Customer Reviews

Al Franken Is a Buck-Toothed Moron: And Other Observations

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

From the moment I first saw this book in my local library and noticed that it had a cover that looked almost exactly like "Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot" (which I own), I had to pick it up and at least scan it, if not check it out and take it home with me.

I'm giving Mr. Mauro two stars for trying, but in this book you will not hear the voice of a die-hard Rush Limbaugh fan who was so incensed and outraged over some of the things that Mr. Franken writes about his beloved idol that he just had to go out and write a book of his own in response. No, this is just an everyday conservative Republican lawyer (or is it two everyday conservative Republican lawyers?) doing his best to add fuel to the already burning-out-of-control fires of conservative ire over how there are too many liberals in America today. It's telling, for instance, that Mauro doesn't even bother to devote as much time to defending Limbaugh as Franken does to dissecting Limbaugh. Mauro appears to be more interested in comparing the person Franken was in his years on "Saturday Night Live" to the person he is today as a result of writing the Limbaugh book.

To give Mauro credit, he does do a great job of cutting PETA up like a buzz saw and pointing out how tiresome some of Franken's most repetitive jokes can be, case in point: the one about former Senator Alphonse D'Amato. At least those parts are funny.

Despite the clever manipulations exercised upon the photo at the front of this book's jacket, I do not believe that Al Franken actually has buck teeth. At least, it is not anything that I have ever noticed before. This error, regrettably, tended rather to taint the entire book for me, so forgive me if my observations fail to accord with your own.

Al Franken is a funny guy. Now, it has been said by some that actors, musicians, or funny men should just spend their days engaging solely in the practice of their own vocations for which their own, specialized gifts and training (i.e. acting, singing, being funny) have adequately prepared them. They should likewise spare the rest of us from having to listen to their political views. After all, they say, these people are not professional, licensed, or board-certified politicians and thus should not venture into such fields that their own professional degrees or training (i.e. Acting, Comedy) have not properly prepared them (as opposed to, for example, the professional study of Law, Political Science, or Country Music). Concerns of this sort are, as often as not, voiced by pundits (whose own unique place in society exempts them from having to be qualified for anything). Often overlooked by these pundits, however, are the multitudes of non-comedians who seek to be funny--seek even to be regarded as funny men--though they clearly do not possess the natural ability, training, or board certifications to lawfully do so.

J. P. Mauro is not a funny guy. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this. In AL FRANKEN IS A BUCK-TOOTHED MORON, Mauro's cleverest bit is the title itself, albeit this cleverness is borrowed from Al Franken himself. What could have been a good idea is ultimately a failure. For a book like this to succeed, it needs to depend upon humor which is sadly lackluster in this attempt. Conservatives should purchase this book and leave it on their coffee table unread. Their friends will appreciate the joke, but then again, they hardly need a reminder of their own righteousness.

Jeremy W. Forstadt

As a conservative, I must say that this book left a bad taste in my mouth. The public's perception of the Republican Party as "mean spirited" comes from works precisely as this one, which aim to only attack, and really offer nothing substantive to say. I'm sure I'd agree with many of Mr. Mauro's ideals, but the way they're presented here really turns me off.

Man, this book was bad. The cover provides a clue about the level of insight in this book. It depicts Al Franken with computer-generated buck teeth. I mean, that's like releasing a book entitled "George W. Bush is a Stupid, Ditsy Blond" and then computer-dying his hair blond. That degree of ineptitude is on display throughout every unfortunate page of this crummy excuse for a book.

I would sooner pay money to NOT read this book than to read it. It's so not funny, it's sad. I only hope the author and publisher can somehow give me back the time I spent reading this--time which could have been better-spent staring at a wall or watching grass grow--and the money I spent on it. This book was bad.

Al Franken's book was a blast that resounded because so many people took that fat windbag Limbaugh seriously. Mauro's vapid tome misses the wit and bite that Franken's had. The jokes here are entirely predictable and unfunny. Next time the conservatives should try finding someone with some verve and cleverness to write a humorous attack tome as this one just falls flat. Then again, creativity is not a strong suit for most conservatives...

Mercifully I've never come across this bit of printed pulp in any store, but the cover says all you need to know. If you're going to attack someone as bucktoothed, at least the target ought to be bucktoothed. I know my expectations are high but come on now. If the whole premise of your title isn't even accurate, what's left to stand on? For the right it's usually name calling and that's there too.

I was annoyed and perplexed after reading both Al Franken's book and Mauro's attempt at a counter. As a Republican I was insulted when after reading Mauro's attempt at literature, I found myself asking one question: Since when did liberals get a higher education than a member of the GOP? And why does Mauro choose to advertise this fact to the public? With weak insults to JFK and a basis for wit, Mauro starts up a humorous story line but can't seem to shift out of neutral. A loyalty to the GOP may well be the only reason to even contemplate reading this book, and still, that loyalty must be incredibly strong, like that of a puppy to its master. I was surprised that even I could muster the Republican spirit to agree with even a couple words of Mauro's drivel.

We constantly hear from conservatives, especially Rush Limbaugh, how liberals are "touchy", and overly "sensitive" to critisism. Limbaugh makes it a habit to point out that liberals can't handle opposing view points. Well, here we have Mr. J.P. Mauro, a conservative who apparently was so rattled and upset over a COMEDIAN'S book on the conservative icon Limbaugh, that he exposes the conservative side of "touchiness" by writing this weak, poorly thought out knockoff of Franken's humorous and interesting book. Obviously, conservatives consider any sort of investigation or analysis of Limbaugh to be "off limits" (how American!), and Mauro displays his lack of wit and integrity throughout this book. It's a perfect example of the conservative mindset of attack and discredit the messanger, even if the messanger has a valid point. So overall, this book actually helps the left by exposing the "overly sensitive" and desperately touchy attitude of the right.

I had to stop reading halfway through because this is so awful and painfully bad. Frankin did a nice job with his book - it had flair and wit - but this is trying so hard to wring any humor out that I finally gave away my copy. Find this in a library or borrow it from a friend.

Too bad zero stars is not possible.

This book is a bad response to a well written book by Franken. Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot is a side splitter even if you do not agree with Franken's politics.

This is a tired response to Franken's book and an attack on him. I can live with a public person I like being satirized. I am sure that Al Franken would probably agree that no one is above being poked fun at. I was hoping for a good laugh.

The problem I have is that this is completely unoriginal and tries to mimic Franken's style too much. Satire requires a subtlety that Mauro fails to deliver. What makes it bad is that it just comes across as an attack and what is worse is that it's just not funny. I think it takes a bit of brilliance to mimic and come across as fresh Mauro just does not have the talent to pull this off. Good effort that falls flat.