IMHO, Beck had an epiphany. Calling for torches and pitchforks to rally the troops was fine, but to take a page from the playbook of the left,(which worked, BTW) he has taken the Ghandi/MLK approach of total non-violent resistance. It is much more difficult to demonize people united in peaceful resistance than an ‘angry mob”.
Rediculous: the Tea Parties were never violent even when we were in the “Pitchfork, and ‘tar-and-feather’” mode!