Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot

by Al Franken and Franken

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385314744
• ISBN13: 9780385314749
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 271 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

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.

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!

Remembrance of Past Zings

I can remember, like it was yesterday, when I first layed eyes on this screed. First, I did not know what a screed was until I read UN Ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick's scathing review of Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot (RLBFI)that Al so graciously put in his foreward. How many folks would let a pundit from the hostile camp have that powerful a forum to shape opinion of the book? I think it is a credit to Al's fair and balanced nature that he let her. Anyone offended by the book's title should remember that Rush made his career out of insults. That is the great irony. Look, I have two of my degrees at public institutions, and tubby (Rush) reminds his audience that we, public college graduates,can not grasp the sublime arguments of Milton Freidman and the other apostles of Free Market ideology. Comments like"you public school and public college graduates probably cannot graspthis" "you know, my friends, the sorry state of thinking by people who went to our public institutions is tragic." NUT JOB! YOU ARE A COMMUNITY COLLEGE DROPOUT! By your own definition you are an idiot, and Al is right. An aside, I would like to see Al take Rush and Bill O'Reilly on in a game of celebrity Jeopardy. Al would pummel them because he knows questions to answers otherthan "My housekeeper." Answer in the form of a question is of course: "Who supplies my drugs illegally?" or category Awards answer: "The Peabody;" answer in the form of a question: "What award did I say I won but really lied about and then made a complete ass of myself by trying to cover it up." Rush and Bill would get those; but not much else. Although I must disclaim that Bill has two masters degrees and is much smarter than Rush,a damnation by the feintest of all praises I suppose.Conservatives do not know the daily sting of insults that Rush lays on us liberals. He does not best our arguments because he really has none accept weak analogies or his bloviations and prevarications. Mark Twain said that "a lie runs half way around the world before the truth even gets on its shoes." Al was like our knight in shining armor back in '95. I could never get through to Limbaugh, his jackass callscreener stopped me. But in his book Al redressed the greivance, in part anyway.He reminds that Rush is either a liar or an idiot. Al shows how Rush tried to twist numbers on a chart displaying the effects of the Reagan tax cuts. Al shows the reader how Rush cooked the books to show that Reagans tax cuts helped the poor more than the wealthy. It is either disingenous or stupid. It is also possible that he recieved some training in accountancy at Arthur Anderson. Was Al being prophetic?Limbaugh's past questionable history is brought to light. Rush was pretty lazy, depending on public handouts. He was, as I said, a JC dropout. Given the recent facts of his life, it can be truly said that Rush is a drug addicted drop out on the public dole. Anyway, he avoided service in Vietnam. Somewhere in the mid eighties

The Antidote to Rush Limbaugh

Conservatives really, really dislike Franken and this book. Which shows you that he's really onto something.Liberals love it more than words can express. Because Franken is a master at satire and humor, and pulls no punches, and the book was so sorely needed at the time (when the angry white males were atarting to dominate American discourse, frequently parroting slogans and propoganda without bothering to think logically or to consider alternate viewpoints).Moderates and apolitical people may be bothered by some of Franken's harsh jokes and language. It is, basically, a grating and harsh attack on right-wing figures.Those who admire and study humorous writing should be transfixed.On the whole, an astonishing book. You will have to look long and hard to find political satire of this quality. Franken has become a humorist whose work is almost unerringly brilliant; he's outdone his previous contemporaries (Michael O'Donoghue etc.) by a factor of 100 or so. The man is an American treasure, if not a cuddly one.

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.