Rating: 
Summary: Stunned
Review: I just bought the book 6 hours ago and I'm already on page 123. I just finished reading the chapter "Operation Ignore" and my mixture of emotions is indescribable. I'm incredibly angry, saddened, sickened, and yet again sobered at what situation our country is in.Franken makes it quite clear, with facts (supported heavily by footnoted referenced research), that the Clinton administration handed the plan of prevention for 9/11 to the incoming Bush Administration. Yet at every turn, they delayed and blocked that plan ever being implemented. Every citizen should at least read this chapter, if not the entire book.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious and damning.
Review: I just finished Lies yesterday, and seeing as how I have the attention span of a gnat, it's a real testament to the book's readability that I finished it in under 4 days. As I'm sure you know, Lies attempts to dispel the myth of a liberal media once and for all. In fact, the book's ambition goes well beyond that and tries to show how whereas the mainstream media (nightly news on the major networks and so forth) is fairly centrist (although lazy and sensationalistic) there undoubtably exists are far right wing media that a sizeable number of Americans get their news from. Through well researched analysis (Al Franken's research team 'Team Franken' consists of 14 Harvard graduate students), Franken paints an absolutely damning portrait of a right wing media machine that not only gets it's talking points directly from the current White House, but on a daily basis will go out of their way to lie and distort the truth to prop up and defend them. Lies focuses on a cadre of 'mainstream' right wing pundits such as Sean Hannity, Brit Hume, Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly. Franken points out the inequity in Fox shows such as Hannity and Colmes. He shows how it's not mere happenstance that Fox chose an outspoken, agressive (and extremely loose with the truth) conservative like Sean Hannity to represent the right while choosing a moderate, passive, unassertive, unattractive 'liberal' like Alan Colmes to represent the left. Franken even recalls confronting Colmes (spelled out in around 6 point type to illustrate his diminuitive role on the show) in the book at a White House function and expressing his anger that he hardly ever refutes Hannity's outright lies, and when he does, it's in Colmes' usual meek and non-confrontative manner. Colmes attempts to assuage Franken by telling him 'That's not the format of the show' and that they are only allowed to confront the guests and not eachother. So, essentially Hannity is allowed to lie as much as he would like and Colmes essentially is not allowed to refute him. Fair and Balanced indeed. While there were many pundits that I would have liked to see the book focus on more (Chris Matthews, Wolf Blitzer, Bob Novak, Jonah Goldberg), I can understand that he wanted to focus on the most agregious offenders. Not devoting a chapter to Michael Savage (real name Michael Weiner), seemed like a glaring omission however, considering he had two chapters on Ann Coulter. One of my favorite chapters in the book is a mini comic book entitled 'Supply Side Jesus' which in a gut-bustingly funny fashion makes you ask yourself; "Conservative Christian? Isn't that an oxymoron?" Oh, did I mention that the book is laugh outload, side splittingly funny? Funnier than anything Franken did on Saturday Night Live and even funnier than the last book of his that I read, the brilliant and biting 'Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot'. Even if you are a conservative, you have to appreciate the hilarity of this book which takes jabs at both liberals and conservatives. Oh, and conservatives, please check this book out. I'm not asking you to buy it or anything, just get it from a library or borrow it from a liberal friend of yours. I promise in the near future I'll be reading Hannity's 'Let Freedom Ring' or Coulter's 'Slander' or 'Treason' or even Jonah Goldberg's 'Bias' in an attempt to remain unbiased, and I recommend you attempt to do the same. I guarantee you'll find it worth your time, if only to enjoy the humor or to attempt to pick it apart.
Rating: 
Summary: LMFAO!
Review: I just finished reading Lies an hour or so ago, sneaking in chapters here or there, and I have to say that it has provided some of the best laughs I've had in several weeks, from the outright funny sort of laughs to the "I have to laugh, otherwise I'me going to cry from the absurdity" sort of laughs. What Lies is is a look at hypocrisy, over-simplification, and deceit that current neo-cons get away with in the media. I'm certain an equally detailed book could be written from the other side, though probably not nearly so laugh evoking. Is this a great piece of investigative journalism, a concentrated exposé, or anything of the sort? No, and if you wanted that you'd be reading a variety of other lie-busting sources. Try Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) or other places for leads. Is this book going to convert many people? I hope not, as converts tend to lack on the skepticism front. Rather I hope it provokes good-humored skepticism that will help challenge the current administration, as well as those in the future, and the records of those in the past. Unlike Franken, I bear no love for the president that "ended welfare as we know it", or under whose watch Enron and MCI/Worldcom developed.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious book that tells the truth
Review: I just finished reading the book and I must say it was one of the funniest books I've ever read. Franken does a great job shooting holes through all the lies people like Sean Hannity and Bill Oreilly spout on their radio/tv shows and in the books they write. It's disgusting the way those two treat people who attempt to tell the truth or correct them when they are wrong. This book has opened up my eyes because before I used to believe what Sean Hannity would say about the "nasty liberals". I don't trust him anymore or will believe anything he says and this is coming from a conservative. This book won't change you into a liberal but it will make you see the criticism thrown in their direction in a new light.
Rating:
Summary: How to have fun and feel productive.
