Rating: 
Summary: Well researched book
Review: Harvard research, well thought out book. It is slanted to the left but has valid research to back its claims. The research could be used in any college research paper. Good job Al!
Rating:
Summary: simple facts, researched, validated
Review: Hate Franken if you must, but he and team Franken actually research their claims and you can verify them in national paper archives online. Find out why it's harmful to take Rush, Coulter, Hannity, etc. so seriously. They don't have consideration for the honest, factual truth - spend 5 minutes checking Franken's claims. These people are lying to you on a daily basis. It's wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and Incisive
Review: Have you noticed that virtually of the negative reviews posted here are full of spelling and punctuation errors? Not just typographical errors, but substantive mistakes that betray borderline literacy. For example, the sad, raving loon who suggests that Al Franken (whose book he clearly hasn't read, by the way) had something to do with the Madrid bombings presumably meant to say "A win's a win", not "A wins a win." [If this sort of crazy, irrelevant hate-mongering got past Amazon's "screeners", it's hard to imagine that anything can be said to fall outside their purported "guidelines".]
You can draw your own conclusions. To return to the subject at hand, the book is a great read. It drags a bit in part, but most of it is smart, witty, and laugh-out-loud funny. Along with his well-aimed shots at conservative demagogues, Franken also includes a good deal of humble, self-deprecating humor - something people like O'Reilly and Coulter clearly are too insecure to match.
Rating:
Summary: Has anyone noticed the obvious reviews by Bill O'Reilly?
Review: Have you picked up on the obvious reviews here at Amazon of this book by Mr. Bill O'Reilly himself? Reasonably easy to spot. You can play too! Just: 1) Go to www.c-span.org. Watch the (now notorious) panel discussion between O'Reilly, Franken, and Molly Ivins (the video is posted in their video archives). Listen to the arguments O'Reilly makes--carefully. They are few, idiosyncratic, narrow (no surprise, eh?), and fortunately (for the above purposes) repeated. 2) Go to the c-span BookTv message board for the panel discussion. There you will find, mixed in with a variety of messages from liberals and conservatives, spanning the ideological spectrum from admiration to distaste of both parties, a series of messages which repeat both the precise content as well as the verbal structure of O'Reilly's arguments, while clumsily attempting to make it appear as if these were from someone else. The very act of attempting to make the posts appear to be NOT from him is as patently obvious as the act of an angry 10 year old--in other words, intellectually age appropriate. 3) Now, having sampled these, for the proof positive, read through the AMAZON reviews. Here, you will find the EXACT same language--both content (which one might expect from those who might adhere to the arguments) as well as verbal form, which as any good linguist knows, one would not. But with different names. 4) Now rewatch the video. You'll see the same arguments--remember, content and form--again. Bill, you're a selfish hothead. And a liar. Enjoy your Polk. Oh, sorry...you didn't win one of those either.
Rating:
Summary: Pure genius
Review: Haven't been this excited about being a democrat for a long time. Besides the beautiful elucidation and proof of various lies, the reminder that the Bill Clinton presidency may have been one of the greatest of the last 30 years, and the razor sharp wit, I've never actually seen someone place statements in a book that were specifically designed to be taken out of context. It's like he's baiting them. Pure genius.
Rating:
Summary: A British guy writes.........
Review: Having become a fan of Michael Moore's work, but being aware that there are websites out there tearing through every word he says or writes, I reckoned I wanted to learn more about "his targets" and those who, in some ways, are coming from the same side, if not a different perspective. I have just finished "Lies,and the Lying Liars..." and although I have never seen or heard half of those Franken writes about, I have taken the trouble to find out about them via the web. Unless you are one of life's "don't know's" you are invariably going to end up taking sides, in some way, and I have found myself more strongly on the side of Franken/Moore for their "attacks" on your President. I blame him for many of today's ills, and I'm ashamed of our Prime Minister, whose support aided Bush's foray into Iraq. Al's book is VERY funny, and , like my copy of Stupid White Men, I look forward to passing on to friends. Incidentally, last year, apart from Harry Potter, Stupid White Men sold more copies than any other book over here. Did you know that? Moore has gained a reputation in the UK, but few would have heard of Al Franken. I hope this book gets the recognition it richly deserves. Steve
Rating:
Summary: Blowhards Beware: The Truth Hurts
Review: Having been inside the political process that was the George Bush Sr. Campaign, I can only agree with Franken's expose of the pure venom and hypocrisy that is Neo-Conservatism.
