I have problem with a point that Harris makes, that the Swift Boat claims are not worth the time an effort to de-bunk: Every person I know who voted for Bush--every single one--bought the Swift Boat story hook-line-and-sinker and still believes it to this day. Look at the results of the election a year ago. Look at polling numbers a year ago, and look at them now. Kerry always scored lower than Bush as far as credibility and honesty goes, and still does to this day. As bad as Bush's numbers are now, he would STILL beat Kerry a year later. And more than anything else, I think we have the Swift Boat effort to thank for that.

"...test subjects, including liberals, were more likely to prefer Bush over Kerry if they'd been prompted first to think about death."

Yeah, because Bush is so very good at letting people get killed.

Thanks for the suck job on Al Franken's new book. Except for the acrimonious gush of unwarranted recognition still drying on my keyboard, it was a pleasurable read. I hope to God Al Franken's next project isn't just a cardboard box of his own feces, because then Salon will need to find some way to praise that and, frankly, I just couldn't read that.

The article is a bit sycophantic, but W.Green's potty-mouthed insults are childish.

Having listened to Franken's AirAmerica show from the start and having bought his previous two books, I'll probably skip this one. Al Franken is funnier on paper then live, but those who call him a comedian are abusing the term. Real comedians are armed with thousands of jokes and have worked-out routines and are prepared to handle *anything.* Franken, on the other hand, is often flat-footed and tongue-tied and seems to write one good joke a week.

And does anyone else notice that he's using his radio show as a platform to run for office? He can be fairly critical and rightly hard on some guests, but he's always sweet and easy to the beltway power-people, even the most disgusting media liars.

Catherine was the best thing about the show ( what a sexy mind! ) .. and Joe, of course.

A very perceptive and well done review. I would wish however, that every time anything by or about Al is published there could be a way to at least tangentialy mention his reporting on the sleazy and dangerous Mr. A and Congressman D.`s involvement in what is for all intent and purpose a white slavery racket in Taipei, using down and out young Asian woman in sweat-shops making stuff with big-time American labels where they are paid next to nothing and held more or less in financial captivity. By me, those two guys are criminals!

O.D.Benoliel