Rating: 
Summary: The Nation's Premier Political Comedian
Review: Franken admits that he came up with the title for this book before writing it. This is a hilarious collection of essays targeting the politicial right wing. The book kicks off with a chapter that pokes fun of Limbaugh's hypocrisy, weight, and political/social stances. He writes, "It's way too easy to quote him: 'It's time to start championing old-fashioned virtues like... self-restraint, self-discipline' and then write STOP EATING!!!" Much of the book is like this; spoofs on right-wing hypocrisy alongside exposures of some of their more asinine remarks. (e.g.- Rush Limbaugh: "Have you ever noticed how all newspaper composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?" Pat Robertson: "The feminist agenda....is not about equal rights for women. It's about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft and become lesbians." Newt Gingrich: "If combat means living in a ditch, females have biological problems staying in a ditch for 30 days because they get infections... On the other hand, if combat means being on an aegis class cruiser managing the computer controls for twelve ships, a female may be again dramatically better than a male, who gets very, very frustrated sitting in a chair all the time because males are biologically driven to go out and hunt giraffes." Franken retorts: "Two images come to mind. The first is of the grasslands of Africa. During the Neolithic Period. Rush, Newt, and Bill Bennett, all 825 pounds of them, are trying to run down a giraffe. The giraffe is thinking, 'No problem here.' The second image is of Newt, about fifteen years ago, explaining to his thirteen-year-old daughter that she just got her first 'infection.'") Subsequent essays cover a range of political figures and issues. My version, the new paperback edition, also includes a postlude of "New Dirt on the Nutcase Right". There aren't many Jay Leno-type one-liners in this one. Instead, the essays have the strange mixture of building into hilarity while enraging you.Good: This book is a quick, funny read. The best essays are the ones that target specific characters, particularly the ones on Limbaugh, Newt Gingerich, Phil Gramm, Pat Buchanan, and Pat Robertson. Bad: A couple of the essays drag a bit, particularly the fictitious "Operation Chickenhawk". Opinion: This one is hysterical! I laughed out loud regularly while reading it. It's definitely nice to see someone giving Limbaugh a taste of his own medicine. Franken stops at nothing, and in my opinion has definitely established himself as one of the nation's premier political comedians.
Rating: 
Summary: Al Franken is a sick, perverted Socialist
Review: This book is so dull and sick, that it probably makes Stuart Saves his Family seem funny (Oh wait, you probably didn't see it either). Franken's humor is aimed at Limbaugh's weight rather than his political ideas. In the process of insulting obese Americans, Franken also manages to slide in sick Mormon, pornographic, abortion, and Christian value jabs. Not only is this dark humor insulting to American traditions and the US Constitution, but there are no humorous aspects. Perhaps if he understood Limbaugh's conservative doctrine he could make a decent argument in this horrid monograph. But unfortunately, Franken's intellectual lapses forces him to resort to "fat" jokes and manipulative tactics in gaining conservative resources. Finally, this guys lucky he's had talent like Mike Myers and Adam Sandler on SNL, or he'd be supersizing burgers at McDonalds (Heaven knows he couldn't live off of Stuart Saves His Family).
Rating: 
Summary: Would've prefered to give it 3 1/2
Review: I love Al Franken and I have since SNL, and as a fan of him the book did not disappoint. This book is a satiric look at the whole game of politics. I loved the way he mimicked Limbaugh's style; it was priceless. Some of the chapters had me laughing out loud. I did find the book a little long, slow, and inconsistent at times. He took the jokes a bit to far (especially the fat jokes) so they lost their effect. It's a fine line to know how long to keep a joke going, and he missed a few times. Last, the book, in some ways, seemed dated to me, at least as a Canadian who hasn't heard much from Limbaugh in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Silly, Funny Book
Review: First of all, I'm fairly conservative, so don't believe the reviews about how to make your conservative friends go crazy, etc.; this is hilarious stuff! When it comes to political humor, I would have to rank Franken up there with P.J. O'Rourke on the other side of the aisle. What I like about Franken, as opposed to such incredibly unfunny people as Molly Ivins and Jim Hightower, is that he expects the reader to have enough intelligence and wit to "get it"; there is none of that cornpone crap you get from Ivins and Hightower that makes me wish they were from anywhere but my home state of Texas. This is the kind of book you can read about once a year and still laugh at all the jokes. Just looking at the cover and reading the book title is enough to get me chuckling.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing and Hilarious
Review: I'm a Democrat who lives in Texas; so I don't get to see very much of the liberal press I hear so much about on the "fair and balanced" Fox "News" Channel. Books like Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot are really refreshing. It makes me think that (at least outside of Texas) there might be some other people who actually possess the ability to think. As to the quality of the book, it is very good though I do think there are some flaws. It is very funny. My favorite parts were the New York Times book review, everything about Phil Graham (remember, I'm from Texas), and the time Franken stumped Reagan on a question. I did think that the story "Operation Chickenhawk" fell kind of flat, and I thought some of Franken's religious opinions detracted from the book. Overall, the book was fabulous. I really enjoyed seeing Limbaugh and Gingrich (and others) get called on some of the outright untruths they've spouted throughout the years.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Free Enough To Be Funny
Review: Rather than produce too smart and scathing a satire, Franken dwells mostly on Limbaugh's wieght problem & multiple marriages. It just comes off stupid and mean where he could have easily produced far deeper and funnier humor on the man's politics alone. In fact, Franken just comes off as the Rush of the left: married to his own (almost equelly corrupt) political party & resorting to immature name-calling, as well as taking just as many facts and quotes of of context as the jerks he's trying to rip apart. So instead of rising above Limbaugh, the pompous Republican pundit, Franken becomes the pompous Democratic pundit. If your interested in seeing some light shed on the many mistruths Mr. Limbaugh puts forth in his books and radio broadcasts, check out "The Way Things Really Are" and other interesting resources around the internet. And for political comedy, check out folks like George Carlin who aren't affraid to take jabs at ALL ENDS of the political spectrum where it is due. Franken's book is really only good for yuppie Democrats who just want to giggle at the other side while they support a party just as sleazy & business-minded, but merely looks better and throws them enough crumbs to feel good about themselves & not question things too much.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Satire!!!!
