Rating:  Summary: Let Freedom Ring Hollow Review: As the conservative half of Fox News' "Hannity and Combs" news show, Shawn Hannity holds classic Reagan era conservative beliefs, combined with a polarizing, bombastic approach suitable to television. This remarkably unjournalistic stance carries over to his unimpressive book Let Freedom Ring. The overall impression I got from this book is of unoriginality and close-mindedness. While he is clearly passionate about his beliefs Freedom is less a study of 20th century conservatism and more a defense of Reagan and the Bushes. Hannity paints with broad strokes, touching briefly on issues like the War on Terror, the "liberal" media, abortion, etc. These are all presented through standard conservative tunnelvision,echoing the official party mantra of lower taxes. Indeed, one could be forgiven for mistaking Hannity for the official White House spokesman instead of its unofficial cheerleader. For being, according the book flap, the hottest phenomenon in radio today, Hannity has little more to say than any other loudmouth Limbaugh clone. It is a shame that someone who adds next to nothing to the debate has daily radio and television shows, book deals and ability to reach millions of people while freethinking, authentic journalists and commentators go unheard. The book's prose is blasé and is riddled with personal anecdotes that fail to do anything but beef up the skimpy page count. Hannity does make some good points about today's liberals but the have already been repeated many times by far more competent commentators. Much of the above would be acceptable if Hannity wasn't so contradictory and didn't turn the other cheek to GOP follies. He roasts liberals for defaming conservatives yet praises Rush Limbaugh, who has single-handedly brought the amount of civility in the political climate to a new low with his accusations. Later on Hannity goes off on hand-picked cases of liberal outrageousness and celebrities while ignoring equally crazy (but more important considering the power they have) quotes by evangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. Hannity also shies away from several issues that tend to make Republicans look bad including the war on drugs, healthcare, the Patriot Act and many others. For me the most glaring incident of contradiction concerns Hannity's unceasing praise of Oliver North and Ronald Reagan and how they ended communism in Central America. He devotes several paragraphs to this without mentioning that these countries were "liberated" through the funding of death squads that absolutely decimated the civilian population. I guess to Hannity the truth is less important than losing his spot as one of the GOP's favorite lapdogs. Overall this book isn't very good. Hannity is not much of a writer or researcher and his book reads like regurgitated Limbaugh. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, if you have any respect for political civility you will agree with me that Mr. Hannity should stick to radio and let the real thinkers do the work.
Rating:  Summary: if only 0 stars were an option Review: I listen to Hannity's radio show just to get pumped before I go work out. His lies and half truths...no they are lies...are absolutely preposterous. He then goes on to write a book full of these lies. I feel sorry for anyone who believes his stuff because you just have to do a little research and you'll realize that he introduces incorrect statments to throw off his 'opponents' on radio and with no one to argue with in this book, he has a real field day, building upon inaccurate statement after statement. If you really want to read this book, go to the library instead of wasting your money. You'll find this book in the fiction section.
Rating:  Summary: Text Version of Radio Program Review: Hannity is on the radio way too much as well as TV and now "writes" a book and a second one, too. I disagree totally with his world view but find reading him better than listening to him. On air he is loud, whiney, self-absorbed and self-important. His entire radio program is about HIM, no matter who he is talking to and he is a most phoney, disingenuous, manipulative shallow radio host. In print, at least one does not have to listen to his truly grating, unpleasant voice. He has a polarized and polarizing view of the world, always "their side" versus "our side"and this is in reference entirely to Americans, as if there are "sides". He reminds me very much of Father Coughlin's broadcasts and writings before and during WWII and he is a virtual mouthpiece for the Bush regime and warmongering. I don't think he has anything of interest to say and suspect that people listen to him and buy his books because (women) think he is handsome and men think he is like them. He's a puffed-up self-promoter and doing very well at self-promotion. Radio, TV, books and a tv sitcom appearance, apparently. Please. Enough of this guy. If you want conservative brilliance, read Russell Kirk or William F. Buckley. Read Christopher Hitchens for intelligence if you want a pro-invasion of Iraq point of view. Read anybody but this pretty boy who has found a jingoistic niche and aims to fill it with himself. No stars if it were possible!
Rating:  Summary: Popular Conservatism Review: Personally I think this guy as an editorialist stinks. Like most of the pundits at Fox he comes off with a biased slant and then has the audacity to call himself fair and balanced. I don't have a problem with conservative thought, and I like people like Saphire, George F. Will, and William F. Buckley.These guy's construct sound arguments and have a great command of the english language. Guy's like Hannity and O'reilly just set out to get people up-set about Madonna, hip hop, Hollywood, Michael Jackson, Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, or some other liberal that may or may not be hurting this country. Sadly, these guys are probably the voice of those in the mid-west and the deep south and if you want to put your finger on the pulse of political thought outside of cities like New York, LA, and San Francisco then these are the sorts of guys you have to turn to as the values they argue for are very popular in these necks of the woods.
