I am currently reading 100 People who are Screwing up America (and Al Franken is #37), by Bernard Goldberg. I first became interested in this book when Bill O'Reilly mentioned it on his show, The Factor. Initially, I began reading it because of the catchy title and it's actually pretty interesting. It could be that I'm just way too Republican and if someone wrote a negative book about a Republican that I liked and respected, even if it was true, I would make excuses for them.

However, the author seems to be able to say things that I've been thinking for a long time. It's very refreshing to say the least. I would make it required reading in High Schools around the world, but then again, I'm pretty sure that would be a near impossible task. Not to mention, most books/articles written to defame a notable Republican were later proved to be untrue or "over-exaggerated". I am at a loss to think of anything negative about anyone I respect. True, our current president, George W. Bush, had a wild past, but the fact that he admitted it and turned his life around says one hundred times more about the man and has actually earned much more respect, not just from me but many others. This book even goes into detail about the many misnomers presented about notable Republicans such as Ronald Reagan. Remember when Kitty Kelley said that Nancy Reagan was having an affair...with Frank Sinatra! She also said that Laura Bush dealt marijuana in college. How absurd! Goldberg goes into more detail in his book, proving and disproving many things the liberals (and yes, some conservatives) have published.

Here is a little of what the book has to offer:
100. Paris Hilton's parents-Rick and Kathy Hilton. "If they gave Nobel Prizes for the mom and dad who raised the most vapid, empty-headed, inane, hollow, vain, tasteless, self-centered, useless twerp in the entire country-maybe in the entire world-Rick and Kathy Hilton would be on their way to Stockholm to pick up the medal."

99. Matthew Lesko. "...a "grown-up" man wearing big eye glasses, a black suit emblazoned with lime green question marks, and a lime green bow-tie emblazoned with lime green question marks,...", "...but now, this joker caters to a mindset that believes there's not only free lunch, but free dinner and free midnight snacks, and a takeout bag if you're still hungry later on."

98. Sheila Jackson Lee. "...a black Democratic congresswoman from Texas who has put her finger on one of the great problems facing African-Americans in these United States of America. There aren't any hurricanes named after black people."

This author is very witty and not afraid to say what he's thinking, because a lot of others are thinking the same thing, but we don't have the outlet in which to share it. I've been reading through this book thinking, why can't everybody understand the points that this man is trying to make?? No, Bernard Goldberg is not perfect, but the people on his list of 100 have one thing in common, they will all remain the way they are because they're too stubborn, bull-headed and ignorant to admit that THEY are not perfect, that maybe they made a mistake or that their thinking is a little (ok, a lot) skewed. I have to admit it, there are some portions of this book, mostly quotes from the people listed, which make me so infuriated that I can't help but laugh. It has also given me a new understanding of people...good AND bad.

This book and more great books are available at Half.com's bookstore.

Entire review written by Amber, a Quampha.com contributing author. Read her blog at Conversations With Amber