Al Franken, one of our "savviest satirists" (People), has been studying the rhetoric of the Right. He has listened to their cries of "slander," "bias," and even "treason." He has examined the Bush administration’s policies of squandering our surplus, ravaging the environment, and alienating the rest of the world. He’s even watched Fox News. A lot.
And, in this fair and balanced report, Al bravely and candidly exposes them all for what they are: liars. Lying, lying liars. Al destroys the liberal media bias myth by doing what his targets seem incapable of: getting his facts straight. Using the Right’s own words against them, he takes on the pundits, the politicians, and the issues, in the most talked about book of the year.
Timely, provocative, unfailingly honest, and always funny, Lies sticks it to the most right-wing administration in memory, and to the right-wing media hacks who do its bidding.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Oh my............ Comment: I wanted to give my husband (a fiscal conservative) a gift so that he would see both sides of the arguement...BAD IDEA! I read it and it was horrible. I gave it to him anyway and he opened it and TRASHED it. Oh my..... Customer Rating: Summary: A New U.S. Senator that TELLS THE COMPLETE TRUTH, for a change!!!!!! Comment: Dear Al....
Once you get into the Senate, please don't become a Democrat that "wimps out" when it comes time to speak the truth, and stand up for your convictions. We need more of you with a "back bone" in Government to stop the "dumbing down of America".
Your book is on the "top shelf" of my library! Congratulations, and good luck. Customer Rating: Summary: Challenged to raise it up a notch Comment: When I was thinking about what to title my comments I thought of how this book has challenged me. If I am honest with myself I have to acknowledge the times that I have picked up some little tidbit on the news and repeated it later as if it were the truth. So the challenge is to pause and think about what was reported before repeating it. For example, I think I have been guilty of snidely repeating that Al Gore said he invented the Internet. So as I type this out I googled "did al gore say he invented the internet". It turns out he said he took the initiative in creating the internet (BTW - that is just a snip from the transcript). While it may sound a little grandiose, it is not uncommon for legislators to claim responsibility for things they support (funding and legislation). I think I originally got hooked by the misrepresentation because "inventing" the Internet would be inventing TCP\IP protocol suite along with all the switching and routing equipment required to move the traffic around. However supporting the ARPANET is something a legislator could do.
Even some of the comments that I have read in these reviews are challenging. It seems that some people immediately move to name calling and attacks without responding to substance. For example some of the self proclaimed conservatives attack Al Franken and the other reviewers without actually citing specific examples of where they have lied. Al Franken (and Team Franken) carefully exposed examples of mis representations and manipulations(lies). So I invite you to focus your attacks on some of the specific examples that Al Franken brings up. Can you find a transcript of an interview with Al Gore where he uses the word "invented" to describe his role in supporting the Internet? Since the book comprised of example after example of lies and mis statements it should be fairly easy for you attack conservatives to expose Al Franken's lies. So do it! Don't attack the people reviewing the book attack Al Franken's facts. When you find some errors make sure you let Al know, I bet he owns the mistake and apologizes.
That is another challenge of this book. Civility -This book challenges me to be more respectful of differing opinions. It is not hard for me to think of examples in my life where I have scoffed and ridiculed rather that reasoned. This book issues a challenge to the reader to reason and demand facts rather that attack and ridicule.
What do I think of the book? Well I am listening to an audio version, and I am really enjoying it. It is funny and courageous - we need leaders to challenge us to raise the bar. Everybody says they support education, but we see and hear more schoolyard bullying in our public discourse than reason and critical thinking.
We are entering a very challenging time in our history. Our economy is struggling, we are at war, the population of the planet continues to explode. How will we (the big WE) feed our people, provide energy and clean water? These issues require clear and transparent leaders. I really hope Al Franken comes out on top in his race with Coleman. We need more leaders like him.
OK - for all of you that are so motivated. This is you cue to attack me personally, claim I am brainwashed or whatever floats your boat.
To the rest of you that are actually reading reviews to inform your decisions - buy or borrow this book and read it (or listen). If you want to be challenged and have fun. I want to go back out to my car and drive to the store so I can go listen to a little more.
Customer Rating: Summary: The greatest book to debunk the lies of the Right. A masterpiece, and a must read! Comment: "Lies" starts off debunking the lies of the crazy Right-wing whack jobs; Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Bernie Goldberg, and Bill-O the Clown.
Through the debunking... "Lies" completly destroys the "liberal media" myph using examples of the 2000 Election, the Memorial of Paul Wellstone, The Wall Street Journal, and (shutter) Fox "News"...
The book also exposes serious lies the Right Wing has unleased on America, including the Right's stand on the miliary, the environment, Bush's tax cuts, WMDs, and No Child Left Behind. But the absolute most disgusting chapter in the book "Operation Ignore." Not because it's not a great chapter, but it outlines in perfect clarity what Bush knew about 9/11. It also goes through the Right's hypocrisy of religion, racism, nasty "tone", and abstinence.
The book is serious, but is also filled with funny stories showing Franken absolutly destroying the tools on the Right. Through "Operation Chicken-Hawk", the White House Correspondence Dinner, a fight with Rich Lowry, and a meeting with Barbara Bush, we see the foolishness and mean spirited-ness of the Right, and the triumph of our hero, Al Franken. ;)
Required reading for any American:
Liberal will love it because it uses FACTS to prove that the Right is wrong.
Conservatives should read it to see what their party has become with the neocon takeover of the past few decades.
Read. This. Book.
Customer Rating: Summary: Spitum on the page Comment: A huge bowel shaking effort gone amuck with the bim bulb wit of Franken. This book helps us all twitch with golden beam. Helps us all eructate a bolus of intellectual pride. He needs to press the foam into the crevasse. Thanks, Al.