Rating:  Summary: doesn't really even deserve one star Review: This is worth publishing???
Rating:  Summary: Not nearly as good as Rush Review: First, for full disclosure, I like Rush. I like the way he stays on message and doesn't give an inch. I like the way he remains focused and precise. Even if you don't agree with Rush, you have to admit that he is a laugh riot.The same can not be said of Mister Hannity. His arguments are very muddleheaded. Even for someone who is pulling for him to make his points, you come out feeling somewhat sleezy and sorry for the guy at the same time. You get the feeling he isn't too bright and got where he is by blow drying his hair rather than studying the issues. A talented writer he is not. Avoid this one and wait for Rush's new book. The original is still the best.
Rating:  Summary: At least read the book.... Review: At least read the book if you are going to make critisims that make absolutely no sense whatsoever. I would also like people to actually follow current events somewhat before they make unfounded attacks. Hannity does give solutions to problems, but you have to read the book to get them.
Rating:  Summary: total, complete fabricated idiocy Review: Either this "journalist" does not understand English in its current useage, his computer search engine is down (if he knows what a computer is), or this "truth-seeker" is just flat out trying to "get the money from the rubes as quickly as possible". As part of a research assignment I had to check the Hannity's statements for factual content from a variety of independent sources, including his own previous shows. I am neither a Democrat or a Republican and don't really care about left, middle or right viewpoints. I do however care about the truth. The very least this very odd person could do is to verify virtually any of his statements. I just don't know how any sane, literate, rational person could read this crap without bursting in laughter.
Rating:  Summary: For all the Ignorant Liberals out there Review: First of all the book was great. Sean Hannity is a great Journalist and a great Author. Second of all for all of you Arrogant Liberals out there. How about you all make up your own website and chat there? People want to know your opinion on the book. I bet everyone here about 99% of the liberals commenting here havent read the BOOK! You hear a Rebublican and give the book 0 stars. Also anyone hear says Hannity isnt doing something for our country hes a news journalist. Condricting describes liberals the best. From a previous review someone said Sean Hannity should join the army. Well how about this? Have you been in the army? I have and im sure you havent. Give us a break!
Rating:  Summary: Wipes the floor with the liberals Review: Wow, just wow. You let liberals get control of the education system and this is what you get: Just another Rush Limbaugh Wannabee, December 18, 2003 Reviewer: A reader from NJ United States "...He [another reviewer] criticizes democratic intellect, yet he obviously CANT READ so he had to use the Audio book! .... Its sad that there are actually people out there who look at hannity & Rush as gospel. Like Al Franken says, Right wingers love America the way an infant loves his mom: The mom can do nothing wrong, & everyone who says otherwise is their enemy. These guys have to wake up & realize that theres massive unemploymenr (2 million net loss of jobs under Bush) terrorism, imperialism, & unconditional support of Israel. We need to pull together to solve our problems, not IGNORE them like Hannity preaches." It's always hilarious when liberals try to write something coherent. First, this prodigy spelled "wannabe," "unemployment," and "there's" wrong and forgot to capitalize Hannity. Not to nitpick, but if you're gonna write a review calling someone else an idiot, you shouldn't use terrible grammar. Second of all, at least the guy he was talking about read the book in some way: this cretin obviously hasn't even picked up the book. Hannity doesn't advocate ignoring any problems, in fact he advocates many new solutions (SDI, the flat tax, school vouchers, actually keeping the CIA intact [*cough* liberals *cough*]). Liberals would rather fondly stick with their old ideas that have been proved wrong approximately 129 times. How many times do tax cuts need to stimulate the economy before these tax-fetish libs admit that they were wrong? Also, I love the part where our anonymous friend from New Jersey talks about "terrorism" and "imperialism" and "unconditional support for Israel. What terrorist attacks have occurred since September 11th?? What countries has the big mean ol' U.S. imperialistically taken over?? And what the hell is this unconditional support for Israel?? President Bush has given Israel absolutely no leeway in defending themselves and has actually been promoting his Roadmap to Peace which gives the Palestinians huge concessions!! Have you ever bothered to read a credible newspaper or the New York Times in your whole life?? Obviously this guy just read what Al Franken said and assumed that all of it was true. It's scary to think that such ignorant individuals exist in this troubled time.
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