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Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot by Al…
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Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot (edition 1999)

by Al Franken

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,752359,721 (3.73)26
In the grand satirical tradition of Swift, Rabelais, and Twain comes... Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, and Other Observations... a scathing--but uncompromisingly fair--look at America's largest talk show host and the rest of the Republican right.         Penned by the Emmy award-winning Saturday Night Live writer whom John Podhoretz of the New York Post has called "the man responsible for some of the most brilliant political satire of our time," Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot tackles the issues--and the politicians--in ways few have dared...         Exploding Medicare Costs: "Why not shoot the elderly into space?  Stay with me.  Because I'm not just thinking about the budget here.  I'm talking about science.  Just think how many more manned space operations NASA could undertake if they didn't have to worry about getting the astronauts back."         Crime: "I have a radical gun-buyback idea that I guarantee would be a huge success.  Here's how it works: hand in a gun, get a free vial of crack."         Newt Gingrich: "Many of us, like Newt, have acknowledged smoking dope and reading Toffler in the early 70s.  But after reading his book, I think Newt's dirty little secret is that he smoked dope and watched The Jetsons."         Phil Gramm: "If you get beyond the fact the Gramm is ugly, mean, hypocritical, has a boob fetish, and drives his wife like a mule, he does have a certain folksy charm."         On the subject of Rush Limbaugh, Franken lets the facts speak for themselves. Listen to Rush, the "rugged individualist" and enemy of government handouts, explain how his second wife made him stop sitting around the house eating just food and go file for unemployment insurance.  And learn all of Rush's several explanations for how he avoided the draft.         Of course, when it comes to draft-dodging Republicans, Rush isn't alone. Reading Al's Vietnam short story, "Operation Chickenhawk," you'll savor the exploits of Privates Limbaugh, Gramm, Quayle, Buchanan, Gingrich, and George Will as Lieutenant Oliver North leads them kicking and screaming into combat.         And don't miss Al's informative discussion with the man who has "the easiest job in America": Rush Limbaugh's fact-checker.  And much, much more.… (more)
Member:cateharkin
Title:Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot
Authors:Al Franken
Info:Dell (1999), Edition: twentieth, Paperback, 336 pages
Collections:Political Science, Your library
Rating:
Tags:None

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Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot by Al Franken

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» See also 26 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 35 (next | show all)
Funny, funny book
  derailer | Jan 25, 2024 |
I picked up the audio to this book. I am disgusted to say that it starts out NOT with Al Franken's work but some right-wing reviewer named Jean Kirkpatrick who goes on about her own credentials (geo-political etc) and "why oh why!! *sob cry moan*"

was she made to review this book instead of what was given to P.J. O'Rourke. My suggestion is that obviously she doesn't know anything at all (especially about political comedy - satirical or otherwise - or her professed area of expertise. WHICH IS the focus of this book.) and shouldn't be reviewing a work period. This is a diatribe praising Limbaugh (Who btw is a big fat idiot et al - that's an observational truth not an insult.*) and the conservative party line -- not a review of the actual work presented. Her voice is also extremely annoying.

Further I am of the opinion that while your political, social, etc. opinions will inflect your reviews it should not ever be the basis or focal point for a professional literary review, if you cannot review it on its merits and THEN provide a personal opinion at the conclusion (and then only if absolutely needed) then you need to find a different line of work. I'd have been flunked for turning in such a review based upon personal opinion on a work in college.

I'm giving this first section negative 37 stars and SHAME ON THE NEW YORK TIMES for hiring such an unqualified person.

The second session begins with Al Franken reading his work. My sincere sympathies to him for having to plough through over 180 hours of that [censored] being. Apparently I cannot even hack someone really reviewing [Limbaugh] or commenting on the subject. I also freely admit that while I respect Al Franken's current actions as a Senator he isn't my favorite political satirist. So I'm only giving it 3 stars. I think if it wasn't this subject I'd have enjoyed it more. But Franken does point out some extremely valid counter-points to conservative double think or sheer "ignore the facts" aka "facts? we don't need no stinkin' facts!" attitude that is so pervasive these days. I do think it is worth a listen for that alone. I would venture to say that this isn't comedy, but illustrates Franken's shift into the political non-fiction sphere.

