Rating: 
Summary: leftofright
Review: Franken's vitriolic take on the right is on the money. However, I would have preferred to see Al take the "high road." The comedy factor is fine but I don't care about O'Reilly's facial issues, get to the "good" stuff. Five stars for refuting idiots, minus one for occasionally sounding like the idiots.
Rating: 
Summary: This is Franken's Masterpiece!
Review: Franken's wonderful sense of humor comes through on every well-researched page. He takes fairly complicated issues (i.e. the estate tax) and not only makes them easy to understand, but has you cracking up as you read about them. The book exposes lie after lie made by the Bush Administration, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, the Fox News Network and others. In many instances, the lies exposed are truly frightening. Franken's chapter on September 11 is a must read for all Americans. Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or somewhere in between, you will benefit from reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: More persuasive satire from a comic genius & great mind!
Review: Franken's work is pure satirical brilliance and while "Lies" remains as clever as its predecessor, the hilarious "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot," it also shines a light on some very serious subjects. Despite constant attacks from the right, Franken continues to fight on his terms, armed with humor and the truth (and sources to prove it... note to Ann Coulter). His dissection of the right and its malicious influence over the media is levelheaded and so thoroughly researched that it cannot be dismissed with mere O'Reilly-esque invective. Among the hysterical rants and shameless personal attacks on Franken's appearance and intellect by rabid right-wingers who have no respect for the truth or civil dialogue found throughout these reviews, I have yet to see a single coherent objection to his conclusions. Nevertheless, THANK YOU for so unwittingly illustrating the books entire message that neo-con fanatics can always be counted on to miss the point entirely, while remaining utterly humorless and ignoring all facts. The most valuable lesson learned by reading "Lies" is that one must never take anything written or spoken in the mainstream media (or in Amazon's reader reviews) at face value. The conservative propagandists have disgraced the first amendment by using it as justification for their ruthless, stop-at-nothing smear campaigns. Sadly, this book reinforces the belief that the radical conservatives currently occupying the White House and news desks across the country, and their sycophantic minions are deceitful, spiteful hate-mongers, who have no morals and lack the slightest hint of integrity.
Rating:
Summary: The truth is funny - but not
Review: Franken's writing is hilarious. I was chuckling uncontrollably as I read this book on an airplane. However, I also found the information that is conveyed to be very disturbing. There is very compelling information affirming some conservative media leanings, the overly apologetic liberal media, the manner in which unchecked statements enter mainstream media and the outright lies of conservative commentators. This information left me frustrated in spite of the laughter. Count me in to purchase the next Franken book. I need the laughter when confronted with the reality of the current administration.
Rating:
Summary: Side-splitting & Eye-opening.
Review: Franken's wry humor underlies a profound intelligence that is quite effective in putting across dry, distasteful and occasionally complex subject matter in an understandable and uproariously funny manner. One-star reviewers - if you find things about this book you don't like, then simply back it up. Point out examples in this book where Franken takes a quote from anyone out of context, misquotes or misleadingly partially quotes anyone, presents inaccurate information or otherwise makes any unsubstantiated statements. The fact is you can't. This is an important book. Highly recommended for its educational value as much as its side-splitting humor.
Rating:
Summary: funny and sad
Review: Franken, a funny guy, teamed up with a bunch of Harvard undergrad and Kennedy School students to fact-check the right wing media and government. The results are both saddening and funny. highlights are: -the commentry on the Paul Wellstone funeral - a subject treated seriously, with an excellent eulogy excerpt by the brother of Wellford's driver, -"Operation Ignore" which tracks the efforts the Clinton administration made against terrorism and how the entire process stalled once Bush et al. arrived. Absolutely damning evidence - there was a good chance Sept 11 & OBL could have been stopped. Condi Rice was told in her handover briefing that terrorism would "consume far more of her time than she ever imagined". She, to her credit, and Richard Clarke tried to push the planned anti Osama plan further but it got stalled by Bush, Rumsfeld et al. -A visit to Bob Jones U by Franken and his prospective student "nephew" - BJU comes out of it surprisingly well. "we'd come to BJU expecting to encounter racist, intolerant homophobes. Instead we found people who were welcoming, friendly and extremely nice" most of all Franken accusses IN PRINT the president, vice president, Ann Coulter and many others of being liers - multiple times. Essentially he is challenging them to respond via a lawsuit - a lawsuit he would win as the evidence he has gathered seems very solid. and scary. The book is let down by one or two digressions into "rabid anti conservative fiction" which will make it unapproachable for those on the right looking to see what Al is on about. A pity - he is saying things that people from both spectrums should be listening to. Read it.
Rating: 
Summary: An...opines
Review: Franken, in the vernacular of the layman, is an ... He doesn't grasp the slightest bit of reality and clearly shows he has a deep hatred of the decent, common man. His criticisms and observations are kneejerk reactions and contain no serious discourse or content. This is not even fit for tabliod publication. Franken wouldn't last 10 minutes in a debate with any of the other authors he hates. His responses are banal, arrogant, and deprived of reasoning. This is a small man with an unfulfilled career looking to capitalize on the 20% of those who hate everything decent conservative people value.
Rating:
Summary: Better than Ambien if you're sleepless
Review: Franken, itching from the popularity of Fox News, scratches vigoursly at conservatives and conservative media who have finally earned a role among mainstream media. Before I finished this book I killed a moth with it. Hard to say which kept me from finishing - how disgusted I was with dead moth on the cover, or Franken's literary rampage.
Rating:
Summary: New book same old drivel
Review: Franken, Moore, Kim Philby does it really matter who wrote the book!?! You find the same old socialistic crap wrapped in a warm, fuzzy and severly outdated 70's SNL-era, type bit. Back then at least you had Belushi, the funny one, to cover for your bad writing. Dude's, as Moore-on would say, your Eurotrash wannabe model of politics doesn't work. Get over it captalism won! Not all corporations are evil and not all republicans are Tammy Faye Baker. What you better hope is that all Democrats are not Barbra Streisand. Hey genuises how about some solutions instead of the sophmoric pandering to the undereducated, terminally-high neophytes on college campuses. What's that you say? Oh, that's right it would severly cut into your revenue - not to mention your pungtang quotient. This book sucks!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: Franken, through both humor and rigorous research, demonstrably shows how far the right has gone to mislead the public and/or cover their own rear-ends though the political machinery and their mouthpiece, FoxNews. Finally, a book out there that has the fortitude to confront the loony nuts (Ann Coulter, I'm looking in your direction.) Bravo Al. (and Team Franken, of course.)
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