Posted on 02/21/2010 1:14:06 PM PST by Sergeant Tim
I was invited to be the opening speaker at Saturday's CPAC session. I had accepted but then, to my amazement, I learned that the John Birch Society would be one of many co-sponsors. This takes the big-tent idea many steps too far for me. So, I withdrew. Apparently, others were not so moved. That's fine. But it wasn't for me. Bill Buckley and Barry Goldwater, among others, chased the Birchers from the movement decades ago. And they're not a part of the movement. So, to give them a booth at CPAC was boneheaded.
I want to commend Bill Bennett for his wise piece this morning on the Corner. I agree with him.
I have no idea what philosophy Glenn Beck is promoting. And neither does he. It's incoherent. One day it's populist, the next it's libertarian bordering on anarchy, next it's conservative but not really, etc. And to what end? I believe he has announced that he is no longer going to endorse candidates because our problems are bigger than politics. Well, of course, our problems are not easily dissected into categories, but to reject politics is to reject the manner in which we try to organize ourselves. This is as old as Plato and Aristotle. Why would conservatives choose to surrender the political battlefield to our adversaries -- who are trashing this society -- when we must retake it in order to preserve our society? Philosophy, politics, culture, family, etc., are all of one. Edmund Burke, among others, wrote about it extensively, and far better that I possibly can. But all elements of the civil society require our defense. Besides, why preach such a strategy when conservatism is on the rise and the GOP is acting more responsibly?
Moreover, when he does discuss politics, which, ironically, is often, how can he claim today that there is no difference between the two parties when, but for the Republicans in Congress, government-run health care, cap-and-trade, card check, and a long list of other disastrous policies would already be law? The GOP is becoming more conservative thanks to the grass-roots movement and a political uprising across the country, which has even reached into New Jersey and Massachusetts. Why keep pretending otherwise? My only conclusion is that he is promoting a third party or some third way, which is counter-productive to defeating Obama and the Democrat Congress. These are perilous times and this kind of an approach will keep the statists in power for decades.
And what of his flirtations with Ron Paul's lunacy respecting America's supposed provocations with her enemies, including al-Qaeda? Why should such a fatal defect in thinking be ignored? Do we conservatives agree with this?
Finally, Beck is fond of congratulating himself for being the only or the first host to criticize George Bush's spending. This is demonstrably false. I not only attacked his spending, but the creation of the Homeland Security Department, the prescription drug add-on for Medicare, his "moderate" tax cuts, as well as his nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, "comprehensive immigration reform," and so forth. And I was not alone -- Rush and Sean did the same, for example. And as someone who fought liberal Republicans in the trenches when campaigning for Reagan in 1976 and 1980, I don't need lectures from Beck, who was nowhere to be found, about big-spending Republicans. But this is not about me, or Beck, or Beck's past drunkenness (which he endlessly wears as some kind of badge of honor). It is about preserving our society for our children and grandchildren. Beck spent precious little time aiming fire at Obama-Pelosi-Reid in his speech, and it is they who are destroying our country.
On as a positive note, I am personally happy to see that Beck has cleaned up his public act -- as best I can tell, no more boiling fake frogs on TV or pretending to pour gasoline on someone -- and the rest of it. But I do think his speech, which contained nuggets of truth heard before and read elsewhere, including on Rush's show and in my book and many other books, may have distracted from some of the more compelling and coherent speeches at the event, including Marco Rubio's superb speech. I fear the media will see to this. I hope not.
this points out the differences between beck and levin
many, many of us are looking for an answer on 'what can we do' - every talk show host gets those calls - levin is the only one that gives an answer (that i can recall)
he points out that the answer is not some new grand plan that will cause a magical transformation - he tells us to get involved on a local level - scozzafava was anointed by the local republican 'leaders' - those people need to be thrown out - those are local leaders that can be thrown out - by the locals
“So somebody explain to me about the John Birch Society. I hit their website, they look like anti-communists from the McCarthy era.....I have no problem with that.”
