Customer Reviews

Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right

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I hate to admit it, but this book really illustrates the poor research and constant mistruths that come from my party. Coulter is a disgrace to not just the right but America and all it stands for. Hannity and Colmes should be re-named to the Sean Hannity Show because Alan Colmes simply is not as vociferous as his counterpart and it hurts the left. I'm Republican but more importantly I'm a proud American. I would prefer to hear fair and balanced because it is good for public discourse but it simply is not happening and never will. He who yells loudest is usually the one heard. I was really disheartened to learn the truths about Al Gore and Love Canal, the Internet and Love Story. Franken illustrates the truth about the lies that were told by the media that negatively affected Gore's run for the presidency. It is worth buying this book just to read about this alone. Some that read this review may question my loyalty to the GOP. At times I do myself. I simply wish that everyone would put the country first rather than their agenda. After completing the book I'm a little more than disillusioned with the lies in the media. We should stand for it no longer. This is an excellent book for everyone!

I am a conservative, I belong to the NRA, and I am quite certain that Al and I would disagree in our interpretations of the intent of the Second Amendment. And if we were to debate this topic, it might even turn into a heated discussion. But ultimately I can respect Mr. Frankin's right to his beliefs on gun control without labeling him a "commie" or a Socialist. And I feel quite certain that Mr. Frankin could respect my right to my beliefs on the right to keep and bear arms without accusing me of being a Nazi. Folks, in case anyone has forgotten, this is what America is supposed to be about.

As a conservative American, I do not want to be associated with the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, or, for that matter, George W. Bush and his cronies. Since 9/11, these demagogues have spearheaded a national movement of lies, deceit, fear mongering, phony patriotism, and propaganda to rally unwitting Americans behind Bush's completely irresponsible and self-serving political agenda. And as Frankin so adeptly points out, these people will shamelessly resort to name calling, distortions, verbal abuse, and guilt (e.g., "If you don't agree with me you aren't a good American") to coerce Americans to step in line with their own ill-conceived agendas. People, what we are witnessing here isn't about conservatism, and it isn't about patriotism -- it's borderline Fascism.

What really scares me is that millions of "patriotic" Americans have put on their blinders and eagerly jumped on to this impending train wreck without giving the first moment's thought as to where it is leading this country. It just doesn't seem to bother them that "W" is shackling us and our children with trillions of dollars in deficits while placing tens of thousands of Americans in harm's way waging an overseas war that has nothing to do with counter-terrorism. And if you suggest that the money being squandered on this fruitless and counter productive war effort might be better spent on efforts to revive a sick economy and putting millions of displaced American workers back on the payroll, these "patriots" angrily accuse you of being an Al Qaeda wannabe. Is it time to break out the brown shirts yet?

For my money, Frankin is right on target with this one. To my way of thinking he is a true patriot because he openly goes against the grain of the "conventional" wisdom and questions the motives and integrity of the self-anointed political pundits, as well as exposing the sorry state of our current political leadership. And lest anyone has forgotten, in a democratic society the freedom to question our government is not only our right, it is also our responsibility. The day we forget that is the day we all give up our freedom.

This book is well worth reading regardless of whether your political leanings are to the left or the right. It is an easy read, it is humorous, and it is timely. And it should be read keeping in mind the principles on which this country was founded, not one's political party preference.

I reread this book after looking at some of the reviews--some full of wit and eloquence and some that were full of something else, usually from those who hadn't read it.

There are three reasons I recommend getting this book:

It is an easy read from a satirist who speaks with convictions and strongly held liberal beliefs. With such a title, Franken has no choice but to scrupulously research his assertions and charges. And charges he makes against Coulter, Hannity, Limbaugh, Goldberg, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and you name it.

His and Team Franken's research proves these people have been distorting, dissembling, libeling and lying constantly. (I wonder if Goldberg added Franken to the title of his book after Franken eviscerated him and his assertions on the Phil Donahue Show.) Franken also appears to have the tactics of people like O'Reilly, Hannity and Limbaugh down cold when they are caught lying. They will resort to charges against the accuser's patriotism or attempt to bully their way out of it.

Franken also debunks the myth of the media having a liberal bias. In comparisons between favorable and unfavorable reporting of Gore and Bush during the presidential campaign of 2000, Bush received far better treatment from the press. He provides numerous instances where the Republicans and the press distored stories which the press then printed without checking. He also notes how many times Bush lied and how the press let him skate. If you report lies often enough, according to Franken, people take them as facts. You might expect that from the public, but Franken contends that you deserve more from a free press whom he accuses of being lazy and unprofessional.

Three, his story of the death Senator Paul Wellstone and his memorial service was poignant. Franken's respect for the man was enormous. His anger is palpable at the how the memorial was distorted by Rush Limbaugh and then, how Limbaugh's slander and prevarifications were widely reported as fact.

In some parts I felt Franken got off on a tangent with his trip to a fundamentalist college, and his cartoons about chickenhawks. I guess that is the comedian in him.

I highly recommend this book for those who wish to learn the truth rather than confirmation of what they want to believe. For some, the earth will still be flat.

And that's no lie.

The world needs Al Franken. In fact, we could use a few of them.

