Rating: 
Summary: Way too silly
Review: Yes, Mr. Franken is a comedian and yes, his viewpoints are politically correct, no doubt. And yes, I never encountered a president who lies so much, obviously without remorse, obviously could spend his family's fortune without restriction and does so now with America's fortune and has no historical recall whatsoever; total amnesia. I agree with Mr. Franken. Yet he puts it way too silly for my taste, while the diplomatic and historical blunders are going to have serious repercussions in the US historical future, no doubt.
Rating: 
Summary: For those reviewers outraged at this book...
Review: Yes, of course Al Franken "leans" to the Left. If you weren't expecting that to be the case before you read this book (if you did indeed read it), then I understand your outrage but cringe at your stupidity...The unfortunate aspect of this book is that it is largely going to be a political symbol around or against which staunch supporters of either side are going to rally. However, the real value in the book is not in what is being said, but the way in which Franken's case is made. Whatever his politics, the method of actually providing examples, statistics, etc. that Franken employs puts him a cut above the name-calling tactics used by the "journalists" he takes to task. I have a lot more respect for getting out a message in this way than in simply telling people what to fear and who's to blame for it (i.e. tax-loving Liberals). Yes, Franken does also resort to name-calling, especially when it comes to Ann Coulter (though only after having discredited much of what she has said), but we shouldn't forget that this is intended to be a humorous piece, though not of the lowest-common-denominator type (sorry, one-star reviewers). Being from Minnesota, I found Al Franken's chapter on Paul Wellstone's death and the subsequent memorial service to be both a moving tribute and a disturbing illustration. Franken does a nice job of deconstructing the events that transformed one community's grief into a national political circus with widespread ramifications. In the days and months after the memorial service, I even found myself feeling angry at how the Democrats "blew it" for the country with that event, but was stunned to learn through various accounts, including Franken's, about the distortions of truth that were enlisted by the Right for political gain. Paul Wellstone is one of the purest examples in recent times of a public servant dedicated to helping all people, and to see how even his tragic death could not escape the grip of people with an evil agenda, while not necessarily a surprise, was an eye-opener. "Fool me once..." wait, how does that go GW? Above all, Franken makes me want to take action. It will be interesting to see in the coming years if our country is shaped by leaders who are committed to helping their fellow citizens or by corporate puppets who distract the public by telling them what to fear next (now it's gay marriage) so that they can continue with business as usual. If it's the latter then rest easy, one-star reviewers, because if that is really what you want then you can keep your country and I will gladly move away after my military service is up (that is, if I don't get picked off first in the terrorist training camp that we created by invading Iraq).
Rating:
Summary: Scathing wit and much, much more
Review: Yes, the book's full of wonderful body-slams of Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Bernard Goldberg, Ann Coulter, and the whole Fox / Bush crew, which is why it's caused O'Reilly to burst blood vessels in his temples (and then to coerce the hapless legal staff at Fox into filing that embarrassing, backfiring lawsuit). The material on O'Reilly is snarky, the rebuttals of Hannity are devastating. And this is all well and good. But what's really remarkable about the book is Franken's deft defense of Clinton's counterterrorism initiatives, and his righteous outrage that (a) the Bush crew ignored the briefings of outgoing National Security Advisor Sandy Berger and even the comprehensive anti-al Qaeda plan of Clinton counterterrorism expert Richard Clarke, whom Condoleezza Rice had asked to stay on after the Supreme Court had installed her boss in the White House, (b) the Bush crew then ignored the national security report of the Hart-Rudman Commission, issued on February 15, 2001, and then, (c) true to form, conservatives blamed 9/11 on Clinton. Read the chapters "The Blame-America's-Ex-President-First Crowd" and "Operation Ignore." Franken reports. You decide.
Rating: 
Summary: The title says it all...