I put them in the same catagory that I put the LYNDON LAROUCHE’s- some correct points but it is a group that you don’t want to be associated with. It would be like letting the KKK proclaim themselves as “conservatives”. I do think they made a mistake in letting them be a sponsor in this. In the end, like it or not, the MSM will make a big thing of it.
What exactly are Beck’s ratings on radio? He pays to be on WOR. Is he on real stations in LA, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, San Francisco, etc? How can he be #3 as he claims when his show is on minor stations or not at all in so many big markets? I know Talkers Magazine says he has a lot of listeners but they also say it’s a subjective conclusion. Scarborough says he beats him in New York. And Rush and Sean are much bigger than he is on the radio. Maybe one of Beck’s intruders here can enlighten us?
And Levin’s book crushed Beck’s Idiot book in sales and he doesn’t have a daily TV show. I should also note that Levin campaigned and worked for Reagan when Beck was a Morning Zoo DJ chasing booze. Kevin litigates against the IRS, EPA, and brought the case holding Clinton in contempt. Hannity has worked tirelessly for the troops through his Freedom Concerts years before Beck decide he was a conservative. And I notice Beck is loved by a lot of the MSM despite complaining about the coverage. He went on the View, he went on Walters show, he sat for a NYT interview, and so forth.
Beck is a fraud.
Really? Why not share your genius with the rest of us and let us know just what the point I missed from Mark Levin's clueless rant?
Beck is a useful idiot of the leftist media in this regard; Beck's (I would describe over-the-top) criticism of the GOP at CPAC allows the media to portray the voter/electorate discontent as one that is aimed at all politicians, not just Democrats. Beck's not smart enough to understand that his theatrical and grandiose criticism of the GOP is what will be the next day's soundbite - he talks for an hour or more, but it's the :20 second soundbite of him laying into Republicans is what gets played over and over again. This is what Bennett, and in his own way Levin, were attempting to address.
People aren't mad at incumbents, they're made at profligate spending. But, Beck's rhetoric allows the media to portray it in the exact opposite way. Is this intentional on Becks part? Only time will tell.
Beck offers division, through which all conservatives will be neutralized. He hates us, and all we stand for. - He is miserable and befuddled, and wishes conservatives the same.
“I almost sounds as if that’s what he’s doing, doesn’t? “
Man oh man I hope not, but it sure does sound like it. I’m not too sure about anything anymore. Palin backing Rand Paul, Romney being pushed as the ‘front runner’ for the GOP, the tea party charging big money for events, etc...
It’s all sounding like the conservative movement is going to implode before November of 2010. Remember Ross Perot is all I have to say about the idea of 3rd party candiates. We need to strengthen the GOP with conservatism, and pound on them like the Democrats - but let’s not throw out the wheat with the chaff.
He’s right about the Bennett piece. I followed the link. It’s very good.
Give credit where credit is due, all 40 GOP senators held tough against Obamacare.
progressive whatever.
Lite in the closet!:)
...I like Levin because he says STFU to his opponents, but, I disagree after the fourth paragraph. The third party movement shook the conservative movement to tea partys, and the Repubs, Hannity, Limbaugh, Levin, and others are all on the wagon for the liars of that party, AGAIN! The same bullsh!t arguements that the dems will connnntinue to control congress...
There is a rivalry at work here. Levin is good friends with Hannity, who views Beck as his #1 rival at Fox News Channel—and in the radio syndication wars.
Until Beck arrived at Fox, Sean Hannity was widely viewed as the eventual successor to Bill O’Reilly. In fact, FNC began positioning him for that role by making him a solo host at 9 pm. I believe there was an element of truth in Alan Colmes’ stated reason for leaving the show (”Ater 12 years, I want to do other things), but the execs at Fox were more than happy to accomodate him.