Comedian, Harvard Fellow and Liberal commentator Al Franken is a man who has the courage, wit, and smarts to not just stand up to the Conservative Right, but to do so intelligently, and with a sense of humor (something the right is wholly devoid of). In this book, he blows the lid off of the selective editing, obfuscation, and downright untruth often used by the Right Wing when it comes to advancing their political and social agenda. He uses factual reasoning and extensive bibliographical resources to illustrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Right...hardly ever is.

He reserves particular vitriol for Conservative media figureheads like Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Bernie Goldberg and Sean Hannity, punching holes in their inflated facades, and letting the air out of their needlessly overblown egoes. But it's not as though the Bush administration gets off light, either. He takes the Bush team to task on the economy, environment, foreign policy, and education. His chapter on pre-9/11 intelligence failings is seriously eye-opening, and worth the price of admission alone; as are his views on the Wellstone Memorial (or lack thereof), Fox News, and "liberal bias in the media."

Franken also dismisses the "with us or against us" domestic policy of the Bush administration, wherein voices of dissent are universally (and incorrectly) colored as being borne of anti-American sentiment, by drawing an apt analogy: Liberals don't hate America, Liberals love America just as much as conservatives do. It's just that Conservatives love America like a four-year-old loves her mommy: Totally, completely, and without question. Mommy is Wonder Woman. She is perfect, beautiful, and can do no wrong. Liberals, however, love America like a spouse: Affectionately, but with maturity; and with an understanding that he or she is human, and will have faults that must be overcome or overlooked in the larger picture.

All in all, "Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" is a necessary thorn in the flesh of the blustery bullies who would rather shout down than debate, rather win an argument than state the facts, and tell only part of the story rather than admit their dearly-held "truths" are actually cut from whole cloth.

If you're offended, then it likely means you're part of the problem.

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.

I've read most of Ms. Coulter's recent books, as well as Michael Moore's and most of Al Franken's books, to try and determine for myself who to believe. I've also gone so far as to check out many of the supposed "facts" that are given by all three of these authors for myself.

My conclusion? They're all full of s**t to a certain degree, but Al Franken is by far the most accurate (albeit sometimes rather crudely so- mostly in the name of humor) in his allegations against his adversaries.

If you've ever read a book by Ann Coulter, please read this Al Franken book if for nothing else than to drag you back toward reality just a bit. The opposite is also recommended. We all need balance to retain our objectivity.

...and I haven't seen any refutations on your part just attacks and comments on Al's career. I don't just consume these books I also do my own research. I am about 1/2 way through the book and Al(or should I say TeamFranken) is batting 1000. Let's see some of you conseratives attack the facts. You won't because you can't. Check them. I dare you!

The book sparkles with intelligence and wit. Now don't take Al at his word. I think this is what he is really talking about. Check the "facts". That's what an informed citizen does. Don't be spoon fed. Let this book be a springboard.

Cheers

I read this book with a great deal of personal respect for George W. Bush. As a veteran under the service of both Bush's, I was appreciative of the respect that had been granted to the military.

After reading Al Frankins book and doing some research, I found some of his points well founded and somewhat frightening. It seems that the media, though often hated, is our fourth branch of government. This branch has become blantantly skewed to the right; not through the use of argument and reasoning, but through misrepresentation and knowing omissions. Al is very coarse in his appraisal of his fellow Americans but lacks the false "I'm looking out for you by omitting the truth of Bill OReilly." I wish that the book wasn't so full of sarcasm. This oft times limited its worth and tended to confuse/weaken valid arguments.
Nonetheless, I think in the public domain, we could use a news organization which would factually open public charges in the media and examine them in a non-political manner. Al Frankin's book is a good eye opening start to this process. It is definitely politically minded but I found few facts that could be denied.

Now, more than ever, it is important to speak out against the ultra conservative right wingers and Al Franken does a great job. The writing is straightfoward, well organized, and sharp-witted. Bush took the White House without the majority of the popular vote. Congress is controlled by the Republicans and the Supreme Court leans to the Right at about 5 to 4 right now with the probability that one or two will resign before W leaves office in '04. Fox News is all right wing. MSNBC isn't far behind and I don't need to mention the Right wing AM radio all across the US. SO, the Left needs a voice. The left needs a well-researched answer to all the right wing claims and complaints - now more than ever. With Franken's wit and sarcasm and refreshingly direct style his political views and debunking of the Conservatives is a welcome piece of literature.

'Lies....' puts a sugar coating of humor on a bitter topic
Al and TeamFranken have done a tremendous service for us all. For people who consider themselves conservatives, the style of this book will be a challenge. This is unfortunate, as many of these folks might be shocked to learn just how far around the bend their leaders and media champions have gone to 'win'. For 'middle of the political roaders' and disenfranchised potential voters who have been too numbed to pay attention and get out to a polling place recently, this book should be required reading before November '04. For Liberals - well, you sort of new this stuff all along, and this is a reason to laugh through the tears of frustration and rage. The media attack dogs of the right and their masters in the inner sanctum of the Republican party have been alarmingly effective at twisting facts and stifling honest and reasonable political discourse for more than two decades. Americans are way past-due for an antidote to the invective from Rove, Atwater, Rush, Coulter, North, Colson, Poindexter, et al. that has come close to terminally poisoning the political process. Without the anti-emetic effects of humor, this catalogue of the Right's political tactics would be too infuriating to read.