I recommend this work for those who have a need to know the dangers of Neo-Conservatism.
Rating: 
Summary: Lies vs. Dude
Review: Having just finished "Lies" and Michael Moore's "Dude," I'll briefly compare the books. "Lies," the more innocuous of the two, uses a team of crack Harvard minds to expose the lies and distortions of mostly...drumroll please...rightwing pundits. Yes, the vain clowns on a.m. radio who, surprise!, aren't so square with the listening public. But despite the impact these megalomaniacs have on political culture, can their advocates' opinions really be changed by Al Franken? And while the bugle call of ultra-nationalists like Coulter, Limbaugh and Hannity has resounded in American society since its inception, shouldn't these egoists be dutifully ignored rather than glamorized on book covers of their opposition? But a late chapter reveals why Franken's wrath is directed more at these nutcases than the one running the real show--turns out Franken had to humbly admit he initially supported the Iraq war, and even took a fun ride on the bandwagon bashing the Germans, the French, and the Dixie Chicks. Of course the said war--now proven completely unnecessary--makes America (and sorry, you too Al) seem even more like some big, dim-witted bully teeing off at anyone in range after someone just put gum on his chair. Jeez, you know just how far right your country has gone when a centrist like Franken is considered one of the left's foremost champions. Franken will likely run for office some day; sadly, this shows in his latest work.
Moore's book is the more effective, but not just because of his steadfast vision and relative fearlessness. His research is far more essential, as it's directed at the true villains rather than their fear-laden, pom-pommed cheerleaders. One section--and one that's probably out of Franken's reach--beautifully articulates that while terrorism poses a virtual non-threat to one's safety, the hype of this ghost has allowed the radical right's agenda to haunt America nearly unchecked. Seems America has become the home of the cowardly, the wimpy--anyone but the brave. And the neocons know our penchant for getting easily spooked, and are poised to use this shortcoming to further dismantle the America we know and love. Amid all this, while uncovering lies of nutty pundits Franken-style is entertaining, it avoids the dredging of dark truths found in Moore's book--an exercise of far greater commitment, integrity and substance.
Rating: 
Summary: Political Pundits... and the Pitiful People who Portray Them
Review: Having just finished Ann Coulter's venomous right -wing diatribe Treason, I was looking forward to reading this book, only to bring myself back at least to center. Al Franken, to his credit, has a much better sense of humor than Ms. Coulter (who doesn't?) but I was still disappointed in the basic shallowness of this book. Franken started off in comedy and it's just hard to take him very seriously as a political commentator.Some of what he says has a ring of truth to it but , like Coulter, the messenger distorts the message. Coulter and Franken obviously sell a lot of books (I got my copy from the library)so I guess the they are meeting a need somewhere. I just can't help but feel that Franken,like Coulter, is playing a part and laughing all the way to the bank.
Rating:
Summary: A real eye openner...
Review: Having read both "Slander" and "Lies...", I can honestly say that this book runs CIRCLES around Ann Coulter's. While I have traditional been right leaning in many aspects (fiscally, to be sure), I was APALLED by "Slander". Even when I would have normally agreed with her position, I was so put off by her tone that I found myself wishing I hadn't! This book does a through job of debunking the attacks of Coulter & company with style and grace. This book is immensely entertaining and informative. But don't take my word for it. Read this book and "Slander". But for pity's sake, borrow "Slander", don't BUY it! That woman's ego is already out of control. Enough people have given their money to this political pornography queen!
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