By comparison, Fox had no idea that Beck would generate the audience he’s getting in the 5 pm slot. Before Beck’s arrival, 5 pm ET was the “black hole” in the Fox line-up. Various hosts in that timeslot (including John Gibson) usually ran second (or even third) against CNN or MSNBC, the cardinal sin at Fox.
From Day One, Beck has dominated the competition at 5 pm, generating prime-time numbers in that timeslot—unprecedented in cable news. Hannity has also delivered strong numbers at 9 pm, but that’s with O’Reilly’s lead-in, and against weak competition on the other cable news networks. Beck actually builds on his lead-in audience, while Hannity manages to hang on to most of the O’Reilly viewers.
That’s why Beck is now the favorite to eventually replace O’Reilly. What’s more, Bill and Beck are pals, while O’Reilly barely mentions Hannity on the air. Beck’s emergence has clearly frustrated Sean and his co-horts like Levin. That’s one reason Hannity never talks about Beck (while often mentioning Rush and Levin) and some of his friends (hello, Mr. Levin) go after Glenn.
There’s also the matter of who will (eventually) replace Rush. Both Beck and Hannity would like a crack at the 12-3pm slot, and view themselves as logical successors to El Rushbo. Lots of dollars at stake for whoever wins that one.
And, Levin has a dog in the fight, too. Let’s say that Rush decides to retire or (God forbid) something happens to him. Both ABC Radio, which syndicates Hannity and Premier Radio (syndicator for Beck and Limbaugh) would be pushing their guys for the noon-to-three slot. They would probably wind up splitting the available stations, but if Hannity moved to an earlier timeslot, ABC would offer Levin from 3-6 pm, which would mean more affiliates for him (and money).
Obviously, there are lot of big egos involved in this one. And, the battle will only intensify in the next year or so. I believe Hannity’s contract with Fox is up in 2012, and there are reports that CNN might go after him, because their current prime time line-up is a disaster. If that happens, Beck moves into the 9pm slot and becomes the undisputed successor for O’Reilly.
yeah but i did not get a free doormat with my book purchase
Screw "the media".
If there is anything that annoys me about Rush, Hannity, Levin, etc., it's there constant, chronic, repetitive, neverending lament about "the media".
I say again, screw the media.
As Ann Coulter responded to a question about The New York Times after her speech, "So what. Nobody reads The New York Times."
Screw the media. Did I mention, screw the media?
If he looks to be siding too much with the R's it drives away D's & Mod’s. I don't think it is about 3rd party.
Bennett, Levin, Gingrich, and yes even Rush are the “old guard” conservatives. What have they done over all these years since Reagan? NOTHING. They bitch and moan and sell their books and appear on Sunday shows. Do they really accomplish ANYTHING? NO! A bunch of whiners. It is time for a CHANGE. Time for ACTION. The tea party people and 912 ers and Beck supporters are actually doing something. They stopped health care (so far) they brought down Dems in almost every election.
Levin is just jealous of Beck. Beck's speech was GREAT. No two ways about it. If you don't think so, you didn't watch the same speech I did. Bill Bennett???, come on, another George W. Bush compassionate conservative.
Glenn is right. We don't need TWO democrat parties. One is too many. Our Republican “big tent” HAS been a CIRCUS! It still is. Just because we have scared these clowns, for the moment, doesn't mean they all of a sudden “get it”. We need to have a paradigm shift in politics or it will just be back to politics as usual. Dems & Dems light.
Did Bill Bennett ever lose his home, his car or his livelihood because of gambling? I think not. He was a grown man engaging in a perfectly legal and legitimate form of entertainment. Was it more money that I could wager? Sure. But, I don't make the kind of coin that Bennett makes.
That "gambling problem" was nothing but pure character assassination by the leftist trolls in the media. I'm sorry you fell for it.
Beck voted for McCain because of Palin...
His remark on Hillary was tongue n cheek!
I tried to watch Beck’s speech but honestly, he grates on my nerves something fierce. The same goes for his tv show. He is too “faggy” with all that hand wringing and eye rolling.
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