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Summary: Is this guy funny?
Review: I didn't find this book particularly funny, nor do I think that the writing style is very good. The book, starting with the title, has a juvenile name-calling frat-boy style. A premise that conservatives are liars and mean really don't hold a candle to this diatribe from a pretty much failed comedian. Great revues from the New York Times would be expected, but don't buy the book if you are a serious follower of politics. It's mean spirited and fluffy.
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Summary: But what can it contribute?
Review: I didn't finish this book. While I trumpet much of what Franken has to say, I don't give this book much more credit than many of the polemics that have cropped up on both sides of the political knife. While I give Franken decent marks for doing his homework and think his research is much sounder than many on the right, my main problem with this book is that it can only divide the populace. Its spirit is very much in line with the right's venomous attacks in print, lead by the vituperative Ann Coulter with the obvious difference being that he is attacking from the other side of the coin. Books such as this simply raise the price of mud.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe mudslinging is the vogue weapon of 21st century politics. I can certainly attest that George W. has angered me more than any other president of my time. Maybe the left needs its own shrill voices and we should elevate the Frankens and Michael Moores within the political demolition derby. Is there a large swath of people out there who only react to this type of book and will only be swayed by the sharp and pointed ends of attack words? Personally, I would rather read more studied and academic works that speak to real policy change that is needed. Where have you gone, common ground, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you?
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Summary: GO AL GO!
Review: I didn't just read this book. I absorbed it, inhaled it, soaked it up like a sponge. Al Franken brazenly---and hilariously---rolls back the I'm-more-patriotic-than-you veneer of certain conservative politicians and media pundits, revealing them for the lying and heartless pit of snakes they are.As funny as Al Franken is here, he is equally mad. And rightfully so. Certain politicians and their lapdogs in the media deserve the whuppin' they get in this sure-fire best-seller. It should be noted, however, that Al Franken takes care not to fire buckshot at the Republican party or the media as a whole. He's careful to go after the most rabid cases and the whoppers they tell. The deserving victims include Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Hannity and his benign sidekick (colmes), Bush, Cheney, and Ashcroft. They get it with both barrels. And Franken's ammo (read: sources) are impeccable. Like Michael Moore's "Stupid White Men" last year, "LIES" is poised become a major pain in the right wing's keester between now and the 2004 elections. Thanks, Al, for a job well done. You will enjoy a nice long ride atop the best-seller lists.
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Summary: Brilliant brilliant brilliant
Review: I didn't laugh until I cried... I laughed, and THEN I cried, over and over again -- because everything he says is true. Hilariously, heartwrenchingly true. And that's the point. At a time when everyone is too lazy or apathetic to check into the facts -- especially reporters -- Al and Team Franken (14 Harvard grad students) took the time to research and document the facts. They show how so many of these "fair and balanced" "journalists" not only lie, but create news stories out of those lies by repeating themselves and quoting each other, until the stories are picked up by mainstream journalists and then echo about in our airheaded political consciousness and ultimately shape public opinion and history (i.e. the Gore lying story, the one about Wellstone's memorial turning into a Republican-bashing event, the vandalism of the West Wing). This is a brilliant book based on what has become a radical idea: report the things these people say and then do good old-fashioned journalistic research to find out if there's any truth to them at all. I highly recommend this book for everyone at Fox News, the New York Post, the Washington Times and their ilk, who could really benefit from seeing how actual research is done. And as for the boys from Texas... thankfully, they're probably too arrogant/misunderestimating to read this (don't tell them we're catching on to their dirty tricks!).
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Summary: Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced
Review: I didn't pay for the book and I am so thankful. Any body who pays for this trash will be upset. How can this guy get away with this slander and not get sued. Thank God for the freedom that Al can write this trash. We know how stupid he is. It was really hard to read this and not get upset with the fact of people will believe some of Al's lies. The Title might reflect Al's Autobiography. Be careful what you say, you might tell what you do on an everday basis.
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Summary: Franken is a weiner
Review: I didn't read this book, but Al Franken is a liberal weiner who has no logical bones in his body. I would never even consider reading this book because after viewing this idiot on television, I am convinced that he is as stupid as every other liberal in this country.
