Amazon reviews of Al Frankensteins book "liars and the lying liars who tell them"

amazon.com ^ | 10/12/03 | metalboy

[metalboy]

An Impish Delight, October 11, 2003 Reviewer: Cheri L. Bacon from Placerville, California United States One of the best things about Mr. Franken's book is how well footnoted it is. Seriouly, this may be the best footnoted book I've ever read. If you don't believe me, check out page 16.

This book really hits the mark. I've become a true believer, a fundamentalist Frankenphile. Not only did I buy the book, I also bought the cassette tapes for the road. Then, only yesterday, I bought an autographed copy for only $100 via the Democratic Party's website. It's do to arrive sometime in November and will make a perfect gift for one of my Republican friends.

I must warn you, a light comedic work this is not. It's funny to be sure, often very funny, but mostly it's a hard hitting indictment of our current administration and its media representatives who cynically betrayed the opportunity to unite the country in a non-partisan way in the wake of 9/11. Instead, as this book demonstrates, the Bush administration used this tragedy to promote their own partisan, power, and profit motives with the help of some key friends in high places in the media.

"Lies" is a high-flighing parody, adopting the haranguing, fanatically rhetorical language and style of squawking heads like Bill "O'Liely," Ann Coulter, and Sean Hannity, who make my body ache for the gentile days of political discourse exemplified by the likes of Bill Buckley and David Frost. It's not surpising that the humorless targets of this book don't get parody. All the more fun!

Al Franken has balls, funny balls to be sure, but balls nonetheless. More importantly, he has a brain and a comedic talent to match that really seems to get under the skin of these humorless zealots. I confess I took an impish delight in reading it.

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Lies, begone!, October 11, 2003 Reviewer: Erik Weatherwax (see more about me) from Austin, Texas United States This is a wonderfully well-written, incisive and entertaining book. You will note that, overall, negative reviews of Lies consist primarily of rants about the so-called liberal media and show no evidence of actually having read the book. Reviews from those who have actually read it seem to be positive most of the time. As a comedian, Franken's book is not the same as, say, Conason or Krugman, but it is entertaining (you would expect that from a comedian) and is remarkably effective in exposing the most popular right-wing pundits as, well, blatant liars. In the interests of full disclosure, I am a liberal, but Franken's case is based upon a careful analysis of said right-wing pundits, and deductions from that analysis using logic (something missing in most right-wing books), with a liberal dose of humor and satire (pun intended). If you've read the book and disagree, that's your prerogative, but I'd like to see anyone who dislikes Lies explain (based on the book itself, rather than a knee-jerk reaction to the "liberal media") why not. It's also a great reference, if one is the sole liberal in a sea of conservatives, for easily accessible and clear refutations to the misinformed positions one often hears. Lies receives my highest recommendation.

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[metalboy]

...it's a hard hitting indictment of our current administration and its media representatives who cynically betrayed the opportunity to unite the country in a non-partisan way in the wake of 9/11.

Cynically betrayed the opportunity to unite the country in a non-partisan way in the wake of 9/11??? Listen sister, if we`re talking betrayal, I would think it would be idiots like Fraken who put his own liberal dementia above all and everything else after this country was attacked over and over and over and over for the past 11 years. After all, nothing is more important than partisanship, even to the point of death, right? Last I checked, Bush just wants to get rid of terrorism, but it seems he`s having a real problem here at home with people like you who want to keep it! You gotta problem with keeping people alive? (Yes I read the book, then summarily burned it)

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[bvw]

Saw Franken on Russert last night with Tucker Carlson. (Calrson's facial and hand expressions are a a dobbleganger of Ann Coulter's btw). Franken needs three months in the Carrier Clinic, at least. Maybe getting close to Vroom Building material, there that Franken.

[metalboy]

Tucker...It`s just you gotta question a guy who is a little too hip on bowties and takes trips with Al Sharpton. I wonder if Tucker asked Al if Tawana was really smeared with doody, and how he came to the conclusion that Steven Pagones was the 'rapist'.

[Ditter]

Wish I understood what you said.

[Big Horn]

Franken is about as funny as a dead baby.