Review: This very, very funny book is a scathing and uncompromisingly tell-it-like-it-is look at the pompous talk show host and the rest of the gang of the Republican wrong, oops!, I mean right. The political satire is brilliant. Al Franken for President!--Diana Dell, author, "A Saigon Party: And Other Vietnam War Short Stories."
Rating: 
Summary: Very Funny & Slightly Flawed
Review: I must admit I have a soft spot for AL FRANKEN ever since I saw AL FRANKEN on saturday night live and assorted other shows that he, AL FRANKEN, appeared in and helped write. In my opinion he, AL FRANKEN is a very funny man and makes some good points in his; AL FRANKEN'S book. I particularly enjoyed the part when he, AL FRANKEN describes his attempt to pin down Mr. Reagan on a question in New Hampshire resulting in the ejection of him AL FRANKEN from the press bus. You know after thinking about all the parts of this book I enjoyed, I kinda think he, AL FRANKEN deserves maybe 3 1/2 stars instead of 3 but unfortunately for every comic part of his; AL FRANKEN'S book I remember his unabashed worship of a president who is the poster boy of the dishonesty that he AL FRANKEN claims to dislike. His arguements are weaker than a person of his, AL FRANKEN'S intelect should give, and his idolitry of Bill Clinton frankly is benieth a person with the intellect of AL FRANKEN but his humor from the Rush weight chart (which will now have to be modified in new editions if he; AL FRANKEN, ever gets a reprint out.) to the fantasy vietnam sequence are a good laugh. His, AL FRANKEN'S attacks on Rush don't wash as it's more a question of how you look at numbers, (sort of like the tax cut arguement percentage vs whole dollars) but they are fun. I would recommend a series of debates between him AL FRANKEN and equally funny Ben Stein. I know that for him, AL FRANKEN it won't be as much fun as hanging out with Ariana Huffington who looks better but it would be informative and a lot of fun. Anyway in the end he AL FRANKEN has written a funny book, worth a read, sure. Worth your dollars? Well I'm not sure, but if you do buy it I'm sure he AL FRANKEN will be grateful.
Rating:
Summary: what a nasty, meanspirited, negative book
Review: I am a liberal and I do not like what people like Limbaugh, Gingrich, Reed and republicans the like have to say but this is a very nasty book. I dont think I've ever read a book before by someone who is so full of himself. The book is sometimes funny. Most of the time it's just badly written, cheap, meanspirited and negative. Mr Franken schould think about joining the republican party and the people he writes about. He's no better than they are. The democrats can do without people like Al Franken. Dont buy this book. It's a waste of money.
Rating:
Summary: Glad its Still In Print
Review: Its good to see that Franken's snotty masterpiece is still being made available to the public. We must remember, after all, that politics should not be taken too seriously. With the country currently in a Republican death-grip, it is important to realize that life is more fun when your favorite Liberal is Al Franken and your favorite Conservative is P.J. O'Rourke! As a genuine piece of political satire, this book is a real gem. Franken mercilessly flogs the "Rush Limbaugh is Fat!" punchline until the obvious ad-hominem attack becomes less repellent than ridiculous; a comment on the offensive childishness of such tactics when used in more serious political discourse. I agree with a previous reviewer in the opinion that Franken comes off in this book as more that a little self centered. Perhaps he is poking fun at the same characteristic as exhibited in Limbaugh's books by, again, exaggerating it to unbeleiveable proportions. Or maybe he's just really self centered... An excellent investment of time for those who can appreciate sophisticated political satire swirled in the seething lava of slapstick rudeness. Remember, Al Franken WAS Saturday Night Live during its most vital era. He's a pro at this!
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