Posted on 09/21/2009 4:22:12 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Unlike others associated with Time magazine, David von Drehle is a skilled, careful, and perceptive writer. So I was interested in his cover story on FOX News’s Glenn Beck, who is considered to be a red-hot commodity these days.
I don’t pretend to be an expert on Beck. In the past I assumed he was a typical figure in the pundit and cable-media world. Only recently have I watched portions of his television program, as well as interviews with him, and heard parts of his radio program. And what I’ve seen should worry the conservative movement.
I say that because he seems to be more of a populist and libertarian than a conservative, more of a Perotista than a Reaganite. His interest in conspiracy theories is disquieting, as is his admiration for Ron Paul and his charges of American “imperialism.” (He is now talking about pulling troops out of Afghanistan, South Korea, Germany, and elsewhere.) Some of Beck’s statements—for example, that President Obama has a “deep-seated hatred for white people”–are quite unfair and not good for the country. His argument that there is very little difference between the two parties is silly, and his contempt for parties in general is anti-Burkean (Burke himself was a great champion of political parties). And then there is his sometimes bizarre behavior, from tearing up to screaming at his callers. Beck seems to be a roiling mix of fear, resentment, and anger—the antithesis of Ronald Reagan.
I understand that a political movement is a mansion with many rooms; the people who occupy them are involved in intellectual and policy work, in politics, and in polemics. Different people take on different roles. And certainly some of the things Beck has done on his program are fine and appropriate. But the role Glenn Beck is playing is harmful in its totality. My hunch is that he is a comet blazing across the media sky right now—and will soon flame out. Whether he does or not, he isn’t the face or disposition that should represent modern-day conservatism. At a time when we should aim for intellectual depth, for tough-minded and reasoned arguments, for good cheer and calm purpose, rather than erratic behavior, he is not the kind of figure conservatives should embrace or cheer on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBZDwf9dok
Oh oh, another one of those anti passion geeks tries to redefine conservatism to fit his belief(as viewed from a cloudy glass).
Beck is a tireless one man Obozo agenda exposer.
Keep it up Glenn. People are hearing you. My mother wants to tweak your little cheeks.
Beck is not a conservative. He’s a libertarian (legalize abortion, drugs, etc) who likes to lump Repubs in with corrupt commies.
Why? Because he doesn’t follow Marquis of Queensberry rules against people who use martial arts weapons?
The same crowd that mocks Glenn Beck worships that mad man, Olberman. The leftists are capable of swallowing sewage and choke on integrity and truth.
Looks like a member of the welfare (international especially) wing of the GOP is wetting the bed over Beck. They had their man to run the country into the ground for 8 years (before squeezing out of his rump the final turd consisting of our current administration). The Crist/Pawlenty/Giuliani/Bloomberg/McCain idealists have done enough, thanks.
Speaking of Glenn Beck. Bill O’REilly just said on his show that “HE and Beck drove the ACORN story.” Ha-Ha-Ha
This is HILARIOUS!!!
Glenn Beck -HARMFUL to the right?!?!
And how is that? -by giving us FACTS and TRUTH -DIRECTLY out of the mouths of these Marxist creeps that obama keeps surrounding himself with???
Oh yeah, Glenn is verrrrrrry harmful... uh huh...
glenn beck is indeed harmful to conservative apathy.
yeah, Bill sat there saying he didn’t see the big story here......small time story was what he called it.......right, bore.
There are some RINOs out there who deserve that association. Snowe, Collins and the Guvernator to name three.
Beck is exposing the fraud Obama and his ACORN buddies which is more than the MSM has been doing, so he’s a plus in my book. I don’t have to agree with everything he says to appreciate his work taking down the Democrats.
The problem with conservatives like Wehner, whose past articles I've read and admired, is they think politics is some sort of cool, detached, intellectual exercise ala W.F. Buckley where the rapier wit always conquers. As we well know that is not the case. Sometimes a little emotion is not bad if backed by the evidence. Because Beck is not a Republican is hardly a reason to dismiss his arguments. Neither is Neil Boortz who like Beck is also a Libertarian. Beck has done a world of good so far that "reasonable" people like Wehner have failed to do. I assume Wehner doesn't like Sarah Palin either.
“I say that because he seems to be more of a populist and libertarian than a conservative,”
If Glenn Beck is a populist more than a conservative, how can he at the same time be “harmful to the conservative movement”?
He can't very well be harmful to a movement he is not part of from within can he?
“His interest in conspiracy theories is disquieting, as is his admiration for Ron Paul”
With 0bama in the White House, you don't even need conspiracy theories. As the Van Jones saga has clearly shown, 0bama is an out and out communist, with plenty of nasty secrets to hide.
” and his charges of American “imperialism.” (He is now talking about pulling troops out of Afghanistan, South Korea, Germany, and elsewhere.)”
And why do we even need troops in Germany at all in this day and age?
Even during the Bush administration and before that, US troops in Germany have been drastically slashed, and it didn't take Glenn Beck to do it.
“Some of Beck’s statements—for example, that President Obama has a “deep-seated hatred for white people”–are quite unfair and not good for the country.”
The truth is always good for the county. And the truth is that 0bama DOES hate white people. Read 0bama’s book, dude.
Washington Post
Peter Wehner
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Why Republicans Like Obama
Yup.
Beck has been able to hold the 0bamination’s feet to the fire, and make the communist in the White House back down and suffer more political defeats, than all the fine speeches people like Wehner and his ilk have ever made.
These country club Republicans still don't realize that we are dealing with a real, live, hard line communist and a thug of the Hugo Chevez/Joseph Stalin persuasion here. Genteel methods are not going to stop a guy, who's first reaction to hard working Americans opposing his deadly 0bamacare bill, was to send ACORN/SEIU thugs to go beat up old men and women, who's only crime was to protest against the 0bamination's health care bill.
0bama has to be stopped at all costs, and fine speeches at conservative club dinners is just not going to cut it.
I would happily jettison Peter Wehner from the conservative movement if forced to choose between him and Glenn Beck.
LOL!
That's a hoot.
Now we know where Peter Wehner is coming from.
He's clearly nuts. Thanks for the link.
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