[SpinyNorman]

Not only did I buy the book, I also bought the cassette tapes for the road. Then, only yesterday, I bought an autographed copy for only $100 via the Democratic Party's website.

My guess it that he bought the tapes first, because "sounding out" all those big words like "Bush" and "the" were just too time consuming. Then, as a nice Franken Koolaid drinker, bought two books to artificially inflate his sales numbers. Something the Barbra Streisands of the world are doing for him and Hitlery.

Seriouly, this may be the best footnoted book I've ever read. If you don't believe me, check out page 16.

If I recall, Ann Coulter's book has a reference section that is bigger than Franken's whole book. Of course, the phrase "...I've ever read" probably consists mostly of comic books.

"Lies" is a high-flighing parody, adopting the haranguing, fanatically rhetorical language and style of squawking heads like Bill "O'Liely," Ann Coulter, and Sean Hannity, who make my body ache for the gentile days of political discourse exemplified by the likes of Bill Buckley and David Frost. It's not surpising that the humorless targets of this book don't get parody. All the more fun!

Do you get the feeling that he read the book naked, and was fantasizing about Franken being there with him, helping to "make his body ache?" Ick!

And what are "gentile days" anyway? Is this a religious smear? LOL!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Franken needs three months in the Carrier Clinic, at least. Maybe getting close to Vroom Building material, there that Franken.

Was this translated from the original by Babelfish?

[sport]

You have got to keep in mind that the communists call the truth lies and lies the truth.

[isthisnickcool]

Al Franken can complain about (insert subject here) but he hasn't a clue about how to do anything to fix (insert same subject here).

Franken good enough, ain't smart enough and doggone it, a lot of people don't like him.

[TrebleRebel]

Then, only yesterday, I bought an autographed copy for only $100 via the Democratic Party's website. It's do to arrive sometime in November and will make a perfect gift for one of my Republican friends.

"Lies" is a high-flighing parody, adopting the haranguing, fanatically rhetorical language and style of squawking heads like Bill "O'Liely," Ann Coulter, and Sean Hannity, who make my body ache for the gentile days of political discourse exemplified by the likes of Bill Buckley and David Frost.

Cute...

[gov_bean_ counter]

Tucker...It`s just you gotta question a guy who is a little too hip on bowties

My teenage son says he looks like him mommy dressed him. Credibility takes a big initial hit.

[Piquaboy]

I heard yesterday that Franken is going to be the new liberal talk show host which is suppose to air in January 04.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

It's not surpising that the humorless targets of this book don't get parody. All the more fun!

"Humorless" targets, as in people who summarize each argument with excruciating sarcasm which mocks the voice of PC within, and forces you to accept the implication of the indictment you have just read. Go, Ann!

The humorless ones are those who exploit the inherent perspective of journalism to censor the conservative perspective--and then marvel at how "smart" leftists are.

[metalboy]

HA HA HA!!! GREAT!! Too bad they don`t leave email addresses...It`s people like this who wait on line for 10 hours for the Hillary book signings and when she shows up, they faint. The whole thing with people like this that completely blows my mind is, 3000 people were killed on 911, not to mention the ones who were killed in the first WTC attack, and the embassy attacks and the USS Cole attack... What in the name of God can you POSSIBLY be thinking that would EVER prevent you from agreeing to stop those attacks? Oh that`s right, it`s called partisanship...Something she is saying Bush is doing! WHOA! That`s like having a roommate who is trying to stop your apt. from being blown up by vandals, but you keep telling him "No!! Let them keep blowing it up because the President is a Republican!" What? WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING??? Are you INSANE?

[metalboy]

LOL!!!

[T'wit]

>> It's do to arrive sometime in November <<

If you can't spell three-letter words, mon Cheri, you'd better abandon your career as a book reviewer. Otherwise you'll find yourself stepping in due-due.

[bvw]

"dobbleganger" -- misspelled, meant "doppleganger", a duplicate to all outside appearances.

The Carrier Clinic: upscale Central NJ private mental health hospital.

The Vroom Building: Mentioned here, see chapter 10. Trenton Psychiatric Hospital Ward for the Criminally Insane.

[bvw]

See 19 above.