# New book for kids: ""Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 21, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777 "2005-09-21T20:48:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/81 "2005-09-22T14:19:21Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > And if the author and publisher decided to donate the proceeds from the book to, say, Katrina relief, I’d buy copies for friends and family members as gag Christmas presents. 🙂 This idea seems so bad, is it possible that the book was intended as a gag gift item? I’m having a hard time imagining someone thinking this would be a good way to explain things to their child. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/82 "2005-09-22T14:34:09Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > If \*\*Liberal \*\*were under \*my \*bed, it would certainly scare the shit out of me. Damnit! I came here to post that to. Screw you guys! : Takes ball and goes home. : ---
**Author:** ![Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chance_the_Gardener)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/83 "2005-09-22T19:51:26Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lemonade stand with a picture of Jesus on it, but if I ever did see one, I’d probably keep on walking. Nothing against Christians; non-denominational lemonade just _tastes_ better. I don’t know why. I ate in a restaurant last month with a statue of Krishna in it, and the local government has never, to my knowledge, done anything to stop this. I was in an Italian restaurant with a picture of the Last Supper in it, too, right here in liberal New York City, and they’ve never been bothered, to my knowledge. This coastal liberal wants to know: could the author possibly have gotten that little fact wrong? My sources say: yes! I’d like to see a story where the kids’ parents, who own outright the furniture for the stand, the tablecloth, the pitcher, the lemon tree and the very ground from whence the lemon tree is sprouting, insist on taking _their_ cut of the lemonade stand’s profits, since they in effect funded the whole operation. Then they could threaten to evict their children, who despite their heavily subsidized lemonade venture, are turning out to cost more than they’re returning. I’d call it _ **Help! Mommy’s Under My Bed—and She’s a Bloated Plutocrat!** _ Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/84 "2005-09-22T20:02:28Z")
Interesting. You’re bitching about that book and yet when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0452285216/qid=1127419790/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published, you didn’t say a word. Nor when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0440508649/qid=1127419790/sr=8-4/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published. Shorts in somewhat of a knot, hmmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/85 "2005-09-22T20:13:55Z")
I didn’t know Al Franken wrote children’s books. Or that he was trying to subvert kids’ political views (other than his own kids, that is). ---
**Author:** ![Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chance_the_Gardener)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/86 "2005-09-22T20:29:44Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Interesting. You’re bitching about that book and yet when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0452285216/qid=1127419790/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published, you didn’t say a word. > > Nor when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0440508649/qid=1127419790/sr=8-4/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published. > > Shorts in somewhat of a knot, hmmmm? All we’re doing is discussing the book, and many of us are finding faults, and we’re explaining and justifying our positions. It’s a very liberal way to go about things. I guess you could start a thread where you discuss what’s wrong with the Al Franken books if you want to, **Clothahump**. I enjoyed discussing the obvious flaws with _Mommy, There’s a Liberal,_ which I’ve read. I’ve also read _Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them,_ so if you want, we can discuss _that_ book, too, as well as its relative merits (or lack of merit.) I always enjoy discussing a book I’ve read with someone else who’s read the same book, you know? As to _Lies:_ I think it started out strong, but it sort of slowed down in the middle, when Franken started getting serious. He got funny again at the end of the book, but the serious part sort of screws up the momentum… wouldn’t you agree? Discuss. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/87 "2005-09-22T20:37:25Z")
Oh, don’t confuse **Clothahump** with facts, you filthy liberals! 😛😉 (And I vote for “Supply-Side Jesus” as the best bit in _Lies and the Lying Liars,_ myself. Having the artist for _Megaton Man_ chip in was just an extra bonus…) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/88 "2005-09-22T20:37:50Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Interesting. You’re bitching about that book and yet when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0452285216/qid=1127419790/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published, you didn’t say a word. > > Nor when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0440508649/qid=1127419790/sr=8-4/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published. > > Shorts in somewhat of a knot, hmmmm? Are you trying to get into the Guinness record books for stupidity, or something? 'Cause I think you’ve got a real shot, with this last post of yours. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/89 "2005-09-22T20:42:04Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Interesting. You’re bitching about that book and yet when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0452285216/qid=1127419790/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published, you didn’t say a word. > > Nor when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0440508649/qid=1127419790/sr=8-4/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published. > > Shorts in somewhat of a knot, hmmmm? Nope. Not at all. It was fun to see all the Frankenhaters get excited over it though. But then, you have the Bleach Blonde From Hell (Coulter) on your side. With her “helping” you, who needs enemies? For every lefty liberal commie America hating jerk, there is a corresponding and equally stupid righty fascist freedom hating jerk. Too bad they can’t just cancel out like matter and antimatter. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/90 "2005-09-22T20:46:23Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Oh, don’t confuse **Clothahump** with facts, you filthy liberals! 