Rating: 
Summary: Stop, you're killing me!
Review: This book works on so many levels. First, you'll laugh... Moreover you'll bust all your stitches, if you have any. I especially liked Franken's "Globetrotter's vs. Washington Generals" analogy to Fox's Hannity & Colmes. With a simple font change, he demonstrates the show's "balance," rendering Colmes inconsequential. This book is not for everyone...Get this book, and get it now.
Rating: 
Summary: Good...
Review: This book would be a revelation to those Americans who slip in and out of Cable News,Time and Newsweek for a few minutes a week. It would be an eye-opener to those hardworking Americans who are too busy to see the external world, in this case the politico/news establishment, for what it is: a complex world of power, lies, print, videotape, colliding ideology, any means to an end.Furthermore, whether ignorant or informed, if one is a reasonable and liberal person then one will be thoroughly entertained by Franken's wit. He is the American counterpart to the highly educated, scintillatingly funny British comedians like Stephen Fry and Rowan Atkinson. By liberal, I mean simply: liberal. And by the way, If you do read the book Kharap Juta means bad shoes and Choto means small - I venture to guess that these names were suggested by Miss Chug.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny Stuff
Review: This book would have been really entertaining - if it wasn't so scary. Regardless of what side of the political fence you are on, take a look at all of the countries the liberals would like us to be like - France, Germany, Britain, Canada...and realize that many of their tax rates are higher then 50%!! It is people like Franken who perpetrate the lies, not the right. Like I said, this book would be funny if there weren't so many people who believe every word of it like gospel. It's sad how it is totally fine for people to trash the president when he's a republican - but call Clinton a draft doger (which he was, no one disputes that) and you're called an america-hater. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Read something with better research - Either of Coulter's books (which provides evidence with every claim she makes), Savage's books, which do the same, or Laura Ingram's book (which is really entertaining as well as informational.) Steer clear of entertainers who think they know everything about politics. Not that they don't have the right to say it - they do. They just don't have the right to be believed. Thank god I borrowed this book and didn't buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Sad
Review: This book written by Franken, a Democratic activist, is sad, a smear campaign against those he disagrees with, particularly conervatives.
He calls many conservatives "liars," which is actually defamation.
If you don't belive me, read it, proof is in the reading.
Rating:
Summary: It's Funny Cuz It's True
Review: This book, first and foremost, is hillarious. A solid portion of my favor towards this book is due to the fact that it made me laugh out loud about two times a page. The other reason why I enjoyed this book so much was because finally somebody exposed the truth about the true media biases in this country. Although pretty harsh at times, someone had to counter attack Bill O'Riely and Sean Hannity. He does a good job of poking fun at some of our President's policies that don't even help the people who need help, and makes a great point at saying that criticizing the government is patriotic. I also enjoyed how Al writes about the truth of W.'s abominable environmental track record. Mr. Franken also impresses me with his method of proving the truth to the readers. There are a few kinda extraneous conservative bashing parts that he got carried away with, but overall, I recomend it. You wont be able to help but laugh.
Rating:
Summary: I wrote the same review for Coulter's book
Review: This book, much like Ann Coulter's inane "Treason", is part of the growing uncivility in today's political discourse. Instead of making logical arguments about improving Americans' daily lives, these pundits on both sides of the aisle focus on vicious personal attacks. It is a testament to their uselesness that none of these books actually contain prescriptions to IMPROVE the average person's life. It is easy to debase other people and to find flaws in other's positions and arguments but much harder to find solutions. From now on, I will only read political books that contain ideas/suggestions instead of the usual bile.
