points out errors the right has made and back it up with facts. Lots of footnotes, not endnotes. I didn't just sit through years of college writing term papers for various courses with each professor's own preference in research styles--MLA, APA, AMA, Turabian, and Chicago--to discover the truth about some television journalists/writers and their so called facts! Even in high school, we were not allowed to lie in MLA and APA style research term papers. We were graded heavily on whether our facts were valid or not. And I agree with how he describes Fox News. I try to be objective and watch all media, "liberal" or otherwise, but everytime I put on FNC, I hear O'Reilly yelling at some guest. The guest doesn't even have a chance to defend himself! That is not "fair and balanced." But this book is. Franken doesn't come right out and defend his fellow Democrats, he points out lies we have been fed. And remember, with facts. My other favorites: Works by Michael Moore & Greg Palast, Feminine Mystique, Nickel and Dimed, Fast Food Nation.
Rating:
Summary: Nutcase
Review: Need I say more? The profanity used in the book is enough to tell you about this mans character.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect example of why the Democrats are in decline.
Review: Negativity. It's all the Liberal Democrats have, folks. They have no solutions other than to tear down their opponents. You guys ever heard of an original idea? (Other than finding new ways to spend other people's money, ie taxpayers?) Oh, I'm sure you're thinking "What about universal health care?" The Communists thought of that one long ago.
The Democrats are still angry about the 2000 election. Face it, Al, you don't care what Fox News says. You hate them because they don't agree with you. If you want to win people to your side, don't do it by slinging mud. Do it like JFK did when he ran and he said, "Things are good now, but we can make it better!"
Here are the facts about Republicans that Al doesn't want you to know: 1) Republicans believe in tax relief for everyone, not just the rich. The Democrats only tell you that because they don't want you to get angry with them when they raise your taxes. (The Federal income tax rate was around 4% before WW2). 2) The Federal government, with a trillion dollar payroll, is way too big and the only party willing to reduce its size is the Republican Party. 3) Democrats acquire and keep power by keeping the government large by collecting gigantic sums and spending even larger sums. 4) Anyone who disagrees with their twisted philosophy is instantly branded "a liar" or "cold hearted". If you want a real feel for what's going on in the world of politics, check out Treason or Slander by Ann Coulter. She'll tell you how the Democrats knowingly protected Soviet spies for the past sixty years.
|