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Summary: Wothless
Review: I didn't think this guy was funny on SNL, and I don't think he's a good writer. This book is a waste of time and money. If you want something worthwhile, get the dvd "New Sex Now" and learn something you will enjoy!
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Summary: Al proves that you do not have to have talent to write
Review: I do not usually denounce people I oppose. I believe that everyone has the right to say what they want - even if that speech is laden with hate and lies, something in which Franken is outstanding. However, after seeing this untalented, unfunny excuse of a human being appear on Letterman's show, condemnation is what this witless, soulless swine needs. As an added bonus, it seems that Al himself reads these "reviews". Feast on this one Al! This book is really an excuse for this chronically unemployed liberal to spew hatred and fabrication among the gullible. Since only a select few would ever read something written by this snake (if he dared pen a tome with a title that didn't invoke the image or name of Rush or Bill) he feels the need to attach himself to the successful newsmakers of the 90's and the 00's. There once was a time when Franken was funny. Can you remember when? Yes, I know it is difficult to try to think back that far . . . but there was a time - remember the mid '70's? Franken hates Rush Limbaugh. Hates Bill O'Reilly. Hates Ann Coulter. Hates President Bush. But most of all - hates America AND himself. Hey Al, you had 8 years with Clinton/Gore. Why didn't you help change the world then? You had DECADES on SNL to shape the hearts and minds of young people. But you failed then too, didn't you? The fact is that the majority of the American people do not agree with you or your liberal ideology! It is that simple. I am happy of a few things in life - my wife and family - my job - and the fact that I do not pray to the same "god" that Franken does. Al - how can you tell a sympathetic audience that the "Republicans really hate" when sighting a stupid comment from a "reviewer" on Amazon.com about the death of your mother- and turn around and say "all you can do is pray" when making veiled threats and opaque hopes that Rush Limbaugh meets his demise in prison? Or after saying those sordid, disgusting things about Brit Hume? Or writing deplorable things about the President? Or calling Bill O'Reilly a liar (and worse)? Did your mother tech you that? I'll bet not. It is amazing to me that you spout deceit, lies, hatred and loathing about anything and everything "Republican" or "Conservative" - but you do not want to allow any other person you deem "on the right" to have a say about ANYTHING. I guess its all OK as long as we think like you, huh Al? You stand for nothing but arrogance and rage. You and Howard Dean can check into the same anger management class in a few weeks (after Dean goes mental on the campaign trail). You had the nerve to mention you wanted to do "drug free radio" (a VERY funny statement about Rush Limbaugh's addiction) when in the same breath mentioning how awfully Rush talked about Jerry Garcia (something I'd love to see you prove, by the way). You worked with addicts all of your SNL tenure . . . do the names John Beluchi, Chevy Chase and Chris Farley ring a bell? You should have tried harder to do "drug free TV" first. You (and all your liberal pals) were a miserable failure at that. I really hope that your new "talk show" does as well as "Stuart Saves His Family" did at the box office. All we can do is pray! After your show flops, I'm sure you'll blame the "right", "Republicans" or "conservatives". You'll point the finger at everyone but the one person that will deserve it - YOU. You will fail. Your show will fail. All we can do is pray. And right now, you need all the "prayers" you can get, Al . . . and believe me, I'll be the prayer warrior. Stop the hate, Al. Start with yourself.
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Summary: Fair and balanced is right!
Review: I don't always agree with him, but he does the research and finds the truth. Then he puts what he finds into what can only be called political comic relief. Hooray, for Al Franken!
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Summary: Very Intersting Book
Review: I don't buy into reading political books of this genre too often but after the stink Fox News mad about the title of this book I had go and read what all the fuss was about. This book was hard to put down. He takes on O'Reilly and Coulter and makes them look even more dim witted than they already are. He has a very easy style to read and the sarcasm is just dripping on most of the pages. What I like about Mr. Franken the most is that he tells the truth on these topics, even if he did or said something off color, etc, he will readily admit he was wrong. Unlike O'Reilly who will deny it to the ends of the earth, or yell down whoever is disagreeing with him. Even if you are a Conservative this would be a good read, its not slanted one way or the other really it just tries to balance out the Radical Conservatives that have been running the news. Do yourself a favor pick up a copy, even if you don't agree with what he has to say, you will still laugh throughout the entire book.
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