Rating:  Summary: I assume he slept a lot while at Harvard Review: Al Franken is a pretty funny guy, and if you keep in mind that he does comedy because it is what he is (and nothing more), you can keep this book in perspective. Like another Harvard alumus, Conan O'Brien, he does lampoon with agility. He also likes to make stuff up as he goes and this book is full of it (literally). He obviously doesn't like Bill O'Reilly or especially Anne Coulter, but in Ms. Coulter's case, there is close footnoting of the contents and if you don't believe her, look it up and read about it for yourself. Now obviously, Ms. Coulter really, REALLY hates liberals (and who can blame her), but unlike Mr. Franken, she chooses her sources and documents what she says. She, of course, chooses those sources which most strongly support her argument (and all writing follows that lead), but it is supported by documentation none the less.Mr. Franken's book, like the one before it, is a liberal's attempt to set things straight for his cause by name-calling and spitting vitriol without the sense to back it up. He shouts over you, using the often employed strategy of persuasion by volume, not by intellect. This is too bad, as all well developed opinion should include getting both sides. This is not the place to obtain the liberal bent on things, as you will think all liberals are wannabe socialists or communists taking your money via huge, all-intrusive government in an effort to redistribute the country's wealth. This is what Al Franken would like (and many other liberal Democrats as well), but is hardly a "Fair and Balanced" overview of anything other than being short and bitter, with furry hair and nothing much to show over the years since "Saturday Night Live" but a few writing awards and a couple of tee-shirts. Do not buy this book. If you have the chance to steal it, however, feel free. It will be worth what you paid.
Rating:  Summary: Too Left For Me!! Review: Al Franken is a smart guy and he is right that the Fox News is a biased right-wing organization. He is right about alot of things. But like Ann C. is to the right, he is too much a left winger. People like him and Ann, don't represent this country and neither offers any real solutions to make America better. All you get is name calling and finger pointing to the other side. While he makes some good points, he needs needs to show some common sense in his opinions. He has alot of good ideas, but no one will take him serious unless he moves to the center.
Rating:  Summary: Entertaining... Review: Al Franken is a talented comedy writer, so it's no surprise that this book is laughably one-sided. His writing style is good and should even evoke a chuckle from conservatives who don't take themselves too seriously. Don't pretend this book is any more than what it is: a humor piece with a political agenda. The title alone (and that of his Limbaugh book) should tell anyone that they're not getting a serious read here. I shake my head at people who want to attach too much importance to celebrity tomes. It reminds me of some acquaintances who considered the movie "Dogma" to be a valid reference on religion. Franken IS funny, though!
Rating:  Summary: Comedy from Franken Review: Al Franken is a terrible commedian and a worse writer, I have to assume this book is meant as comedy and he was trying to fool people into believing it was real, sort of a War of the Worlds thing. All he showed me in this book is how Al Franken can lie. This book is only meant for liberals who need some justification for there inane beliefs.
Rating:  Summary: Al Franken- True American Hero Review: Al Franken is a true American hero. His book explains to the readers how the Bush Adminastration has lied and covered up how they have destroyed everything that the Clinton Adminastration set up for America. He also reveals the pure evil in the Fox News Program, Bill O' Reilly, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, and many other lying conservatives. This is the best book ever written meant to show how the power-hungry conservative rebulicans are destroying our great America, one issue at a time.
Rating:  Summary: AL Franken Review: Al Franken is a typical democrat fascsit in disguise communist. He harps on education when george Bush outperformed GORE in school without claiming to invent teh internet. Cliton failed miserably and we had 8 years of stagflation hidden by a stock market illusion. Bush rocks and today we found Saddam. This book is trash by basically a trash talking left wing goon who simply makes up new realities on every page adn tries to be all witty by insulting celebrities like Bill O'reilly by makign up stories about them.
Rating:  Summary: Finally! A pundit who doesn't just insult people! Review: Al Franken is a veritable liberal genius, and his newest book it a work of art. Full of damaging information against right-wing pundits and politicians mixed nicely with an element of comedy, L&TLLWTT should be required reading for every registered voter in America. Every conservative liar from George W. Bush to Ann Coulter to Rush Limbaugh is truthfully and articulately discredited within these pages. Discrediting quotes and information are humorously documented in these pages, and are sure to have conservatives sulking and liberals laughing in triumph. Between discrediting misleading books and shoddy policies, Franken offers comedic breaks with "Operation Chickenhawk: Episode One", the story of several prominent Republican hawks who dodged draft being forced to serve in Vietnam, and "The Gospel of Supply Side Jesus", a cartoon documenting a savior with a more, shall we say, conservative viewpoint than Christ of Nazareth ("Shouldn't you heal the lepers, Supply Side Jesus?" "No, James, if people knew I was healing the lepers there would be no incentive to avoid leprosy!"). Right-wing attackers of liberalism, beware. Prepare to be exposed by a comedian.
Rating:  Summary: Very Savvy Review: Al Franken is a very savvy writer. I don't always agree with his politics and I think if I read this as a political campaign speech I'd have issues. But it's not a political campaign speech. It's a book written for entertainment. That's exactly what it did, entertain me.
Rating:  Summary: Pure Comic Genius...Enlightening, Too Review: Al Franken is an amazingly gifted comic, writer, and satirist. Like most of you, I enjoyed Franken's contributions to SNL for many years and delighted in his skewering of 'ole Limbaugh in his bestselling "Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot." But it was when I saw him in the Media Center at Washington University in St. Louis where I was reporting on the third and final debate of the 2000 Presidential race between Gore and Bush here in St. Louis that I knew that he was truly passionate about making a difference. I look forward to seeing him here in St. Louis again when he will present a lecture and book signing later this month. As evidenced by his top selling status here on amazon.com, and other such lists, there are a lot of people in this nation who are tired of the status quo and tired of simply throwing our hands up in despair. There is something we can do to make change. We can start by speaking up and out. Franken speaks out for the voiceless among us who have been shut out of the corporate-media-military-industrial complex. And he allows us to laugh amid the tumult, tragedy, and turmoil that the "lying liars" have wrought. Count me in as a bonafide member of "TeamFranken." ...
Rating:  Summary: Funny, moving, smart and necessary Review: Al Franken is an incredibly talented humorist. He's at his best when he examines the media and the right-wing mouthpieces that serve it. Most important observation in the book is how the Right creates an inflammatory story (the Al Gore examples are priceless), repeats it and watches to see which (lazy) media conglomerates (ABC, CBS, NBC, take your pick) decides to report it. Then, if they don't, the Right screams, "Liberal bias." It's a win-win game for them, as a result. The Wellstone chapter is heartbreaking. Everybody knows Coulter is evil and Hannity is just insane, but I honestly expected more from people like Jeff Greenfield at ABC. What few people fail to mention in the inane negative reviews of the book posted here is how respectful Franken is to Republicans who behave themselves and actually take the time to recognize the lies and hypocritical stances -- people like Gary Bauer, John McCain. I look forward to sharing this book with as many people as possible. And I look forward to reading the books by the opposing sides of Franken's argument, as well -- but from the library. Most of my Republican friends are embarrassed by Ann Coulter's behavior, thankfully. They recognize the mean-spirited, self-serving behavior behind her rhetoric (and her ENORMOUS Adam's apple -- has anyone else noticed that?). Thanks, Al.
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