Rating: 
Summary: Try READING the book before you give your bad review...
Review: I actually read this book. I know that's a novel concept to those of you who gave it a one-star review after you "found it discarded at the airport" or "skimmed through it while your wife was shopping for Dr. Phil books", but you're only proving Al Franken's point about a lot of things in his book, where the right will jump on something without proof and then the rest of the media will run with it without checking into it. I've at least read books like "See I Told You So." and a few others to get the whole story of someone I didn't agree with. I suggest you do the same to avoid looking foolish in the future. Another guy made fun of Al's use of his Harvard staff as if it was a smoking gun to discredit the book. Hey, he proudly mentions it many times he had help with his research by his staff! I'll agree it's not nearly as funny as his others like "Why Not Me?" and the Rush book, but it's definitely worth the read if you want to see some facts mixed in with satire. Some of it will make you laugh and some of it will make you mad, but it's definitely one you should read if you are a moderate/liberal.
Rating:
Summary: You've got to admire this guy
Review: I admit it...I like Al Franken. He was one of the best writers SNL ever had, and his books make me laugh out loud. And he researches his books. The problem is that he is right on target with the big lies the Shrub administration is foisting on the public. I wonder what the current percentage of Americans who believe Saddam Hussein attacked the Twin Towers is. I know it was pretty high the last time I checked. Or the percentage of people who think we've found "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq. It's sad, really, and not a laughing matter. But Franken can (and does) point out these sad facts and others in a manner that can make me laugh.
Rating:
Summary: At LAST! Sean Hannity Exposed!
Review: I admit it: I fell for the Limbaugh Hannity BS. Although Franken is just as biased, it's about time that we heard the 'other side'. If you are sick of Bill O'reilly's imaturity and bullying you'll love this book. An added bonus is the exposure of Alan Colmes as nothing more than a Fox Flunky. Always remember that the Republicans want to take your money and give it to the rich and the Democrats want to take it and give it to the 'poor'. Either way we are screwed.
Rating:
Summary: a moderate, female Midwesterner
Review: I adore research. I adore hard work. I adore Al Franken's newest book. I enjoyed reading the bilious reviews from people who did not read his book, people who cannot tell an adjective from an adverb or a complete sentence from a fragment, and especially from the person who intimated that there is a genetic basis for liberal political traits (though I'd imagine they believe homosexuality is always a choice). My extended family votes Republican with a very few exceptions, and I consider myself a moderate. As Franken points out with impressive documentation, fact-checking, and notation, many of the outspoken members of the right have just gone too crazy for me to risk supporting their party. Be outraged, all of you thousands of decent, intelligent, hard-working conservatives, that these few downright mean, callous, dishonest people are distorting your views, not to mention your party's image. Don't be furious with Franken for finding their lies; be angry with the liars for generating them. Be furious with the motivation behind them, and the fact that there were so many lies for a careful research team to find.
Rating: 
Summary: FULL OF LIES BY A LYING LIAR
Review: I agree that "a fair and balanced" point of view requires one to study the philosophy and writing of the left, right and middle.
That's why I read and study everything written by the left, even though I am conservative. In my opinion there is nothing "fair and balanced" about this book. In fact I think a psychologist would find Mr. Franken's choice of the title very revealing and self-descriptive. This poorly written and poorly documented book is a (not very) thinly disguised attempt to increase his own fame by riding on the coat tails of those he criticises. The book is full of innuendo, half truths, wild accusations, and completely unsupported statements. Reading this book, and watching Mr. Franken rant on television, has convinced me that he is a stark raving lunatic. He doesn't seem to understand that his message gets lost in the vitriol he spouts. Leftists will enjoy this book, because it reinforces their distorted world-view. Note that the leftist New York Times Book Review called this book "Funny, angry, and intelligent" and the liberal Newsweek called it "Wickedly funny." Many conservatives will get some laughs out of reading this easily debunked attack on conservative icons.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Entertaining
Review: I agree this book is very entertaining, but I'd much rather spend my time reading a more uplifting book like The Dittohead Guide To Adult Beverages. Franken makes some good points and the book itself is wrought with a number of one-liners and witty retorts. But Franken's outlook is too pessimistic. He lets republicans get under his skin. He should be more confident. The world will not come to an end if George Bush wins re-election.
