Rating: 
Summary: Stick to SNL, Al
Review: A political commentator he ain't.This screed could have been written by that other genius Michael Moore. Borrow it, or as Abby Hoffman said 'Steal this book', but don't line this guy's pockets.
Rating:
Summary: Al Franken is a stuck-up liar
Review: The nauseating, cloying, "holier than thou," and completely un-funny Al Franken is back, and worse than ever. I'm hardly a fan of Rush Limbaugh, but Al Franken is at his Jack Handy and Stuart Little "best" here -- and with his normal distorting, untruthful, hurtful, intolerant, and nasty approach to important issues.
Rating:
Summary: Lacking in wit and insight
Review: A screed that aims to get those who already agree to cheer, rather than to get an average reader to laugh. One is reminded of so many Letterman monologs. The audience applauds when one of their favorite targets gets gored. That is a far cry from humor. It is a gang=bang. Selecting passages from Rush's show to parody and/or lampoon, the smarmy NY/Saturday Night Live superiority is almost slippery on the pages. Not recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Limbaugh and the Right are Fair Game
Review: I have read many of the one-star reviews of this book. I find it amusing that when there is finally an author from the left that uses as much venom as those from the right (Coulter and Limbaugh are prime examples), so many outraged and shocked rightwingers cry foul. I'm sure many of you have consistently written "unbiased" five-star reviews of Coulter's work (and I guess you also think Senator Joe McCarthy wasn't such a bad guy after all). To say outright that there is no fact behind Franken's work is baseless. Those people with such strong (blind?) political feelings cannot read facts with an unbiased viewpoint. I believe Mr. Franken details well the often inane and even deliberately misleading comments made by such luminaries as Limbaugh and Gingrich. The hypocritical natures of these men are simply outlined and explored. The right thrives on attacking Clinton for his extramarital affairs, yet dismisses such criticisms of Gingrich. Limbaugh himself, ever critical of any and all social programs of the federal government, did accept unemployment benefits. Some of Limbaugh's past statements (detailed by Franken) are just plain ludicrous. These are just some of the good examples Franken details in an hysterical manner. I believe for the right that this book, like the truth, hurts too much. As to the criticisms that Franken "resorts to name-calling," let's be fair. Limbaugh once called Chelsea Clinton "the White House Dog" when she was 13 years old. To call Limbaugh fat seems pretty mild in comparison (at the time his body mass index certainly fit a medical, objective definition of obese). Even though it is nice to take the highroad and not use the tactics used by so many of the nastier members of the right (like Limbaugh), it certainly delivers a guilty pleasure to hear it thrown back at them. I admit Franken can be cruel and crass, but he is also accurate and amusing.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, funny, and true!
Review: Al Franken embraces the foolish ad hominum stylings of conservative trolls like Ann Colture and mocks it brilliantly. While the piece is certainly no manifesto, it is light, funny, and even enlightening. To pull one thing from the book, conservatives need to lighten up (no pun intended) and take themselves alot less seriously.
Rating:
Summary: More Name Calling
Review: I picked this tome off my shelf after it had sat there for several years. It had previously been a Christmas gift from a "liberal" relative . I recently read Ann Coulter's book "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" involving the legal justification surrounding the impeachment of Bill Clinton. In Ms. Coulter's work I was struck by the depth of detail and research she used to justify the impeachment of then President Clinton. Her book is filled with several pages of detailed references to support her claims. Unfortunately, this book had been written before the rash of presidential pardons at the end of the Clinton administration. To give fair balance to my reading I decided to then read Mr. Franken's work. I have heard it said that liberals can't debate on substance, they can only resort to name calling. I think the title would begin to make one wonder. I guess I wasn't surprised when he uses terms like "f@#*ing moron" (p12) to champion his views. It is no wonder that the current political climate seems to be shifting to the right if this is what passes for political discourse from the liberal left. Still I highly recommend this book as an eye-opener for those who wish to see what a liberal really is. But don't look too hard for any substance or facts. That would only confuse the issues.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely AMAZING!
Review: It astounds me...that a person could write a book with so few facts! If possible, I would have given this work zero stars. Words to describe the foulness of this vile work do not exist in the English language. This book does not make any political points; as far as I can see, it is one big series of personal attacks, lies, and half truths. Such figures as Bill O'Reilly have proven Franken to be a 'factual contortionist,' to put it euphmistically, a liar, to be blunt. To close, it would be fun (if not appropriate) to make, in jest, an unfounded personal attack on Franken, as he does on so many others, but I find that to be repugnant behavior, suitable only for those who cannot (perhaps will not, which I say just to be fair, unlike the Author) attack on the basis of facts, ideas, and ideals. Now, I really must go and clean up my Franken-induced vomit.
Rating:
Summary: The Antidote to Rush Limbaugh
Review: Conservatives really, really dislike Franken and this book. Which shows you that he's really onto something. Liberals love it more than words can express. Because Franken is a master at satire and humor, and pulls no punches, and the book was so sorely needed at the time (when the angry white males were atarting to dominate American discourse, frequently parroting slogans and propoganda without bothering to think logically or to consider alternate viewpoints). Moderates and apolitical people may be bothered by some of Franken's harsh jokes and language. It is, basically, a grating and harsh attack on right-wing figures. Those who admire and study humorous writing should be transfixed. On the whole, an astonishing book. You will have to look long and hard to find political satire of this quality. Franken has become a humorist whose work is almost unerringly brilliant; he's outdone his previous contemporaries (Michael O'Donoghue etc.) by a factor of 100 or so. The man is an American treasure, if not a cuddly one.
Rating:
Summary: Go, Al!
Review: Anyone who makes a convincing argument that Mr. Limbaugh is nothing but a fraud is okay with me. And that's what Al has done in this book. Liberals will love it, conservatives will hate it. It's too bad that Mr. Franken is probably the most unheralded funny man in America. Hopefully that will change someday.
Also recommended: NO ONE'S EVEN BLEEDING
Rating:
Summary: Ad hominen is all ya got?
Review: After graduating with degrees in poly sci and urban studies I voted for Dems for the next 20 years. I grew up and in the era of reasoned debate. But now, after the era of Clinton all the Dems have is Sol Alinsky's Rules for Radicales, ad hominen humor and no substance. At least franken is funny. Carville, Begala and the paid liers aren't even funny.
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