- Audio Cassette
- Publisher: Random House Audio (Jan 12 1999)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0553526103
- ISBN-13: 978-0553526103
- Product Dimensions: 18.3 x 10.2 x 1.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 159 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
In this hilarious political satire, Al Franken reveals how, by focusing relentlessly on the issue of ATM fees, he managed to wrest the Democratic presidential nomination away from Vice President Al Gore in the 2000 elections and become the 44th president of the United States. He then wound up running the second-shortest administration in American history, announcing in his resignation speech: "It is my fondest wish that, in the fullness of time, the American people will look back on the Franken presidency as something of a mixed bag and not as a complete disaster."
Why Not Me? is divided into three main sections. The first, "Daring to Lead," is Franken's "authorized campaign autobiography," in which he lays out his life story and his reasons for seeking the nation's highest office. Then, in his campaign diaries, we follow Franken and his team of advisers--including former Clinton pollster Dick Morris and Dan Haggerty, TV's Grizzly Adams--across New Hampshire and Iowa. Finally, there's "The Void," the behind-the-scenes account by Bob Woodward of Franken's first 100 days in the Oval Office. As a writer, Franken takes aim at a lot of targets, with nary a miss; there are enough great jokes in Why Not Me? to make almost anybody break down with a fit of the giggles at some point (especially at pages 132 to 133, but don't peek! It'll spoil the buildup). --Ron Hogan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
For all those who want their political humor more political?and funnier?than the usual late-night TV fare, there's Al Franken. Here's the scenario: the millennial presidential campaign is nearly upon us, and Franken (Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot) has not merely thrown his hat in the ring?he's provided the three-ring-plus circus as well. With dead-on parodies of several forms of political media (campaign diary, strategist's memo, televised debate, Sunday morning talk show, newspaper story, magazine feature, Bob Woodward expose, etc.), this book tells the story of the improbable Franken candidacy, the humorist's more improbable success and his scandalous downfall. The pandering single issue is lower ATM fees, which allows Franken to win the Democratic primary by painting front-runner Al Gore as a tool of the banking interests. The loose-cannon campaign chief is the candidate's brother, Otto, who pops up in selected states as chief supporter "Dotto Dranken" or "Botto Branken." The effective fund-raising strategy is a 900 number for Franken info and lesbian phone sex. There's also a narrative of presidential scandal as written by Woodward, which includes chronic fatigue syndrome, bipolar episodes, misprescribed medication, an attack on the revered Nelson Mandela (Franken ruptures the great man's spleen) and an abortive attempt to assassinate Saddam Hussein?personally. This leads to the first-ever Joint Congressional Committee to Investigate the President's Mood Swings. While the book drags in a few places, it remains consistently?often howlingly?funny, as well as slyly subversive in the way it punctures the conventions of our highly ritualized campaign system. Did we mention the first all-Jewish Cabinet (including Ralph Lauren as secretary of the interior) arguing about Chinese food? First serial to George; BOMC and QPB alternates; BDD audio; author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Fun for insiders, dull and obnoxious for others,
By Wayne Paterson "allpar2" (Teaneck, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Why Not Me?: The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency (Paperback)
This would be the LAST place I would send someone to get a taste of Al Franken. The first half of the book makes the same jokes over and over and over and over again, and throughout, you really need to know a lot of Washington inside stuff to get the jokes. In some ways a sharp expose of our political and media system, and in other ways far, far, far too long with the general feel of a train wreck.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dull and Plotless,
By "veggiewrap001" (Farmington Hills, MI United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Why Not Me?: The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency (Paperback)
While comedian Al Franken is normally quite humorous, this novel was a bit dull. There's very little plot and after awhile every page seems like the one before it. Sure, there's the occasional funny part, but overall this book is not worth reading. Quite frankly, it's just stupid. If it didn't have Al's name on the cover it is very doubtful anyone would pick this up. If you're looking for something humorous read The Idiot Girl's Guide to Action and Adventure or The Bear Went Over the Mountain.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gutbustingly hilarious and poignant too,
By
This review is from: Why Not Me?: The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency (Paperback)
This is the third Franken book I've read - I read _Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot_ and _Liars..._ before this 1999 book. In the other two mentioned Al Franken aims his deadpan and dead-aim wit at our nation's crop of so-called conservative (actually reactionary: conservatives want to keep the status quo; Limbaugh, Coulter, O'Reilly et al want to take us back to the good Old Days of the 19th Century) commentators and the politicians for/over whom they slaver.In _Why Not Me?_, Franken goes to town on the entire American political circus, skewering left right and center. The story of his fictitious campaign for President, landslide election, and brief dysfunctional presidency satirizes anyone who's ever thrown their hat into nomination ring, as well as the corrupt dog and pony show of campaign politics. He takes on not just the politicians themselves - particularly his "rival" for the nomination, Al Gore - but also the pundits, consultants, campaign handlers and groupies, and corporate campaign contributors. I read _Why Not Me?_ in two sittings, interrupted only by fits of hysterical laughter. Anyone with the slightest interest in American politics needs to read this one - although I should warn you that you may laugh yourself painful.
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