Product Description

Move over P.J. O'Rourke! From Al Franken, America's premier liberal satirist, comes a hilarious homage to the wonderful, awful, and always absurd American political process that skewers a whole new crop of presidential hopefuls--just in time for the 1996 presidential election. "(Franken is) responsible in part for some of the most brilliant political satire of our time".--John Podhoretz, New York Post.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55965 in Books
• Published on: 1999-01-12
• Released on: 1999-01-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Amazon.com Review
Rush Limbaugh claims his talent is on loan. With this book, Franken demonstrates that he owns. The frankly Democratic author's shtick reminds us how much of a free ride conservatives have gotten in the mainstream media. For instance, he really drives home the weirdness of the conservatives' preachiness about "family values" in light of Newt Gingrich's and Bob Dole's first marriages, and Rush Limbaugh's first, second and third marriages. And he has great fun with Rush's and Newt's miraculous draft deferments in a chapter where he imagines all of the great conservative "chicken-hawks" out on a Vietnam war patrol under the leadership of Ollie North.

From Publishers Weekly
Franken, a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live and in feature films, does to Limbaugh what the conservative talk-show host has been doing to Democratic politicians for years. Using admitted half-truths and out-of-context quotes, he skewers Rush & Friends as no liberal has done in years. Franken does a retrospective of Limbaugh's life from when he "fed off the largesse of the government in the form of unemployment insurance"; how he failed to register to vote until he was 35; how he used two airline coach seats to fit his opulent hind-quarters; and how he got a 4-F deferment because of a pilonidal cyst. There are two hilarious sketches: "My 'Conversation' with Rush Limbaugh" uses out-of-context quotes to corner Rush in much the same way that Limbaugh once had a "conversation" with Hillary Clinton; and "Operation Chickenhawk," with Ollie North leading Vietnam draft-dodgers Limbaugh, Quayle, Buchanan, George Will and Clarence Thomas to their demises in Asian rice paddies. Franken also doesn't have anything nice to say about Newt Gingrich, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Phil Gramm and others of the haranguing right. A mean-spirited, albeit funny, diatribe that will delight liberals. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Had your fill of liberal-bashing since the dittoheads and the Newties came to power? Ready for some skewering of right-wing foibles for a change? Then you'll love comedian and writer Franken's pin-pricking of one particular bag of hot air, Rush Limbaugh, and his conservative cohorts, Bob Dole, Phil Gramm, Pat Buchanan, etc. No, there is nothing subtle about the humor here, but it is very well written and sure to be a big seller, especially since it is scheduled for heavy publicity plus serialization in Playboy and George magazines. If you share Franken's political views, you'll love it; if you don't, buy it anyway, because library patrons will be asking for it.
-?Pamela R. Daubenspeck, Warren-Trumbull Cty. P.L., Warren, Ohio
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

This book is hilarious.
Let's face it: If you are conservative then you probably will agree with Rush but if you lean towards liberal then you probably can't stand him.

In my case, I've read Rush's first book "The Way Things Ought to Be" and found it to be full of inaccuracies, unsubstantiated and outrageous claims, and misinformation. That's not to say Rush is a complete moron because he does put forth some good arguments, but overall, I think Al Franken proves his case to convince me that Rush is a (big fat) idiot.

I like this book because it is hysterically funny and quite entertaining. Al's wit is dry and sometimes vicious. I laughed to tears when I read the chapter about Phil Gramm ("I own more guns than I need, but not as many as I want.")

He lampoons the right wing, and I think he does it well. If you are a conservative with no sense of humor, you will not like this book.

Regardless of politics...Limbaugh is an IDIOT!
Finally someone has come out loud and clear against Limbaugh! I love how Limbaugh has bullied and criticized only the liberals, leftists and independants but yet he plays softball with the most insane and "Salem Witch Trial" type conservatives.

I did so dearly love when he was caught with drugs! Too bad Franken's book was written before that! DARN! What a missed opportunity!

Franken's book does not hold back. He quotes Rush's lies and BS, he gives the facts behind the actual story or person and regardless of what Franken thinks...the info allows you to create your own INFORMED opinion.

If your a liberal...don't read this book. You already know he is an idiot. If you are a Republican or someone on the fence...get this to teach you how the vampires conservatives and Banana-Republicans think so you can do the opposite!

A great read
First of all, I must admit that I am a little biased in my rating. I have read most of Al Franken's books and listen to him on Air America (and am always informed and entertained). But with that said, I still believe it's a fair review.

While I understand some are offended by the rather blunt nature of the writing, please remember that this book is written by a comedian who often uses satire and irony to make a (not so subtle) point.

Rush Limbaugh, along with many other conservatives and liberals , use personal attacks in place of well-reasoned arguments. It is so much easier to go after people than it is to go after ideas, especially when you happen to hold the less thoughtful idea. Franken's book is well-researched and the points he makes are thoroughly explained. The ironic use of name-calling and such is what keeps this book entertaining. Otherwise it would leave many readers depressed/ashamed/alarmed by the direction in which such unscrupulous figures as Limbaugh are trying to drag unsuspecting Americans.