Review: Yes, this book is about lying liars. To be more precise, it's about one lying liar, and his name is Al Frankin. I've always been a moderate, neither Republican nor Democrat. In my eyes both sides have their faults, but it's books like this that make me hate politics in general. The book is nothing more than slander, and it never, not even once, backs up it's accusations. This book is in vain of Michael Moore's latest liberally loved Documentary, in which many lies have been proven to exist, but are covered up by by the lame excuse (ie: lie) that it's not meant to be taken seriously because "it's only satire". Sorry, but anyone with half a brain knows darn well that the general public isn't educated enough to see anything but facts here, and try to use them to promote their world views. Conservatives and Moderates in forums everywhere as I type this, are dealing with "enlightened' Liberal, who actually think they have viable fuel. Guess again guys. I saw an interview with Frankin on the Daily show recently, and wasn't surprised to see that John Stewart, who has in the past made fun of Ann Coulter, was more than happy to treat Al as some sort of Democratic Messiah. Liberal Democrats seem to love religiously supporting those whom are in line with their views, while at the same time blasting those who don't, all while claiming that their is no Liberal bias in the media. You wanna know the easiest way to tell their is an extreme liberal bias in the media? For the last 30-40 years, all the news stations have been staunchly liberal, with the VAST majority of the news being reported on and researched by only Liberal. So, what happens when one news station (just one!), finally pops up, that actually delivers both sides of the debate? Liberals can't handle it. For you see, Liberalism, is basically Secularism, and even though Secularist love to claim the trophy of open mindedness, the ugly fact is that they are just as religiously zealot as those they love to point the finger at and call close minded hate mongers. Basically, Secularists believe that it is okay to believe whatever you want, but only if you believe it's okay to believe whatever you want (ie: to be accepted by them, and not smeared in all forms of media, you have to think just like them). And since Fox news reports issues from a side that Liberals don't agree with, you get books like this one, which are nothing more than a collection of mouth-frothingly rabid attacks, that amount to not much more than lies, and aren't even funny to boot. Republican write BS as well though. Ann Counter's last book (I haven't read the most recent one yet), while it does make some very good point (and backs them up as well, unlike what John Stuart would have you believe), was at times a wee bit thick on the sarcasm. Even to the point of it being difficult at times to tell when she was being sarcastic. Still though, that book pales in comparison when it comes to being a smear campaign (one Conservative friend of mine said "Can you really blame Coulter for saying what she does? For the past few decades, Conservatives have been putting up with the grand Liberal smear machine, and Conservative are finally fighting back. Viciously!") Still, Coulter is at many times too insulting, and while I do agree with many of her points, she is a bit too vile at times. So far, the best book I've read on lies and bias on any side of the political fence, is Bernard Goldberg's book 'Bias'. Goldberg is an old school Democrat, who has owned up to his sides dirty tricks and biases in the media (something that I would like to see people on both side do more often. We need to start recognizing our own faults, before we so easily concentrate on the faults of others) For some reason, after Kennedy, Liberals took a dark turn, and Liberals like Frankin are a perfect example of that. If you're looking for a good book on biases, read Bernard Goldberg's 'Bias'. If you're looking or a good laugh, get a Brian Regan CD. Frankin's book provides neither, and at best is a miseducation tactic for those who will never take out the time to research his bold claims (which isn't surprising, since he gives no sources)
Rating:
Summary: Can a satirist be sincere?
Review: Yes, this book is well researched, biting, and very funny. I constantly laughed out loud as I read. Franken is the best political satirist around. But this book is also heart-felt. The chapter on how the media followed the lie perpetuated by Republican party (and its main political operative Rush Limbaugh) about the memorial service for Senator Paul Wellstone is tender and sincere. That chapter alone makes this not only a work of great analysis of the current state of politics, it makes this a great book.
Rating:
Summary: In response to anglocowboy.
Review: You asked if there were laws against libel and defamation. Well, yes indeed, you are correct. There are such laws. However, in order to commit libel or defamation, the statements challenged would have to be proven untrue. Obviously, you are someone who is concerned that political books should be accurate and that they not contain libelous, defamatory statements that could form the basis of lawsuits. That is commendable. Someone as concerned about accuracy in political debate as you clearly are should, therefore, welcome a book as well researched as this. Please read it. Should you encounter any inaccuracies, please point them out. It's important to have people like Franken, Moore and others speak up to point out when the emperor has no clothes. Thank god we live in a country where you can still do that. Let's keep it that way. Well done, Mr. Franken.
Rating:
Summary: Unhealthy!
Review: You can get a stomach ache from laughing too much, and if 359 pages of witty, devastating humor are any indication, that's just what you might get. All that is thrown in on top of a steady stream of meticulously researched arguments refuting the ultraconservative media monolith that has arisen in the past few years. This will definitely set off a firestorm -- I'm still waiting to hear what registered Republican Bill O'Reilly's reaction will be! And it's incredibly refreshing to finally have someone stand up to the blind ultraconservative partisans who have UNTIL NOW completely dominated publishing. I didn't like Michael Moore's book because it was published before 9/11 and the title is grossly offensive. But I Definitely enjoyed Franken's book-- he speaks for the rest of us, the Americans who aren't blind sheep or philistine bible-thumpers who have had all the media coverage and say recently. It's worth your money even if you are a moderate conservative.
Rating:
Summary: Simply funny exposition of the RIGHT that infuriates
Review: You don't have to be a liberal to enjoy this book. It's a funny (conservatives enjoy humor, right?) and fact-filled book that exposes how folks with a particular agenda bleed that message into the mainstream media. I was particularly interested to read the play-by-play coverage of the Paul Wellstone memorial that I remember was widely criticized in the media as being a political rally. The truth was fascinating to read as Al Franken traced the "political rally" spin as originating from a variety of folks who had not been to the event, and that had a clear conservative agenda. (Remember Rush Limbaugh? He was involved.) I started the book looking forward to a good laugh. And I laughed. A lot. As I laughed and read about the right wing media, and the conservative White House that is completely politically motivated...I got angry. Very angry. I don't like being lied to. Nor will I sit back and be scared to speak up about my concerns lest I be labeled Un-American. This book provided me with many laughs and a resolve to once again get involved politically. Thank you Al and TeamFranken!
Rating: 
Summary: Come on people
Review: You guys are idiots. Perhaps you should be reading Cat in the Hat instead of political literature. You honestly believe that only the Right side is guilty of Franken's accusations. Look long enough and you will find "proof" stating the facts (in print) skewed both ways. I don't see this as "Fair and Balanced" at all. It hasn't been that long since Clinton left office. How could anyone have forgotten his antics in tenure so quickly? The book was supposed to entice the reader to question facts. Facts presented by either party should be scrutinized. What a bunch of sheep.
Rating:
Summary: Proof that not all Americans are stupid.
Review: You guys really need to get a grip on what your Government does in your name or everyone - including us Brits - will end up hating you.
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