Rating:
Summary: From a Republican-Hilarious but I disagree with message
Review: I almost feel like writing reviews here on Amazon are worthless which is unfortunate. However, this book is well written and as a republican I felt it was necessary to at least mention this to be fair. It seems that almost all reviewers here are either faithful democrats or staunch republicans and incapable of fair reviews. This is illustrated by all of the 1 star reviews and all of the 5 star reviews. Seemingly, Mr. Franken has written a well researched book. Sadly, how do we know if this is 100% true or not? Do you actually read and research the footnotes in each chapter. It's my opinion that after 9/11 this country has pulled even further apart. There seem to be no independent thinkers but rather partisan ideologues that continue to divide this country at its most crucial point in its young history. People like Al, Hannity, Coulter, etc. are unfortunately polarizing the masses. Truth be told there are a lot of not too smart people in the U.S. I'm amazed at all of the people that get there news from the aforementioned people whether on t.v. or book and don't check the facts but simply believe the self-serving and partisan rhetoric spewing from the mouths of today's leaders in journalism, politics, etc. It seems everyone has a motive today and few think of the Country first. Read this book if for nothing else for the humor.
Rating:
Summary: Irrefutable
Review: I almost wish that Franken had not narrowed his topics here to deceits he could controvert through his teams thourough research, as there are insidious acts of The Administration that make much more telling. (Anybody remember "If you are not with us, you are against us"? Not exactly right in line with "E Pluribus Unum," is it?) Nevertheless, if there were that many folks who weren't quite ready to pull the trigger on Iraq, they all need to get inspired by TeamFranken's indignation, and get started with their local voter registration campaigns. The prospect of making a difference has never been easier than it is today.
Rating:
Summary: Hypocritical
Review: I also noticed some inconsistencies in some of Frankens comments. For instance, he says that O'Reilly compared the Koran to Mein Kampf when really, he compared making Americans read the Kuran to the hypothetical situation of making Americans reading Mein Kampf during World War II. There is a difference. He also writes that O'Reilly is talented. I saw him a few nights ago on Conan O'Brien where he said that the reason O'Reilly doesn't do USO tours is because O'Reilly has no talent. I imagine Franken would say this is just an example of his satirical style but it appears that he is disingenuous in his attempts to not be as politically simple as he accuses his targets of being. I wonder what Franken actually covers in his USO tours. I find it hard to believe that the commentary in this book would be very well recieved by US troops. And if the material he chooses for these tours is different, isn't that a kind of lie as well? And, in that case, what is his motivation to do the tours at all?
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read & Worth The Time But Truth Goes Both Ways!
Review: I always enjoyed Al Franken on TV and have respected his views even if I disagree with them. He has written a delightful book and has not disappointed me. The book makes some interesting fodder for very careful thoughts in a very hilarious way for all readers. He gives back to his targets what he sees as flaws in their sermonize claw paws that have scratched up some Liberal Media Elites in the process. Ben Franklin believed in a Free Press where any person can tell the truth or lies but overtime an educated electorate would learn the difference to the credit or discredit of either author. It is the educated electorate that may be the missing link and why I read so much just to stay up with others. However, this was in the days when Print Media was King and not so easily erased. In today's News and Internet Media, the philosophy of facts on searching for the truth to solve real problems with genuine solutions is simply sometimes lost in the name calling by Left or Right Wings. Thus, the Liberal-Conservative debates will continue without resolutions, but calmer minds rule among moderates in the end. In the book, the author is giving back to Conservative Commentators some humorous banter hoping they will take it seriously and they did, hook, line and sinker! Thus, a best seller courtesy of his critics and a lawsuit, a delightful outcome for a liberal or conservative, but leaves me questioning if these people are working together? Now I am more paranoid, but this is what these kinds of book can do to you, if you understand my own humor! What I admire about Al Franken is that he took the time to educate himself at an Ivy League Institution, works hard to provide for his family and does it while making many people laugh such as me for years dating back to the 1970's. What a great way to make a liberal living with conservative values, but that is the exact point of his book. These values exist with many people who need not be labeled either liberal or conservative. Better yet, the book points out why it is important to drop the label tagging and just go to the ideas from the few that help the many in the end, without calling it communism, conservatism, fascism or socialism. Let your ideas define you not label by others! I loved him on "Saturday Night Live" and I respect him even more now. Michael Moore and Rush Limbaugh failed to have the discipline to acquire a college education, but love to preach. I wish both of them would go back to school. They could enhance their own thinking before we hear either preaching. Al Franken took the time to learn with his two ears twice as much as Michael and Rush talk too much with only one mouth. My only disappointment is that the author let himself down using the same judgments he made on his targets in this book. Al was caught doing what he is accusing others of doing. When he wrote false letters to Government Officials doing exactly what Conservatives claim Liberals do in real life, distort reality for an evil end. Although it was humorous, Al cannot be taken seriously if does what he accuses others of doing. In the end, if the book is read in the light it was intended you would enjoy it. If you take it as gospel, or think it proves something, the joke is on you! O'Reilly took it too seriously and still does and has Al Franken laughing to the bank!
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