[nathanbedford]

The problem with Glenn Beck is that he does not seek to reform the Republican Party, he seeks to marginalize it.

From the article:

And Beck's relationship with the official organs of the Republican Party is, to the say the least, strained. He doesn't care for the national party, and they keep him at arm's length.

And, of course, Beck claims to be non-partisan. Conservative, yes, but disdainful of the GOP, with no vested interest in seeing Republicans return to power, either.

...but maybe Beck will try something more subtle.

I have been sounding this klaxon on these threads for some time now, always provoking a visceral reaction among Beck fans of whom I count myself one. The problem with Glenn Beck is that he does not seek to reform the Republican Party, he seeks to marginalize it. If he succeeds in moving the electorate only a couple of centimeters in a direction away from the Republican Party, he will ensure victory for the Democrats. If Obama prevails again, there really might not be any coming back for America.

Beck is acting out of a common but fatal misconception of the role of the political party in American political history. He will accomplish nothing if he tries something "more subtle" than the opposite of what he desires. His efforts and our efforts should be bent toward reforming the Republican Party to make it the political apparatus of the conservative movement. We do not need a Libertarian party competing with the Republican Party. But we do need a 50 state organization capable of raising hundreds of millions of dollars and capable of imposing discipline on a selected members. Glenn Beck will produce none of that he will instead, with the brightest of intentions, pipe us down a path to inevitable electoral destruction.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

If we don't take control of the GOP away from the RINOs it won't matter which party is in power! The republican party is already marginalized, diluted and corrupted, by closet liberals!

I'm not going to be coerced to accept the status quo by scare tactics from the RINOs. It isn't leading anywhere but further to the left.

Address the issues, scrap the scare tactics, they aren't going to work this time!

[riri]

You are so right. The jury is out as to whether we can survive these first four years. My concern is Beck’s success may be going to his head and he may be thinking he is some sort of political pied piper. However, we conservatives are not easily corralled and the mushy middle is easily influenced. We could very easily see an Obama second term with him getting only a third of the votes if a third party comes into the equation and he’s pretty much always going to have a third of the votes no matter how bad it gets.

[antceecee]

The RINOS have marginalized the GOP. Beck serves as a clarion call to that fact and the march of the Democrats toward total totalitarianism with the aid of RINOS in the GOP.

[Bellflower]

The problem with Glenn Beck is that he does not seek to reform the Republican Party, he seeks to marginalize it.

Maybe that is why Obama gives him just enough opposition as to increase his viewership but doesn't actually come up against him. Now that would be brilliant. I am not sure if Obama and his gage are that smart, though.

Conservatives need to be aware of traps that may be being set for us!

[Rome2000]

At the very least, a movement headed by Beck can raid the RNC Committee meeting in January 2011 when they meet to pick the next Chairman and make sure an articulate conservative who isn't afraid to call out the commies and socialists by name and pick a fight with them.

Their is no good goddamned reason why any member of the "Progressive Congressional Caucus" should be allowed to walk around and espouse their commie red agenda unmolested by the right.

These people are card carrying marxists and proud of it, secure in the knowledge that the GOP country clubbers are not up for a fight lest they be called McCarthyites.

This has to stop.

[metesky]

I think you may be correct that GB is attempting to marginalize the Republican Party as it is presently constituted, but look at the job he's doing marginalizing the entire Democrat apparatus. Beck has become a lead man in pointing out that party labels appear not to matter any more, that what counts is liberal charlatan utopianism vs conservative realism (mostly ;O)).

We could be seeing a major realignment. There are too many things coming out of the White House these days, too many to link to it's so overwhelming to anybody breathing air just how crooked and devious these tyrannical pricks are.

The racist attack strategery from the Soros minions and the compliant media is failing by the hour. Zero's own constant campaigning on trivia, the wtf factor on his domestic policy and passive/agressive attempts to vote "present" on foreign policy are alarming a growing number of people, even some of our "free riders" are turning on him, although not for the same reasons we are.

GB's street theater/puppit show is classic in-your-face Alinsky back at ya. Abbie Hoffman might not like Beck's politics if he were still breathing but he'd love his schtick.

[ExGeeEye]

IMHO he’s trying to get us to take back the party and bring it along with us, marginalizing only the RINOs.

Personally I’ll trade Snowe or her seat for two RealCons (I think I just made that up) from the Midwest.

[ExGeeEye]

(From the artice)...Beck's relationship with the official organs of the Republican Party is, to the say the least, strained.

My attitude toward "official organs of the Republican Party" is, to the say the least, one of suspicion and distrust.

[AD from SpringBay]

...the official organs of the Republican Party...

nathanbedford - I always enjoy your thoughtful thoughts. My concern with the Republican Party is that their 'official organs' have been decidedly concave for the past decade or so. They have been perfect receptacles for whatever the opposition wishes to push. In the short run we will be better off with any type of opposition in Washington. But recent history shows that the country will not be well served by simply electing republicans. The GOP supports RINOs and the necessary retooling of the Republican party is simply not going to happen in the near term. Conservatives are caught fighting a two-front war. Admittedly, I don't have many answers and I am not sold on the idea of a third party. But I will no longer vote for the guy with an 'R' after his name, simply because he has an 'R' after his name. Many share this attitude. The populism and popularity of Beck is in part embedded in these realities.

[Lurker]

The problem with Glenn Beck is that he does not seek to reform the Republican Party, he seeks to marginalize it

I'd say that the RNC has done a bang-up job of marginalizing itself without any help from Mr. Beck.

Those boneheads in DC better get the message this time. To whit we're sick of their crap. Straighten up. Fight for the principles this Nation was founded on or go the way of the Whigs.

L

[FreeReign]

I have been sounding this klaxon on these threads for some time now, always provoking a visceral reaction among Beck fans of whom I count myself one. The problem with Glenn Beck is that he does not seek to reform the Republican Party, he seeks to marginalize it. If he succeeds in moving the electorate only a couple of centimeters in a direction away from the Republican Party, he will ensure victory for the Democrats. If Obama prevails again, there really might not be any coming back for America. Beck is acting out of a common but fatal misconception of the role of the political party in American political history. He will accomplish nothing if he tries something "more subtle" than the opposite of what he desires. His efforts and our efforts should be bent toward reforming the Republican Party to make it the political apparatus of the conservative movement. We do not need a Libertarian party competing with the Republican Party. But we do need a 50 state organization capable of raising hundreds of millions of dollars and capable of imposing discipline on a selected members. Glenn Beck will produce none of that he will instead, with the brightest of intentions, pipe us down a path to inevitable electoral destruction.

Right on target. It's why they feed Beck(I'm guessing), Van Jones.