😛😉 > > (And I vote for “Supply-Side Jesus” as the best bit in _Lies and the Lying Liars,_ myself. Having the artist for _Megaton Man_ chip in was just an extra bonus…) I laughed myself silly when he talked about dancing naked after Condi Rice lied to Newsweek (was it Newsweek?) But I found the bit at the end about the pig farm the most eye opening part (not to mention disgusting and terrifying). On the whole, I preferred “Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot.” Not only is it truth in advertising, it’s fun to say. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/91 "2005-09-22T21:10:20Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > I don’t get why none of the conservative posters in this thread are willing to explicitly say that this book is bad and stupid. Because I haven’t read it and making a judgement based on a few snippets from some reviews is a bad way to evaluated stuff. It’s the scientist in me. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/92 "2005-09-22T21:37:42Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > I don’t get why none of the conservative posters in this thread are willing to explicitly say that this book is bad and stupid. I mean, if the converse book were sold, in which the Conservative government imprisoned the one of the kid’s parents for being gay or chopped down their lemon trees to build golf courses, I’d be fucking embarrassed. I’m embarrassed when some lunatic on my own side hatefully attacks those who don’t share our views. I’m embarrassed when some liberal jerk decides to create ludicrous strawmen to attack. But this book - which peddles ridiculous lies about “liberal” government, and focuses explicitly on teaching hate for those who aren’t conservatives - doesn’t this embarrass you, **Bricker** and **Debaser**? Wouldn’t you rather this not be out there as a representation of your politics? Because I sure wouldn’t want it out there making me look bad if I were you guys. Is it more important to maintain that GOP clannishness than to try to make sure your own guys aren’t making you look bad? The only reason I’m hesitant to say, “Geeze, this thing is stupid,” is that I haven’t actually read the book, and such a sweeping statement leaves me open (correctly) to scathing rebuttal by anyone that HAS read the book and challenegs me to provide evidence for my statement. However, from what I’m able to observe, this book sounds like an over-the-top straw-manish effort to portray liberal views, and an effort to demonize liberals. I don’t relish this sort of tactic coming from “my side.” But that view is based solely on the information about the book provided here - I have not read the book, and leave room for the possibility that it’s the most insightful presentation of conservative thought since George Will. Er… just not, you know, _lots_ of room. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/93 "2005-09-22T22:18:20Z")
The book does look unbelievably dumb, but to the people trying to say that it gets certain facts wrong, well there this thing called hyberbole. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/94 "2005-09-22T23:27:06Z")
Next book put out by the Homosexual Agenda Press: Help! Moms! There’s a Religious Right-winger in our bed! For a look at another anti-liberal childrens book, check out [Truax](http://www.nofma.org/truaxbookpg2.htm), which targets anti-logging activists and anti-logging environmentalists. I am under the impression it does so a bit more gently than “Help! Mom!..” does. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/95 "2005-09-23T01:06:53Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Interesting. You’re bitching about that book and yet when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0452285216/qid=1127419790/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published, you didn’t say a word. How do you know? Seriously. I’d really, _really_ like to know! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/96 "2005-09-24T00:04:47Z")
The point of that previous post, **Clothahump** , was that there’s no way you could’ve known what I said when Al Franken’s _Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot_ was published. It came out nearly 10 years ago. Why you would make a ridiculous claim about what I may or may not have said years before either of us joined the SDMB is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/97 "2005-09-24T00:23:42Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Interesting. You’re bitching about that book and yet when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0452285216/qid=1127419790/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published, you didn’t say a word. > > Nor when [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0440508649/qid=1127419790/sr=8-4/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-8891120-1133552?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) was published. > > Shorts in somewhat of a knot, hmmmm? Because Al Franken’s books are intelligent, well-written satire with documented, well-researched facts to back it up rather than ill-conccieved reactionary bullshit? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/98 "2005-09-24T00:42:41Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > Because Al Franken’s books are intelligent, well-written satire with documented, well-researched facts to back it up rather than ill-conccieved reactionary bullshit? Wait. You mean it isn’t true there are more trees now than when America was first settled? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/99 "2005-09-24T01:08:10Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The only reason I’m hesitant to say, “Geeze, this thing is stupid,” is that I haven’t actually read the book, and such a sweeping statement leaves me open (correctly) to scathing rebuttal by anyone that HAS read the book and challenegs me to provide evidence for my statement. > > However, from what I’m able to observe, this book sounds like an over-the-top straw-manish effort to portray liberal views, and an effort to demonize liberals. I don’t relish this sort of tactic coming from “my side.” > > But that view is based solely on the information about the book provided here - I have not read the book, and leave room for the possibility that it’s the most insightful presentation of conservative thought since George Will. > > Er… just not, you know, _lots_ of room. Fair enough, fair enough. **Debaser** thought it was cute, though. In the past, I’ve never known him to measure up to you. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777/100 "2005-09-24T01:13:39Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > Because Al Franken’s books are intelligent, well-written satire with documented, well-researched facts to back it up rather than ill-conccieved reactionary bullshit? Not to mention they’re NOT targetted towards children. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-book-for-kids-help-mom-there-are-liberals-under-my-bed/322777.md?page=4)