*You do not want to know my real opinion about that sorry excuse for a human carcass named Rush Limbaugh. I've held this opinion for a few decades and it isn't politically based. It is based on having a brain that can think and sheer common sense. ( )
  Kiri | Dec 24, 2023 |
Al Franken is very intelligent, witty and articulate. I read this because I was so impressed with "Giant of the Senate". This effort, more than twenty years old, was an earlier version of the man he has become. It was a good reminder of the people and events of that time. It remains relevant for its analysis of the hypocrisy, lack of logic and misguided philosophy of those he skewers. ( )
  DonaldPowell | Feb 5, 2019 |
Not being American, I had no idea who Al Franken was when I bought "Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot" at a small second hand bookshop in a town in southern Oregon during a US road trip twenty years ago. I did know who Rush Limbaugh was as it was very difficult to avoid the man on radio or television.

Watching Limbaugh one noted that he was a big man who certainly had a large ego. I didn’t agree with some things he said but I don’t think Limbaugh is an idiot. Anyway, Franken gets stuck into Limbaugh and other conservative figures and gets the odd laugh on the way as some of his claims stick while others do not. And I could do without the fictional interludes in “Rush Limbaugh …” as well. Still, the book sufficiently killed time on the train ride to San Francisco. ( )
  MiaCulpa | Jun 28, 2017 |
Pretty funny and a solid pasting of the conservatve viewpoint, which seems to be 'tax me as little as possible and everything will be fine; The problem is that with this jerk in the white house, the country hasnt changed much. ( )
  annbury | Jun 22, 2017 |
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It remains a mystery why the New York Times would ask me to review this dreadfully foul little book.
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In the grand satirical tradition of Swift, Rabelais, and Twain comes... Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, and Other Observations... a scathing--but uncompromisingly fair--look at America's largest talk show host and the rest of the Republican right.         Penned by the Emmy award-winning Saturday Night Live writer whom John Podhoretz of the New York Post has called "the man responsible for some of the most brilliant political satire of our time," Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot tackles the issues--and the politicians--in ways few have dared...         Exploding Medicare Costs: "Why not shoot the elderly into space?  Stay with me.  Because I'm not just thinking about the budget here.  I'm talking about science.  Just think how many more manned space operations NASA could undertake if they didn't have to worry about getting the astronauts back."         Crime: "I have a radical gun-buyback idea that I guarantee would be a huge success.  Here's how it works: hand in a gun, get a free vial of crack."         Newt Gingrich: "Many of us, like Newt, have acknowledged smoking dope and reading Toffler in the early 70s.  But after reading his book, I think Newt's dirty little secret is that he smoked dope and watched The Jetsons."         Phil Gramm: "If you get beyond the fact the Gramm is ugly, mean, hypocritical, has a boob fetish, and drives his wife like a mule, he does have a certain folksy charm."         On the subject of Rush Limbaugh, Franken lets the facts speak for themselves. Listen to Rush, the "rugged individualist" and enemy of government handouts, explain how his second wife made him stop sitting around the house eating just food and go file for unemployment insurance.  And learn all of Rush's several explanations for how he avoided the draft.         Of course, when it comes to draft-dodging Republicans, Rush isn't alone. Reading Al's Vietnam short story, "Operation Chickenhawk," you'll savor the exploits of Privates Limbaugh, Gramm, Quayle, Buchanan, Gingrich, and George Will as Lieutenant Oliver North leads them kicking and screaming into combat.         And don't miss Al's informative discussion with the man who has "the easiest job in America": Rush Limbaugh's fact-checker.  And much, much more.

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