Rating: 
Summary: Whines, and the whining whiners who whine them
Review: This book, when reduced to its most elemental, is basically a long-winded temper tantrum aimed at Franken's political opponents. "Whaah! Boo hoo!" he seems to be saying, "It's not FAIR that Bush is in the White House! How DARE people like Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter be so successful?!?" Speaking of the latter, he seems to be especially resentful of her success, which is ironic inasmuch as she does basically the same thing he does, namely, mix political commentary with humor and venom. Perhaps he's jealous and senses that she's actually better at it? Who knows, and ultimately, who cares? Like Coulter, Franken is basically preaching to the choir, hence neither really makes any effort to be either fair-minded or intellectually honest. The end result is that these "Attack" books serve mainly to whip up a froth of indignation and anger in their readers and thus contribute, not enlightenment but further polarization. So the question is, does the continuing popularity of the attack books mean that Americans really are at each others' throats politically? Or does it mean that Americans don't really take this stuff very seriously, and view it primarily as entertainment? Personally, I'm hoping it's the latter. The problem with this book, however, is that it's hard to tell where the "serious" content ends and the funny stuff begins. In the intro, for example, he claims that his "Facts" (assembled by the modestly named "Team Franken") are all true, and that anything that isn't is obviously intended as satire. Problem is, it ain't so obvious. At one point Franken allegedly challenges a conservative magazine editor to a fistfight. Now, for Franken's sake, I'm HOPING that's satire, since the notion of a grown man in his early 50's with a wife and kids actually picking a fight with someone over a mere political dispute strikes me as downright bizarre. There's another scene where he supposedly met Barbara Bush on a plane, then got her mad at him by making fun of George W's looks and mannerisms. This, he opines, is "proof" that the former First Lady is the Queen of Mean. Well, putting aside the question of "Was it real, or was it Memorex?", what was he expecting? I'm sure Queen Elizabeth would have responded in exactly the same way had some obnoxious twit dared to make Dumbo ear gestures when discussing Prince Charles in her presence. If the Barbara Bush encounter on the plane really happened and isn't just another of Franken's jokes, then all I can say is "Bravo!" to Mrs. Bush for not suffering fools gladly. Rather than whine about her dismissive treatment, he should realize he was just given a free lesson in manners and in comporting oneself with class and dignity. We should all have parents who display that level of loyalty and family unity. As for the rest of the book, well, if you're a liberal, you'll at least get a few laughs. And that's about it. If you think this book in any way actually contributes to serious discourse, then you've spent much too long with your head up your posterior. However, unlike the plethora of fools who've been peppering their opponents' books with cheap one star ratings in a hope to, I suppose, dampen sales, I'll at least give Franken his due. He's a good entertainer, and that's exactly what books like this are for, no more, no less.
Rating:
Summary: My Political Bible
Review: This book, written by my best friend Art Franklin, has been very helpful to me. During my campaign to become the Governor of California, I have met many liars. Before I started, I had no friends. Now everyone wants to be my friend, even my enemies. Clint Eastwood wants to be my friend and so does Sylvester Stallone. And Jerry Springer. He keeps calling me at 2 in the morning asking if I want to go get a drink and a couple of broads. I always say no and give him Bill Clinton's number. I admire Bill Clinton. He lied but then he confessed. That took guts. Then he confessed that his confession was a lie. That took guts too. I give my constituents in California this solemn promise; I will never lie. And when I do, I will confess. Teddy Kennedy once told me that the truth will set you free. Tell that to Nelson Mandela.
Rating:
Summary: If this book was $100 it would be worth every penny
Review: This books is long overdue. It exposes not only the naive orthodoxy of Right Wingers but it also dismantles their ridiculous habits of truth-stretching and pompousness. If there is one theme of this book that really made it worth every penny it's how Al Franken explains how neo-cons think: that it's compulsory to use sneaky debate tactics and sniveling hyperbole as long as you're on the far right. I read the whole thing in one day, 400 pages. If you happen to think some of these Fox News guys (Sean Hannity in particular) are a bunch of naive dolts than you will thoroughly enjoy Al Franken's new book. Thank you Al, you have done a great service to America and Americans.
Rating:
Summary: Too bad the left is so angry
Review: This books spews venomous, hatred, lies and bigotry in the very direction Frankin is trying to criticize. It uses misrepresentations and goes on and on about what is so bad about the right when in fact all it really does is prove that Al Frankin is a complete moron devoid of any common sense or sense of decency. The Left is angry because America has rejected them outright. Al sounds like a spoiled little brat who didn't get his way. This book isn't worth the paper it is printed on.
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