Rating: 
Summary: Franken tells it like it is
Review: Al Franken has done more than he can imagine for liberals. "Lies" absolutely nails conservative pundits like Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, and Bill O'Reilly (the last two really get a whipping) throughout the book, while dispelling myths like the Democrats' politicizing of the Wellstone memorial and Clinton's alleged refusal to deal with al Qaeda (both of these are debunked with astounding authority, especially the Clinton allegations, which surprised me). He also challenges Bush on many of his policies, including pre-9/11 awareness (in a fantastic chapter called "Operation Ignore") and environmental regulations. Did I mention that Al is hilarious? This is one of the funniest political books I've ever read, and is only challenged by other Franken books. With the release of this book and Joe Conason's latest at almost the same time, the conservative attack dogs are temporarily all chained up.
Rating:
Summary: Disinformation Unmasked
Review: Al Franken has done the Republic a valuable service in taking apart the methods of disinformation that are the stock-in-trade of rightists orchestrating our mass media. The number done on Al Gore in the last campaign on "Love Story". "Love Canal", and "Inventing the Internet" was particulasrly illuminating. Black propaganda becomes "news" because of the laziness of "journalists" who should realize they're being played for fools.
The chapter on the Wellstone memorial left me furious. The humour of Franken's work is overshadowed by its factual clarity. The truth is harsh. Good work Al Franken and thank you from a friend of Paul and Sheila's.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining, funny and enlightening read
Review: Al Franken has found his voice with this book. His previous efforts, while funny, didn't sustain their comedic levels throughout. This book does. I think that's partially due to the subject matter, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly etc, who are very deserving of the grief Franken gives them. Once the lies are piled up, it's hard to believe anything any of them say.Kudos, Al!
Rating:
Summary: This Country Needs More People Like Al Franken
Review: Al Franken has given both the left and the right exactly what they need... a call to action to the former, and a kick in the pants to the latter (no, actually it's more like a bludgeoning). It should be required reading for people with sane political opinions; but it should probably be required reading for Republicans, too -- just so they know what they're really voting for. What impresses me most about this book is that though Franken really lays into the right ("Sean [Hannity] may be evil, but he's not smart"), he doesn't come across as mean-spirited or as vitriolic as those that he writes about (Ann Coulter, etc.) do. And I don't think this is just because I agree with his political opinions. Franken is funny, of course, but comes across as particularly human -- you get the sense that he's a good guy trying to figure things out, who has good intentions, who's big enough to admit it when he makes a mistake, and who's strong enough to call other on their mistakes when no one else will. It's also really funny. And I mean funny. Like, laugh out loud funny. Maybe you're the kind of person that laughs out loud at books. I'm not normally. But I was here. Unfortunately, I don't have the capacity to check all of Franken's facts, so I can't comment on how comprehensive his numbers, etc. are. What I can say is he does present his ideas in a well thought-out fashion and isn't boring. It's hard to be both at once. I know because I'm trying to be both right now. This is satire par excellence, satire that uses the very words and forms of those he's satirizing to show how ridiculous their statements can be. By making a list of all of the ludicrous things Ann Coulter says about Democrats ("Liberals hate society," etc.) , he deflates her rhetoric. By making a veritable catalogue of Bill O'Reilly's lies, Franken makes O'Reilly look like nothing more than a bully. The right-wing pundits and politicians are humanized in the same way that Franken humanizes himself; only they come across as very bad humans, and Franken comes across a real human, a good one. While he's funny with silly jokes about "Bill O'Lie-lly," Franken is at his most effective when revealing the pettiness and smallness of his victims. He's also particularly good at chiding those on his side when they don't make their opinions known more forcefully. His treatment of Alan Colmes in this respect may be a little harsh, but darn it, it's funny. I recommend this book whether you're into politics or not. If you're not, you will be after you're done. If you are, it'll be a good laugh and you'll learn a lot. Also, you should buy it because it'll make Fox News mad, and that's fun for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: A fair and balanced review...
Review: Al Franken has hit the proverbial nail on the head! Al has put words and a clear focus on something that I have been feeling for many years. A frustration with what the media does and does not cover. How many times have you been watching an interview and your though follow-up question goes unasked? Or, you hear an unbelievable statement/speech from the White House or from the hill expecting critical headlines the next day, but get nothing? Well here are many of today's critical issues all wrapped up in one concise and brutally honest book. Put this book on your coffee table and you will find yourself in heated political discussion the moment your first guest arrives.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most refreshing political books
Review: Al Franken has injected a refreshing change into the books we've seen come out of the political spectrum in some time. He keeps a witty humor throughout, and tells things straight-up. He really is a truth teller. I double checked a number of things he's pointed out - such as Hannity's mischaracterization of the Reagan vs Democratic Congressional budgets. They are absolutely true, and he does the best he can to show where the radical right is lying. In the end, the growing right wing radicalism in this nation at present will destroy itself if it keeps on the current path. Great job, Al! You aren't just preaching to the choir, you are being as witty and respectable as you can be! This book is more then just political blathering; its humor, truth, and really interesting reading.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent blend of well-researched analysis and comedy.
Review: Al Franken has managed once again to produce an excellent book that blends both comedy and a scathing indictment of hypocrisy into one masterful whole. This book is incredibly well-researched, with footnotes and endnotes providing support for every time he amusingly points out the lies that have been perpetrated by various media personalities and outlets. In it he exposes blatant lies knowingly told by, among others, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Rielly, and Sean Hannity. If you enjoy factual political commentary, or if you just like a very skilled comedian exposing hypocrisy on a grand scale, this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Triple threat
Review: Al Franken has mastered three very different skills that make this book such a good read. First, as the title itself indicates, he can do broad humor with the best of them; his jabs are the literary equivalent of good slapstick. Second, he sprinkles throughout an outstanding brand of subtle deadpan humor, saying things with such a straight face that the humor may be going over some of his readers' heads. Third, when he gets down to the serious business of the book -- refuting false statements that have become accepted wisdom among conservatives simply because conservatives keep repeating those statements to each other over the airwaves -- he writes with precision and accuracy. Most particularly, he succeeds not only in refuting the notion that Clinton was to blame for 9/11, he actually makes a sober, well-documented case that Clinton was practically obsessed with terrorism, Al Queda, and Osama, while the Bushies in their first eight months were asleep at the switch, focusing on missile defense and putting the anti-terrorism proposals left behind by the Clintonians on the back-burner. The humor (of both types one and two) is of course what makes Franken Franken, but I fear that it may undercut how well the third, and deadly serious aspect of the book, will do in correcting some common misconceptions. However, since the humor is so good, it's hard to question too much what Franken has done here. In short, this book is a must read for anyone who wants to stop the far right from getting away with more lies.
Rating: 
Summary: Lies and the Lying Liars...
Review: Al Franken has never written a book worth reviewing. Why anyone should read him is an indictment on our society.
Rating:
Summary: Lies and the Comedian that told them
Review: Al Franken has no view on politics he does not know politicts he was on Third Rock the one time he was good at politics.My dad hated him on SNL but I thought he was okay as Stuart Smalley
but he does not know anything at all no experience what so ever at all is necessary for these books.Hes not like General Brokaw who has tons of experience.I say this book is a disgrace to politics and the only thing worse is Micheal Moore I will pass. Everyone knows that the real racist are the Liberals they pick everyone out as just being black.My grandpa is a Liberal and he is 79 and he hates Black people me and my dad and my other grandpa who is deceased were not liberal and not Racist.My Grandpa said the words I like Gonzaga because they are white I said Grandpa black people are cool don't diss them.
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