Review: I just finished reading the first 82 pages. Received several looks from my dog Freddy while laughing out loud. I recently came back from a visit with my dad in Texas. He is a staunch watcher of Fox news and talk about I couldn't wait to say good bye (I miss him now though). I hate it when a shows host shuts down there guest in mid sentence, only to aid there agenda with no regard for fair play, that is what Bill O'Reilly dose on his show. Nice to have Bill O'Reilly properly described It's the little things that count, but it's also the little things that are easier to hide and or miss, it's amazing the B.S. that goes on and on and on. I have something to look forward to this weekend, finishing the rest of this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny and interesting, but too scattered and incomplete
Review: I just finished this book on vacation; perhaps the best place to read this book. There were certainly some very humerous passages and some examples were very illustrative. However, I would have much preferred to read about examples of more substance. I don't really care if Bill O'Reilly is registered a Republican or if he grew up in a more comfortable neighborhood. I would much rather learn more about how he (and Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, etc) has misled his viewers/listeners on important topics (of which I believe there are many examples). This too could be entertaining, useful and important. This was disappointing because I believe it could have been much more. As it came out, it sounded more of a rant (funny though!) of someone who views a polarized media and political spectrum. I think the irony is that most people are not very polarized, but the ones who have a voice (and sell books...) are (including Franken). I think that we live in a very scary time when both (perceived) sides of the political spectrum have veered significantly from the actual pillars of their ideologies into mud-slinging where the left (people who believe that society should help people who can't help themselves) and the right (people whose faith instructs them to help people who can't help themselves) have lost track of the fact that their black and white worlds aren't. Al Franken is a neutralizing force to the so-called conservative right. Ironically, I didn't find his views to be liberal in the textbook sense, only in the sense that he supported our previous president who wasn't really very liberal (he really was fairly moderate if you look at his actions) to a bizarrely reverent level. Bill Clinton, like George W and George Senior catered significantly to big business, the expansion of environmental destruction (George W seems to want to bring this back closer to home though) and continued support of abysmal working conditions overseas and the loss of American jobs that come from their low cost (NAFTA). It would be great for someone like Franken to take on the issues (and the people behind those issues), not just the people. He clearly has the wit, patience and resources to do this. That would be an excellent book. I will buy his next book when it comes out and read it again on my next vacation.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I just finnished reading this book yesterday, and all in all I felt it was a really good book. Al Franken's use of comedy in his writing really adds to the experience of reading the book. Its always a good thing when you find yourself laughing half of the time while reading a book... which I was. After finnishing "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot" just a month ago, I rushed out and purchased a copy of this book. Franken does a good job at illustrating how Clinton was much more of a people's president than Bush ever will be.
Being a Minnesotan, I especially liked the chapter about Paul Wellstone. I watched the memorial service on television, and I can clearly remembering how that brought closure to the depressing feelings I was having after Wellstone's plane crashed. I can also clearly remember everything that the conservatives were saying about the memorial service. Franken describes it very well in this book.
My favorite part of the whole book was "Operation ChickenHawk Episode One". It was very ammusing, as was the origianl one done in "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot".
All in all I thought the book was another winner. Thanks Al Franken.
One last note... this is to all of the conservatives that are reviewing this book. Unless you have read this book, don't write a review because you have no reason to. Even though you like the sound of your own voice, we don't want to hear your views. So go and write reviews for you own flailing cause, and leave us alone. Oh yeah, we're right, and you're wrong! :)
Rating:
Summary: funny yup! disturbing up!
Review: I just got this book and read it very quickly. It is not hard to read and I have to say that there are parts that made me laugh because it was funny. But I had complaints because there are some disturbing conclusions that are hidden underneath all the humour. Why can't we have a balanced book about current events for once???
Rating:
Summary: My Patriotic Duty to Buy This Book!!!!!
Review: I just read the introduction to Al Franken's book, gratis Al's Webmaster. (In other words, I got Al's Spam.) I consider it my patriotic duty to buy this book. After years of listening to and speed reading all the Right Wing Bozos out there, Thank God we now have our OWN Bozo. Al Franken - God's Speed. Buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: The Endnote Joke - Fantastic!
Review: I just started the book but I am enjoying it so far. Very funny, and it takes on all of the bad guys - especially Ms. Coulter - who infuriate me on a regular basis. I did notice that many of the 1 star reviews were from folks who either never read the book or put it down after reading a few pages. Afraid you might find some bit of truth about your heroes you won't like? Of course, I am posting my review before finishing the book, so yeah, to an extent, I'm the pot calling the kettle black. But after reading tropical alex's post and wondering, "Could Al really have screwed up like that?", I finally checked out the last printed page of the book and got the joke. Comic genius....and it's genius that most of the critics of this book will miss (and maybe even some fans...I missed it at first). Because of this genius, I'm giving the book an early 5 star review. Touches on many of the same points as Alterman, but adds Al's humorous touch. Kudos to him and TeamFranken for a job well done. You made me laugh..which is important to do when I'm reading stuff that infuriates me as much as the right's antics that are outlined in this book. P.S. - Does anybody know if Ann said Evan Thomas was Norman's "son" or "grandson"? Never read "Slander"...her weekly column, which I read religiously, is about all I can stomach from her. Either way, Al's point is made...and it's damned funny.
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